Lecture 14 August 2024

19
Aug

Number 14                                                                                                      August 2024

The Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof was based on a book by the same title, which in turn was based on several folk tales.  The music was a collaboration between Jerry Brock and Sheldon Harnick.  The story takes place in a Jewish village located in western Czarist Russia about the turn of the 20th century.   The opening act features the head of the family singing the song Tradition.  The lyrics outline the specific roles of each member of the family, the father, mother, son, and daughter.  Each has a set of expected behaviors that allow the family to function in their society.  Their society recognizes these specific roles and expects its members to conform to these traditions. 

Traditions are important.  I believe “tradition” can be summed up as “We do it that way because that is the way it has always been done.” The dictionary defines tradition as “a way of behaving or a belief that has been established for a long time, or the practice of following behavior and beliefs that have been so established.”  Possibly a practice that we do without thinking.   

I respect traditions.  However, I also believe that they need to be examined occasionally because “that’s the way we always have done it” is not always the best way to do it.

Western civilization underwent a period following the decline of the Western Roman Empire referred to as the Dark Ages.  It lasted from about 400 AD to about 1000 AD.  Most of the population was illiterate.  There were a few exceptions, the primary exception being Ireland, but that is a different subject for another time. 

The church was spreading northward from Rome into Central and Western Europe.  Literacy was primarily the property of the church.  Missionaries spread the Gospel by preaching, using a strict formula that left no room for interpretation.  The celebrant became the means of communication between man and God.  God was represented by the cross or crucifix.  The cross was on one side of the table (altar), the priest was on the other side and the people were gathered behind the priest.  The prayers of the Mass were recited by the priest in Latin which had been the language of the empire the church was replacing.  Practice became a tradition. Over time the meaning behind the practice has dimmed or disappeared.

I was taught to dip my finger in the Holy Water as I entered the church and to repeat a short prayer, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”  A tradition that all perform and one we repeat upon leaving the church.  No one ever took a moment or two to explain why.  Probably, because my “teacher” did not think I needed to know why and quite possibly because they never knew.

I really don’t know exactly why but I can imagine.  We are told that “the Mass” emerged from a gathering of the faithful to share a meal and to learn about Jesus and the faith.  The Empire had periodically persecuted the new faith and possibly the faithful adopted a practice to discourage non-believers from infiltrating the gathering.  The practice of requiring an oath, professing belief in the new faith, would be a strong determent to a pagan.  And taking such an oath could expose one to the persecutors.  The faithful would have no problem with taking an oath, “I believe in the Father, and in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit” before attending the gathering.  Over the centuries, hearing the priest begin Mass with and giving a blessing, “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit” the words “I believe” have faded into non-use.    

Vatican II brought many changes to the church.  One was the Mass would be said in the vernacular, the language spoken by the people.  Latin was not abandoned.  Official documents of the church would still be in Latin and old familiar hymns could be sung during Mass.  Another change was to turn the altar around with the celebrant facing the congregation.  This change encouraged the congregation to participate in the service rather than to just witness the Mass.

As Catholics we learn several traditional prayers.  We begin by memorizing the Sign of the Cross, Grace, the Hail Mary, the Our Father and so on.  For the rest of our lives, we repeat what we have committed to memory.  When was the last time you thought about the words you were reciting?  I was taught that we say Grace before a meal to thank God.  “Bless us oh Lord and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen.”  I see a request, bless us and the food, but fail to recognize a word of thanksgiving.  If a priest or deacon is asked to give the blessing, they usually begin with the sign of the cross followed with remarks giving thanks before repeating the familiar prayer.

During the Mass the priest or deacon will read the Gospel.  He begins with “The Gospel according to . . . “ He then makes the sign of the cross on his forehead, his lips and his chest.  Many of the congregation do the same.  Do they repeat the prayer of the priest or deacon, or do they do it because they see it being done? 

Years ago, the choir was rehearsing for a special Mass, either Christmas or the Tridium.  Our Parochial Vicar was concerned that the choir set the proper example for the congregation since they were “up front”.  One of the choir members asked how we were to behave if he wasn’t there to lead us.  He replied, “Watch the Deacon, follow his lead and you can’t go wrong.”  Good advice.