Strand: Prayer, Liturgy and Sacraments (PLSL3-4E2)
Levels 3 and 4
Prayer and liturgy express and deepen the loving relationship between God and the community of faith.
Examine examples of prayer, Scripture, silence, music and others rituals that express and invite this relationship.
Elaborations
Prayer has been described as a conversation with God, in which there are moments of praise, wonder, thanksgiving, petition, intercession, sorrow, and searching.
In the Catholic Tradition liturgy is the public form of prayer. It includes the Mass, Sacraments, Prayer of the Church and Funeral Rites. Liturgy is a structured pattern of ritual activity including the reading of Scripture, silence, music and song, processions and gestures, and other symbolic actions that express and deepens the loving communication between the Triune God and the community of faith.
As liturgy is a form of prayer, moments of praise, wonder, thanksgiving, petition, intercession, sorrow, and searching will be evident throughout each liturgical celebration. For example:
Elements of the Mass (there may be a stronger emphasis on one of these moments during a particular Liturgical Season or Feast Day or specific celebrations such as ‘Beginning of the School Year Mass’ or ‘Graduation Mass.’)
- Introductory Rites: Penitential Rite as ‘sorrow’; Gloria as ‘praise’
- Liturgy of the Word: Scripture e.g. a Psalm as ‘moments of searching, wonder, sorrow or praise’; Creed as ‘praise’; Prayers of the Faithful/Intercession as ‘intercession’
- Liturgy of the Eucharist: Eucharistic Prayer as ‘thanksgiving’; Our Father as ‘praise’; Lamb of God as ‘petition’; Hymns during Communion as ‘searching’ or ‘wonder’, or ‘praise’
- Dismissal Rites: The Dismissal as ‘thanksgiving’ and ‘searching’
(See the Prayer and Liturgy tile for Preparing the Mass)
Please note that a liturgical celebration invites those present to “active participation.” If you are planning a liturgy, this does not mean that everyone in the group/class is allocated a special role in the liturgy. ‘Responding’ to leader/priest’s greeting, in singing and through gesture/action are all acts of 'participation.'
For exploration of aspects:
Actions: Sign of the Cross, Blessings, The Sign of Peace, Genuflecting, Bowing
Rituals: Lighting candles, Procession, Greeting, Introductory Rite, use of incense
Music: The words/lyrics/genres are intentionally chosen to fit with the part of the Liturgy and Liturgical Season. There are particular hymns/songs written to use at the Gathering Rite, the Offertory Procession, for Communion and at the Dismissal. In both prayer and song, texts should reflect a Catholic theology.
Scripture: Scripture is chosen according to the Liturgy being celebrated. If this celebration is the Mass, Scripture follows the Liturgical Year.
See Learning Lites: Prayer, Liturgical Year, Liturgical Season
More Information
Resources:
Catholic Education South Australia. (2017.) Being with God: A Prayer and Liturgy Resource for planning and celebrating the Christian faith in Catholic Schools.
See Learning Lites: Prayer, Liturgical Year, Liturgical Season