National Youth Sunday > NYS 2010 > Liturgy and Music
Liturgy and Music
During his recent visit to the UK, His Holiness, Pope Benedict, using the theme: ‘Heart Speaks Unto Heart’, desired that we would hear in a new way the heart of God speak to us and, moved by God’s love, that our hearts would speak to others calling them to a deeper faith in Christ. The disciples who walked to Emmaus not only felt the heart of Christ speak to their hearts but, when they realised who it was who had accompanied them to their homes, they recalled how their hearts burned within them as Christ opened up the Scriptures and walked their journey with them.
Today we ask that our hearts are touched in a new way by God and, hearing His voice, that we may be moved to invite others into faith, or to a deepening of what faith they have, by our allowing them to meet God in us and hear God’s voice through us.
May our hearts burn as we hear God speak to us. With Christ being our companion in this great celebration (of the Mass), we ask that we might be moved to go out into the world and speak the joy of new life to others, just as the disciples of Emmaus did when they rushed back to Jerusalem to share the Good News that Christ has truly risen.
Let us meditate well on the Sacred Scriptures being read for us today (and reflect on the mystery of Christ being truly present to us in the ‘Breaking of the Bread’) that hearing His heart speak to us our hearts may in turn speak to those around us.
You can use the text above to help form an opening reflection for Mass or other liturgies for the celebration of National Youth Sunday.
Download
In these downloads, you will find material for an opening reflection, readings and suggestions for homilies.
Music for Mass/Liturgy
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal gives clear guidance on what to sing at Mass. The Liturgy Office accompanying leaflet entitled ‘Singing the Mass’ is particularly useful.
In the Celebration of the Eucharist, there are a number of parts of the Mass which are designed to be sung and should take priority over other musical choices. Think of the various options as falling into three levels, in decreasing order of importance. For each level, why not look at and consider learning a simple chant? The Liturgy Office has great resources to help you do this too, including an easy-to-print A5 booklet.
Download