As you know, we have made some changes to our procedure for the announcements before Mass begins and also to the procedure at the end of the distribution of Communion. In both cases, this allows for moments of silence. On February 22, 2007, the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Pope Benedict XVI signed his first post-synodal exhortation under the title Sacramentum Caritatis: on the Eucharist, source and summit of the life and mission of the Church. In the second section (The Eucharist: A Mystery to be Celebrated) in the fourth of the six major liturgical aspects of the celebration of the Eucharist “Actuosa participatio”, the Pope explains that participation in the Liturgy is not simply a matter of external activity, but demands a “greater awareness of the mystery being celebrated and its relationship to daily life.” The Holy Father notes that “this inner disposition can be fostered, for example, by recollection and silence for at least a few moments before the beginning of the liturgy”. Silent reflection time is also noted in various Vatican documents as being an important element during the Mass as well. We hope that the changes made to our procedure will encourage you to participate in private prayer and reflection.
“I will search in the silence
for Your hiding place…
in the quiet, Lord,
I seek Your face…”
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