Liturgy and Spirituality
2004 New York, New York
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
Convener 2004
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 2004
Seminar members: (in attendance) James Empereur, S.J., Shawn Madigan, C.S.B., Willy Malarcher, David Rankin, S.J., Diane Stephens, Kathleen Sullivan-Stewart
Visitors: Jean Donovan, Beauty Maenzanise, Mary Amore, Michael Woods, S.J.
Seminar Report 2004
The main focus of our deliberations was on “The Significance of Mystery, Metaphor and Imagination in the Realms of Liturgy and Spirituality.”
Papers
Jean Donovan gave a brief presentation of her prayer manual, The Journey Towards Death: A Spiritual Manual (with illustrations by Lillian Brulc). The prayer manual reflects the theological tradition of the 15th century “Art of Dying” manuals, reconstructed in the context of 21st century spirituality. Her presentation was followed by a discussion focusing on the need for addressing the spiritual dimension of dying.
Jake Empereur addressed the issue of what can happen to the metaphorical character of liturgical language in the attempts to make it more inclusive. He discussed in particular the various ways employed to avoid the use of the word “father” when addressing God: substitution, amplification, reductionism, and paraphrasing. He noted that in liturgical language a word such as “father” cannot be treated in isolation but must be understood in terms of the words that frame the word, otherwise the metaphorical character of the language is diminished.
Shawn Madigan’s paper looked at “Liturgical Spirituality and Inculturation.” Some potential clarifications between the legitimacy of particularity for any local assembly and some challenges that shared universality of the body of Christ suggest were identified. The potential of liturgical spirituality to ground the discussion, particularly through shared ecumenical wisdom coming from worship reforms, concluded the paper.
Approaching the idea of light in relation to metaphor and imagination, Willy Mallarcher looked at the contrast of two studies: Ratzinger’s The Spirit of the Liturgy (2000) and Heilbron’s The Sun in the Church: Cathedrals as Solar Observations (1999). Over time, experience alters common perspectives that build up the myths (base stories) that support liturgy and spirituality. Light has been one of those elements rich in change. For example, sunlight has affected sacred time, art, and mood and has been allied to Christ’s resurrection. Set against this is the capacity of electric light to flex time, expanding Sun Day to include vigil time. Fundamental questions are raised when light defines Spirit as in our access to being one with that Spirit, and /or our ability to gain access.
James Schmeiser focused on the ancient understanding that liturgy is a time of “celebrating the mysteries.” This becomes a challenge when we often cannot see and experience the mystery of the ordinary realities in our lives. In today’s spirituality there is a growing emphasis on all of creation as being revelatory of the Creator. In order to cultivate this awareness, a cultivation of our imagination is necessary for it is the bridge to the mystery in everyday reality. As well, our imagination is the faculty by which we discover the metaphors that express the nuances of that which ultimately defies description.
Kathleen Sullivan-Stewart brought along a number of contemporary poems that she uses in her preaching class and while helping others to deepen their understanding of their spirituality. We focused on the use of metaphor within the poems as well as the way metaphors work for us and on us.
For next year participants in the Liturgy and Spirituality Seminar are invited to bring and discuss current works in progress and/or research, with a focus on the implications for liturgical spirituality. Topics of particular interest include strengthening spiritual formation in the congregation, preparing for major milestones (i.e., birth of a child, unchurched people at weddings and funerals), death and dying, art as prayer, what people mean when they say, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” To prepare for the discussions, we are to read “Religion vs. Spirituality: A Contemporary Conundrum” by Sandra M. Schneiders. The essay appears in the Fall 2003 issue of Spiritus, a publication of the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality. If people need more information on accessing this publication, see http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/scs. Based on what the larger NAAL group does or doesn’t do, we may choose to do something related to Thomas Merton, such as visit the Merton Center at Bellarmine College or Gethsemani.