One of the great gifts of the Catholic faith is that it can enables us to look at and experience creation, people and events through a particular lens, Episcopal Vicar for Education and Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn has said.
“This lens is sacramentality. Sacramentality enables to experience the presence of God through our humanity, our human experience,” he said.
Speaking in the first of four videos for the recently launched Liturgical Formation and Renewal Program, Fr Vincent explained that one of the unique features of our Catholic faith is our sacramental life.
“This sacramental life is most commonly expressed in the celebration of the seven sacraments,” Fr Vincent said.
“Sacramentality is the building block of liturgy,” he continued.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB baptises a young man during the Easter Vigil Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, 16 April 2022. Photo: Ron Tan.
The Liturgical Formation and Renewal Program, launched last week in parishes across the Archdiocese with an introduction from Archbishop Costelloe, aims to encourage the Perth Catholic community to awaken a renewed love for and awareness of the extraordinary gift we have in the Eucharist, in the Mass.
Leading the program is the Episcopal Vicar for Education and Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, supported by Centre for Liturgy Director, Sr Kerry Willison RSM, Director of Religious Education at Catholic Education Western Australia, Deacon Mark Powell, Director of the Centre for Faith Enrichment, Dr Marco Ceccarelli and Catechist Services Field Officer, Mildred Rego.
During the four weeks of lent, video messages highlighting an understanding of What is Sacramentality, Why we Gather to celebrate Liturgy, Signs and Symbols in the Liturgy and What is Liturgy, will be shown in our parish communities.
The videos feature Fr Vincent Glynn, Sr Kerry Willison RSM and Mildred Rego.
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Speaking in the first of four videos for the recently launched Liturgical Formation and Renewal Program, Fr Vincent explained that one of the unique features of our Catholic faith is our sacramental life. Image: Adobe Stock.
In liturgy we use the gifts of creation such as oil or water enable us to experience God who is the source of all creation, continues Fr Vincent.
“In the liturgical celebration of the sacraments, important stages of life are made holy.
“Baptism sanctifies our human life, marriage sanctifies our love for another, the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick allows us to experience God entering into our suffering. The Eucharist feeds us and nourishes us for this life and eternal life,” he said.
The celebration of the Eucharist, explained Fr Vincent, should also be seen through the lens of sacramentality, The singing is not just singing it is praise of God.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB elevates the Body of Christ during Mass for Holy Thursday, 1 April 2021. Photo: Ron Tan.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB elevates the Body of Christ during Mass for Holy Thursday, 1 April 2021. Photo: Ron Tan.
“The community gathered is not just a gathering of people but becomes the body of Christ.
“The Word of God proclaimed is not just mere words but the presence of the living Word of God who is Christ. The bread and wine is not just food, it is the real presence of the body and blood of the risen Christ,” Fr Vincent said.
Speaking at a General Audience of 6 November 2013, Pope Francis says that every encounter with Christ, who in the Sacraments gives us salvation, invites us to “go” and communicate to others the salvation that we have been able to see, to touch, to encounter and to receive, and which is truly credible because it is love.
Applecross Parish Priest Fr Don Kettle lights the Easter fire, for the Easter Vigil Mass 2017. Photo: Supplied.
“In this way, the Sacraments spur us to be missionaries, and the Apostolic commitment to carry the Gospel into every setting, including those most hostile, is the most authentic fruit of an assiduous sacramental life, since it is a participation in the saving initiative of God, who desires salvation for all people,” Pope Francis said.
“The grace of the Sacraments nourishes in us a strong and joyful faith, a faith that knows how to stand in wonder before the “marvels” of God and how to resist the idols of the world.
“That is why it is important to take Communion, it is important that children be baptised early, that they be confirmed, because the Sacraments are the presence of Jesus Christ in us, a presence that helps us.”
Mt Lawley Parish Priest Fr Tim Deeter elevates the Body of Christ during Mass to celebrate the 60th anniversary of St Paul’s Church Mt Lawley, in November 2017. Photo: Josh Low.
Read the full text of the Holy Father’s Audience by Clicking Here.