As we enter the holy season of Lent, we are invited into a time of reflection, renewal, and deeper connection with God. In the midst of a busy world, silence provides space for God to speak to us. As a means of supporting the penitential and prayerful focus of this season, we will be observing more times of quiet during our celebrations of Mass, allowing us to carefully observe the significance of these moments.
Rather than singing the Kyrie during the Penitential Act at the start of Mass, we will be praying the Confiteor, a traditional Catholic prayer of confession that expresses humility, our need for forgiveness and the support of one another in community.
We will be observing a time of quiet at Offertory in order to allow us to be more attentive to the presentation of the gifts and the preparation of the gifts and table. Because we will not be singing an offertory hymn, we will be able to hear the prayers of blessing over the gifts of bread and wine to which we respond, “Blessed be God forever.” The presider’s prayers and our spoken response acknowledge the gifts of creation and the work of human hands, essential in the Eucharistic liturgy.
By setting aside times for quiet, we open ourselves to listen to God’s voice, and potentially recognize areas in our lives that need attention, healing and transformation. These moments of stillness, whether alone in prayer or during liturgy together, allow us to draw closer to the heart of God, embracing the spirit of humility, repentance, and renewal that defines Lent.
