Grounded in Tradition

By Ann Marie Eckert

When I was an adolescent in the early 1980's, I remember being dismissive of the "smells and bells" side of Catholicism. I wanted a church that embraced clapping, guitars, and holding hands, not lighting candles, saying the rosary, and praying novenas. I thought all of that was so old-fashioned and I was more than ready for anything new.

But, as is usually the case, everything old is new again!

Go to a youth ministry event at your parish or diocese and you will likely find plenty of candles, rosaries, and incense. Traditional prayer forms are being explored by Catholic youth and youth from many other faith traditions. Benediction and Eucharistic adoration are experienced much more by today's youth than by my generation. It is funny that the things that many of us turned away from as being "old-fashioned" are the same things that today's young people are turning towards.

I learned this lesson during a diocesan event a few years ago. We had arranged for wonderful music — with drums, and piano, and guitars, and a chorus of talented young singers. Many of the songs were new and full of wonderful images, and some even included gestures or ways for the congregation to clap along. Many people sang along, but plenty simply sat and listened to the music, which wasn't unexpected at a large event. But something changed when we sang . . .

Holy God, we praise thy name.
Lord of all, we bow before Thee.
All on earth thy rule acclaim.
All in heaven above adore Thee.
Infinite, thy vast domain.
Everlasting is thy reign.
Infinite, thy vast domain.
Everlasting is thy reign.

Suddenly you could hear the congregation over the top of the choir. This was a song that people knew. For the adults in the crowd, it was a song they knew in the marrow of their bones, and for the young people it carried the tradition of their Catholic church in its melody and words. Like all good traditions, it brought us together within something familiar and trusted.

When I listened to Sarah Hart sing Holy God, We Praise Thy Name, I was reminded again of that moment a few years ago. And yet Sarah found a way to make the song her own. Her rendition reminds me of listening to a Christmas album where the artist takes a traditional hymn and puts his or her own voice to a trusted melody. I think that is what is happening with our Catholic traditions as well. The "smells and bells" are back, but with their own new way of speaking to today's world. What we need from them is unique to the twenty-first century and our lived experience. I know that young people are attracted to the silence and simplicity of some of these traditions in the face of a noisy and complicated world. I also know that anything that can help them feel and experience the presence of God is gift.

Someone once told me that her bishop said that Catholic prayer forms are a little like Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream. There are 32 flavors and all of them are good. He thought that we should all experience some of the standards (the chocolate and vanilla of the prayer world, if you will), but that each of us will be drawn to different styles and forms of prayer. This is a blessing to all of us.

Jesus used the Jewish traditions within which he was raised to praise and honor God, and he introduced us to new ways to pray as well. He taught the disciples the Lord's Prayer, tradition to us, but new in his day. We are gifted by the traditions that continue to evolve and find new ways of speaking to us. And we are blessed by the continuing way that the Spirit moves without our church and lives. Perhaps some of the things that are new to us today will be tradition 50 years from now, blessing all!

Take a moment to use a traditional prayer (Our Father, Hail Mary, etc.) to pray to God — but be sure to say it with intention and attention. Perhaps you will find something new this time.

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Spirit Compass reflections are developed in partnership
with the Center for Ministry Development.