Religion For Leaving Certificate
Section G: Worship, Prayer and Ritual
Chapter 1: Symbol
Symbolic Actions
Actions, gesture and words often act in a mysterious way by communicating thoughts and feelings that might otherwise be difficult to convey.
Language And Symbol
Symbolic language affects people deeply and seems to point to a deeper and more mysterious reality.
Characteristics Of Symbols
1. Symbols have many meanings. 2. Symbols can affect us in many ways e.g. emotionally, spiritually and even sensually. 3. Symbols participate in that which they represent e.g. water is a symbol of new life in the Christian tradition of Baptism. 4. Symbols have the ability to relate to mystery e.g. death remains one of the greatest mysteries. The cross in Christianity acts as a symbol for the victory of life over death.
Human Beings As Symbol – Makers
Often people search for meaning when confronted with the mysteries of life and death.
Death
Death is one of the ultimate mysteries and is surrounded by many religious symbols.
1 Love
It is often very difficult to put words on feelings of love and affection. Wedding rings are symbols that have already been created. Couples also convey love and affection by exchanging presents.
The Power Of Symbols In Contemporary Religion
1. Believers can’t see God ( John 1:18 ), yet God remains very much present in believers’ awareness. This tension lies at the heart of all religious traditions because believers have to rely on Faith to accept that there are Spiritual realities. 2. Symbols are powerful because they can act as physical manifestations of Spiritual realities. 3. Religious symbols come in many forms: symbolic place, symbolic time, symbolic language and the sacramental symbol of oil, water, bread and wine.
The Power Of Symbol In Contemporary Secular Society
1. Secular symbol e.g. national flag – it rouses feelings of pride and national identity at sporting occasions. 2. In contemporary society, fashion, music and sport have become highly symbolic.
The Cross As Religious Symbol
1. The cross is a Christian symbol that represents the instrument of execution that killed Jesus. 2. Jesus was accused of treason, a crime punishable by death. 3. He was crucified on Calvary. 4. Some people find comfort in the cross in times of distress because they know that, through Jesus, God understands human suffering and shares our feelings of loss, pain and grief. 5. The cross is also a symbol of victory. 6. Christians believe that Jesus overcame sin and death through his own death and resurrection. 7. The cross symbolises ‘ Atonement ‘ ( where God and man become one )‘.
2 8. The cross symbolises fear, isolation, pain and suffering, which are present in people’s lives. 9. The cross symbolises hope – for Jesus died and was slain, rose again and was glorified. 10.Those who suffer isolation and pain in contemporary society, yet believe that one day their suffering will be eased, find their own reflection in the figure who died and rose again on the third day. 11.Those who fear death see in the cross a powerful symbol of the victory of life over death.
Exam Question
1. Some people have argued recently that the cross is a gory and distasteful religious symbol and should be replaced with nice music and soft lighting. They believe that such symbols would be more comforting and relevant to people’s lives today. Do you agree with such a position or do you think the cross is a necessary and relevant religious symbol ?
Chapter 2: Ritual
Ritual And Life
1. Rituals are experiences that we regard as significant. 2. Rituals carry meaning, they renew us and they often challenge how we understand ourselves and our lives.
The Meaning And Experience Of Ritual
1. A ritual is a structured human activity that follows a set pattern, using words and symbols to mark important events of transition. 2. Rituals are made up of word and symbol, significant people, places and times. 3. Ritual in a society addresses the great mysteries of human existence.
3 Types Of Rituals
Transitional And Restorative Rituals
Rites of passage are significant transitional rituals e.g. birth, adolescence, maturity and old age and of death and the afterlife, whereas healing rites are familiar restorative rituals e.g. anointing of the sick.
Example Of A Religious Ritual In Contemporary Culture : Bar Mitzvah
Bar Mitzvah
1. Bar Mitzvah ‘ Son of the Commandment ‘ – determines Religious Maturity in the Jewish Religion. 2. A Jewish boy reaches maturity at the age of 13 and soon after his 13th birthday he is called to the Synagogue to read from the Torah during the morning service. 3. The boy now becomes part of the ‘ Quorum ‘ that is needed for religious services in the Synagogue. 4. The boy prepares for his Bar Mitzvah months beforehand by attending classes with the Rabbi to prepare him to be able to read the Torah in front of the whole community. 5. On the given morning the boy wears special garments and stands on a platform ‘ Bimah ‘ to read the text. 6. Afterwards there is a special meal to mark the boy’s coming of age. 7. The boy now has a role to play in his local Jewish community. He belongs fully to his religious community and this enhances his sense of identity and responsibility within the group. 8. Finally, the ritual is significant for the boy’s family, as they feel proud that they have given the boy the gift of religious belonging and identity.
Exam Question
1. Write an account on one religious ritual and one secular ritual in contemporary culture that you have studied.
4 Example Of A Secular Ritual In Contemporary Culture : Registry Office Marriage
Registry Office Marriage
A Civil Marriage is a civil contract, and in order that a civil marriage is valid in Ireland, a number of requirements must first be met: 1. The couple must be free to marry each other. 2. The persons involved must freely give consent to marriage, and they should not be coerced. 3. Those wishing to marry must be 18 years of age. 4. The couple must give three months - notice to the civil authorities of their intention to marry. 5. A civil marriage should be treated with the formality and solemnity that is required. 6. The marriage takes place in a registrar’s office. 7. The marriage must involve at least five people: the registrar, the couple about to be married and two witnesses. 8. In the presence of the registrar and witnesses, both parties each make the following declaration : ‘ I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I ( name ) may not be joined in matrimony to ( name ). Each person then says : ‘ I call upon these person here present to witness that I ( name ) do take thee ( name ) to be my lawful wedded wife ( or husband ) ‘. 9. Immediately after the solemnisation of the marriage, it must be registered. 10.Once the registration takes place the couple are then legally married. 11.This is a very significant secular ritual because both parties have entered into civil contract to be married to each other. 12.It is a decision that they have freely made and marks their desire to enter marriage and its responsibilities. 13.The couple have now transformed their status within society and publicly declared their love and commitment to each other.
Ritualism
Ritualism is a term that is applied to regular and excessive use of ritual. Rituals involve set patterns of word, rite and symbol, yet if they are repeated regularly the practice can revert to ritualism, whereby those
5 who participate become increasingly unconscious of the true meaning of the ritual. Viewed in a negative way, ritualism simply becomes empty ritual. Those who attend are unaware of what they are doing but attend the ritual through force of habit or because of social pressure. For example, if a person attends Mass regularly, yet fails to listen or actively participate in the sacrament, then the experience won’t be very fruitful. If rituals are repeated regularly, then they lack newness because they are a set pattern of activity and at times become tedious. The emptiness and lack of awareness and meaning constitute ritualism. There are, however, some positive features associated with ritualism. Formal prayers, for example, benefit from the fact that they are part of a set pattern of words and actions, which are regularly repeated. In this way they are easily memorised and recited. The Rosary, for example, is regularly recited in many different contexts in Catholic worship, but it is this regularity and repetition that makes it easy for Catholics to remember the format of the prayer.
Exam Question
1. Explain what is meant by ‘ ritualism ‘ and give one positive and one negative feature of it.
Chapter 3 : Sacrament
Catholic Sacraments
What is a Sacrament ?
‘ The Sacraments are perceptible signs ( words and actions ) accessible to our human nature. By the action of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit they make present efficaciously the grace that they signify ‘. ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1084 )
1. The purpose of a Sacrament is to sanctify people and to worship God. 2. Sacraments nourish and strengthen Faith and they confer the presence and love of God, traditionally known as grace. 3. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the origin of the church’s existence and is also in a very real way the source of the Sacramental life of the church.
6 4. Christ continues to act in the church through the sacraments. 5. The Sacraments are the life blood of the church. 6. Those who celebrate the Sacraments participate in the death and resurrection of Christ, they can be healed and reconciled through the power of the Holy Spirit and they are called to share in the future in the fullness of God’s own life. Herein lies the meaning and relevance of the seven sacraments in the Catholic tradition.
Protestant Sacraments
Martin Luther in the Protestant Reformation
1. On 31st October 1517 Martin Luther is said to have posted ninety – five theses on the door of Wittenberg Cathedral to debate a number of points of Catholic Doctrine. 2. He was a German Augustinian priest who was tormented by doubts about his own personal salvation, even though he regularly received the sacrament of reconciliation. 3. Continually plagued by temptations, he questioned whether he could be just in God’s eyes. 4. Then in the letter to the Romans ( 1:16 – 17 ) he discovered that God saves those who have faith. 5. This was significant for Luther, as he began to believe that it was faith alone, not good works, that saved a person and made them just and upright in God’s eyes. 6. Luther was excommunicated in 1520, but by that stage he had rejected the authority of the Pope and Church tradition anyway. 7. Luther favoured and trusted his own religious experiences and beliefs and turned to the authority of scripture above that of the church tradition. 8. Catholics regarded God’s spoken word through the church as the greatest authority, whilst for Protestant the greatest authority for God’s spoken word was the scriptures. 9. Following on from Luther, Protestants emphasised the role of personal experience in religious belief and practice. 10.Catholic theologians argued that the effects of the sacraments need not be experienced, for they operate at a deeper or spiritual level. 11.Catholic sacramental theology still holds that sacraments are valid and give grace.
7 12.However, the lack of experiential evidence led the reformers to reject the church’s teaching on sacramental theology. 13.By the time of the reformation the accepted definition of a sacrament was that it was a sign instituted by Christ to give grace. 14.The reformers felt that several of the sacraments weren’t instituted by Christ. 15.Based on scriptural evidence, the reformers accepted that only Baptism and the Eucharist were instituted by Christ.
An Anglican Understanding Of Sacrament
1. A Sacrament is : ‘ an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and as a pledge to assure us thereof ‘. 2. This means that for Anglicans a sacrament must be given by Christ to act as a means of grace. 3. Anglicans only accept two sacraments i.e. Baptism and the Eucharist. 4. The book of common prayer does accept that there are five other ministries : confirmation, ordination, holy matrimony, ministry of absolution and ministry of healing.
The Function Of Sacramental Symbols
There are two functions to sacramental symbols : 1. Sacramental symbols reveal and participate in Divine realities. 2. Sacramental symbols signify and actually bring about a different reality.
Water In Baptism
1. Baptism is a sacrament of initiation. 2. Baptism is understood as ‘ the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments ‘ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213 ). 3. In Christianity, through Baptism, a person is given a new life in Jesus Christ. Water, as a symbol participates in this act in so far as water is life giving. Those who are baptised are a new creation
8 in Christ, it was over water that the spirit of God hovered at the moment of creation in the book of Genesis. 4. The symbolic actions in the sacrament of baptism transforms the person and makes them a Christian.
Anointing In Confirmation
1. Anointing is used in Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and the Sacrament of the sick. 2. In confirmation the anointing is a spirit – filled event. 3. In Confirmation the person is anointed with chrism. 4. The anointing in Confirmation strengthens the person in wisdom, courage, and understanding. 5. In the rite of Confirmation the Bishop traces the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead with the oil and says : ‘ be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit ‘.
Bread And Wine
1. The Eucharist is the source of the Christian Life. 2. The Eucharist is a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross. 3. At the Eucharist Jesus is present and so is his sacrifice on the cross, because they are one and the same thing. 4. The bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ and we too are changed when we are told to go forth and spread the good news and to love and serve God. By doing this, we too may have to make sacrifices. 5. The Eucharist is the greatest act of worship for Catholics. 6. The Word Eucharist means ‘ thanksgiving ‘. We are thankful for him having given us life for our creation. Jesus’ death on the cross meant that each of us could be saved from sin 7. The order of Mass : Introduction Liturgy of the Word Liturgy of the Eucharist Conclusion 8. In the Eucharist Jesus is referred to as ‘ the lamb of God ‘.
9 9. The Hebrews were freed by the blood of the lamb on Passover night, just as Christians were freed from sin and death by Jesus’ blood on the cross. 10.The host is made from unleavened bread. 11.The bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.
Exam Questions
1. 2009 O.L. (a) Outline the understanding of sacrament in One Christian denomination you have studied. (b) Examine the part played by two symbols in a sacramental celebration you have studied. 2. Write an account about the functions of two sacramental symbols you have studied. 3. 2010: For Christians the things of this world are so transparent that in them and through they know God’s presence. Discuss this statement with reference to the meaning of sacrament in two Christian denominations that you have studied.
Chapter 4 : The Need For Reflection
1. Reflection is when we take time out and reconsider our understandings, feelings, desires and concerns. 2. Reflection turns the person inward to think about their understanding of themselves and the world around them. 3. Without reflection we can fail to understand our relationships properly and fail to pick up on tensions and frustrations. 4. Without reflection we can ignore our true feelings in a relationship we may deny the fact that deep down we are unhappy with the way the relationship is moving forward. 5. Reflection allows us to imagine other possibilities, be that in work, relationships, ambitions or deep within our own spirituality. 6. Reflection puts a person in touch with their true identity or authentic self. 7. It facilitates self – understanding and the ability to know who I am. 8. A person who doesn’t reflect may lose sight of the fact that often times in life there actually is a choice.
10 9. Young people present crucial choices that need to be reflected upon, such as the choices surrounding sexual responsibility and issues of alcohol and drugs.
Exam Questions
1. Why do you think reflection is so important in the life of a young person ? 2. ‘ The young person who enters adulthood needs to reflect on the following key issues which determine their identity: dependence and independence, freedom and responsibility, commitment and vocation, faith and spirituality ‘. Do you agree ? Give reasons for your answer.
Religious Experience
1. A religious experience is a ‘ depth ‘ experience which encounters with realities in life such as truth, meaning, the sacred, love and beauty. 2. ‘ The underlying characteristic of a religious experience is that individuals find themselves drawn into a new relationship with that which is termed the transcendent ‘ ( Fr. Dermot Lane, the experience of God ). 3. Religious experiences share the following characteristics : All religious experiences reveal the transcendent. They are also encounters with the mystery. They can be life changing. They can involve a conversion. They can give a person a new perspective or insight into life. It can change a person’s attitude towards life and others and ultimately towards the transcendent. They can change a person’s understanding of themselves, their value and priorities. The birth of a child can prove to be a religious experience for many parents. It is a time when they are filled with awe as they delight in the creation of a new human being.
11 Exam Question
1. What is the most significant thing that a religious experience reveals ?
Chapter 5: The Human Being as Prayer
Worship And Prayer
Worship is the praise, honour, thanksgiving and acknowledgement given to the transcendent being by individuals and communities of believers.
Worship And Awe As Response To Mystery
1. Worship is a human response to the mysterious presence of the Divine. 2. Awe is a feeling a person has when they experience the mysterious nature of the transcendent and this experience of awe is important in the participation in worship. People can be filled with awe and wonder when they experience the greatness of the divine; ‘ For I am a great King says the Lord of Hosts, and my name is awesome before the nations ‘ ( Malachi 1:14 ). Such a feeling can be experienced in moments of quiet meditation, in encountering unconditional love, in witnessing the beauty of a sunset or in the force and power of the natural world. This feeling of awe and wonder in the presence of the divine is often the prerequisite for the act of worship. Worship is a way of responding to the feeling of awe and the experience of the transcendent in human life. As worship is directed towards mystery, it involves the use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and time. Sacred actions, such as special meals, blessings, kneeling and genuflection, also characterise public worship. 3. Worship involves the use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and time. 4. Sacred actions e.g. meals, blessings etc. also characterise public worship. 5. Examples of individual worship may take the form of prayer, meditation, or contemplation.
12 6. Public worship may involve sacred texts, music recitation or prayers and creeds. 7. The Christian Church’s formal worship of God is called liturgy. The liturgy helps to deepen one’s relationship with the Divine.
Exam Question
1. Write an account on the relationship between awe and worship ?
Prayer
1. The word prayer means request or petition. 2. Prayer reflects the human need for a communication with Divine and Spiritual realities. 3. Prayer is communicating with God.
Prayer And The Relationship With The Divine In The Christian Tradition
1. Prayer is a personal address from the heart and mind that seeks communion with the Divine. 2. Prayer reflects the need for the Divine in the context of a person’s own sense of fragility and vulnerability. 3. Our achievements, pleasures and friendships can’t seem to satisfy an inner emptiness at the centre of our souls. 4. The soul longs for a personal relationship with God because it is loved by God and seeks a relationship with the source of this love. 5. Our relationship with God is nourished through prayer. 6. Through prayer a person comes to know God more fully and to share in a love that directs them to the needs of the poor and the outcast. 7. Christian prayer changes individuals by raising their awareness of the characteristics of being a Christian. 8. Prayer sustains and nourishes Christian identity. 9. Christian prayer can lead to a move away from self towards the other, in compassion, charity and a willingness to serve.
13 Prayer And The Relationship With The Divine In The Jewish Tradition.
1. When a Jew prays they should do so sincerely and with true devotion. 2. The Jewish term ‘ Kavannah ‘ expresses that prayer should involve a direction of the mind towards God with true devotion. 3. Within Judaism there is an awareness that in prayer one stands before the ‘ Holy One ‘ and the ‘ lord of the universe ‘. 4. Rabbinic tradition insisted that one should approach God with the utmost reverence and respect because prayer is an encounter with a God who is mighty and majestic. 5. Jews are reminded that their relationship with God in prayer should be one of trust in a personal being of power and love. 6. God remains steadfast in his care for those who approach in Faith. 7. The Talmud lays down a general principle that a person should not hesitate to come to God in prayer.
Exam Question
Write an account on prayer and the relationship with the Divine in two religions that you have studied.
Chapter 6 : Contexts For Prayer
Christian Church – A Place Of Worship And Prayer
1. The church is a place of worship and prayer. 2. The liturgy is celebrated in the church. 3. The liturgy of the Eucharist is the ‘ Source and Summit of the Christian life ‘ ( Luman gentium, 11 ). 4. The church is a place where the sacraments can be celebrated. 5. The Baptismal font points to a new life in Christ and the altar represent Christ’s sacrifice. 6. Catholics believe that God is present in the Eucharist. 7. When the mass is over, some of the hosts are placed in the tabernacle, so when a person enters the church to pray they believe that God is present in the tabernacle.
14 A Synagogue
1. The Synagogue is the place where the Jews worship. 2. Jews go to the Synagogue on the Sabbath. 3. The Synagogue points to Jerusalem. An alcove is built into the Jerusalem – facing wall for the ark of Aron Hakodesh, meaning ‘ Holy Ark ‘. The sacred scrolls of the Torah are kept in the Ark and it is the focal point for those assembled. 4. The Torah is the teaching of God and their sacred text. 5. The Synagogue liturgy emphasises the joy and sweetness of keeping the Torah. 6. Before the reading of the Torah it is brought in procession around the Synagogue and at some point it raised to show the congregation. 7. When the reading has finished, the scroll is dressed in its Torah ornaments and returned to the Ark. 8. The readings take place on the Bimah which is in front of the ark.
Exam Question
1. 2006 O.L. : Diwali, Easter Sunday, Passover, Ramadan, Wesak. (a) Different religious traditions have special times, such as those listed above, which are regarded as sacred. Choose one such time and explain how (i) A symbol associated with the time you have chosen marks this time as sacred. (ii) A ritual associated with the time you have chosen marks this time as sacred. (b) Explain why the time you have described above is important to the member of the world religion with which it is most associated. 2. 2010: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. All religions regard certain time or season as sacred. Compare the features that make a time or season as sacred in two of the major world religions listed above.
15 Sacred Time
Passover
1. The book of Exodus recounts the freeing of the Israelites from Captivity in Egypt. 2. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt and they cried out to Yahweh to set them free. 3. Yahweh sent Moses to the Pharaoh to ask for their release but he was refused time and time again. 4. Yahweh sent plagues to change the Pharaoh’s mind, but to no avail. 5. Then on the 10th day of the first month Yahweh ordered that each family take a lamb and slaughter it. 6. The flesh was to be eaten along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs and the blood of the lamb was to be placed on the lintels and doorposts of the houses. 7. That night Yahweh would visit the land of Egypt and strike down the first-born male of each household but would pass over the houses marked in lamb’s blood. 8. The Israelites would be saved by the blood of the lamb. And so it came to be. 9. On the night of the Passover the first-born males of Egyptian households were struck down and the Israelites were freed from slavery. 10.Yahweh spoke to the Israelites, saying: ‘ This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it …’ ( Exodus 12:14 ). 11.The Israelites would be saved by the blood of the lamb. 12.The Passover is also known as the festival of unleavened bread and is celebrated on the 15th day of the Jewish Month of Nisan. 13.Today the festival of Passover is celebrated at home with a Sedar meal. 14.During this meal special foods are eaten, cups of wine are drank, songs are sung and the great story of freedom is shared again.
16 Easter
1. Easter is the most sacred time of the year for Christians as it celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christi 2. It roots lie in the Jewish festival of Passover. 3. According to Christian tradition, through his death and resurrection Jesus gave this ancient festival a new meaning. 4. Jesus chose to leave Galilee and make his way south to Jerusalem during the Passover (John 13:1). 5. At a time when Jews were celebrating their freedom from slavery by the blood of the lamb, Jesus was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem. 6. His death won an eternal redemption for all ( Hebrews 9:12). 7. Christians later made a link between the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. 8. The Jews were saved by the blood of the lamb but Christians believed that they were saved by the blood of Christ. 9. Even today Christians refer to Christ as the ‘ Lamb of God. 10.The Easter festival is the most important in the liturgical year and it includes the three days of the Paschal Triduum. 11.It begins with a Mass on Holy Thursday night which commemorates the Last Supper. 12. On Good Friday afternoon Jesus’ passion and death on a cross are celebrated. 13.Easter Saturday is a day of waiting and silence. 14.The celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection begins with the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening. 15.The Paschal fire and the Paschal candle, which will be used throughout the year, are lit. 16.Easter celebrates Jesus’ victory over sin and death and is therefore the most sacred time in the year. 17.Certain features of Easter determine that it a sacred time. 18.The celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection reminds Christians that their salvation and redemption was won through the shedding of innocent blood. 19.The Disciples were obviously distraught and dejected after Jesus’ execution as a common criminal. 20. Yet the power of God raised Jesus from the dead and in this victory Christianity was born.
17 Chapter 7: The Praying Tradition
Traditional Forms Of Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s prayer is truly the summary of the whole Gospel ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2761 ). ‘ Abba ‘, ‘ Father ‘: - Jesus addressed God as ‘ Father ‘ or ‘ Abba ‘, and in this prayer he encourages his Disciples to address God in the same manner ( Romans 8:15; Galations 4:6 ). ‘ Hallowed be thy name ‘ : - praise God’s name and pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God. ‘ Thy Kingdom come ‘ : - The kingdom of God was to be understood as the reign of God, which exists within the lives of those who follow Jesus ( Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12 ). ‘ Give us this day ‘ : - God will take care of the material necessities, ‘ set your hearts on the Kingdom, and these other things will be given you as well ‘ ( Luke 12 : 31 ) ‘ And forgive us our sins ‘ : - Jesus outs no limits on the extent to which we should forgive others. ‘ Lead us not into temptation ‘ : - when we find ourselves in moments of temptation, we won’t give in. But deliver us from evil amen.
The origins of the Our Father is found in the Didache which is an ancient book of basic instructions for Christians which originates from the very early church. In this book it is St. Matthew’s form of prayer that is used. According to the ‘ Didache ‘ the Lord’s prayer should be said three times a day.
The Shema
1. The Shema is a formal prayer in Jewish liturgy. 2. It consists of three biblical passages: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11: 13 – 21 and numbers 15:37 – 41. 3. It is recited twice a day. 4. The prayer was used every day in the temple as part of the temple worship.
18 5. The priest recited a blessing, the Ten Commandments, the Shema and then another blessing. 6. The prayer acts as a profession of Faith and is also recited just before death. 7. The main part of the prayer begins by acknowledging the unity of God and that there is only one God. 8. After the Shema is a command to love God with all one’s being. 9. The prayer asks for a surrender of all that a person has to the love of God. It asks for a dedication of every aspect of life, heart, mind and soul to God who is one. 10.Jews hold the Shema with deep reverence and affection. 11.For the Jews, the Shema is the most important text in the old testament and the first paragraphs of the prayer are written on a piece of parchment and placed inside a wooden or metal box called a Mezuzah, which is fixed to the doorposts of the houses.
Exam Questions
1. 2006 (a) World Religions have different types of formal prayer and ways of praying. Describe one example of either a formal prayer or a way of praying associated with one of the following world religions – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam. (b) Explain the origin of the example you have given and describe how it is used in the religious tradition associated with it. (c) Describe an example of either a formal prayer or a way of praying associated with one other world religion listed above and compare the way it is used with the example you have described in (a) above. 2. 2009 O.L. Compare the way in which people pray in two of the following major world religions making reference to where and when people pray. Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism.
Chapter 8 : Meditation
1. Meditation focuses and concentrates on a single theme, idea, symbol or text, but contemplation can be understood as a way of communicating with the Divine at the depths of a person’s being. 2. Mediation is good for dealing with stress and anxiety, which explains why it has become popular in western culture.
19 3. Many today feel that their lives are too stressed and meditation is a way of allowing the mind and body to relax.
Christian Meditation: An Experience Of Encounter
1. Transcendental meditation is a practice which is taken out of its religious context and becomes a process of self – improvement by reducing stress and anxiety, thus leading to a more relaxed way of life. 2. Christian meditation is a spiritual discipline which, whilst providing inner calm and relaxation, is directed towards an encounter with Christ. 3. The purpose is an act of love directed towards Christ. 4. Christian meditation turns the person away from preoccupation with self towards the Divine. 5. People who practise Christian meditation are empowered by their experience of an encounter with Christ to act like Christ; to serve as he served, to forgive as he forgave and to bring healing into the lives of those around them.
Buddhist Meditation : An Experience Of Emptying
1. Buddhism seeks through meditation, to achieve a true vision of reality. 2. Such a vision leads to a release from the cycles of rebirth to the eventual freedom of Nirvana ( enlightenment ) 3. There are two types of Buddhist meditation: calm ( Samatha ) meditation and insight ( Vipasyana ) meditation. 4. A Buddhist begins meditation with the practice of mindfulness. 5. Mindfulness can be understood as a total awareness and it is applied to four areas : the body, the sensations, thought and mental objects. 6. Mindfulness of the body begins with an awareness of the unconscious activity of breathing as the person focuses on inhaling and exhaling. This leads to an awareness of the whole body and an ensuing feeling of tranquillity. 7. Mindfulness is the applied to the various sensations. 8. The objective now is to detach oneself from the various facets or experience that may have distorted the true nature of experience.
20 9. Detachment leads to a clearer way of thinking, free from bias, prejudice or flawed interpretation, leading to a truer vision of reality. 10.In this experience of emptiness the person is led into a new interior dimension, free form external distractions, leading to simplicity, peace and contentment. 11.Meditation is seen to lead to a happier and more spiritual life. 12.Those who practise meditation move away from selfishness and this ultimately creates a better and more generous and wise individual.
Mantra
1. A mantra is the Sanskrit term for ‘ sacred utterance ‘. 2. Mantras contain wisdom and their repetition leads to identification with the absolute.
Exam Questions
1. 2007 O.L. (a) Outline how meditation is practiced in one world religion you have studied. (b) Explain why either meditation or contemplation is used as a form of prayer today. 2. 2009: Compare what is involved in meditation for members of the Buddhist and Christian Traditions
Chapter 9 : The Contemplative Traditions
Contemplative Life
The contemplative life is characterised by stillness, solitude, silence and prayer.
Pilgrimage
1. A pilgrimage is a journey to a place that is regarded as sacred because it is associated with a person or event or religious significance. 2. It is believed that God is present at the site and responds to prayers of praise and petition. 3. The inner spiritual journey can be described as a pilgrimage.
21 Croagh Patrick
1. Croagh Patrick is known as ‘The Reek’ and has been a sacred site since ancient times. 2. Christian tradition says that Patrick went up this mountain and spent 40 days praying, fasting and reflecting there. 3. In 441 Saint Patrick rested his tired and weary body on the slopes of the sacred mountain. 4. He climbed to the top to spend 40 days and nights in silence and solitude to fast and pray his way through the season of lent. 5. There he battled with the spiritual forces of darkness. 6. He eventually came down from the mountain on Easter Sunday morning to celebrate Mass with those who gathered to greet him. 7. Saint Patrick built a simple church on the summit, called ‘ Tempall Phadraig ‘. 8. Today almost 25,000 pilgrims make their way to the top of Croagh Patrick on the last Sunday of July which is called ‘ Reek Sunday ‘. 9. The first step on the pilgrimage path is a statue of St. Patrick. Many people stop and pray there. 10.Some people make this pilgrimage in their bare feet as a sign of devotion. 11.There are three stations that the pilgrims visit and at the summit and each one has a sign with instructions for the proper prayers and rituals that pilgrims must make on the way. 12.First station: is at the base of the mountain and here pilgrims walk around a mound of stones seven times, saying 7 Our Fathers, seven Hail Mary’s and one Creed. Second Station: takes place on the summit and has four different stages. The pilgrims first kneel and say seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and one creed. They then pray near the chapel where Mass is said every day for the Pope’s intentions. Next, they walk around the chapel 15 times while saying 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys. Finally, they walk around the area known as Patrick’s bed seven times, again saying seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and one creed. Third Station: takes place at Rolig Mhuire. Here the pilgrims walk seven times around each mound of stones, again repeating the sequence of seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and one creed. Finally, they walk around the whole enclosure of Rolig Mhuire praying.
22 13. When they get to the summit they visit St. Patrick’s bed. They celebrate Mass and also have the chance to avail of the sacrament of reconciliation.
The Tradition Of Pilgrimage Continues To Have Popular Appeal In Today’s Society
1. There is something very physical about the act of pilgrimage. Hindus wash in the river Ganges and Jews place prayers in the cracked walls of their ancient temple in Jerusalem. Muslims journey to Mecca to walk around the Ka’ba and enter the sanctuary to touch or kiss the famous black stone. Irish Catholics go barefoot and climb the mountain top. It appears there is something powerful touching the sacred place. Touch is the most evocative of the senses and when on pilgrimage we can walk on, touch or kiss the sacred. 2. The physical sense of pilgrimage also finds expression in the belief that cures and miracles happen at the sacred place. A pilgrimage site often associated with a special presence of the Divine, which can be manifested in healing those afflicted with sickness. Often those who go on pilgrimage use it as an act of prayerful petition for someone who is sick. Alternatively, the pilgrimage can be an expression of praise and thanksgiving for a prayer that has been answered. 3. People who visit pilgrimage sites report how they were overcome by the peaceful and prayerful atmosphere. 4. Since the earliest traditions of the church, fasting, hardship and abstinence have been prerequisites for the spiritual journey, and the popularity of this tradition marks the ongoing need to find places of regeneration and spiritual renewal. 5. One of the characteristics of pilgrimage is the fellowship that emerges between the pilgrims. People talk to strangers about the wonder, hardships, worries, blessings and friendships in life.
23 Retreat
1. Retreats for individuals can take place in hermitages, where the person can focus on reading, prayer, reflection and meditation. 2. It is threshold moment of solitude, stillness and silence which leads to a spiritual renewal. A retreat can last for a day or a month depending on the person’s needs and spiritual maturity. 3. Some retreats are given by a retreat director, who may focus on a theme relating to the spiritual journey. 4. In modern times it seems appropriate that lay people should be given the chance to practise the contemplative life, on retreat, so as to be renewed by the experience of the presence of God.
Exam Questions
1. 2007 O.L Hermitage, Pilgrimage, Poustinia, Retreat. Describe what is involved in one of the above Contemplative Practices. 2. 2009: Hermitage, Pilgrimage, Poustinia, Retreat. Describe the origins of two of the above contemplative practices and discuss the importance of each for the way people live out their religious faith today. 3. 2010 O.L. Outline the origins of one contemplative tradition that you have studied.
Chapter 10 : The Mystic Tradition
Characteristics Of The Mystic Tradition
1. A Mystic is someone whose experience of the presence of God is so intense as to be transforming. 2. It is an experience beyond the grasp of language and understanding. 3. It is so intense as to be life – altering. 4. A mystical experience is an experience beyond description or words. 5. The experience involves the intellect in a way that gives the Mystic fresh insight so as to be able to integrate all their previous knowledge.
24 Christian Mysticism
1. Christian Mysticism originates in the baptisimal invitation to enter the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 2. It is a gift received in baptism. 3. Mysticism is a potential for every Christian, but only some have experienced a very deep and intense union with God.
Two Christian Mystics – Teresa Of Avila And Thomas Merton
Teresa Of Avila
1. Teresa of Avila was born in 1515 to a wealthy family in the fortress town of Avila in Spain. 2. As a child she was an avid reader and displayed an interest in the spiritual. 3. This interest led her to enter the Carmelite convent. 4. Unfortunately she suffered serious ill health for three years and at one point her grave had been dug in the convent grounds ! She recovered but experienced uncertain health for the rest of her life. 5. One of her greatest ambitions was to open her own convent and in doing reform the Carmelite order. 6. She achieved this with the help of John of The Cross. 7. She enforced the primitive rule in the convent as an austere life of prayer and strict enclosure. 8. Teresa experienced an intense and mystical relationship with God. 9. Teresa explained mental prayer as ‘ nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him whom we know loves us ‘. 10.Teresa had mystical experiences such as levitations, visions and spiritual rapture, yet she constantly felt the pain of being misunderstood, along with the fear that she might be having delusions. 11.Despite these intense mystical experiences Teresa should be understood as a down-to-earth and tough woman who battled for what she believed in and was courageous enough to see through her reforms in the face of fierce hostility.
25 12.The spiritual life did not always come east to Teresa and she experienced long periods of separation from prayer. 13.She often found it difficult to enter the oratory to pray and this is one reason why Teresa’s life and work is so important to us today. 14.In this great mystic we witness the difficulties that even she experienced on the spiritual journey, as she was constantly plagued by the sense of her own sinfulness. 15.Whilst her enclosed life demanded thorough self – knowledge and deep inner examination, she never became self – absorbed. 16.Her life was directed to the service of others and she found God in the little things of everyday life. 17.She once told her nuns, ‘ the Lord walks among the pots and pans ‘. Throughout her life she gradually moved from self centredness to surrendering herself to the will of God and relaxing into God’s love. She often tried to help those who were learning how to pray, and after her death the following prayer was found in her own handwriting. It encapsulates her understanding of the spiritual journey : ‘ Let nothing disturb thee, Let nothing dismay thee, All things pass: God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for. One who has God Finds nothing lacking: God alone suffices
Thomas Merton
1. Thomas Merton was born in America in 1915 and was to become one of the most influential spiritual writers of the 20th Century. 2. As a young man he was a professed atheist. 3. After entering communism and atheism Merton was eventually drawn to Catholicism based on his reading and discussion with significant Catholics. He was baptised in 1938. 4. Merton joined the Cistercian Monastery. 5. Merton embraced the solitary life of prayer, meditation, work and silence.
26 6. His life was characterised by Asceticism, discipline and dedication. 7. He revealed that at the heart of this tradition lay a compassion for others. 8. His was a spirituality founded on love, purity of heart and compassion. 9. Merton believed that such compassion could transform a world torn apart by cruelty, hatred and war. 10.In his journals he wrote : ‘ now I see more and more that there is only one realistic answer : LOVE ‘. 11.Merton’s experience of contemplative life provided him with a new vision of Spiritual wonder and awakening which he shared with countless others. 12.He will be remembered as a spiritual fulfilment among the distractions and superficiality of the modern era.
Exam Questions
1. 2007: (a) Outline the characteristics of one mystical tradition that you have studied. (b) Profile the life and work of one mystic you have studied.
27 SECTION G
WORSHIP,
PRAYER AND
RITUAL
Revised Edition 2012 Barbara Cunningham Taheny
28 Section G: Worship, Prayer and Ritual
Chapter 1: Symbol – characteristics of symbol, the power of symbols in contemporary religion and in contemporary secular society, the cross as religious symbol
Chapter 2: Ritual – religious ritual in contemporary culture ( Bar Mitzvah ), Secular ritual in Contemporary Culture ( Registry Office Marriage )
Chapter 3: Sacrament – Catholic and Protestant Sacraments. The function of Sacramental Symbols
Chapter 4: The need for Reflection – religious experience
Chapter 5: The human being as prayer – worship and awe as response to Mystery, prayer and the relationship with the Divine in the Christian Tradition and the Jewish tradition
Chapter 6: Contexts for prayer – Christian Church – a place of worship and prayer and a synagogue. Sacred time – Passover and Easter.
Chapter 7: The praying tradition – traditional forms of prayer – the Lord’s prayer, the Shema
Chapter 8: Meditation – Christian and Buddhist
Chapter 9: The Contemplative Traditions: Pilgrimage – Croagh Patrick, retreats.
Chapter 10: The Mystic Tradition – Teresa of Avila and Thomas Merton.
29 Leaving Certificate
Religion
Section G
Worship, Prayer and Ritual
Sample Answers
30 Sample answers to the following questions in Section G : Worship, Prayer and Ritual.
1. Some people have argued recently that the cross is a gory and distasteful religious symbol and should be replaced … do you agree with such a position or do you think the cross is a necessary and relevant religious symbol. P.33 2. Write an account on one religious ritual and one secular ritual in contemporary society that you have studied. P.34 3. Explain what is meant by ‘ ritualism ‘ and give one positive and one negative feature of it. P.35 4. Write about the functions of two sacramental symbols you have studied. P.36 5. For Christians the things of this world are so transparent that in them and through them they know God’s presence. Discuss this statement with reference to the meaning of sacrament in two Christian Denominations. P.38 6. Is there a need for reflection in today’s world ? p.40 7. Why do you think reflection is so important in the life of a young person ?p.40 8. ‘The young person who enters adulthood needs to reflect on the following key issues which determine their identity: dependence and independence, freedom and responsibility, commitment and vocation, faith and spirituality ‘. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. P.42 9. What is the relationship between awe and worship ? p.42 10. Another sample answer to question 8. P.44 11.Examine the part played by two symbols in a sacramental celebration you have studied.p.45 12.Describe one example of where a sense of the sacred can be seen in the way people live today. P.46 13.Outline how meditation is practised in one world religion that you have studied. P.46 14.Explain why either meditation or contemplation is used as a form of prayer today. P.47 15.World religions have different types of formal prayer and ways of praying. Describe one example of either a formal prayer or a way of praying associated with one of the following world religions – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
31 (a) Explain the origin of the example you have given and describe how it is used in the religious tradition associated with it. (b) Describe an example of either a formal prayer or a way of praying associated with one other world religion listed above and compare the way it is used with the example you have described in (a) above. P.48 16.What is the most significant thing a religious experience reveals ? p.50 17.Write an account on prayer and the relationship with the Divine in two religions you have studied. P.51 18.Explain the ways in which two rites in Christian Worship remember Jesus.p.52 19.Write an account on how God is present in the Catholic Church.p.53 20.How is the search for the Spiritual evident in society today ? p.54 21.Write an account on worship and awe with response to mystery.p.55 22.Profile the life and work of one mystic you have studied. P.56 23.Write an account on one example of a religious ritual in contemporary culture and explain its significance on those who participate.p.57 24.What is ritualism and discuss one positive and one negative feature of it.p.58 25.Hermitage, Poustinia, Pilgrimage, retreat. Choose two of the above and describe the significance of each one in the development of contemplative practice. P.59 26.Write an account about the functions of two symbols used in a sacramental celebration. 27.Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism. All religions regard certain times as sacred. Compare the feature that make a time or season as sacred in two of the major world religions listed above. 28.Outline the function of two symbols used in a sacramental celebration you have studied.
32 1. Some people have argued recently that the cross is a gory and distasteful religious symbol and should be replaced… do you agree with such a position or do you think the cross is a necessary and relevant religious symbol.
I disagree with the statement that the cross is a gory and distasteful symbol. Yes, music and soft lighting is nice and upbeat but life is not always bright and nice but on the contrary life has good and bad, like the symbol of the cross. The bad is the pain and suffering of Jesus in the hours up to death and the good being that he rose from the dead allowing us to live life to the full. I believe the cross is a necessary and relevant religious symbol and should be preserved, for many reasons: Its power to translate a message into todays’ society. The many meanings and symbols it contains. How it reminds us of Christ’s experience on the cross. I believe in the power of the symbol of the cross because its meaning can be used today. In our lives we eventually deal with great pain and suffering and when we are pushed into our darkest corner we are assured that, through Christ’s Crucifixion that God understands our anxiety and grief. In essence God can empathise with humanity through the suffering inflicted on his Son Jesus Christ. I strongly believe this powerful message can be used today as a source of comfort to us when we are down. The Cross is a symbol of great importance as it represents many meanings, for example victory. Through the cross we are reminded of Jesus’ extraordinary resurrection on the 3rd day after his death. This conveys his defeat over death. To people this reminds us of the victory over the evils in this world. It shows how evil will always be defeated and with the power of the Kingdom of God, good things and good people will always prevail over the bad. The cross also symbolises atonement where God and man become one. Finally the cross symbolises hope, it gives Christians a sense of fulfilment. It is a source of peace we
33 acquire when we are at our lowest. I believe that it gives us hope as for Jesus was slain and rose again and was glorified, as Christians through the cross we pray we can overcome the hardship in our lives as Jesus did. For those who suffer isolation and pain in contemporary society, yet believe that one day their suffering will be eased and they will be able to find their own reflection in the figure who died and rose again on the third day. The cross reminds us of the hurt and pain Jesus went through. We are reminded that he gave his life for humanity. He overcame sin and death through his own death and resurrection. Although some people would regard the symbol as ‘gory’ as it is a representation of the instrument used to execute Jesus. It is a powerful and meaningful symbol in modern society. It has the ability to give people hope, comfort, and security. Finally the cross reminds all Christians of Jesus’ brutal experience on the cross but furthermore it reminds us of his glory and divinity as he defeated death. In conclusion, although the cross might represent Jesus’ crucifixion which might seem gory and distasteful, it also represents life as life can be gory and distasteful and it is therefore a realistic symbol for Christians to find comfort in.
2. Write an account on one religious ritual and one secular ritual in contemporary society that you have studied.
A ritual is an experience that we regard as significant. They carry meaning. They renew us and often challenge how we understand ourselves and our lives using words and symbols that mark important events of transition. A religious ritual I have studied is the Bar Mitzvah in the Jewish Religion and one secular ritual I have studied in contemporary society is the registry office marriages.
A Religious Ritual in Contemporary Society that I have studied is the ‘Bar Mitzvah’. Bar Mitzvah means ‘ Son of the Commandment’ and it determines religious maturity at the age of 13 for a Jewish boy. Soon after his birthday he is called to the Synagogue to read from the Torah during the morning service. The boy now becomes part of the ‘ Quorum’ that is needed for Religious Services in the Synagogue. The boy prepares for his Bar Mitzvah months before hand by attending classes with the
34 Rabbi to prepare him to be able to read the Torah in front of the whole community. On the given morning the boy wears special garments and stands on the platform ‘ Bimah’ to read the text. Afterwards there is a special meal to mark the boy’s coming of age. They boy now has a role to play in his local Jewish community. He belongs fully to his Religious community and this enhances his sense of identity and responsibility within the group. Finally the ritual is significant for the boy’s family, as they feel proud that they have given the boy the gift of Religious belonging and identity.
A Secular Ritual that I have studied in Contemporary Society is the Registry Office Marriage A civil marriage is a civil contract, and in order that a civil marriage is valid in Ireland, a number of requirements must first be met: The couple must be free to marry each other. Persons involved must freely give consent to marriage and not be coerced. Those wishing to be married must be 18 years old. They must give three months - notice to the authorities of their attention to marry. Civil marriage must be treated with the formality and solemnity that is required. This marriage unlike a Religious Ceremony in a church takes place in a Registrar’s Office. The marriage must involve five or more people – the registrar, the couple and two witnesses. In the presence of these five people both parties each say ‘ I do solemnly swear that I know not any lawful impediment why I may not be joined in matrimony to ….’ Then say ‘ I call upon these present to witness that I do take thee … to be my lawful wedded husband’. Immediately after this the marriage is registered. Once the registration takes place the couple are then legally married. This is significant because both parties have entered into civil contract to be married. It is a decision that they have freely made. The couple have now transformed their status within society and publicly declared their love for each other.
To conclude, the Bar Mitzvah and the Registry Office Marriage may be very different on many levels but both rituals are significant in the lives of the people encountering the journeys after they take place.
35 3. Explain what is meant by ‘ritualism’ and give one positive and one negative feature of it.
Ritualism is a term that is applied to regular and excessive use of ritual. One negative feature of ritualism is that if rituals are repeated regularly the practice can revert to ritualism, whereby those who participate become unconscious of the true meaning. If a person attends Mass regularly they can become unconscious to the true meaning of the Word of God. The Sacraments will become repetitive and they won’t participate in them fully. Viewed in a negative way, ritualism simply becomes an empty ritual. Those who attend are unaware of what they are doing because it becomes a habit. When rituals are repeated regularly, they then lack newness because they are a set pattern of activity and at times become tedious. There is no longer a meaning to these rituals as they once did. One positive feature of ritualism is formal prayers. People who pray benefit from the fact that they are part of a set pattern of words and actions, which are regularly repeated. In this way they are easily memorised and recited in many different contexts in Catholic Worship, but it is this regularity and repetition that makes it easy for Catholics to remember the format of the prayer e.g. Our Father. In conclusion, ritualism uses excessive and regular use of ritual. If it is over used rituals can lose their meanings, but at the same time when they are regularly said people benefit from these rituals being regularly repeated as people can remember them.
4. Write about the functions of two sacramental symbols you have studied.
Symbols play a big part in Sacramental celebrations. There are two functions to Sacramental symbols: that are revealed and participate in Divine realities and they signify and actually bring about a different reality. The two symbols I have studied are water in Baptism and the bread and wine in the Eucharist. Baptism: is a sacrament of initiation. Baptism is understood as ‘ the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments ‘ ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213 )
36 In Christianity, through Baptism, a person is given a new life in Jesus Christ. Water, as a symbol, participates in this act in so far as water is life-giving. Those who are baptised are a new creation in Christ; it was over water that the spirit of God hovered at the moment of creation in the book of Genesis. The symbolic actions in the Sacrament of Baptism combined with the words of Baptism transforms the person and it makes them a Christian. The Catechism puts it thus: ‘ This Sacrament is also called ‘ the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit’, for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit’ ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1215 ). Here sacramental symbols transform deeper realities and actually make them happen. In the Rite of Baptism the priest baptises the person, usually a child, by pouring water over his/her forehead, saying: ‘ I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit ‘. The symbolic actions in the Sacrament of Baptism, transforms the person and makes them a Christian. Bread and Wine: the symbols of bread and wine are used in the Eucharist. According to the Catholic tradition, ‘ The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life ‘ ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324 ) The Eucharist is a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross. In the Eucharist Jesus is referred to as ‘ The Lamb of God ‘ because he was offered as a sacrifice on the cross, just as the lamb was offered as a sacrifice to free the Hebrews from Slavery. The Hebrews were freed by the blood of the lamb on Passover night, just as Christians were freed from sin and death by Jesus’ blood on the cross. The host is made from unleavened bread, reminding those present of the unleavened bread that was used on the night of the Passover. The Eucharistic Prayer tells us how Jesus took the bread on the night of the Last Supper and gave it a new meaning: ‘ On the night he was betrayed, he took bread and gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.’ The second function of sacramental symbols is to signify and bring about different realities. According to the Catechism, the ‘bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of Christ’ ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1333). During the Eucharistic Prayer the priest calls the Holy Spirit to come down upon the gifts: ‘ And so, Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make
37 them holy by the power of your Spirit that they may become the body and blood of Christ, at whose command we celebrate this Eucharist.’ The bread and wine, through the words of the Eucharist and the power of the Holy Spirit, become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. In conclusion, the function of the symbols of water in Baptism and bread and wine in the Eucharist shows a profound and deep meaning for all those who participate in these sacraments.
5. For Christians the things of this world are so transparent that in them and through them they know God’s presence. Discuss this statement with reference to the meaning of sacrament in two Christian denominations.
The things of this world are transparent in that they show God’s presence. This is an interesting statement which I agree with. Christians are called to live out God’s message and this includes not being influenced by material things. In modern life, there is ever more importance placed on materialism, and it is the job of Christians to try and look past this and appreciate the beauty, complexity and diversity of nature and spirituality. This alone sparks belief in a divine creator and it is in this way that Christians can truly feel God’s presence. Another way Christians can feel God’s presence is by celebrating the sacraments. A sacrament is a religious experience whereby the participants receive special graces from God. The key aim of sacraments is to confer the love and presence of God. This is known as grace. To both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church Sacraments show God’s presence and confer God’s grace. They reveal the transparency of God’s presence everywhere. Catholics feel the presence of God by celebrating sacraments. The Catholic Church understands sacraments to be ‘ perceptible signs accessible to our human nature. By the action of Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit they make present efficaciously the grace that they signify. The purpose of Sacraments is to worship God. This is demonstrated in the sacrament of reconciliation where Catholics are forgiven from sin so that they can move on with their lives. They nourish and strengthen Faith and confer the presence and love of God traditionally known as grace. The death and resurrection of Christ was the beginning of the church and through the seven sacraments Christ is continued. The Sacraments are the life and blood of the church and experiencing them brings one closer to Christ and God. For Example:
38 Baptism brings a person into connection with God. In a way these sacraments bound the Catholic identity to Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit are called to share in the fullness of God’s own life. Sacraments mark times of transition in life such as the sacrament of Confirmation, when we move from childhood faith into adult faith. Therefore those who participate in celebrating sacraments are part of the death and resurrection of Christ and are called to share in the future in the fullness of God’s own life. It is true to say that for Christians the things of this world are so transparent that in them and through them they know God’s presence through the sacraments of Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Reconciliation, Holy Orders and Sacrament of the sick. Anglicans place importance on the sacraments as a means of grace, sanctification and salvation as expressed in the churches liturgy. Sacraments are “ visible signs of invisible grace”. This meaning comes from Luther’s reformation who believed in the importance of the scriptures, and not the word of God, and because Christ had not ordained 5 of Catholic’s 7 Sacraments, they only perform two: Baptism and Eucharist as having been ordained by Christ and as necessary for salvation. Baptism is the sacrament by which a person is initiated into the churches faith. It has the effect of receiving the individual into the household of God, allowing him to receive the grace of the other sacraments. The intention of baptism is threefold: a. a renunciation of sin and of all that is opposed to the will of God, b. a statement of belief in God, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and c. a commitment to follow Christ as Lord and Saviour. The Eucharist is the means by which Christ becomes present to the Christian community gathered in his name. It is the central act of worship, receiving the Body of Christ as the Blessed Sacrament, his spiritual body and blood.
In conclusion, the general Christian understanding of Sacrament is that they are rites or ceremonies observed by the church as a means of a visible sign of grace. Sacraments are ceremonial in nature which separates them from the other things Jesus instructed Christians to do. The things are practical and naturally effective in an inward and spiritual sense. In this way Christians feel Gods presence. To Christians, the Sacraments are more than an experience as they signify meaning on a much more spiritual level. We can see in both denominations that the
39 transparency of the sacraments and their rich symbolism convey God’s presence.
6. Is there a need for reflection in today’s world?.
Yes. I believe there is a strong need for reflection in today’s world. Reflection is when we take time out to really listen to and understand our desires, understandings and concerns. Today’s world is a very busy place. Lots of people are under pressure at work due to the recession, and reflection would be vitally important to these people to prevent their minds being overloaded. Reflection can turn us inward to examine our true self and our relationship with the world. In this way, it can relieve stress and bring a sense of calm, while you think back and process your decisions. Lack of reflection can cause built up tension and anger, which may lead to paranoia or anxiety. Without reflection, relationships may suffer as we would fail to take account of our true feelings and omit to see that the person wasn’t happy, but got so used to the routine they didn’t notice. This would lead to projection of negative views on the other person most unfairly. Reflection puts us in touch with our inner most true self. For some people this is a daunting task, in case they uncover a difficult memory or something they don’t like themselves, but I would say ‘ How can we change ourselves for the better if we don’t know ourselves. At this time of desperate and hunger in the world, I think it’s important for people to reflect on these issues and how they affect us. Reflection facilitates itself. It’s important young people meditate to address important questions about sexual responsibilities, drugs and alcohol. If a young person does not reflect on their actions and decisions they may not feel accountable and this can be dangerous. I also think that taking time out to reflect can and does build up our self- confidence.
7. Why do you think reflection is so important in the life of a young person ?
Reflection is important in the life of a young person today as life presents many crucial choices for them to make that need to be reflected upon, such as the choices surrounding sexual responsibility and issues of alcohol and drugs.
40 Reflection is when we take time out and reconsider our understandings, feelings, desires and concerns. Young people are at a critical stage in their lives and reflection perhaps is most important to them and they need to take time to reflect. Young people are still developing and life throws at them many new experiences and dilemmas. To avoid walking a bad path young people take time out to consider their understandings, feelings, desires and concerns. They turn inwards and think about their understanding of themselves and others around them. Reflection is very important today due to the growth of youth drug culture and the dangers and personal choices it represents. A person who doesn’t reflect may lose sight of the fact that there is a choice in life. In today’s world young people are more and more faced and forced to deal with sexual responsibility in their relationships and the world around them. Without reflection we can fail to understand our relationship properly and fail to pick up on tensions and frustrations. We may also fail to see the possible dangerous outcomes of our interactions. Teenage pregnancy and the spreading of disease through many sexual partners is an ever growing problem among younger people. It is imperative that they reflect on what needs to be done to combat the problem or at least ensure the person is safe from these problems. Young people today are bombarded with the media’s interpretation of ‘perfection’, and this can cause severe insecurities. I think the most important reason why a young person should reflect is to know themselves well. It gives a person an understanding of their inner selves and also their relationship with the world around them. To learn from mistakes, we must know ourselves and our capabilities. Finally, reflection is important in the lives of young people because it opens up possibilities in the mind, both academically and perhaps socially as well. In conclusion, reflection is very important in the lives of young people today. It allows us to truly know ourselves as well as our relationships with the world and others. It shows us that there are choices and also highlight possibilities in our lives.
41 8. ‘ The young person who enters adulthood needs to reflect on the following key issues which determine their identity: dependence and independence, freedom and responsibility, commitment and vocation, faith and spirituality ‘ do you agree ? Give reasons for your answer.
Yes I agree with this statement. For a young person encroaching on adulthood it is very important that they reflect on issues that determine their identity. Often in life there are those who follow and those who lead. A young person must decide whether they are to be dependent or independent. They must decide whether they make decisions for themselves or let others do it for them. A young person must reflect on this if they are to overcome being misled, or making a bad decision for themselves. A young person must reflect on freedom and responsibility. Most young people today are mostly free from the burden of responsibility. As they get older, they will hopefully learn that they just like their parents have responsibilities. Certain responsibilities are passed from the parent to the child like the health of the child and also certain duties are given to them. Without reflection a young person may neglect or ignore responsibilities. This would have detrimental effects on them in later life when they have, for example, children and homes of their own. It is important for a young person to reflect on commitment and vocation. A young person must find what is important to them and do their best to achieve what is important, whether it be a family or a job. Without reflection a person may become unhappy because they do not know what they want. They may lose sight that they do have a future in which they can do what they enjoy. The need for reflection on faith and spirituality is very important for a young person as it helps a person make decisions. Once a person has a guide in life other things come easier to them, e.g. religion has very clear guidelines on sexuality. With reflection and faith a person may overcome any hurdles in their way much easier.
9. What is the relationship between awe and worship ?
42 The relationship between awe and worship can be an important one as they are both closely linked. Worship is the praise, honour, thanksgiving and acknowledgement given to the transcendent being by individuals and communities of believers. Awe can be something you get from worship. It is a feeling as opposed to worship which is an act. Worship can be controlled and you do so freely, while awe is a feeling that doesn’t come along often, and for some maybe never, and this is therefore uncontrollable. Awe is a feeling a person has when they experience the mysterious nature of the transcendent and this experience of awe is important in the participation in worship. People can be filled with awe and wonder when they experience the greatness of the divine. ‘ For I am a great king says the Lord of Hosts, and my name is awesome before the nations ‘. ( Malachi 1:14 ). Such a feeling can be experienced in moments of quiet meditation, in encountering unconditional love, in witnessing the beauty of a sunset or in the force and power of the natural world. This feeling of awe and wonder in the presence of the divine is after the prerequisite for the act of worship. Worship is a way of responding to the feeling of awe and the experience of the transcendent in human life. As worship is directed towards mystery it involves the use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and time. Sacred actions, such as special meals, blessings, kneeling and genuflection, also characterised public worship. Worship involves the use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and time. Sacred actions like meals, blessings etc.. also characterise public worship. Examples of individual worship may take the form of prayer, meditation, or contemplation. Public worship may involve sacred texts, music recitation or prayers and creeds. The Christian church’s formal worship of God is called liturgy. The liturgy helps to deepen one’s relationship between awe and worship is clear and clearly important. Without one the other can’t succeed and are both a major part of most religions.
Worship is the praise, honour, thanksgiving and acknowledgement given to the transcendent being by individuals and communities of believers. It is a human response to the mysterious presence of believers. Awe is a feeling a person has when they experience the mysterious nature of the transcendent and this experience of awe is important in the participation of worship. People can be filled with awe and wonder when they experience the greatness of the divine. ‘ For I am a great king says the Lord of Host
43 and my name is awesome before the nations’. ( Malachi 1:14) Such a feeling can be experienced in moments of quiet meditation, in encountering unconditional love, in witnessing the beauty of a sunset or in the force and power of the natural world. Many people see God in the little things of life. Some see God in nature, as he is the Creator of this world. This feeling of awe and wonder in the presence of the divine is often the prerequisite for the act of worship. Worship is a way of responding to the feeling of awe and the experience of the transcendence in the human life. It can lead us to practice our faith and deepen our religious faith. As worship is directed towards mystery, it involves the use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and time. The use of symbols, stories, space and time help us deepen our relationship with God and understand him. Sacred actions such as special meals, blessings, kneeling and genuflection also characterise public worship. These sacred actions are done in a group of people who are using worship as a way to respond to the feeling of awe. Public worship may involve sacred texts, music recitation or prayers and creeds. Examples of individual worship may take the form of prayer, meditation, or contemplation. These give the person time alone with God and it also gives them time to reflect on their own life. Prayer is a big part in both individual and public worship. It reflects the human need for a communication with Divine and Spiritual realities. The Christian Church’s formal worship of God is called liturgy. The Liturgy helps to deepen one’s relationship with the Divine. In conclusion, awe is important in the participation in worship. It helps people see the beauty of the natural world, which God created. The feeling of awe helps people respond to the act of worship. They deepen their relationship and faith with God.
10. ‘ The young person who enters adulthood needs to reflect on the following key issues which determine their identity: dependence and independence, freedom and responsibility, commitment and vocation, faith and spirituality. Do you agree ? Give reasons for your answers.
Yes, I do agree that a young person who enters adulthood needs to reflect on the following key issues which determine the identity as they think about their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Reflection is when we take time out and reconsider our understandings, feelings, desires, and concerns. Reflecting on these
44 issues helps young people to discover their true identity and it helps them grow into mature adults. When young people reflect on dependence and independence they realise how mature they are, and how they are not fully independent. When a young person gains independence, they must realise that they have more decisions to make than they did. If they don’t reflect on these decisions they could make the wrong choice. Young people may not realise that they are still dependent on a number of issues i.e. parents for shelter, and in order for them to realise this they must reflect. When a young person enters adulthood they gain freedom and responsibility. Before they were adults they hadn’t got as much freedom. Now they can do whatever they want but they must realise that bad actions do have consequences. They also have more responsibilities and they have to be responsible for themselves. If they break a law they must take responsibility and own up. As they now have more freedom and responsibilities they need to reflect on their decisions and actions. When a young person reaches adulthood they need to reflect on commitment and vocation. As we grow up we will have certain commitments which we must stick to. They help us grow and learn. If we don’t reflect on our commitments we won’t understand them or ourselves. Vocations allow us to fulfil our goals. Reflection on our vocations allow us to imagine other possibilities, be that in work, relationships, ambitions or deep within our own spirituality. Reflecting on our faith and spirituality is important for young people reaching adulthood. They ask questions on their faith and they discover their beliefs. It puts them in touch with their true identity and they learn to understand themselves. In conclusion, I do agree that it is important for young people who are entering adulthood to reflect on these key issues as they learn more about themselves. They become in touch with their true identity.
11.Examine the part played by two symbols in a sacramental celebration you have studied.
Symbols play a big part in Sacramental celebrations. Two symbols in a sacramental celebration that I have studied are water in Baptism and the Bread and wine in the Eucharist. Baptism is a Sacrament of Initiation. It is the entry into the Catholic Church. Baptism is understood as the basis of the whole Christian life,
45 ‘the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to other sacraments.’ Cathechism of the Catholic Church, 1213. If a person does not receive baptism they are unable to receive confirmation or get married, as they were not initiated into the Catholic Church. In Christianity, through baptism, a person is given a new life in Jesus Christ. They are part of Christ’s family. Water, as a symbol participates in this act in so far as water is life giving. The water washes away original sin and we are now invited to participate in the other sacraments. Those who are baptised are a new creation in Christ, it was over water that the Spirit of God hovered at the moment of creation in the book of Genesis. The symbolic actions in the sacraments of baptism transforms the person and makes them Christian. The second symbol that I have studied is the bread and wine in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the source of the Christian life. The Eucharist is a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross. Christians remember that Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God. The Hebrews were freed by the blood of the lamb on Passover night, just as the Christians were freed from sin and death by Jesus’ blood on the cross. The host is made from unleavened bread. The priest blesses the bread and wine. He says’ take this all of you and eat it, this is my body and which has been given up for you’ Do this in memory of me. This remembers what Christ said to the apostles during the last supper. The bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ. During the celebration of the Eucharist we receive communion and this symbolises that we undertake to live out our lives like Christ.
12. Describe one example of where a sense of the sacred can be seen in the way people live today.
An example of where a sense of the sacred can be seen in the way people live today is pilgrimage. Pilgrimage also can help people find meaning in society today. A pilgrimage I have studied is Lourdes. In 1858 a young local girl, Bernadette Soubirous claimed a beautiful lady appeared to her in the remote grotto of Massabiele. The lady identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Many believed her to be the Blessed Virgin Mary. The lady appeared 18 times and by 1859 thousands of pilgrims were visiting Lourdes. The spring water from Lourdes is believed to have some healing properties. The Catholic Church has officially recognised 67 miraculous healings. Connected
46 with this pilgrimage is often the consumption of or bathing in the Lourdes water. Many people go on pilgrimages such as Lourdes for various reasons: To ask God for guidance To receive the strength needed to face a crisis To strengthen their faith To deepen their relationship with God To share faith experiences with other pilgrims To remind themselves that life is a great journey. All these reasons can help people find meaning in society today. Pilgrimages such as Lourdes can help people to make important decisions in their lives as it can give them time to reflect and discern what is the best for them and others before making important decisions in life. The sense of the divine, holy and sacred in Lourdes gives meaning to people’s lives in society today.
13. Outline how meditation is practised in one world religion that you have studied.
Meditation is practised in Buddhism as an experience of emptying. Buddhism seeks through meditation to achieve a true vision of reality. Such a vision leads to a release from the cycles of rebirth to the eventual freedom of Nivana ( Enlightenment ). There are two types of Buddhist meditation: calm ( Samatha ) meditation and Vipasyana ( insight ) meditation. A Buddhist begins meditation with the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness can be understood as a total awareness and it is applied to four areas: the body, the sensations, thought and mental objects. Mindfulness of the body begins with an awareness of the unconscious activity of breathing as the person focuses on inhaling and exhaling. This leads to an awareness of the whole body and an ensuing feeling of tranquillity. Mindfulness is then applied to the various sensations. The objective now is to detach oneself from the various facets or experiences that may have distorted the true nature of experience. Detachment leads to a deeper way of thinking free from bias, prejudice or flawed interpretation, leading to a truer vision of reality. In this experience of emptiness the person is lead into a new interior dimension, free from external distractions, leading to simplicity, peace and contentment.
47 14.Explain why either meditation or contemplation is used as a form of prayer today.
Meditation is used as a form of prayer today because in today’s world many people feel that their lives are too stressed and meditation is a way of allowing the mind and body to relax. Meditation focuses and concentrates on a single theme, idea, symbol or text. Contemplation can be understood as a way of communicating with the Divine at the depths of a person’s being. Meditation is good for dealing with stress and anxiety, which explains why it has become popular in western culture. Meditation is seen to lead to a happier and more spiritual life. Those who practise meditation, move away from selfishness and this ultimately creates a better and more generous and wise individual. Meditation is also very popular in Christianity. People who practice Christian meditation are empowered by their experience of an encounter with Christ to act like Christ; to serve as he served; to forgive as he forgave and to bring healing into the lives of those around them.
15. (a) World religions have different types of formal prayer and ways of praying. Describe one example of either a formal prayer or a way of praying associated with one of the following world religions – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
One example of a formal prayer associated with Christianity is the Lord’s prayer. The Lord’s prayer is truly the summary of the whole gospel ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2761 ) ‘ Abba ‘, ‘ Father ‘: Jesus addressed Goad as ‘ Father’ of ‘ Abba ‘, and in the prayer he encourages his Disciples to address God in the same manner ( Romans 8:15; Galations 4:6 ) ‘Hallowed be thy name ‘:- Praise God’s name and pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God. ‘ Thy Kingdom come ‘ :- The kingdom of God was to be understood as the reign of God, which exists within the lives of those who follow Jesus ( Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12 ) ‘ Give us this day ‘ :- God will take care of the material necessities, set your hearts on the Kingdom, and these other things will be given to you as well . ( Luke 12:31)
48 ‘ And forgive us our sins ‘:- Jesus outs no limits on the extent to which we should forgive others. ‘ Lead us not into temptation’:- when we find ourselves in moments of temptation, we won’t give in. ‘ But deliver us from evil. Amen. ‘:- Keep us free from sin and show us the way to heaven.
(b)Explain the origin of the example you have given and describe how it is used in the religious tradition associated with it.
The origins of the Our Father is found in the Didache which is an ancient book of basic instructions for Christians which originates from the very early church. In this book it is St. Matthew’s form of prayer that is used. Our Father, who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven, Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us, And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil Amen. According to the ‘ Didache ‘ the Lord’s prayer should be said three times a day.
The Our Father is very commonly used in Christianity. It is one of the first prayers a child learns because of its importance. The meaning is regarded as truly important for all Christians. It has been translated into many languages including Irish because of how universal it is viewed as. According to the Didache the Lord’s prayer should be said three times daily. On Easter Day 2007, it was estimated that two billion Catholics, Anglicans, Protestants and Eastern Orthodox Christians read, recited or sang the Our Father in hundreds of languages. Although theological differences and various modes of worship divide Christians, there is a sense of solidarity in knowing that Christians around the globe are praying together, and this prayer unites us as one.
49 © Describe an example of either a formal prayer or a way of praying associated with one other world religion listed above and compare the way it is used with the example you have described in (a) above.
Another example of a formal prayer associated with one other world religion is The Shema which is associated with Judaism. The Shema is a formal prayer in Jewish Liturgy. The Shema consists of three biblical passages: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21 and Numbers 15: 37-41. It is recited twice a day. The prayer was used every day in the temple as part of the temple worship. The priest recited a blessing, the Ten Commandments, the Shema and then another blessing. The prayer acts as a profession of faith and is also recited just before death. The main part of the prayer begins by acknowledging the unity of God and that there is only one God. After the Shema is a command to love God with all one’s being. The prayer asks for a surrender of all that a person has to the love of God. It asks for a dedication of every aspect of life, heart, mind and soul to God who is one. Jews hold the Shema with deep reverence and affection. For the Jews, the Shema is the most important text in the Old Testament and the first paragraphs of the prayer are written on a piece of parchment and placed inside a wooden or metal box called a Mezuzah, which is fixed to the doorpost of the houses. In comparing the Shema with the Lord’s prayer we can see that both are meant to be recited more than once daily. Both prayers are regarded as very important to members of its religion. In contrast, the Shema requires a dedication to prayers which the Lord’s prayer does not.
16.What is the most significant thing a religious experience reveals ?
There are many different religious experiences that a person can experience. Through them there can be many different things that are revealed through them. A religious experience can be defined as something that is a depth experience which encounters with realities in life such as truth, meaning, the sacred, love and beauty. ‘The underlying characteristic of any religious experience is that individuals find themselves drawn into a new relationship with that which is termed the transcendent’ Fr. Dermot Lane, the experience of God.
50 All religious experiences share the following characteristics: All religious experiences reveal the transcendent They are also encounters with the mystery They can be life changing They can involve a conversation between oneself and God or a priest. They can give a persona new perspective or insight into life. It can change a person’s attitude towards life and others and ultimately towards the transcendent. They can change a person’s understanding of themselves, their values and priorities. An example of a positive religious experience could be the birth of a child. This experience gives parents a new perspective and insight on life. Most are filled with pride and joy and determined to protect and cherish the little baby. This opens their understanding of themselves and of course rearranges their priorities. It is a time when they are filled with awe as they delight in the creation of a new human being showing the power of the transcendent. A negative religious experience can occur if someone you love is sick, this can turn a person to religion for comfort and hope. They pray that their loved one makes it, and beg and plead. When they don’t get better and they die, that person’s life is changed forever. In some cases, it would involve a conversion against religion, and it changes a person’s attitude towards life and others. I think the most important thing that comes from a religious experience is that it can change our understanding of ourselves and our priorities. In essence, it can change us, hopefully for the better.
17.Write an account on prayer and the relationship with the Divine in two religions you have studied.
Prayer can be seen as having a conversation with God. Prayer is an important part of faith because it brings you closer to your God. This is evident in the connection between prayer and God in Christian and Jewish faith. Prayer is a personal address from the heart and mind that seeks communion with the Divine. People pray to reach out to God and ask for forgiveness or guidance. Prayer reflects the need for the Divine in the context of a person’s own sense of fragility and vulnerability. Prayer
51 is important in this way because where someone may feel fragile and unable to speak to others about how we feel but knowing you can tell God can help heal us and allow us to become confident in whom we are especially during teenage years. Our achievements, pleasures and friendships can’t seem to satisfy an inner emptiness at the centre of our souls. Although we get distracted by material things and the various facets of life, prayer can bring us back to our spiritual selves and stay connected with what’s important. The soul longs for a personal relationship with God because it is loved by God and seeks a relationship with the source of this love. Our relationship with God is nourished through prayer. We gain a deeper relationship with God through sharing problems asking for guidance. Through prayer a person comes to know God more fully and they share in a love that directs them to the needs of the poor and the outcasts. Through prayer we reflect and want to be like him and do as Jesus did. We want to help others and be like him. Prayer teaches us to do as Jesus did and outline the characteristics involved in being a Christian e.g. compassion and forgiveness. Like the Christian religion Jewish people find prayer equally important. When a Jew prays they do so with sincerity and true devotion to God. The Jewish term Kavannagh expresses that prayer should involve a direction of the mind towards God with true devotion meaning that before prayer one stands before the ‘Holy One’ and ‘ Lord of the Universe ‘. Rabbinic tradition insisted that one should approach God with the utmost reverence and respect because prayer is an encounter with a God who is mighty and majestic. One should respect God and be thankful of what he has given you. Jews are reminded that their relationship with God in prayer should be one of trust in a personal being of power and love. When praying one should never be afraid of being their true self or ashamed of what they’ve done because God will love you no matter what. God remains steadfast in his care for those who approach in faith and the Talmud lays down a general principle that a person should not hesitate to come to God in prayer. This is important because you will never have a true relationship with God until you stop hesitating and allow yourself to fully be open to the faith. To conclude, prayer is important for a relationship with the Divine because to be part of a religion you must allow yourself to communicate with the Lord, share your fears and doubts and to try and live like Jesus did. As shown above prayer is essential to your relationship with the Divine in Christianity and Judaism.
52 18. Explain the ways in which two rites in Christian Worship remember Jesus.
It appears that from early in the development of Christian Worship, remembering the action of Jesus at the last supper and recalling the significance of his death and resurrection were central. This remembering was a call to live as Jesus did. One rite in which Christian Worship remembers Jesus is through the rite of the Eucharist. Christians celebrate the Eucharist in both word and deed. They listen to the word of God through scripture. They break bread and share wine. The Eucharist is the source of the Christian life. The Eucharist is a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross. In the Eucharist Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God. For Catholics Christ is truly present in the bread and wine after consecration when they become the Body and Blood of Christ, transubstantiation refers to what occurs in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Christians also remember Jesus through the rites of confirmation. Anointing is used in confirmation. In Confirmation, the anointing is a spirit filled event. In Confirmation the person is anointed with Chrism oil. This anointing in Confirmation strengthens the person in wisdom, courage and understanding of the message of Jesus. In the rite of Confirmation the Bishop traces the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead with the oil and says ‘ be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit ‘. Once confirmed the presence of the Holy Spirit stays with you for your entire life. The gifts of the Holy Spirit includes: peace, joy, love, wonder and awe in God’s presence and courage. These gifts give the people being confirmed the strength to go out and share God’s love in peace, truth, justice and love. These rites experienced at specific phases in a Christian’s life are rooted in Christ and therefore through worship are concerned with remembering the message values and life of Jesus Christ.
19.Write an account on how God is present in the Catholic Church.
God is always present in the Catholic Church in many different ways. The church is a place of prayer and worship, a place to worship God. God is present in the church when people are there to pray. He is there because they are there. The liturgy is celebrated in the church. The
53 liturgy of the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life ( Lumen Gentium, 11 ) The Church is the place where the sacraments can be celebrated. Throughout all the 7 sacraments of the Catholic Church God is present at every single one of them, but in each sacrament he is present in a different way for example in the sacrament of Baptism God is present through the Baptismal Font. It represents new life in God and the altar represents Christ’s sacrifice. Catholics believe that God is present in the Eucharist. We believe that the bread and wine which is changed into the body and blood of Christ through transubstantiation contains the presence of God. This was the last thing Jesus asked us to do in his memory at the last supper. So because of its significance, God will always be present at this time. When mass is over some of the remaining hosts are placed in the tabernacle, so when the person enters the church to pray they believe that God is present in the tabernacle. In conclusion the main way that God is present throughout the whole of the Catholic Church is through the Eucharist, through the body and blood of Christ, through his Son that he gave up for our Salvation.
20.How is the search for the spiritual evident in society today ?
For many people, spirituality and indeed the search for the spiritual has been an important part of the journey through life. People are always seeking and will continue in the future to find the truth and meaning behind life and the spiritual aspects of human natural lives. This search for the spiritual is evident even in society today from the action which the people searching make. These actions include reflection, pilgrimage, prayer/worship and retreats. Reflection is a key part of the search for the spiritual. Reflection is when a person takes time out and secludes oneself from worldly distractions for a time to reconsider one’s feelings, understandings, desires, concerns and previous actions. In its nature, reflection turns the person inward to contemplate upon their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Without reflection one can fail to understand or ignore personal feelings that may cause unhappiness. Reflection puts a person in touch with their true identity or authentic self. Effectively, reflection allows a person to imagine either possibilities in relationships, work, ambitions or even one’s own spirituality.
54 Pilgrimage: Every year for hundreds of years people have made pilgrimages to many places e.g. Lough Derg, Knock, Croagh Patrick. A pilgrimage is a journey made by a person or a community to a sacred place because it is associated with a person or event of religious significance. In theory, the inner spiritual journey can be described as a pilgrimage. People make pilgrimages for many different reasons. However, all of these revolve around worshipping God and showing their devotion. People go on pilgrimage to : Strengthen their relationship with God. To look for guidance To seek forgiveness for wrong doing in their lives To share faith experiences with other pilgrims To have some alone time with themselves and with God. Pilgrimage is a clear example of how many people are searching for the spiritual. Prayer / Worship: is another way people approach their own search for the spiritual. The goal or objective of prayer is to communicate with God, the transcendent being. It reflects the human need to communicate with God. There are many different forms of prayer which subsequently are said for different reasons e.g. petition, contrition, contemplation etc… People can also pray formally or informally, alone or with a group, all of whom have similar values and are also searching for the spiritual. The Eucharist is a great form of worship that we Catholics participate in and during this liturgy we hear the word of God and then at the end of the celebration we are asked to ‘ go in peace to love and serve the Lord ‘. Retreats: these are also a way in which people are on a search for the spiritual in the modern day. Retreats can also be done in solitude or in a communal manner with many people also on retreat. In retreats, a person can focus on reading, prayer, reflection, meditation, without any outside distractions. To avoid distractions people often take this time in silence to go on retreat. Sometimes retreats may have themes, focusing on one’s spiritual journey. A spiritual director is also available where the retreatant may go and share with their spiritual director what is happening for them during their time on retreat. In conclusion, it is apparent that many people in the distant past right up to the present modern day have been on the search for the spiritual and will continue to do so well into the future.
55 21.Write an account on worship and awe with response to mystery.
Worship is a human response to the mysterious presence of the divine. Awe is a feeling a person has when they experience the mysterious nature of the transcendent and this experience of awe is important in the participation of worship. People can be filled with awe and wonder when they experience the greatness of the Divine. ‘ For I am a great King says the Lord of Hosts and my name is awesome before the nations ‘. ( Malachi 1:14 ) Such a feeling can be experienced in moments of quiet meditation, in encountering unconditional love, in witnessing the beauty of the sunset or in the force and power of the natural world. The feeling of awe and wonder in the presence of the divine is often is after the prerequisite for the act of worship. Worship is a way of responding to the feeling of awe and the experience of the transcendence in human life. As worship is directed towards mystery, it involves the use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and time. Sacred actions, such as special meals, blessings, kneeling and genuflection, also characterize public worship. The Christian church’s formal worship of God is called liturgy. The liturgy helps to deepen one’s relationship with the divine.
22.Profile the life and work of one mystic you have studied
One mystic that I have studied is Teresa of Avila. Teresa of Avila was born in 1515 to a wealthy family in the fortress town of Avila in Spain. As a child she was an avid reader and displayed an interest in the spiritual. This influenced her to join the Carmelite order. She experienced ill health as a nun and at one point her grave was dug in convent grounds. However, she recovered but suffered uncertain health for the rest of her life. Her greatest ambition was to set up her own convent and in doing so reform the Carmelite order. She did this with the help of John of the Cross. She enforced the primitive rule in the convent as an austere life of prayer and strict enclosure. Teresa experienced an intense and mystical relationship with God. She once described mental prayer as “ nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking the time to frequently be alone with He whom we know loves us “. Teresa had mystical experiences such as levitations, visions and spiritual rapture, yet she constantly felt the pain of being misunderstood, along with the fear that she might be having delusions.
56 Despite these intense mystical experiences Teresa should be understood as a down to earth and tough woman who battled for what she believed in and was courageous enough to see through her reforms in the face of fierce hostility. The spiritual life didn’t always come easy to Teresa and she experienced long periods of separation from prayer. She often found it difficult to enter the oratory and this is one of the reasons why her life and work is so important to us today. In this great mystic we witness the difficulties that even she faced on her spiritual journey, as she was constantly plagued by the sense of her own sinfulness. While her enclosed life demanded thorough self-knowledge and deep inner examination, she never became self – absorbed. Her life was dedicated to the service of others and she found God in the little things of everyday. She once told the nuns “ the Lord walks among the pots and pans “. Throughout her life she gradually moved from self- centeredness to surrendering herself to the will of God and finally relaxing into his love. She often tried to help those who were learning to pray and after her death the following prayer was found in her own hand-writing. It encapsulates her understanding of the spiritual journey: “ Let nothing disturb thee, Let nothing dismay thee, All things pass: God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for. One who has God Finds nothing lacking: God alone suffices”.
23.Write an account on one example of a religious ritual in contemporary culture and explain its significance for those who participate.
One example of a religious ritual in contemporary culture is from the Jewish Faith and it is the Bar Mitzvah. Bar Mitzvah means ‘ Son of the commandment’ and takes place when a Jewish boy reaches Jewish maturity at the age of 13.
57 The boy, soon after his birthday is taken to the Synagogue to read from the Torah in front of the congregation. Soon after he joins the ‘ Quorum’ as part of the group who participate in the services. The process of the Bar Mitzvah takes place months in advance with the boy going to classes with the Rabbi to learn how to read the Torah in Hebrew. On the day he wears special garments; skullcap, tallit, teffelin and stands on the ‘Bimah’ facing the congregation before reading from a passage in the Torah. When he is done he is officially a man in the eyes of his father. This ritual is significant for those who participate because the ‘Quorum’ receives a new member, a person from the younger generation to learn how to carry out the Jewish traditions and help perform the services. Without Bar Mitzvahs, the ‘Quorum’ would not have its members and therefore the services could not take place. Another reason is he is a new part of the ‘life blood’ of the Jewish faith in order to carry on its significance for future generations. It is significant for the family as they have helped give the boy a sense of religious identity and have finally raised the ‘boy’ into a ‘man’. It is with their help he has completed his development into manhood and a better connection with his faith. It is also significant for the family as it signifies a shift in practice, they now have another member of the family to help with the services and pride will be found here. Finally, it is most significant for the boy, as he now is a part of the wider community of others who share his faith. He has just completed another stepping stone in his life and most importantly he is now a ‘man’ within the views of his religion who can take an active part in the services in the synagogue. In conclusion, the Bar Mitzvah is one example of a religious ritual in contemporary culture and it is hugely significant for all those who participate in this ritual of coming of age.
24.What is ritualism and discuss one positive and one negative feature of it ?
Ritualism is the regular and excessive use of an experience, set or way within rituals that is repetitive and frequently used. Ritualism has both its positives and negatives. Within the positives it creates a sense of community and closeness. For example in Baptism, the parents, godparents and family are called to the church to baptise the child and welcome them into the Christian faith. This form of ritualism creates a
58 community, with a new member being initiated by their parents, who in turn were initiated by their parents into their faith. The Godparents reaffirm their vows they took and promise to raise the child in the Christian Faith. From this ritual, the washing away of original sin, the use of the catechumen and Chrism oil and the lighting of the baptismal candle from the paschal candle show the positive side of ritualism as a force that creates bonds within the community as it ties people of the same faith together and the experience of newness, the child is now a part of something larger and wonderful, the family of God. Nothing can make such scenes dull, no matter how many times you are present at baptism as the ritual always feels new with a new member being welcomed into the Christian Faith. Ritualism can also have a negative side. One example of this can be found in the celebration of the Eucharist ‘Mass’. If a person attends Mass regularly, yet fails to listen or actively participate in the celebration, then the experience won’t be very fruitful. For many participants in Mass, they stand, kneel, say the responses, receive Holy Communion and leave the celebration without much effect on their lives. The kernel of the Eucharist is the changing of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ ‘transubstantiation’ and we are invited to receive Jesus into our lives when we receive Holy Communion ‘the more we receive the Eucharist, the more we become the Eucharist’. How sad it is that this can be lost because sometimes this ritual is such a habit that it loses its full meaning. In conclusion, ritualism can be both positive and negative. It will only become negative if the meaning of the ritual is lost. The reason why baptism is positive is because the moral and meaning is still relevant to us today. When you compare this to Mass, not many people see mass as relevant, therefore the meaning is lost.
25.Hermitage, Poustinia, pilgrimage and retreat. Choose two of the above and describe the significance of each one in the development of contemplative practice.
The contemplative practice is one incorporates solitude, silence and prayer. The two contemplative practices that I have chosen to discuss are pilgrimage and retreat. Firstly, pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place. Many people go on pilgrimage for many different reasons: To deepen their relationship with God.
59 To seek guidance. To look for forgiveness for their wrong doing in life. To take time out and ‘be’. To share faith experiences with other pilgrims. To offer it up for some intention. Croagh Patrick is an example of a place of pilgrimage. Here St. Patrick went up the mountain and spent 40 days and 40 nights praying, reflecting and fasting and spending time in the presence of God. It was here that he banished all the snakes form Ireland. On Easter Sunday he came down the mountain and he celebrated mass with everyone on the 4th Sunday of July which is now known as Reek Sunday. Today many people make this journey on ‘Reek Sunday’. It is very significant for them. Many make this pilgrimage in their bare feet and offer their suffering for someone or something. There are three stages to this journey. Stage 1 takes place at the base of the mountain and here pilgrims walk around a mound of stones seven times, saying 7 Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and one creed. Second station: takes place on the summit and has four different stages. The pilgrim first kneels and says 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys and 1 Creed. They then pray near the chapel where Mass is said every day for the Pope’s intentions. Next, they walk around the chapel 15 times while saying 15 Our Fathers, and 15 Hail Marys . Finally, they walk around the area known as Patrick’s bed seven times, again saying 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys and 1 Creed. Third station: takes place at Rolig Mhuire. Here the pilgrims walk seven times around each mound of stones, again repeating the sequence of 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys and 1 Creed. Finally, they walk around the whole enclosure of Rolig Mhuire praying. This form of pilgrimage is extremely important in the development of contemplative practice.
Secondly retreat is another form that has helped develop the contemplative practice and is very significant for many people. Retreat can be seen as taking time out of one’s busy life to spend time in the silence, solitude and prayer with God. Retreats for individuals can take place in hermitages, where the person can focus on reading, prayer, reflection and meditation. It is a threshold moment of solitude, stillness and silence which leads to a spiritual renewal. A retreat can last for a day or a month depending on the person’s needs and spiritual maturity. Some retreats are given by a retreat director, who may focus on a theme relating to the spiritual journey.
60 Retreats are very significant for those who participate as they will have the opportunity to be renewed by the experience of the presence of God. I have some personal experience with going on retreat. During 5th year in school I went on a class retreat. Our retreat master was Mr. Gerry Bates a former teacher at our school. We went on retreat to Orlagh Retreat house in the mountains near Tallaght. From our school we walked to Orlagh retreat house up in the mountains. Once there we did many things such as reflection, prayer and meditation. There was one part of the retreat that I found to be very significant to the development of contemplative practice in my life. That was when we were in the garden of Orlagh house. We walked one by one alone down a path through the garden. While I was on this walk I was alone and I was reflecting on my life and I also said some prayers for myself and for those who needed it. I felt that I was not spiritually alone. I could feel the presence of God walking with me. It was a profound experience that was important for me and hugely significant in my life. It was truly an experience of contemplative practice in my life and I know that it will stand to me for the rest of my life. In conclusion, it is clear that the practice of pilgrimage and retreat are very significant to the development of contemplative practice. They are opportunities where one can experience, solitude, reflection and prayer and thus deepen their relationship with God.
26.Write an account about the functions of two symbols used in a sacramental celebration.
Two functions of symbols used in sacramental celebration are to participate in Divine realities and to bring about a new reality. Two symbols in a sacramental celebration that I have studied are bread and wine in the Eucharist. Bread and wine are the source and summit of Christian life. Eucharist is a memorial service, remembering how Jesus sacrificed himself for us. The origins of the Eucharist are the last supper. At this meal, Jesus and his apostles were gathered together to celebrate the Passover meal. This was taken away to be sacrificed for us, hence the name ‘ the last supper ‘. Jesus was trying to teach the apostles that night. Symbolically he took that bread and said ‘ take this all of you and eat it. This is my body given up for you. Do this in memory of me. Then he took the wine and said this is my blood which is given up for you, do this in memory of me. This is known as transubstantiation. It is
61 here that we participate in the Divine Realities. This is the first function of a sacramental symbol. When we receive communion we experience a change. we are told to ‘ go forth and spread the good news’. It is believed that we become closer to God and in turn the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. There is a well - known saying ‘the more you receive the Eucharist, the more you become the Eucharist’. At the last supper, Jesus said ‘ do this in memory of me’ when he completed the process of transubstantiation it became clear that Jesus wanted us to repeat this celebration. In turn, this brought us to our second function, it brought about a new reality. In conclusion the bread and wine of Eucharist both participates in Divine reality and brings about a new reality.
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In this essay I shall be exploring various sacramental symbols used in a sacramental celebration within the church. Firstly I ask the question what is a sacrament ? Sacraments are perceivable signs which confer our faith in Jesus Christ and God. In the sacrament of the Eucharist, the symbol of bread and the symbol of wine are used. For the Christian, life begins with the Eucharist and it is the foundation for the basis of the Church as it stems directly from the execution of Jesus Christ. Symbols within sacrament represent and have two functions, firstly they reveal and participate in divine realities and secondly they play a vital role in the actual bringing about of different realities. In the sacrament of the Eucharist, which means ‘thanksgiving’ the sacramental symbols of bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ in a process known as transubstantiation. The bread and wine are highly symbolic in this instance as they help to represent the sacrifice which Jesus made for his people. As we know Jesus was found guilty of treason and was subsequently crucified on Calvary, the symbol of the bread and wine help remind us of God and Jesus’ love for us. In this instance the function of the bread and wine is to help reveal divine realities to the people. However, as the bread and wine are highly symbolic, we receive the Eucharist with a view to go forth and spread the Good News and message of Jesus Christ. We become one with Christ when we receive Eucharist and it is believed that the more we receive the Eucharist, the more we become the Eucharist. This sacrament serves as a means of physically representing an inner and spiritual occurrence. The function
62 of the bread and wine is of extreme importance in this sacrament as it helps to reveal a divine reality. The divine process of transubstantiation would be impossible without the symbols of both bread and wine. As we receive this gift our Eucharist it then serves a second function, in bringing about an actual reality, in so far as we become one with Jesus and are encouraged to go forth and spread the message of love. In conclusion, two symbols in a sacrament that I have studied are bread and wine in the Eucharist. They primarily serve two functions which are to bring about actual realities and to reveal divine realities to the Christian people.
27.Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. All religions regard certain times as sacred. Compare the features that make a time or season as sacred in two of the major religions listed above.
It is true that various religions hold sacred times close to their traditions. In this essay I shall be comparing the time of Passover in the Jewish religion with that of Easter Sunday in the Christian Tradition. Both times have some similarities but they also have some key differences as I shall highlight in this essay. The book of Exodus recalls the freeing of the Israelites from Egyptian rule. At the time, the Israelites pleaded with Yahweh to help their cause. He sent Moses to convince the Pharaoh, but it was to no avail. He even sent great blights to change the dynamic of the slavery but still they were not free. Then Yahweh ordered each family to take a baby lamb and sacrifice it. The lamb would be eaten by all Israelites with unleavened bread and following this they would smear the blood of the lamb on their doorpost. Then on the tenth night of the first month Yahweh would come and kill the first born male of each household, however he would ‘ pass-over’ those who had the blood of the lamb smeared above their door. And so it came to be and the Israelites were freed. Nowadays this sacred time falls around the month Nisan. It is now referred to as the festival of unleavened bread, where Jews drink fine wine and share the great story of freedom. The Christian equivalent of Passover is Easter Sunday. Surprisingly its roots lie in the festival of Passover. This is due to the fact that Jesus travelled to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. The time of Easter reaches around the Paschal Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On Holy Thursday we celebrate a Mass which commemorates the Last Supper. On Good Friday Jesus’ passion is relieved. This act of
63 sacrifice by Jesus gave a whole new meaning to Passover, as Jews believed they were saved from the blood of the lamb, our salvation derives from the blood of Jesus, so much so that we refer to Jesus as ‘the lamb of God’. Both religions are encouraged to view their sacred times as a day of rememberance. The eating of the unleavened bread is similar to the concept of the last supper. Perhaps the main similarities that both traditions share is the concept of freedom, during Passover Jews were freed from captivity and saved from a life of slavery, however in Christianity, Christians were freed of sin and were given hope of life after death. The idea of faith in one’s God is to be found in both Sacred times. Perhaps the key difference in both sacred times is the nature in that they represent, for example the physical happenings which occurred differ significantly. Yet that which they represent us undoubtedly and inextricably connected. This is evident with the simple connection of the Sedar meal and the Last Supper. In conclusion, two sacred times that I have studied are Passover and Easter. The two possess a number of similarities as highlighted above and are of extreme importance and significant in their respected religions.
28.Outline the function of two symbols used in a sacramental celebration you have studied.
Symbols play a big part in Sacramental celebrations. There are two functions to sacramental symbols: that are revealed and participate in Divine Realities and they also signify and actually bring about a different reality. The two symbols I have studied are the Bread and Wine in the Sacramental celebration of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the source of the Christian Life. The Eucharist is a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross. As the Eucharist Jesus is present and so is his sacrifice on the cross, because they are one and the same thing. During the consecration of the Mass the priest takes the bread and says ‘ this is my body which will given up for you, do this in memory of me. This symbolises the body of Christ. We the at communion time are invited to receive the body of Christ. ‘ The more we receive the Eucharist, the more we become the Eucharist. Then at the end of Mass we are invited to go to love and serve the Lord. We are encouraged to go and spread the word of God and to try and live in the image and likeness of God. Equally, during the consecration the priest takes the wine and he says ‘ this is my blood which is given up
64 for you, do this in memory of me. This symbolises that the Hebrews were freed by the blood of the lamb on Passover night, just as Christians were freed from sin and death by Jesus’ blood on the cross. The changing of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ is known as transubstantiation. In conclusion, the function of the symbols of bread and wine used in the sacramental celebration of the Eucharist is integral to our understanding as to what happened at the Last Supper. The Eucharist is the greatest act of worship for Catholics and by changing the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ he gave us life for our creation. Jesus’ death on the cross meant that each of us could be saved from sin.
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