Verbum Domini part 2 section 2

VERBUM IN ECCLESIA
The liturgy, privileged setting for the word of God

• The liturgy is the priviliged setting in which God speaks to us in the midst of our lives

• Every liturgical action is by its nature steeped in sacred Scripture.

• See that all faithful learn to savour the deep meaning of the word of God which unfolds each year in the liturgy... This in turn is the basis for a correct approach to sacred Scripture.

• The liturgy of the word is a decisive element in the celebration of each one of the sacraments of the Church

• In salvation history there is no separation between what God says and does. His word appears alive and active. ... In the liturgical action too, we encounter his word which accomplishes what it says.

• The profound unity of word and Eucharist is grounded in the witness of Scripture (cf. Jn 6; Lk 24)

• Unless we acknowledge the Lord's real presence in the Eucharist , our understanding of Scripture remains imperfect

• The Church has honoured the word of God and the Eucharist with the same reverence, although not with the same worship

• St. Jerome speaks of the way to approach Scriptures and the Eucharist : "... For me the Gospel is the Body of Christ;... When we approach the [Eucharistic] Mystery, if a crum falls to the ground we are troubled. Yet when we are listening to the word of God , and His Word and flesh and blood are being poured into our ears yet we pay no heed, "

• All those entrusted with the office of reading should be truly suitable and carefully trained. The training should be biblical and liturgical, as well as technical

• The homily is a means of bringing the scriptural message to life... It should lead to an understanding of the mystery being celebrated... Generic and abstract homilies should be avoided as well as useless disgressions which risk drawing greater attention to the preacher than to the heart of the Gospel message .

• The faithful should be able to perceive clearly that the preacher has a compeling desire to present Christ, who must stand at the center of every homily.

• He is undoubtedly barren who preaches outwardly the word of God without hearing it inwardly.

• The role of Scriptures in the sacraments of confession and anointing of the sick is often overlooked.

• Avoidi the the danger of the celebrations of the word being confused with celebrations of the Eucharist : "on the contrary, they should be privileged moments of prayer to God to send holy priests after his own heart".

• Popular piety can find in the word of God an inexhaustible source of inspiration, insuperable models of prayer and fruitful points of reflection.

• Our is not an age that fosters recolection; at times one has the impression that people are afraid of detaching themselves, even for a moment, from the mass media.

• Only in silence can the word of God find a home in us... Our liturgies must facilitate this attitude of authentic listening.

• "The reading of the Gospel is the high point of the liturgy of the word".

• Concern should be shown for Church acoustics, with due respect for liturgical and architectural norms

• Churches should give a place of honor to the Sacred Scriptures, even outside of liturgical celebrations.

• No text of spirituaty or literature can equal the value and riches contained in Scriptures

• Responsorial Psalm is also the word of God... Should not be replaced... Most appropriate that it be sung

• Prefernce should be given to songs which are of clear biblical inspiration ... I think in particular of the importance of Gregorian chant


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