An Evolving Tradition

My maternal grandparents were born in Italy and my paternal grandparents were born in Poland. When both sets of grandparents migrated to the United States, they brought with them the family traditions they experienced in Europe and handed them on to my parents. My parents continued the essential parts of those traditions, and they incorporated some new traditions from the United States and handed them on to us. My generation, now scattered throughout the U.S. and around the world, continues to maintain the essential parts of those traditions from our parents and grandparents, but we have also integrated new traditions based on where we live. The local language, culture and customs are now a part of our traditions which continue to change and evolve.

The traditions that are part of our liturgies followed a similar journey. Like my ancestors, our liturgical ancestors handed on what is essential. The apostles shared stories and a sacred meal to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. As they went forth from Jerusalem, they handed on these essential elements and they incorporated new traditions based on the local culture.

From the time of the apostles, our liturgy has maintained its essential content, but many elements have undergone a process of change and transformation. From architecture to art, from rites to readings, from vessels to vernacular languages, the Church has continued to rewrite, revise, revisit, and reform our liturgical prayer. New theologies, new interpretations of old theologies, local culture, church councils, and church leadership all have influenced changes in the way we pray.

All of this tells us that liturgy is a living experience that changes and grows as all living things must. Perhaps that’s because the liturgy is celebrated by and for human beings who are also in a continuous state of evolution and transformation. We remain a pilgrim people, a people on a journey who continue to seek, to change, and to be changed. We are a people with whom God is not yet finished, a people whom God continues to remake and refashion.

We, like our ancestors, are charged with the responsibility of handing on the essential parts of our faith while being open to the Holy Spirit who makes all things new.

My maternal grandparents were born in Italy and my paternal grandparents were born in Poland. When both sets of grandparents migrated to the United States, they brought with them the family traditions they experienced in Europe and handed them on to my parents. My parents continued the essential parts of those traditions, and they incorporated some new traditions from the United States and handed them on to us. My generation, now scattered throughout the U.S. and around the world, continues to maintain the essential parts of those traditions from our parents and grandparents, but we have also integrated new traditions based on where we live. The local language, culture and customs are now a part of our traditions which continue to change and evolve.

The traditions that are part of our liturgies followed a similar journey. Like my ancestors, our liturgical ancestors handed on what is essential. The apostles shared stories and a sacred meal to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. As they went forth from Jerusalem, they handed on these essential elements and they incorporated new traditions based on the local culture.

From the time of the apostles, our liturgy has maintained its essential content, but many elements have undergone a process of change and transformation. From architecture to art, from rites to readings, from vessels to vernacular languages, the Church has continued to rewrite, revise, revisit, and reform our liturgical prayer. New theologies, new interpretations of old theologies, local culture, church councils, and church leadership all have influenced changes in the way we pray.

All of this tells us that liturgy is a living experience that changes and grows as all living things must. Perhaps that’s because the liturgy is celebrated by and for human beings who are also in a continuous state of evolution and transformation. We remain a pilgrim people, a people on a journey who continue to seek, to change, and to be changed. We are a people with whom God is not yet finished, a people whom God continues to remake and refashion.

We, like our ancestors, are charged with the responsibility of handing on the essential parts of our faith while being open to the Holy Spirit who makes all things new.