Participation in the liturgy of the Holy Mass – concept and requirements

Abstract

The problem connected with the issue of the participation of the Christian faithful in the liturgy of the Holy Mass has always been and still is the subject of many Church documents published by the Popes or the Roman Curia. In particular, term of the participation is identified with Pius X who his concern for an active, full and conscious participation, expressed in motu proprio Tra le sollecitudini from 1903. This issue was also undertaken by his successors and subsequently by the Second Vatican Council. The legislator included the issue concerning the liturgy in canons: 835 § 4; 837; 899 § 2; 1247 of the Code of Canon Law of 1983. The analysis of the law shows that the  participation in the liturgy is the realization of the office of sanctifying in the Church. All Christian faithful are obliged to this participation: bishops, presbyters, deacons, and the lays Christian faithful, particularly catholic parents.

The participation in the liturgy is a consequence of belonging to Jesus Christ and the Church. Misunderstanding of participatio actuosa reduces it only to an external aspect of necessity of the general involvement and inclusion in the liturgy the greatest number of people, as often as possible and in front of the others. Meanwhile, the term ‘participation’ indicates an action, in which everyone should take part. Participatio actuosa in the liturgy is a main aim of the liturgical action and allows for the inclusion in celebrating liturgical action of God and the Church. In order to proper participating in the liturgy, the Church gives specific requirements to the Christian faithful, decided that they should not only participate in the liturgy actively but also consciously, in a full way, piously and fruitfully.