FRANK FLANAGAN,
Sir, - Miriam Donohoe states that, for Roman Catholics, the Mass has become flat, outdated and austere (Opinion, . She and those who agree with her, do not appear to know the meaning of the Mass, or what it is for.
The central truth of our faith is, that through the sacrifice of his life on the cross, Christ made possible the union of God's people with their Father creator, which had been damaged by sin.
He poured out every drop of life from his human body on Calvary, into his mystical body (his Church) at Pentecost, through the Holy Spirit. It was the fulfilment of the covenant, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in him", and, "I am with you all days to the end of time". This is the reality of every validly celebrated Mass.
Mass is sometimes misunderstood as a mere imitation, or re-enactment of Christ's sacrifice. The liturgical meaning of the words: "Do this as a memorial of me" is, that the celebration of the Eucharist in Mass involves making present, here and now, Christ's Passover sacrifice. What was bread and wine becomes the risen, physical, body and blood of Jesus Christ. The greatest event in the history of God's people. the non-acceptance, or ignorance of this, can make attendance at Mass a meaningless bore.
It is like going out to a celebration meal, focusing on the flowers, the background music, and leaving after the starters, without realising that there was a totally fulfilling main course.
No, it is not for the Church to wake up to the fact that the Mass needs a radical shake-up; rather, it is about anorexic Christians waking up to the reality of the Mass as the Lords Passover Meal, and reading the full menu. - Yours, etc.,
FRANK FLANAGAN,
Dublin 7.