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Sacramentum
caritatis? Latin for the sacrament of charity, referring to
the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, is the title of the latest
document issued by Pope Benedict, released last February 22.
It's
a beautiful summary and in-depth comment of the Pope on the
observations, suggestions and resolutions made by the bishops
and cardinals in their synod on the sacrament in October 2005
in Rome.
Reading
it, I was immediately impressed by the amount of wisdom contained
in that document that skillfully described the sacrament as
a mystery to be believed, to be celebrated and to be lived.
I
consider that plan of developing the topic very timely and
clever, since it gives a comprehensive coverage, unified and
organic, of how the sacrament, and the mystery it involves,
should be treated.
The
sacrament should not only be believed, it has to be celebrated,
and properly. And it should not just be celebrated, it has
to be lived to its last consequences.
The
Holy Mass, after all, has been described as the source and
summit of Church life and mission, the vital link between
heaven and earth now. It has to infuse its substance in our
entire being from our minutest pore to our grandest dimension.
Often,
we get stuck in one stage or another. We need to go all the
way. This is a requirement of our human condition, to be consciously
pursued and fulfilled since our tendency is to reduce what
is proper for us.
There
is a beautiful and incisive description, for example, of what
active participation in the Mass ought to be. It's not just
muttering prayers and joining in the singing. One has to go
through a continuing conversion as he immerses himself in
the mystery celebrated.
Also
there is a wonderful discussion about the social and other
practical implications of the sacrament. This should greatly
help in correcting the tendency to consider the Mass as purely
Church or spiritual affair with hardly any effect on the other
aspects of our lives.
With
all these, I was just a little dismayed when it came out.
The media only gave scant consideration to it, giving a line
or two to highlight a minor but, to them, curious detail,
like the Mass can be celebrated in Latin in international
gatherings.
In
the meantime, the press was busy following every lurid detail
about the latest perversion of Paris Hilton, the latest aberration
of Britney Spears, and the latest love life hitch of our Kris
Aquino.
For
these items, a river of ink was spent, rolls and rolls of
footages were used. It seems there's a big industry out there
involved in spreading every twist and turn in the lives of
these unfortunately irresistible celebrities.
It's
not for me to say what should appear in the papers. But I
just find it funny that an important event in religion and
Church life does not stand a chance, not a rat's chance, to
compete with celebrity gossips in terms of media space.
I
get the impression the media wants us only to be peeping toms
and backbiters, rather than contemplatives and thinking and
sensible people. It simply wants to titillate our curiosity,
imagination and adrenalin.
It's
contented with playing to the gallery. Hardly leading the
crowd, it rather follows the mob. I wonder what its understanding
of its nature and role in society is. Does religion have a
prominent place in it?
It
starves our finer senses and higher faculties. The rationalization
is that to be fair and objective, it has to be morally undefined
and genderless. The law of the market is its main guide.
Often
quick to question everybody, it is slow to evaluate itself
and its performance. Its judgments and opinions are often
given a tinge of infallibility.
Well,
no one is perfect in this life. That's why we should just
help one another, by making timely reminders, constructive
suggestions and corrections.
I
wish the media invest more seriously in the area of faith
and religion, developing talents through time. I believe the
future we all want is there.
**********
Fr.
Roy Cimagala is the Chaplain of Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise
(CITE) in Talamban, Cebu City. You can email him at:Email: roycimagala@boholchronicle.com | 
