Liturgical Dance

It's not accurate to call the moving expressions of sacredness, "dance", is it?  When Catholics worship at Mass there are certain times when movement would enhance the natural movement of the sacred liturgy.  Mass starts with a procession.  Who has seen a solemn, swaying, incense flowing, rhythmic procession enter the sanctuary?  Not only have I seen it, I still remember the emotion that filled me watching the performance.  I won't call it "dance;" I prefer performance.

Performance is the exact word to use.  The liturgy used at Mass is a performance. The Mass celebrant leads the prayers encouraging the congregation to participate and become involved in the rhythm of the liturgical celebration. The music supports the ritual.  The lectors invite the people to visualize the scriptures.  The cantor leads the psalm and the choir responds carrying the people along.

That's a performance to me.

With so much ritualistic expression, wouldn't liturgical dance be a natural fit?  The opening procession started it all.  Bringing up the gifts with sacred movement would give importance to the gesture.  I've seen the altar servers carrying candles accompany a lector to the ambo and stand on either side of the ambo as the Liturgy of the Word is read.

The drama!!

I'm telling you, liturgical dance is a natural fit!

And then, THEN, the climax...

The Liturgy of the Eucharist.  By this time, God has called the assembly through their senses.  Shshsh...listen   to   the  quiet.    He's come.

Feel the drama.

Come receive Him.

Enjoyment in quiet contemplation.  The music leads the congregation into the thanksgiving prayers of the priest.  The people stand. The closing rites echo how the performance began, "The Lord be with you and the Sign of the Cross."  The priest sends us forth to bring this experience out for the world to enjoy, be blessed, learn, and love.

How can anyone not act like Miriam in Exodus 15: 20-21 dancing out of the Red Sea?  Or like King David dancing home carrying the Ark of the Covenant, 2 Samuel 6?  Was that not worship?  Isn't celebrating God worship?

Come. Take trumpets, harps, lyres, lutes, clashing cymbals--resounding cymbals and dance to worship the Lord.  Psalm 150