Understanding in the Divine Liturgies
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the importance of understanding and preparation in the liturgies and how every element of the church rite (incense offering, hymns, readings, vestments, secret prayers) aims to prepare the heart and mind for true worship. The text clarifies that entering the liturgy without preparation causes us to lose its spiritual fruit.
Main idea of the lecture
The lecture affirms that the liturgy is not merely an external rite but an inner spiritual work; every act in the rite has meaning: offering incense is a sacrifice, hymns are preparation, readings of the Gospel and Psalms are prayers that connect us with God, and the vestments indicate purity and the role of the priesthood. Preparation includes preparatory prayers (Vespers, Matins, Midnight Prayer), fasting, confession and repentance, and meditation on the readings.
The spiritual and faith-educational dimension
The liturgy is a place to meet God and the Holy Scripture is respected as the divine word; therefore there are special rites of respect for the Gospel (the Oushee, candles, circling the altar, lifting it upon the head). The reader and the people are required to stand in reverence and accept the word internally so that hearing becomes doing according to Christ’s teaching “whoever hears my words and does them…”.
How the church and the person prepare for the liturgy
The church prepares the altar, the people and the priest in several ways: offering evening and morning incense, hymns, multiple readings coordinated according to the season or feast, and secret prayers the priest utters during the readings so the people are spiritually affected. Also the vestments are sanctified and the liturgical garments have symbolic meanings.
The effect of preparation on communion and spiritual life
The lecturer notes that communion without preparation may be ineffective or exposed to negative spiritual influences. While many groups receive communion in true preparation which counts as great spiritual power able to “burn the demons.” Preparation increases the believer’s ability to stand firm in faith after communion.
Practical summary
It is important that the believer accept the teaching and participate in the preparations: attending the Oushee, the hymns, reading the Holy Book, fasting, confession, and meditating on the readings. The more your inner preparation for the liturgy, the greater your spiritual benefit.
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