Having grown up with two brothers and a middle child, I understand that sometimes this union that is called for can be challenging. But if we begin to look at each other as family, maybe we can try and come together as a community of faith that we are called to be.

Let’s look at the Mass – the liturgy above all liturgies. A couple of years ago I wrote an article titled ‘Go Forth the Mass is Ended’.

I wrote:

“If we are not full, conscious, and active participants in the liturgy we will not take away the nourishment from the table of God. To be sent into the world as Jesus has commissioned us to, we need this nourishment to be the Body of Christ, our vocation to bring his message to others in our daily lives (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church (2000), n. 1332). Pope Francis,   in his message for World Mission Day 2022, also emphasises this call to mission in response to the dismissal:

“Christ’s Church will continue to “go forth” towards new geographical, social and existential horizons, towards “borderline” places and human situations, in order to bear witness to Christ and His love to men and women of every people, culture and social status.” (n.3).”

In the corporate world they have standard operating procedures and these SOPs assist in ensuring consistency, enhanced quality and streamlined workflow. This language clearly does not work for the Mass, but the ideas do.

They help people stay focused on their mission and avoid unnecessary confusion.

In a similar way, the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, has given us a sacred structure in the celebration of the Mass. The Order of the Mass—from the Penitential Rite to the Liturgy of the Word, and from the Eucharistic Prayer to the final blessing—is not just a routine. It is a sacred rhythm, a spiritual SOP, if you will, that draws us deeper into communion with God and with one another.

Just as SOPs in business help teams stay aligned with their goals, the structure of the Mass helps us stay aligned with Christ. It ensures that every celebration, whether in a grand cathedral or a humble chapel, is united in purpose, reverent in spirit, and rich in grace. Sacrosanctum Concilium uses the term ‘norms’. One norm that I want to share here is this:

“Therefore no other person (other than the bishop – not even a priest), may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy…” (n. 22.3).

Therefore, let us be mindful of each other, those assembled. Let us not take this structure for granted. Instead, let us enter into it with hearts full of faith, knowing that in this holy ‘order’, we encounter the living God. Let us not bring anything into the Mass that may cause disunity. Let us not turn Mass into just an inward devotional service, focussed on what we want, and our desires. Let us all be full, active, conscious participants together, united in Christ’s call on our lives as the Body of Christ.