Guest Column / Richard Etienne

Vatican II and its seeds for building a community of faith

I distinctly remember a conversation that I had with a priest in the mid- to late 1970’s. I was an older adolescent at the time and expressed my excitement about the “dramatic changes” that had happened as a result of the Second Vatican Council.

The reaction I received from this priest was, “So far all we have done is turn the furniture around—now comes the hard part.”

I didn’t understand at the time what his words meant, but through the years it has become much clearer to me.

First, the eucharistic liturgy after Vatican II is not a private devotional. Eucharistic liturgy—the Mass—is a communal prayer that is prayed by the entire congregation. It is the entire body of Christ that celebrates the paschal mystery. (Before Vatican II, a priest could often be found at his kitchen table or at a side altar of any church “praying” the Mass in Latin with no other person in attendance.)

Now, it is the entire community of faith that plays a critical role in responding to the principal celebrant at each liturgy. Every person who is present is transformed in this rite. And the eucharistic liturgy is the prayer of a universal Church.

The readings that were selected for any ordinary celebration of Mass will be the same in any country as in the United States for any calendar date. It is the responsibility of every person to be properly prepared to participate in this special rite—from the opening prayer to the final blessing and, hopefully, a song for sending forth.

It is not an isolated event, but an integral part of living in our world as Catholic Christians. Every person is sent to bring change into the world in which they live. It is not only about personal salvation, but also about bringing transformation to the systems and structures so that others will benefit from our having lived on this Earth.

What happens inside our churches should have a huge effect on what happens once each of us leaves the church. Our faith implores us to go out into the world and make a difference!
 

(Richard Etienne has a degree in theology from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad and resides in Newburgh, Ind., in the Evansville Diocese.) †