The Transfiguration
From The Church's Year of Grace by Fr. Pius Parsch
What is the import of the transfiguration to the liturgy itself? Remember, the liturgical texts not only serve to give instruction; their principal function is to signify that which actually takes place. What once happened during the night on Mount Thabor happens again every time the holy Sacrifice is offered. We may see only the simple appearances upon the altar, but with the eyes of faith we behold the glorified Christ; we see, in fact, the King of glory with his court, the saints of the old and new covenant. Liturgy actualises in our very presence the sanctifying act of Christ at His transfiguration.
It is, therefore, not only Christ who becomes transfigured - He allows me to share His glory. The holy Eucharist is the sacrament of transfiguration, for it is the seed of glory. The purpose of the liturgy is the divine transfiguration of the participants. Understand the Gospel as a description of what the liturgy strives to effect and perfect.
From Words of Life on the Margin of the Missal by Blessed Columba Marmion OSB
When He tells us that Jesus is His beloved Son, the Father reveals to us His life; and when we believe in this revelation we participate in the knowledge of God Himself.
The Father knows the Son in endless glory; as for us, we know Him in the shadows of faith whilst awaiting the light of eternity. The Father declares that the Babe of Bethlehem, the Youth of Nazareth, the Preacher of Judea, the Victim of Calvary is His Son, His Well-beloved Son; our faith is to believe this.
It is an excellent thing in the spiritual life to have this testimony of the Father ever present, as it were, before the eyes of the heart. Nothing upholds our faith so powerfully. When we read the Gospel, when we visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, when we prepare ourselves to receive Him in our hearts in Holy Communion, or when we adore Him after having received Him, in our whole life, in fine, let us try to have these words habitually before us: "This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."
What is the import of the transfiguration to the liturgy itself? Remember, the liturgical texts not only serve to give instruction; their principal function is to signify that which actually takes place. What once happened during the night on Mount Thabor happens again every time the holy Sacrifice is offered. We may see only the simple appearances upon the altar, but with the eyes of faith we behold the glorified Christ; we see, in fact, the King of glory with his court, the saints of the old and new covenant. Liturgy actualises in our very presence the sanctifying act of Christ at His transfiguration.
It is, therefore, not only Christ who becomes transfigured - He allows me to share His glory. The holy Eucharist is the sacrament of transfiguration, for it is the seed of glory. The purpose of the liturgy is the divine transfiguration of the participants. Understand the Gospel as a description of what the liturgy strives to effect and perfect.
From Words of Life on the Margin of the Missal by Blessed Columba Marmion OSB
When He tells us that Jesus is His beloved Son, the Father reveals to us His life; and when we believe in this revelation we participate in the knowledge of God Himself.
The Father knows the Son in endless glory; as for us, we know Him in the shadows of faith whilst awaiting the light of eternity. The Father declares that the Babe of Bethlehem, the Youth of Nazareth, the Preacher of Judea, the Victim of Calvary is His Son, His Well-beloved Son; our faith is to believe this.
It is an excellent thing in the spiritual life to have this testimony of the Father ever present, as it were, before the eyes of the heart. Nothing upholds our faith so powerfully. When we read the Gospel, when we visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, when we prepare ourselves to receive Him in our hearts in Holy Communion, or when we adore Him after having received Him, in our whole life, in fine, let us try to have these words habitually before us: "This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."
posted by Lactantius at
12:28 am
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