Created in 1999, the "Messe qui prend son Temps" (MT) celebrated its 20th anniversary on Sunday, October 6, with 400 faithful from several generations. The provincial François Boëdec presided over this anniversary MT.

What is "MT"?

Every Sunday evening, about 200 students and young professionals flock to the Saint Ignatius Church for what they commonly call the "MT", the Mass that takes its time. Born in Paris in 1999, TM has since then extended far beyond the borders of Saint-Ignace: Toulouse, Lille, Bordeaux, Lyon... But also in England, Italy, Canada, Switzerland...

The originality of this formula: instead of the usual 60 minutes, this mass is willingly extended by an additional half an hour, dedicated to listening to the Word, personal prayer and sharing in small groups. According to Ignatian spirituality, three points of meditation are proposed on the Gospel of the day, while leaving everyone free to "feel and taste things inwardly", to use Saint Ignatius' words. Objective: that young people practice contemplation and discernment.

A time to meet God and others

For Valerio Ciriello sj, coordinator of MT, "in an often frenetic world, young people have here the time and space to meet God, to deepen their knowledge of his Word and to put it into practice with the many other young people with whom they meet every Sunday. Here, we take time for God and for others, since there is no real encounter with God that does not also involve the encounter with our brothers and sisters. »

Conviviality is thus clearly part of the MT's DNA: a shared drink (and sometimes a meal) systematically closes each Sunday evening celebration.

To support this MT, several teams of students and young professionals are involved in different areas: music, readers, diakonia, etc. Beyond these groups of young people, Jesuits and religious also participate in the functioning of the celebration through opportunities for confession and a permanent listening.

The origins of MT

It was during a retreat for young people in Manresa (Jesuit spiritual centre in Clamart, 92) that the idea of a "School of the Word" was first experienced. Inspired by Cardinal Martini sj who had set this up in Milan since the early 1980s, and in the spirit of lectio divina, the School of the Word allows time to meditate in silence on the Word of God, one beside the other, in the same way of what is lived in Taizé.

In 1999, at the request of the Provincial to renew youth ministry in Saint-Ignace and based on this experience in Manresa, "Masses listening to the Word" were launched. This way of praying Scripture inside a mass is then proposed every Sunday evening at 7pm. "The Mass listening to the Word" gradually becomes the "Mass that takes its time" according to the spontaneous expression of a participant.