Original scientific paper
THE CELEBRATION OF THE FAMILY BLESSING THE PRESENT PASTORAL-LITURGICAL CHALLENGE
Danijel Crnić
Abstract
Since the blessing is linked to Biblical account of creation, it is a part of the creation itself, and becomes a theologically proclaimed participation in the divine life of the man, and as such itis developed through the history of salvation in its katabathic (descending) and anabathic (ascending) dimensions; in Christianity it finds its source in the Eucharist of the Church. The contemporary man, albeit loosing a sense for sacramental, still keeps a feeling for the ritual, where the blessing are pronounced according to a private array, and not as liturgical acts of praising and blessing God. If blessings are ripped out of the context of faith and community which is the subject of liturgical celebration, and if separated from their sacramental base, they can easily become a manifestation of a wrong perception of faith which sense is recognized in the bare utility for existence. In their authenticity blessings are a continuous sanctification of Christian life and mission in the world. The Ceremonial with its inherent theology, dominated by the liturgical act of praising God for his gifts, if properly accepted in the pastoral praxis can lead to the so much needed reversal of mentality, from utility to the celebrativesalvation dynamics of the blessing of the communal celebration of the Church. Blessings are liturgical acts through which the Church celebrates Christ’s mystery of salvation. The participation is intended as a celebration through participation on universal (baptismal) priesthood in Christ. Faithful laics are through the baptismal grace responsible protagonists of the celebration, especially in the context of the blessings regarding the family life. Through serving the blessings faithful laics become moderators and teachers of prayer, not only in the family but also in the parish community, and active and responsible subjects in the evangelisation process. Therefore, we should seriously think over our pastoral and liturgical celebrations of blessings of the families, that should be properly and fructuously celebrated in certain occasions, in accordance with boundaries given us by the Ceremonial.
Keywords
catabathic (descending) and anabathic (ascending) dimension of blessing; correction of mentality; ritual matrix; postmodern subject of faith
Hrčak ID:
121845
URI
Publication date:
21.1.2011.
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