Much was made of Lumen Gentium starting with the People of God and moving to the clergy fron there. In the GIRM we get it in reverse. But hey: when you’re number two, do you try harder?
95. In the celebration of Mass the faithful form a holy people, a people of God’s own possession and a royal Priesthood, so that they may give thanks to God and offer the unblemished sacrificial Victim not only by means of the hands of the Priest but also together with him and so that they may learn to offer their very selves.[cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium 48; Eucharisticum Mysterium 12] They should, moreover, take care to show this by their deep religious sense and their charity toward brothers and sisters who participate with them in the same celebration.
A sense of sacrifice indeed for many of us, at many times.
They are consequently to avoid any appearance of singularity or division, keeping in mind that they have only one Father in heaven and that hence are all brothers or sisters one to the other.
Liturgy is not a time to parade divisions. I don’t think the GIRM is calling for these to be ignored or minimized. God knows we have them.
96. Moreover, they are to form one body, whether in hearing the Word of God, or in taking part in the prayers and in the singing, or above all by the common offering of the Sacrifice and by participating together at the Lord’s table. This unity is beautifully apparent from the gestures and bodily postures observed together by the faithful.
One difficult issue in my parish and in many others is the posture of receiving Communion. Does one offend against GIRM 96 and the observance of unity by, for example, being a minority kneeler to receive the Eucharist?
97. The faithful, moreover, should not refuse to serve the People of God in gladness whenever they are asked to perform some particular service or function in the celebration.
They can’t say no when the liturgist asks? Really? What do you have to say about all this?
