The Catholic

The Center of the Church’s Life (SC)

RCIA Lesson 13 The Early Celebration The First Three Centuries • Grew from Jewish Roots – Synagogue Worship centered on the Word (Luke 4:17-21, Acts 13:14- 16) and Prayer. – Followed Jewish meal traditions. Blessing God in the breaking of the The Synagogue at Capernaum bread. Berakah Spirituality (Living always in the light of God’s blessing) – Followed the pattern of the Covenant Memorial (Exodus 12:25-26) • Around 80 AD Christian and Jewish Synagogue worship officially parted. • Formation of the Domestic Church – Proclaiming the Word Living in “For the apostates let there be no hope. And let the arrogant government be speedily uprooted in our days. Let the Nazarenes and the sectarians be destroyed in a moment. And let them be blotted out of the Book of Life and not be inscribed together with the righteous. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who humblest the ִּב ְר ַּכת ַּה ִּמינִּים, " .arrogant“ (BIRKAT HA-MINIM (Heb concerning heretics"), ) The Early Celebration Domus Ecclesia – The Domestic Church On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits. When the reader has finished, he who

Baptistery presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things. Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves . . .and for all others,

wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by Church Meeting Room Meeting Church Courtyard our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation. When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss. Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren. He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts. When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.' When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent. (St Justin Martyr ~155AD) Preparation for the Celebration

A room in the church or attached thereto, where the , church furnishings and the like, sacred vessels, and other treasures are kept, and where the clergy meet and vest for the various ecclesiastical functions.

The sacristy should contain cases, properly labelled, for the various vestments in all the liturgical colors; a crucifix or other suitable image in a prominent position to which the clergy bow before going to the sanctuary and on returning (Ritus celebrandi missam, II, i); a lavatory, where the officiating clergy may wash their hands a book containing the obligations of the Church regarding foundations and their fulfillment. Vestments / Liturgical Colors - The common garment of any ministers at the Eucharist. Symbolizes baptismal garment.

Cincture - A rope worn encircling the body around or above the waist. Besides its functional role in securing the alb and , the cincture bears a symbolic role, signifying chastity and purity.

Stole - The that marks recipients of Holy Orders. A or other wears the stole around his neck with the ends hanging down in front, while the places it over his left shoulder and ties it cross-wise at his right side, similar to a sash.

Chasuble - Originated as a sort of conical poncho, called in a "casula" or "little house." It was the common outer traveling garment in the late Roman Empire.

Dalmatic: Common Roman Coat of the 3rd Century. On account of the cruciform shape and original red ornamental stripes, it was regarded as symbolic of the sufferings of Christ. The vestment admonished the servant of the to offer himself as an acceptable sacrifice to God.

Christmas to the Baptism of the Lord, Holy Thursday, Easter season, Solemnity of Palm Sunday Good Friday Pentecost Gaudete / the Most Holy Trinity, Feasts of Our Lord other / Feasts of the Passion of the Lord, Laetare than those of His Passion, Feast of All Saints, Time Feasts of Martyrs, Apostles, and Sunday Sacrament of Baptism, Matrimony, Holy Evangelists, Sacrament of Confirmation Orders, Funeral Rites Participation of the Faithful Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi (the law of praying establishes the law of believing)

The : As followers of Jesus Christ, we are united to his passion, death, and resurrection. We take the sign of his cross on to our own bodies. This central symbol of our faith becomes the beginning point of our prayer, and its conclusion. It’s how we place boundaries in time and space that say, “Now I’m praying; this time belongs to God.” Our actual words, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” reflect this delineation of sacred time and space, and recognize that all we are and all we do is connected to the mystery of the Trinity.

Standing: Standing is a sign of respect and honor, so we stand as the celebrant who represents Christ enters and leaves the assembly.

Kneeling: In the Middle Ages kneeling came to signify homage, and more recently this posture has come to signify adoration, especially before the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is for this reason that the of this country have chosen the posture of kneeling for the entire Eucharistic Prayer.

Sitting: Sitting is the posture of listening and meditation, so the congregation sits for the pre- readings and the and may also sit for the period of meditation following .

Bowing: Bowing signifies reverence, respect, and gratitude. In the Creed we bow at the words that commemorate the Incarnation. We also bow as a sign of reverence before we receive Communion. The priest and other ministers bow to the altar, a symbol of Christ, when entering or leaving the sanctuary. Participation of the Faithful Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi (the law of praying establishes the law of believing)

Genuflecting: As a sign of adoration, we genuflect by bringing our right knee to the floor. Many people also make the Sign of the Cross as they bend their knee. Traditionally, Catholics genuflect on entering and leaving church if the Blessed Sacrament is present in the sanctuary of the Church.

Singing: As we raise our voices as one in the prayers, dialogues, and chants of the Mass, most especially in the Eucharistic Prayer, as well as the other hymns and songs, we each lend our individual voices to the great hymn of praise and thanksgiving to the Triune God.

Praying in Unison: In the Mass, the worshiping assembly prays in one voice, speaking or singing together the words of the prayers. By saying the same words at the same time, we act as what we truly are—one Body united in Christ through the Sacrament of Baptism.

Being Silent : Silence in the Liturgy allows the community to reflect on what it has heard and experienced, and to open its heart to the mystery celebrated” . We gather in silence, taking time to separate ourselves from the concerns of the world and enter into the sacred action. We reflect on the readings in silence. We may take time for silent reflection and prayer after Holy Communion. These times of silence are not merely times when nothing happens; rather, they are opportunities for us to enter more deeply in what God is doing in the Mass. Structure of the Mass

Entrance Procession and Hymn Introductory Rites

Greeting

Penitential Rite – includes the and Eleison

Hymn of Praise – Gloria

Opening Prayer

“Every procession in the Liturgy is a sign of the pilgrim Church, the body of those who believe in Christ, on their way to the Heavenly Jerusalem.” (USCCB - Praying with Body, Mind, and Voice) Liturgy of the Word First Reading – Normally a passage from one of the Books of the Responsorial Psalm – a reciting of one of the Old Testament [a religious chant, song or poem of praise] Second Reading – a passage from one of the non-Gospel texts in the New Testament, eg. St. Paul’s Letters to members of the early Church, The Acts of the Apostles, etc Gospel Greeting Gospel – a passage from one of the four Gospels Homily Profession of Faith – Intercessions

Ambo - A word of Greek origin, supposed to signify a mountain or Liturgy of the Eucharist Collection of the Gifts and Preparation of the Altar Prayer over the Gifts and Acclamation - Eucharistic Prayer Memorial Acclamation Great Amen The Lord’s Prayer Sign of Peace Breaking of the Bread – Holy Communion Communion Hymn Thanksgiving Prayer Concluding Rites

Closing Prayer

Blessing

Dismissal

Recessional Hymn The Mass

One of the most terrifying aspects about the gift of freedom is that it leaves us the option of rejecting God. God prepares an irresistible wedding feast and invites us to it… but so often we refuse. This is the phenomenon of impenetrability: the refusal to let ourselves be struck even by the most beautiful thing that is put before us. We prefer instead to let ourselves remain all closed. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI The Catholic Mass

The Center of the Church’s Life (SC)

RCIA Lesson 13