Liturgy as Theophany

 

In a recent talk on Vatican Radio, Pope Francis encouraged us to focus on the liturgy as something more than a gathering, something more than worship. The Mass according to the Pope is a theophany — an event in which God shines forth in the light of faith. The Pope explains that a nativity scene is a representation of the actual event. The Mass according to Pope Francis is not a representation of the Last Supper. The Mass is the Last Supper – Christ’s offering of Himself to the Father in the act of our redemption. Christ is truly present in the liturgy and Pope Francis urges us all to be aware of the sacredness of what is going on. In liturgy, we are invited to enter the divine mystery.

 

Photo by Jeffrey Bruno — Creative Commons license