tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post110466963310170200..comments2024-03-29T17:09:06.857+08:00Comments on The Threshold of Hope: Is the Sunday Missal meant to be read during Mass?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1105113753413082042005-01-08T00:02:00.000+08:002005-01-08T00:02:00.000+08:00At St Ignatius, homilies or sermons are delivered ...At St Ignatius, homilies or sermons are delivered not behind the ambo but by the priest standing right in the centre, on the edge of the sanctuary, directly in front of the altar. The nature of the church's architecture allows this, as does the PA system which works well even with the wireless mics the priest wears.ChrisOwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05951424372570559829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1104984183547142142005-01-06T12:03:00.000+08:002005-01-06T12:03:00.000+08:00I totally agree that listening rather than reading...I totally agree that listening rather than reading provides a more focused comprehension of the message. And by coming early for mass and spend the few minutes prior to read the missal then listening to it being proclaimed and then let it be 'homilised' would allow us to have a more meaningful session.<br /><br />However, there is another side to the story. <br /><br />The presence of chinese-speaking and less-educated congregations are neglected.<br /><br />Just imagine the frustration they might feel with the lack of missal. I know because my parents are so frustrated when they visit St Mary. Without the missal, they feel so irritated cos they are chinese-speaking.<br /><br />And as chris yeo mentioned Jesus or Paul's preaching, I suppose that is something we might not be able to appreciate for a while to come. Perhaps it is the pronunciations of lectors/priests or the priest's oratory skills (or lackof) that doesn't seem to 'excite' the masses. Or just maybe, some sound systems need maintaining because often I find myself straining to understand what was being read.<br /><br />However, what chris yeo said is true. The lack of physical movements is a sad lackoff. Perhaps they might have some SOP about that, chris ow? Afterall, I have not really seen any priests walking around as they give homilies ever since Archbishop Emeritus Yong. Much like the publicly-celebrated Pastor Kong from Cityharvest.<br /><br />But then again, if our political leaders who speaks from the rostrum(?) at national day rallys can garner such interest, humour and seriousness, why can't our priests?Nick!https://www.blogger.com/profile/06319046997700017515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9605443.post-1104943798004744452005-01-06T00:49:00.000+08:002005-01-06T00:49:00.000+08:00I have for a long time considered missals more a h...I have for a long time considered missals more a hindrance than a help in the Mass. They must have been introduced with good intentions. however, today in our church, the missals have sapped the energy from the liturgy of the word. for some, the missals are an excuse not to read the scriptures before mass. for the lectors, it may be an excuse not to be thorough in their preparation since everyone has a missal to refer to anyway. it has become a crutch that people have grown used to having, so much so that they have forgotten what it means to stand on their own.<br /><br />The liturgy of the word has its roots in the Jewish synagogue. Remember when Jesus was in the Nazareth synagogue, and he stood up to read and the attendant handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. And he read from Isa 61 the prophecy of the Messaiah -- God's anointed.<br /><br />We can imagine what the Nazareans were doing -- they were listening in rapt attention. And that is exactly what we are invited to do. If we truly believe that the Scriptures are alive and active (Heb 4:12) then we must be prepared to let the Word confront us, console us, and change us.<br /><br />Some of you may have had the joy of hearing a poet reading his own work. there is a certain power to that recital that is missing from even the best renditions by some other reader. Now when our Lord read Isa 61, he was clear about his mission. He was the fulfilment of the promise made to the prophet. He was absolutely riveting because of this. Everyone paid attention.<br /><br />Now the proclamation of the Word of God depends for its power on the experience of the one proclaiming it. If that word has fallen into rich soil, that person's proclamation will bear fruit, regardless of the person's technical ability. (i'm not saying that technical competence is unimportant, merely that it is not the MOST important aspect of preparation.)<br /><br />The proclamation of the word is not entertainment, nor is it a news bulletin. it can be didactic, or exhortatory, encouragement, or reprimand, consolatory, or interrogative. It can be verse or prose, narrative or epistolary. What it actually is will depend on the text. But it can be proclaimed well only if the one who proclaims is sensitive to the requirements of the text.<br /><br />Affected accents also have no place in the proclamation of the word. god does not have an accent. the church is catholic, not Anglo-american, or Euro-centric. the word speaks to all men from every tribe and tongue, people and nation (cf Rev 5:9). These affectations draw attention to the wrong person. One focuses on the reader instead of the Word who was made flesh. It is enough to enunciate clearly enough for words to be distinguished by the listener. After all, it is the word who speaks to the listener's heart. The reader is not speaking -- s/he is but a mouthpiece.<br /><br />Consider a loudspeaker. It is most effective when the cone which produces the sound waves responds accurately to the electric signal being passed to it. if the cone were to be stubborn and refuse a certain movement, then the sound would be obviously marred. So it is with the lector. When s/he does only what is needed, adding or taking away nothing that was not there in the message intially, we will have real high fidelity.ChrisOwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05951424372570559829noreply@blogger.com