Abstract

Existing theological publications on this topie are too generał and have little to contribute to the problem. The author worked as a pastor of the young for almost twenty years, in a period of rapid change in the Church. Owing to that, he is able t.o make some practical postulat.es. He begins by explaining the content of the two basie terms, „youth" and „participation" in the liturgy. Next he discusses the changes in the participation of young people in t.he liturgy in Poland and considers the advantages and drawbacks of the changed situation. Finally, he puts forward a few postulates aiming at enlivening young people's participation in the Eucharistic liturgy.  The author considers that priests should: take advantage of the experience of many small groups and communities and the achievements of the deuterocatechumenical („Oasis") movement; send young people to retreats, pilgrimages, days of prayer and other religious events and then gather the participants in communities that would discharge specifjc liturgical functions; retain the young people's Mass, prepare its liturgy with the young and address the homily to them; form the correct inner disposition, among other things through silence, which ought to regain its ciue place in the liturgy; make an effort to remove any elements of paternalism and artificiality from the liturgy so as to respond to young people's need for sincerity, authenticity and rebellion against hypocrisy; awaken a sense of mystery and of the sacred, which is so important in an epoch of abolition of mystery and adulation of the profane.