PERU: Living the Mass

LIVNG THE MASS

Noel Kerins SSC

The Cross was beautifully adorned - the shroud, a fresh white cloth hanging from the arms of the cross, the dice, the cock the ladder. The ladder was red and the skull and bones, and other symbols decorated its beams. The cross was beautifully painted green - the colour of hope in Peru. It was a large cross placed in the middle of the street. On both sides there were benches and chairs. The devotos de Ia cruz (those who have a devotion to the cross) were decked out in their Sunday best. This was no ordinary Eucharist (may we ever speak of such a thing?) It was the thirty-third year of the May Mass in honour of the Cross. The May Mass has been celebrated each year since that barrio was formed.

Four men and six women of the devotos had been visiting all the homes of the area, some 274 in all, in the nine days prior to the celebration. It is a simple preparation to evangelise in a fitting manner for the fiesta Mass. They pick gospel texts relating to the cross, e.g. ‘if anyone will come after me...’ ‘When I am lifted up I will draw all people to myself’. Then they ask two questions: ¿Qué dice el texto del evangelio? (What is the
gospel text saying?) ¿Qué nos dice a nuestra vida hoy en el Perú?  (How does the living Word speak to us in Peru today?) Peruvians who have participated in Bible study groups just love discussing the text and relating it to their lives. There is a lot of the cross In Peru. Perhaps that Is why they identify so readily with it: very low wages, few jobs, very long working days for these who are lucky enough to have a job. It reminds me of the gospel story of Jesus sending out to work in the vineyard those who were still looking for work late on in the day. I could cite many more examples. And, strangely perhaps, this painted and adorned, green cross ‘lifts up’ too. ‘It gives us hope’ they say. It gives us ‘ánimo’, which we could translate as motivation or enthusiasm.

On that May night I did sense afresh the dying and rising of Jesus. Together, the people and I sensed the saving presence of Christ in His Paschal Mystery. I wonder now as I write these few words in this year of the Eucharist, about the mission Luke and Paul share with us when they encourage us to: ‘Do this in memory of me’. Oft repeated words are renewed in a new setting. We pray them at each Eucharist. This, I suggest Is to celebrate the dying and rising of Jesus In the Eucharist:  in embracing and entering into the cross that we meet In life, in a way that our suffering becomes redemptive and transformative, we begin to live the Mass.

Noel spent twenty years in pastoral work in Lima, Peru, before returning to Ireland. From 1992 to 2002 he did pastoral work in St Joseph¹s Parish, Ballymun, and was a member of CORI¹s Justice Commission. He has since returned to Lima.