WOM6 - The Penitential Rite, pt. 2 – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating

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The Eucharist and Moral Living Deacon James Keating Kris McGregor Discerning Hearts Podcast

The Penitential Rite, Part 2 – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating

Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor discuss the role of silence and mercy within the Mass, especially during the penitential rite. Practical concerns, such as time pressures, often cause parishes to rush past important prayers like the Confiteor or the Kyrie. Genuine silence allows people to transition from the busyness of daily life into the sacred encounter of the liturgy. Silence isn’t “dead air” but a sacred space where Christ Himself speaks truth to the heart. To benefit from this gift, the faithful need formation on how to enter silence and discern God’s voice from distractions, guilt, or mere psychological noise. Pastors and parishes should embrace these pauses more generously and to create a rhythm that differs from the entertainment-driven pace of modern culture.

Dcn. Keating also reflects on the Kyrie as the most authentic human prayer, since it acknowledges God’s very identity as mercy and places our sins within the context of Christ’s saving ministry. Even fleeting moments of awareness during Mass can bring profound communion with God, similar to suddenly noticing a spouse’s beauty in an ordinary moment. Families can nurture this capacity by practicing silence and prayer at home with their children, so that when extended silences occur in church, they feel natural. The Mass should never be treated as a performance but as the sober, transformative action of the Holy Spirit drawing the congregation into deeper union with Christ, where both music and silence have their rightful place.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do I personally prepare to move from the noise of daily life into the silence of the Mass?
When silence is offered during the liturgy, do I truly rest in God’s presence or simply wait for the next part to begin?
How do I understand the words “Lord, have mercy” as both a prayer of need and an encounter with God’s very identity?
In what ways might I be rushing through the liturgy instead of opening space for God to act in me?
How can I practice silence and prayer within my home so that it becomes natural during Mass?
Do I recognize moments, even fleeting, when Christ’s mercy deeply touches me, and do I allow myself to receive them fully?
How might my participation in Mass change if I viewed silence not as absence, but as a sacred form of communion?
Am I open to the Holy Spirit’s quiet work within me during the Eucharist, or do I cling to my own expectations and pace?

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page