One Heart in Love

Here's another of the iris farm's beauties.
Since this coming Sunday is the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ and since we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Vatican Council, I re-read the Council's document on the Liturgy yesterday and today.  The reform that for many Catholics was most prominent was changing the language of the Mass from Latin to English.
What stands out for me as I read the constitution is the emphasis on the Mass as building up the unity of the Church from our many members: "The liturgy in its turn inspires the faithful to become of one heart in love." (1:10)  The bishops called the Eucharist "a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity" (2:47)
Unity is created not only by all of us taking communion in the Body and Blood of Christ, but by praying and singing together.  "In the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered above all else; for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit." (1:14)
Our exterior participation is meant to be an expression of our interior desire to offer ourselves  to God in the dying and rising of Jesus. Active participation in  the Mass expresses and causes this union with Christ's sacrifice and unites us ever more closely to one another.  Active participation contributes to the common good in the Mass itself and helps us to contribute to the common good in the world beyond the church building.