'To realise by gazing'

An interesting notice of some passages of Romano Guardini, at In illo tempore.

The liturgical act can be realized by looking. This does not merely mean that the sense of vision takes note of what is going on in front, but it is in itself a living participation in the act. I once experienced this in Palermo Cathedral when I could sense the attention with which the people were following the blessings on Holy Saturday for hours on end without books or any words of 'explanation'. Much of this was, of course, an external 'gazing', but basically it was far more. The looking by the people was an act in itself; by looking they participated in the various actions. However, cinema, radio and television--not to forget the flood of tourists--will have destroyed this remainder of old contemplative forces. ... 
 
The active presence of the people of Palermo was based on the fact that they did not merely look up in the book what the various actions 'meant', but they actually 'read' them by simply looking-an after-effect of antique influences, probably paid for by a lack of primary education. Our problem is to rise above reading and writing and learn really to look with understanding. ...

 
Mass in Latin promotes this disposition, as it erects a barrier to the explanatory presentation and eliminates that possibility of dull, lazy numbness. But if the laity use their missals to 'follow along' with the action in the sanctuary, their prayer and attention will be intercepted thereby as much as if the priest and faithful are dis-oriented (i.e., versus populo).

I think that this is a very profound insight: the spiritual life is a long, long road that one follows, involving the casting aside of much else in addition to "primary education" as we "rise above reading and writing and learn really to look with understanding": not because letters and all of man's good works are not necessary and meaningful--not that one shouldn't learn, at some point in one's life, e.g., what the words of the Canon are and what they say--but because, finally, 'understanding' is accomplished in the gracious gift of the divine Majesty, in one Word alone.