ABSOLUTE IMPORTANCE OF SILENCE: Liturgical rubrics on periods of silence at Mass

St. Josemaria: "There is no better way to show how great is our concern and love for the Holy Sacrifice than by taking great care with the least detail of the ceremonies the wisdom of the Church has laid down."

In his latest guidelines on the liturgy, Pope Francis stressed: "Among the ritual acts that belong to the whole assembly, silence occupies a place of absolute importance." He pointed out that silence is something "grand." It is not trivial, but "a point of arrival within a liturgical sequence." It is a "symbol of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit;" being an integral part of the sacrament it effectuates grace. (Desiderio Desideravi 52)

Grace is divine life and help, something we all sorely need. 

And so, he asks us to enact silence with "extreme care."  

When are these moments and what do the rubrics say about them? 

Here are quotes from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):

1. Within the Penitential Act (45, 51)

The Priest calls upon the whole community to take part in the Penitential Act, which, after a brief pause for silence, it does by means of a formula of general confession. (51)

Nature of silence – individuals recollect themselves (45)

2. After “Let us pray” of the opening collect (45, 54)

The Priest calls upon the people to pray and everybody, together with the Priest, observes a brief silence so that they may become aware of being in God’s presence and may call to mind their intentions. (54)

Nature of silence – individuals recollect themselves (45) 

3. Before the Liturgy of Word (56)

It may be appropriate to observe such periods of silence, for example, before the Liturgy of the Word itself begins. (56)

4. After the first two readings (45, 56, 128, 130)

It may be appropriate to observe such periods of silence, for example … after the First and Second Reading. (56)

Nature of the silence - All meditate briefly on what they have heard (45)

At the end [of the First Reading], the reader pronounces the acclamation The word of the Lord, and all reply, Thanks be to God. Then a few moments of silence may be observed, if appropriate, so that all may meditate on what they have heard. (128)

Then [after the reply to the acclamation after the Second Reading], if appropriate, a few moments of silence may be observed. (130)

5. After the homily (45, 56, 66, 136)

It may be appropriate to observe such periods of silence, for example…at the conclusion of the Homily (56)

It is appropriate for a brief period of silence to be observed after the Homily. (66)

When the Homily is over, a period of silence may be observed. (136)

Nature of the silence - all meditate briefly on what they have heard. (45)

6. After communion (43, 45, 164)

If appropriate, [the faithful] may sit or kneel during the period of sacred silence after Communion. (43)

Nature of silence - praise God in their hearts and pray to him (45)

After [the priest purifies the chalice and dries it with purificator], the Priest may return to the chair. A sacred silence may now be observed for some time, or a Psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may be sung (164)

7. After “Let us pray” of the post-communion prayer (165)

A brief period of silence may precede the prayer, unless this has been already observed immediately after Communion. (165)

Putting liturgical silence into practice

Of the seven moments, four are referred to with the word "may", while three are in the indicative: (1) Within the Penitential act, (2) After the "Let us pray" of the Collect, and (3) After the Homily. 

Still, Pope Francis in Desiderio Desideravi pointed out that silence is "present in the penitential act, after the invitation 'Let us pray,' in the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings, between the readings and after the homily), in the Eucharistic prayer, after communion." 

And so parishes and communities, may want to consider adapting all the seven moments of silence, given the "absolute importance" of these moments of silence at Mass--the very summit and source of our Christian life. 

Based on my internet search, many parishes instruct lectors to pause either for 2-3 seconds or 5-10 seconds. If one chooses the mid-point of 4 seconds, then the seven pauses will only mean an additional 28 seconds, that's less than half a minute--half a minute of receiving completely the powerful action of the Holy Spirit himself.   

At the very least, it is truly important that the three moments that the rubrics clearly indicate should be deliberately and calmly practiced.