Comments on: The Lenten Eucharist http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/the-lenten-eucharist/ Orthodox Christianity, Culture and Religion, Making the Journey of Faith Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:36:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Fr John Bostwick http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/the-lenten-eucharist/#comment-1844 Fr John Bostwick Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:53:08 +0000 http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/the-lenten-eucharist/#comment-1844 Father - One of the most profound and joyful experiences of worship has been attending the Presanctified Liturgy in the Orthodox Church. And when the consecrated elements were brought forth (as you described), there was no doubt in my mind that Christ was in our midst. The utter silence, the prostration, the reverence. Yes, it is not Eucharistic devotion as we have it in the Roman Church, yet there is a profound awareness of "presence". No need to compare, only to appreciate. Just the thought of a Roman priest. Father - One of the most profound and joyful experiences of worship has been attending the Presanctified Liturgy in the Orthodox Church. And when the consecrated elements were brought forth (as you described), there was no doubt in my mind that Christ was in our midst. The utter silence, the prostration, the reverence. Yes, it is not Eucharistic devotion as we have it in the Roman Church, yet there is a profound awareness of “presence”. No need to compare, only to appreciate. Just the thought of a Roman priest.

]]> By: Matthew Francis http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/the-lenten-eucharist/#comment-1838 Matthew Francis Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:39:30 +0000 http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/the-lenten-eucharist/#comment-1838 Thank you for this, Father. As I have my face to the ground during this service, I sometimes think as the priest's footsteps can be heard carrying the holy gifts, "how beautiful are the feet of him who brings Goood News." Yet, it is the singing of the Psalms of Ascent at the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts that each year reminds me that I am a member of the sojourning people of God, at search for our Promised Land in God. I don't know if it is the same melody in all places, but it is that melody which strangely welcomes me to the Lenten pilgrimage in earnest. We are "going up" in the same way the Old Testament pilgrims ascended up to Jerusalem for the great festivals of salvation. But, even more, "God is the Lord and has revealed Himself." We are members of his very Body. The fact that our liturgical journey in this particular Liturgy brings us up to partake of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ reveals that He is the 'end' of all our searching. I also would like to thank you for your sermon in Washington in November. I had the privilege of being there that Sunday. Your good word that day reminded me of the preaching one of our beloved Canadian priests, Fr. Lawrence Farley (but with a charming Southern accent as well). Asking your pastoral blessings and prayers... Thank you for this, Father. As I have my face to the ground during this service, I sometimes think as the priest’s footsteps can be heard carrying the holy gifts, “how beautiful are the feet of him who brings Goood News.”

Yet, it is the singing of the Psalms of Ascent at the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts that each year reminds me that I am a member of the sojourning people of God, at search for our Promised Land in God. I don’t know if it is the same melody in all places, but it is that melody which strangely welcomes me to the Lenten pilgrimage in earnest. We are “going up” in the same way the Old Testament pilgrims ascended up to Jerusalem for the great festivals of salvation. But, even more, “God is the Lord and has revealed Himself.” We are members of his very Body. The fact that our liturgical journey in this particular Liturgy brings us up to partake of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ reveals that He is the ‘end’ of all our searching.

I also would like to thank you for your sermon in Washington in November. I had the privilege of being there that Sunday. Your good word that day reminded me of the preaching one of our beloved Canadian priests, Fr. Lawrence Farley (but with a charming Southern accent as well).

Asking your pastoral blessings and prayers…

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