Peter CostelloColumba McCann is currently the Master of Ceremonies for the Archbishop of Dublin. So he is in charge of the very grandest of religious ceremonies to be seen from time to time in the capital. But this book has another audience in mind, those working at the parish level to enhance the experience of the liturgy for the local people. Some of his suggestions are striking. For instance that the service should end with the words “Go, the Mass is ended”. There should be no more singing after these words, but the people should obey the command and leave. This is an example both of the common sense and the close reading of the ritual of the liturgy itself that is found all through the book. Oddly in one section he speaks of developing “traditions” as if these could be done instantly. A notion not mentioned would be that every parish should develop some sort of liturgical commemoration of its own past and foundation, even if this has to be celebrated outside the parish church at a Mass rock, holy well, or ruined church. Columba McCann’s are practical ideas and all parishes might benefit from them. One has to remember, though, that the essential nature of the Mass does not depend on elaboration of ritual, but on the miraculous simplicity of the consecration.
