Liturgy and Spirituality
2003 Indianapolis, Indiana
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
Convener 2003
James A. Schmeiser (professor of religious studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, King’s College, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario)
Seminar Participants 2003
Seminar members: James Empereur, S.J.; Willy Malarcher; Lawrence Madden, S.J; David Rankin, S.J.; James Schmeiser; Diane Stephens; Kathleen Sullivan-Stewart
Visitors: Jean Donovan, Christopher Willcock, SJ.
Seminar Report 2003
The main focus of our deliberations was on “The Spirituality of the Journey,” integrating the many liturgical considerations that connect with this topic.
Papers
James Empereur developed his thesis that the liturgical counterpart to the pilgrimage or spiritual journey is the liturgical procession. In the case of the Hispanic/Latino cultures there are a variety of processions, both those of the official liturgy as well as those of popular religion. For instance, Hispanics have the customary processions on Holy Thursday and Corpus Christi, plus the many found in their popular religious practices such as the Day of the Dead, Good Friday, as well as the posadas at Christmas time.
David Rankin shared his experience of the Pilgrim Cross that was given by the Pope to the youth of Canada in the summer of 2002 in anticipation of the World Youth Day in Toronto. The cross was carried across Canada by various portageurs. As it was carried through cities and small towns, it had a spiritual effect on those carrying the cross, those who spent time praying with it in different ways, as well as the thousands who acted as hosts along the way.
Larry Madden led a discussion on the relationship between liturgical spirituality and the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). His study led to the conclusion that the two are fundamentally complementary and in no way in opposition to one another. Jesuits have often seemed, even to themselves, to be anti-liturgical because the 16th century Ignatius rejected choir for his men in order that they might do apostolic work. What Ignatius rejected was a monastic life that demanded an exorbitant number of hours in choir every day. Being a faithful man of the Church, Madden’s position is that he certainly would embrace the liturgical life of the Church for all Catholics today.
Willy Malarcher took us on a journey of “The Silk Road,” the commercial route linking Europe and Asia, looking for traces of liturgical and spiritual crossings. Religions of Europe sought silk brocades from the East for liturgical clothing and trappings. The East became aware of the impact of sculpture for depicting venerated spiritual images. Yo-Yo Ma has travelled the road to collect sounds and instruments, many of which express different origins. The 1999 discovery of the Jesus Sutras stone tablets in some museums in China throws light on Christian missionaries mixing their message with Buddhism rather than converting Buddhists. With the early split of eastern and western Christianity, the east was more influenced by the American missions. “Layering” might best describe how, over time, this exchange activity became expressed and absorbed by liturgy and spirituality.
Diane Stephens presented an extensively researched paper on the spiritual journeys of the formerly churched. It appears that one of the reasons mainline Protestant churches are losing members is that the liturgy is no longer the “work of the people.” Research shows that persons who have left the church—the formerly churched—have done so to pursue more purposefully spiritual journeys that include prayer, journal keeping, meditation, reading, and experiencing creation. For them to return to church, worship would need to feature, among other things, rituals that have meaning, inclusive language for God and humanity, a variety of music, extended time for silence, and an emphasis on spiritual formation.
James Schmeiser shared his experiences and reflections on his pilgrimage journey from St. Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela, an ancient pilgrim trail of approximately 800 kilometers. His main thesis was that a pilgrimage is very much a liturgical act, an expression and celebration by a pilgrim community. It is a journey filled with symbols, especially that of the scallop shell, shrines, pilgrim crosses, prayers, and Eucharist. It is a spiritual act wherein one’s feet do much of the praying. It is a journey that celebrates the community of pilgrims, both living and dead. It is a journey with a story that envelops and provides a metaphor for all the pilgrimages of humanity.
The main focus of next year’s deliberations will be on the significance of “mystery, metaphor and imagination.” We will develop papers that examine the centrality and significance of these areas in the realms of liturgy and spirituality.