How Reverent are You?

by Paul Grutsch

Sometimes when I go to church, I wonder where the reverence has gone. What do I mean, you ask? On a typical Sunday I can see people chewing gum during Mass and when they come to receive communion, continually talking, laughing, coming to church in T-shirts with monster pictures on them, leaving immediately after communion, and often dressed immodestly by Christian standards. Even in general conversation, the name of the Lord is used irreverently. When you read what the Church proscribes, you find that reverence did not ``go out with Vatican II.'' In this article I mean to judge no one. All I ask is that you reflect upon what the Church teaches and believes regarding reverence, coupled with the writings of the Church Fathers and what the Holy Scriptures say, and see how truly reverent you are in light of everything said.

First of all, what do we mean by ``reverence''? Reverence is a feeling of deep respect, love, awe, and esteem shown for someone or something sacred.

True reverence flows out of a relationship of loving union with God. The more humble you are, the more reverent you will be, because in your humility you realize that God is everything and that you are nothing. Thus, true reverence is not so much something that we do, a demeanor that we portray, but rather an attitude that flows out of an humble heart in its experience of loving union with the Lord of the universe.

The Name of God!

Let's begin with reverence for the name of God. As Charismatics, I don't think that cursing is generally a problem. However, there is an inappropriate use of the Lord's name that many have picked up over the years and which remains a habit. For example, how often have you heard something like, ``God, it's hot outside'', or ``Gee, I wish it would stop raining.'' (Where ``Gee'' is a euphemism for Jesus.) Both of these expressions refer to the Lord's name in a way that shows no special mark of respect, that reduces the adorable and precious name of God to nothing more than a common word among other common words.

How do the Scriptures and the Church look at this? In Philippians we read, ``For this reason God raised Him to the highest place above and gave Him the name that is greater than every other name. And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.'' The name of God, the name of Jesus, is so revered, is so adored, that every knee bends as a sign of reverence and truth. And if this is the proper attitude for all creation, should we be so flippant in using the Lord's name as an adjective to describe how hot it is, or the extent of a wish?

From another perspective, what does the Church teach? In the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, it states that a bow of the head should be made every time the name of Jesus or the Persons of the Trinity are mentioned! (#33) What love, what respect, what reservation we should have in the manner of our speech when it comes to the name of the Persons of the Trinity or Jesus.

In Prayer

Our reverence is important in regards to our prayer. In Hebrews Five we read that the Father in heaven heard the prayer of Jesus because of His reverence! It wasn't heard because He was His Son, but because of His reverence! Certainly then, if we want our prayer heard by God, reverence is a prime prerequisite.

In the Tabernacle or Monstrance

Let us move on to how we respond to Jesus in the tabernacle or the monstrance. At our last conference [in Atlanta, GA], after a beautiful talk on the holiness of God by Bishop Sam Jacobs, we proceeded to have an all-night adoration. I was somewhat amazed by a group of people in the back who were gathered together in a circle, with their backs to the monstrance, chatting away quite loudly and disturbing the people who were present trying to adore the Lord. Did the presence of God mean so little?

In every validly consecrated eucharist there is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord, wholly and substantially present under the appearance of bread. It would seem to me that if we really believed that Jesus was there, present before us and to us, that if we really believed that Who was there before us was God, that we would act very differently.

What should be the manner of our response before Jesus, in the tabernacle or exposed in the monstrance? I think many of us can relate to seeing people just walk in and sit down in the pews. Sometimes we will see people give a quick ``curtsey'' or quick genuflection. But, see how well one's reverence fits that proscribed by the Church in ``Inaestimabile donum'' (#26): ``The venerable practice of genuflection before the Blessed Sacrament, whether enclosed in the tabernacle or publicly exposed, as a sign of adoration, is to be maintained. This act requires that it be preformed in a recollected way. In order that the heart may bow before God in profound reverence, the genuflection must be neither hurried nor careless.'' This is a post-Vatican II document. For the Church to remind us of the profound reverence needed before the Blessed Sacrament, probably means that she noticed that the proper attitude was often lacking. Not only does the Church call for a genuflection, but one that is neither hurried nor careless.

Consider, too, that the Fatima apparitions begin with a visit from an angel, who invited the three children to ``imitate him'' as he prayed. The angel prostrated himself in adoration before a Host and Chalice suspended in mid-air as he prayed. In a similar manner, the ``General Instruction of the Roman Missal'' says that, as communicants approach to receive communion, if they receive standing, they should make the proper reverence (before receiving, a genuflection or bow) and then stand in front of the priest. (#244c, 246b, 247b).

Although this is seldom done, the instructions do call for the ``reverence'' to the Lord. Furthermore, #233 of the same instructions states that ``a genuflection is to be made whenever anyone passes in front of the Blesses Sacrament'' (unless they are part of a procession). Again, this is often ignored today.

The Importance of Reverence

St. Thomas Aquinas comments on the importance of reverence in the following way; ``We show God reverence, not for His benefit, since creatures can add nothing to the fullness of glory He already has in Himself; we do it for our benefit, so as to subject our spirit to Him and and perfect it. Every creature gains perfection by subjecting itself to higher ones.'' Thus, in the view of St. Thomas Aquinas, true reverence ultimately benefits us by perfecting our spirit.

Receiving Eucharist

Which one of us hasn't been disturbed by an inordinate amount of chatter in the Church? Rather than being able to offer our thanksgiving after communion, it seems that we often are surrounded by those who have to talk loudly, even in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, even turning their backs to the Blessed Sacrament as they speak. Such an attitude would seem to be at odds with the 1983 Code of Canon Law; ``Christ's faithful are to hold the Blessed Eucharist in the highest honor. They should take an active part in the celebration of the most august Sacrifice of the Mass; they should receive the sacrament with great devotion and frequently, and should reverence it with the greatest adoration. In explaining the doctrine of this sacrament, pastors of souls are assiduously to instruct the faithful about their obligation in this regard.'' (Canon 898) From this instruction, we are not called just to ``be polite'' to the Lord, but to hold the Blessed Sacrament in the ``highest honor''.

Receiving the Eucharist is not only a matter of belief, but also of reverence. Consider what the Church requires even for children. Canon 913.2 states; ``The blessed Eucharist, may, however, be administered to children in danger of death if they can distinguish the Body of Christ from ordinary food and receive communion with reverence.'' Belief and reverence go hand-in-hand in the eyes of the Church, even for children.

Jesus is not only present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity under the appearances of bread and wine during the mass, but this remains true even after the mass when He is reserved in the Tabernacle. Unfortunately, several statistics today claim that 70% of Catholics do not believe that Christ is present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist. A profound manner of reverence by those who do believe in His real presence might help those who don't believe that God is really present to them in the Eucharist.

Regarding Scriptures

Regarding the Scriptures at mass, the Church writes; ``When the scriptures are read in the Church, God Himself is speaking to His people, and Christ, present in His own word, is proclaiming the Gospel. The reading must therefore be listened to by all with reverence.''

Sacred Buildings

We should also consider that the Church teaches that a Church is a ``sacred'' building. Each Church is consecrated to God by the Bishop. Canon #1210 states; ``In a sacred place, only those things are permitted which serve to exercise or promote worship, piety, and religion. Anything out of harmony with the holiness of the place is forbidden.'' In Canon #1214 we read: ``The term Church means a sacred building...''. So, if we ask ourselves the question, ``If I were to visit a place that is considered sacred, would I stand around and chat, would I consider it no different than other buildings, such as the parish hall, or would I have a sense of awe?''

There are many today who believe that God the Father would be happy to have His people fellowshipping in the Church, evidence by a lot of talking. I see nothing wrong with a polite greeting when we are in Church, since we are the Body of Christ, but since Jesus Himself says that His Father's house is a ``house of prayer'', it would seem that prayer should be a focus and that long conversations should really be taken outside the Church. The community is not equivalent to God in dignity. Pope Pius XII wrote that ``the person of our Lord must hold the central place in worship.'' Jesus is a Divine Person, and our reverence should reflect this.

Just a few years ago, as I traveled throughout Europe, I noticed that many Americans were denied access to Cathedrals and Churches and Monasteries because they were inappropriately dressed. Anyone who wore shorts, women who had low-cut or back-less dresses, or who had bare shoulders in any manner, were forbidden entrance unless they wrapped a tablecloth around them. Their dress was considered ``immodest'' to the House of God. Let's face it, we are not going to a picnic, but to worship the Lord. The psalmist says to ``worship the Lord in holy attire.'' There is an appropriate attire with which to kneel before the Lord. Our attire not only reflects our attitude toward the one we are ``seeing'', but also is a reflection on how we regard ourselves, and can convey a certain respect or lack thereof, for others.

In 1917, Our Lady at Fatima said many styles would come into vogue, which would greatly offend almighty God. St. Paul says, ``do not conform yourself to the spirit of this age.'' The Church is not supposed to change its standards according to the norms of the contemporary culture, but rather to call people to holiness by unchangeable, God-given standards.

Perspectives on Reverence

Let us now look at reverence from two other perspectives. St. Catherine of Sienna, declared a ``Doctor of the Church'', says that as we grow in holiness, we reverence God no matter what He sends us. Rather than grumble or complain, we should reverence God. She also talks about reverence for priests. She wrote; ``You ask Me if it is My will that the sins of the clergy should not lessen your reverence for them, this is how I would answer you: Because the reverence you pay to them is not actually paid to them but to Me, in virtue of the blood I have entrusted to their ministry. If this were not so, you should pay them as much reverence as to anyone else, and no more. It is this ministry of theirs that dictates that you should reverence them and come to them, not for what they are in themselves, but for the power I have entrusted to them... So, the reverence belongs not to the ministers but to Me and to this glorious blood made one thing with Me because of the unions with divinity and humanity. And just as the reverence is done to Me, so also is the irreverence, for I have told you that you must not reverence them for themselves, but for the authority I have entrusted to them. Therefore, you must not sin against them, because if you do, you are really not sinning against them but against Me... Whatever is done to them, I could as done to Me.'' St. Bridget and St. Gertrude wrote in a similar manner.

O' most Holy Spirit, help us to be truly reverent before You, the Father, and the Son, and in all the ways that God expects reverence of us, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

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