Mons. Marini describes the papal rites
of the Christmas season in the Year of Faith
An interview by
Gianluca Biccini
Translated from the 12/19/12 issue of
The scheme in Christian history that unites the Holy Land to the tomb of the Apostle Peter will be further enriched furing this Year of Faith by new bonds.
Indeed, one of the figures of the Christ Child that will be on display at St. Peter's Basilica this Christmas season during the liturgies presided over by Benedict XVI comes from Bethlehem.
Even the prayers during he Christmas Eve Mss and on January 1 were prepared by the Franciscan fathers who act as custodians of the Holy Land.
This, according to Mons. Guido Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, who spoke to us of the Christmas season rites led by the Holy Father.
Could you briefly illustrate the calendar of holiday celebrations?
The celebrations of the Christmas season begin with the Holy Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Peter's Basilica, and will conclude with the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus on Sunday, January 13, with the administration of the sacrament of Baptism to 22 Vatican babies in the Sistine Chapel.
All told, Benedict XVI will preside at four Masses and one Vespers celebration, besides imparting the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas morning. Also this year, on December 29, the Holy Father will preside at the prayers of the Taize community on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the annual encounter of European youth sponsored by that non-denominational community and its associated movement.
How important is liturgy in the life of the Church?
Liturgy leads us to the heart of Church life: it isits source and the culmination. It is the 'space' in which the mystery of salvation is made present today. In this perspective, the celebrations of Christmas are not just a commemoration or a ceremony that is completed by the performance of exterior gestures.
Rather, as
Sacrosanctum concilium reminds us, it is the actualization - for our time and in our life - of the work of redemption.
The external signs are nonetheless important since they are the vehicle for bringing grace and they promote authentic participation in Christ's action on the Church. That is why, before dwelling on details which do have their importance and are of great interest, one must start out with the idea that liturgy is the life of the Church. The perennial vitality and newness of the experience of faith derives from liturgy.
With regard to such gestures and details, could you tell us what to expect at the Christmas Eve Mass?
The Mass will be preceded by a time for preparation and vigil which, as we did the year before, will consist of the celebration of the Office of Readings. At the end of this, the solemn chant of the Kalenda will be intoned - it has a beautiful text which makes us understand how Christian faith is intimately bound to history, to our history. The Son of God becomes man, he enters into human affairs to save mankind and to introduce them to the intimacy of life as children of God.
In the opening procession of the Mass, some children will take part and lay flowers around the image of the Baby Jesus which will be unveiled by the deacon at the end of the Kalenda.
The same children, at the endof the Mass, will proceed to the creche set up as usual at the Chapel of the Presentation, at the altar of St. Pius X, to bring flowers around the Baby's manger crib. There will be ten of them, representing the five continents. Two of them will be Brazilians representing the country that will play host next year to World Youth Day.
After the Baby Jesus that was the center of the Christmas Eve Mass is transferred and deposited in his manger crib in the creche, another image of the Baby Jesus will be placed at the foot of the Altar of Confession for all the subesequent celebrations of the season. This particular figure was sculpted by Christian artists in Bethelehem, a copy of that which is deposited every year in the traditional birth spot of Christ in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
So when shall we see this 'new' Bambinello?
It will be 'introduced' at the Mass of January 1. But this will have been preceded the previous afternoon by the First Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, which will end with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the traditional Te Deum in thanksgiving for the end of the civilian year, and the Eucharistic Benediction.
This is an occasion for the Church to recollect herself in prayer before her Lord as she relives the calendar year that is about to conclude, considering it a time guided by Providence for which we must give thanks. At the same time, through the Most Blessed Mother, we also entrust the new year about to commence, to the goodness of the Lord.
And this celebration is prolonged somehow in the succeeding days with the Mass on the first day of the year?
Yes, in efect, With the First Vespers, we are already in the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, at which time we also observe the World Day for Peace, as we have done in the past 46 years.
The Marian solemnity and the prayer for peace are linked providentially. The Lord Jesus, our Savior, is the Prince of Peace. And so, the Blessed Virgin prays to her Son to obtain the gift of peace for us and for the entire world.
Then, let's get to the celebration of Epiphany, which this year will be particularly significant because the Pope will condfer episcopal orders on some of his closest co-workers.
With the Solemnity of the Epiphany, the Church celebrates the manifestation of the Lord to the Gentiles. In this way, the universality of the salvation given by God through his Son made man shines forth. All mankind is called to gather at the Redeemer's bifrthplace. The presence of the Magi, wise men from the East, underscores the catholicity of the salvific event that took place on Christmas night.
The ordination of some new bishops also underscores this universality. The episcopate was intended by the Lord for the entire Church and the whole world.
Finally, the Pope will celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus in the splendid setting of the Sistine Chapel...
Liturgically, we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, which is a reproposal of the mystery of Christ shaing our human condition. At the same time, the Lord's manifestation to mankind is renewed through the solemn words that the Father addresses to all who were present at the Jordan.
On this day traditionally, the Holy Father administers Baptism to some babies, to whom the inestimable gift of faith is given which will accopmany them all their life, and which should, thanks to the family, be guarded, cultivated and brought to maturity. From the ritual point of view, next to the new baptismal font introduced last year, there will be a new candelabrum.
One last word on liturgical vestments. At the canonization Mass last October 21, Benedict XVI wore the fanon, a simple and light capelet which was used by Popes as an exclusively papal vestment. Will he use it again?
He will, during the two great Solemnities on Christmas Eve and the Epiphany. The term 'fanon' comes from Latin and means 'a cloth'. It has been used by Popes up to John Paul II, and Benedict XVI intends to preserve the use of this simple but significant liturgical vestment.
Over time, a symbology has developed with respect to this accessory. It is said to represent the shield of faith that protects the Church. In this symbolic reading, the vertical stripes in gold and silver express the unity and indissolubility of the Latin and oriental Churches which both rest on the shoulders of the Successor of Peter. I think it is a very beautiful symbology, one that should be remembered during the Year of Faith.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 19/12/2012 01:59]