Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Letters

An important prayer

byStaff writers
27 April 2008
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

SISTER Mary Coloe’s excellent Centrepoint article on Matthew’s Gospel (CL Easter Sunday 2008) highlights the importance and significance of an underestimated liturgical prayer.

Several times during the English Mass the priest says to the congregation: “… The Lord be with you …”; and the congregation replies: “… and also with you …”

The Latin formula of “Dominus Vobiscum” (the Lord be with You) receives a different response on behalf of the congregation: “Et Cum Spiritu Tuo” ( and with your spirit).

WC Van Unnik (1958) suggested that the early Church took up this extended formula in the face of its deep experience of the life of the Spirit.

Its use in liturgy was a spontaneous creation of the Christian Church following the Old Testament which had made magisterial use of the expression “The Lord is with you”.

Essentially the form of words described the dynamic activity of God’s Spirit manifestly and overtly given to chosen individuals enabling them to do a particular work of God.

Noticeably the Rosary also adopts Matthew’s literary technique of an “inclusion” ie the Gospel opens with a “promise” (Emmanuel meaning “God with us” – Mt 1:23) and closes with its “fulfilment” (Mt 28:20 – Jesus always with us).

The Mysteries of the Rosary begin with the Annunciation (a promise) and conclude with the Crowning of Mary in Heaven (fulfilment of the promise).

The “Hail Mary” itself is also structured this way. It also opens with the words from the Annunciation: “… Rejoice O Highly Favoured One, the Lord is with you” (promise) and concludes in the second part of the prayer with an address to Mary as “holy” in the light of her Assumption into Heaven (completion).

Therefore as often as we attend a Mass or say a Rosary, we invoke the great scriptural message that God is always with us through His Spirit active in our lives.

Related Stories

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

We all desire the liturgy to be an expression of our profound faith experience that God is indeed acting in our lives.

Let us be encouraged by Sr Coloe’s inclusion in her article of the quote from Matthew 29:17 – “… they worshipped him; but some still doubted”.

VINCE HODGE

Paddington, Qld

ShareTweet
Previous Post

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL

Next Post

Cardinal Levada opens new Holy Spirit Seminary

Staff writers

Related Posts

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning
QLD

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health
QLD

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022
Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict
News

Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

19 May 2022
Next Post

Cardinal Levada opens new Holy Spirit Seminary

Preparing for rich experience with WYD pilgrims

New web of information

Popular News

  • Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

    Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI turned 95 on a ‘very happy’ day

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning
QLD

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

by Staff writers
19 May 2022
0

CHRISTIAN Brother Alan Moss was remembered by his friends, family and fellow brothers for his gifted mind,...

Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022
Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

19 May 2022
Holiness is possible and the Church provides tools to attain it, cardinal says

Holiness is possible and the Church provides tools to attain it, cardinal says

18 May 2022
Church workers have helped more than 1.2 million Ukrainians during the war, Caritas says

Church workers have helped more than 1.2 million Ukrainians during the war, Caritas says

18 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping