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Bonds between two Liturgies - Holland
C. A. Rijk

The Sacraments

Several issues of the Hoeksteenreeks (P.O.B. 2, Heemstede, Holland, Paperbacks ed. "The Cornerstone") dealt with the sacraments, bringing out the essential, bond between the latter and Jewish services and celebrations. In this context, mention might be made of some Amsterdam priests who, in administering Baptism, stress significant elements often neglected in the past- such as the giving of a name to the child, the act of presenting the child to be baptised... The biblical and somewhat Jewish traces contained herein are easily seen.

Paraliturgy

The link between Easter and Passover, as well as between Passover and the Eucharist, is increasingly finding visible expression in many countries. For example, handbooks have been published in Holland and America -(Christians and Jews, Roland de Corneille, p. 156, Instructions for Passover Seder) to facilitate a paraliturgical ceremony and to bring out the Jewish origin of the Christian feast.

The aim is to re-live the Jewish pascal meal as it was in the time of Our Lord, to discover its timely aspects and the broad dimensions which the Christian celebration takes on in the light of its Jewish origin. Through Bible readings, prescribed gestures, ritual foods and the family spirit, the Seder meal of Christ is vividly recalled. Further, this ensemble opens to us a better understanding of Judaism today.

Liturgy of the Home

It is a known fact that the Jewish people offer liturgical worship oftener in the home than in the synagogue. Thus it has an existential bearing on daily life, Among Catholics, also, there is an increasing tendency to celebrate the liturgy in the more intimate surroundings of private homes. In this milieu, the meaning of the participating community is better understood.

In September, the bishops in Holland issued a pastoral letter on "Sunday and the week-end". In it they spoke about offering liturgical worship in private homes instead of in the church, the place traditionally set aside for it. This is an incentive to the faithful to prepare beforehand the biblical texts of the Eucharistic Celebration, which later would be taken up again, discussed, and meditated within the family circle. This could possibly revive domestic liturgy for which prayer formulae,.accompanying gestures, and biblical readings are being sought, which could be integrated into daily life.