The Eucharist: Jesus, the Passover Lamb

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Eucharist: Jesus, the Passover Lamb LESSON X6 the eucharist: Jesus, the passover lamb BACKGROUND READING Our study of the Sacraments of Initiation Eucharistic sacrifice. “Do this in remembrance culminates in the Eucharist. Although in of me,” Jesus instructed His Apostles. So many places the Sacrament of Confirmation whenever we celebrate Mass, we do so at is received after the first Holy Communion, Christ’s command, and in His name. As we the Church teaches clearly that “The holy find recorded in the Scriptures, “For as often Eucharist completes Christian initiation. as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you Those who have been raised to the dignity proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes” of the royal priesthood by Baptism and (1 Corinthians 11:26). configured more deeply to Christ by But why would Jesus ask us to do Confirmation participate with the whole something that sounds as strange as eating community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by His Body and drinking His Blood? When you means of the Eucharist” (CCC 1322). understand Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls as the culmination of salvation history, the the Eucharist “the Sacrament of sacraments” Eucharist begins to make perfect sense. (CCC 1330) and “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). All the other The Eucharist in Salvation History Sacraments and every ministry of the Church St. Augustine said, “The New Testament lies flow from the Eucharist and point us toward it. hidden in the Old and the Old is unveiled in the The reason for the centrality of the Eucharist New.” The Eucharist is a mystery that involves is that the Eucharist is Christ Himself! the entire history of salvation. It is prefigured Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last in the Old Testament, finds its origin in the Supper. In anticipation of His death on the Incarnation, its institution at the Last Supper, Cross, Jesus gave His Apostles — whom He and its full revelation and significance in made the first priests — His Body and Blood Christ’s death and Resurrection. Aided by to eat and drink. And because Jesus wanted the Holy Spirit, these events comprise the all His people for all time to eat and drink bedrock from which we begin to understand of this heavenly food, He commanded them the Holy Eucharist. to continue to make present and real this 138 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS The Eucharist has deep and mysterious to the LORD; you will celebrate it as a statute roots in the Old Testament, conveyed by forever” (Exodus 12:14). events, archetypes, and symbols all guided Many centuries later, it was precisely at by the hand of Divine Providence. The most the Passover meal when Jesus instituted a significant of these is the Passover. The New and everlasting Covenant and gave His Passover was the principal Jewish feast friends the greatest gift of all — His Body and of the Old Testament. It was instituted to His Blood. commemorate the Jews’ liberation from Egyptian slavery and the fulfillment of God’s The Last Supper and the promise to Abraham that He would establish Institution of the Eucharist a people uniquely His. By the same covenant, At the end of Jesus’ public ministry, “the day this same people would eventually come of the feast of Unleavened Bread arrived, the into possession of the Promised Land. God’s day for sacrificing the Passover lamb” (Luke people were commanded to recall this saving 22:7). Jesus gathered the Apostles in the Upper event for all generations and to keep this feast Room for the Last Supper and told them: “I day forever. have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). Christ The Passover Lamb prophesied His Passion, revealing that He is To deliver His Chosen People from slavery, the lamb to be sacrificed for our salvation. God sent a series of plagues to Egypt. The Jesus took a cup of wine, and after giving last of these was to kill every firstborn son thanks He said, “Take this and share it among throughout the land. God told the Israelites yourselves” (Luke 22:17). “Then he took the to sacrifice a lamb according to specific bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it instructions and to apply its blood to the to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which will doorposts and lintels of their homes as a sign be given for you; do this in memory of me’” for God to pass over their homes and spare (Luke 22:19). Christ instituted the Eucharist their firstborn. “The blood will be a sign for and commanded that we eat His Flesh and you on the houses where you are; and when drink His Blood, signaling His victory over I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus death through His Resurrection. 12:13). God also commanded the Israelites After He broke and shared the bread, in a to eat the lamb: “They will consume its similar way He took the cup of wine and said: meat that same night, eating it roasted with “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, unleavened bread and bitter herbs” (Exodus which will be shed for you” (Luke 22:20). Jesus 12:8-9). Finally, God also commanded the instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper Israelites to remember this great act of His as the new and eternal sacrifice. It initiated salvation by holding a yearly festival known His new and everlasting Blood Covenant with as the Passover: “This day will be a day of God’s people. As the Catechism explains, remembrance for you, which your future “By celebrating the Last Supper with his generations will celebrate with pilgrimage apostles in the course of the Passover meal, THE SACRAMENTS, ESSAY APPENDIX 139 Jesus gave the Jewish Passover its definitive for the Hebrew word for Passover, St. Paul meaning. Jesus’ passing over to his father by writes: “For our paschal lamb, Christ, has his death and Resurrection, the new Passover, been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The is anticipated in the Supper and celebrated Church transformed the Jewish Passover in the Eucharist, which fulfills the Jewish from a commemoration of God’s freeing the Passover and anticipates the final Passover Israelites from slavery to a celebration of Jesus of the Church in the glory of the kingdom.” Christ’s death and Resurrection, and freeing Thus, Jesus became for us our Passover of humanity from the slavery of sin and death. Lamb. This gift would win for all mankind God’s promise of redemption is available not the promise of eternal salvation. The Old just to one people, but to the entire world. Testament Passover lamb, whose blood saved In Him there is now one, complete sacrifice God’s people, is replaced by the Lamb of God, memorializing and sustaining our own Jesus; whose Blood is our eternal salvation. deliverance from sinful captivity. Initiated Jesus said, “He who eats my flesh and drinks on the eve of Calvary’s dark desolation, the my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him Eucharist instituted through the Last Supper up at the last day” (John 6:54). is a mystery of joyful light. Jesus has become the Passover Lamb for all Christians. Using the Greek word pascha 140 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS LESSON X7 the eucharist and the holy mass BACKGROUND READING Have you ever wondered: What do people Transubstantiation who have died and gone to Heaven do all The change of the bread and wine into day? The answer is simple: they worship God, the Body and Blood of Jesus is called singing endless hymns of praise. To someone transubstantiation. The entire substances of unfamiliar with the Catholic worship service, the bread and wine change, although they called Holy Mass, it might sound odd to think appear the same as they did before the change. that Heaven is one perpetual celebration of “By the consecration the transubstantiation worship. But someone who understands what of the bread and wine into the Body and Mass is would have to ask, “Why would you Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the want to do anything else?” The Mass is truly consecrated species of bread and wine Christ and literally Heaven on earth, the wonderful himself, living and glorious, is present in a gift Jesus has given us so that we may be with true, real, and substantial manner: his Body Him in the flesh. and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity” Since Christ first commanded the Apostles (CCC 1413). (the first priests) to celebrate Mass for all The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christians at the Last Supper, ordained priests Jesus Christ. The Baltimore Catechism explains have invoked the Holy Spirit and pronounced one of the ways we know this: “Christ could the words of consecration, transforming not have used clearer, more explicit words bread and wine into the Body and Blood of than ‘This is My body.’ He did not say, ‘This is a Jesus Christ. sign of My body’ or ‘This represents My body,’ The Mass is celebrated in two main parts: but, ‘This is My body.’ Catholics take Christ the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of at His word because He is the omnipotent the Eucharist. More information on these God. On His word they know that the Holy two parts of the Mass are in your children’s Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ.” activity books. THE SACRAMENTS, ESSAYlesson APPENDIX 7 141 What Are the Fruits of dress in appropriate attire for Mass as a sign Holy Communion? of respect.
Recommended publications
  • Lamb of God" Title in John's Gospel: Background, Exegesis, and Major Themes Christiane Shaker [email protected]
    Seton Hall University eRepository @ Seton Hall Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs) Fall 12-2016 The "Lamb of God" Title in John's Gospel: Background, Exegesis, and Major Themes Christiane Shaker [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Shaker, Christiane, "The "Lamb of God" Title in John's Gospel: Background, Exegesis, and Major Themes" (2016). Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs). 2220. https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/2220 Seton Hall University THE “LAMB OF GOD” TITLE IN JOHN’S GOSPEL: BACKGROUND, EXEGESIS, AND MAJOR THEMES A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGY CONCENTRATION IN BIBLICAL THEOLOGY BY CHRISTIANE SHAKER South Orange, New Jersey October 2016 ©2016 Christiane Shaker Abstract This study focuses on the testimony of John the Baptist—“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” [ἴδε ὁ ἀµνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ αἴρων τὴν ἁµαρτίαν τοῦ κόσµου] (John 1:29, 36)—and its impact on the narrative of the Fourth Gospel. The goal is to provide a deeper understanding of this rich image and its influence on the Gospel. In an attempt to do so, three areas of concentration are explored. First, the most common and accepted views of the background of the “Lamb of God” title in first century Judaism and Christianity are reviewed.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lamb of God Chronicle May 2014
    The Lamb of God Chronicle May 2014 The Lamb of God Community PO Box 35 054 Christchurch 8640 Phone [03] 383 2631 Fax [03] 383 0609 Mobile 021 817 232 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lambofgodcommunity.net INDEX TO CONTENTS Reflections Page 1 Web Sites Page 8 Our People Page 2 Members/Info/Records Page 9 News and Articles Page 2-6 Birthdays/Anniversaries Page 9-10 House Group Resource Page 7 National Prayer Watch Page 10-12 Kairos NZ News Page 8 REFLECTIONS: ‘…Things of a man, and of a dog, and of Almighty God’ May 9th is the thirty-fifth Anniversary of the founding of the Lamb of God in Christchurch. The photographs, from our founding year and following, tell their own story of a people called and responding into a work of God, and slowly building a way of life which today is perceived more and more as counter-cultural. How did it start? On that day in 1979 I was walking our dog, Mandy, and the time was early afternoon. As I crossed a road I was suddenly struck with an over-whelming sense of the presence of God. Without regard for where I was or for road traffic, I recall sinking to my knees and then audibly hearing the words ‘Now is the time to build this community’ and that was all. Mark Challies [L] and Glen Foley [R] in the USA 2 God bless Mandy - she just stayed with me, and sat in the middle of the road with her leash on! This word [Rhema] came following four years of searching and endeavours to build some form of stronger Christian relationships within a prayer group.
    [Show full text]
  • Declaration on the Way Church, Ministry, and Eucharist
    Declaration on the Way Church, Ministry, and Eucharist Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Copyright © 2015 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Published by Augsburg Fortress. Permission is granted to download and reproduce a single copy of this publication for individual, non-commercial use. Copies for group use and study are available for purchase at www.augsburgfortress.org. Please direct other permission requests to [email protected]. Augsburg Fortress Minneapolis DECLARATION ON THE WAY Church, Ministry, and Eucharist Copyright © 2015 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of Augs- burg Fortress, PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440 or United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 3211 Fourth Street NE, Wash- ington, DC 20017. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Cover art: The Road to Emmaus by He Qi (www.heqiart.com) Cover design: Laurie Ingram Book design: PerfecType, Nashville, TN Print ISBN: 978-1-5064-1616-8 eBook ISBN: 978-1-5064-1617-5 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z329.48-1984.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lamb of God, the Baptizer, and the Bridegroom: the Gospel Of
    TheThe LambLamb ofof God,God, thethe Baptizer,Baptizer, andand thethe Bridegroom:Bridegroom: TheThe GospelGospel ofof JesusJesus ChristChrist RevealedRevealed inin JohnJohn thethe Baptist’sBaptist’s TestimonyTestimony concerningconcerning HimHim inin thethe GospelGospel ofof JohnJohn by David Yoon he good news to be announced to humanity is not the as the centrality and universality of His economy. The Tpromise of health, happiness, and prosperity but a good news is that Jesus Christ passed through the proc- wonderful person—Jesus Christ. Apart from Him, there esses of incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascen- is no gospel. It is no wonder that upon the birth of Jesus, sion for the execution of God’s full salvation, which meets an angel of the Lord declared to some shepherds near our every need and fulfills God’s eternal purpose. Bethlehem, “I announce to you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people, because today a Savior efore the apostle Paul proclaimed the riches of Christ has been born to you in David’s city, who is Christ the Bas the gospel, John the Baptist offered a threefold tes- Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). The good news of great joy for all timony of Jesus Christ, which contained crucial aspects of people is the introduction of a Savior, Jesus Christ. The the New Testament revelation of Him as the content of gospel that we have received is “the gospel of Jesus the gospel. The gospel announced by John the Baptist, the Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). We should “not first person in the New Testament to proclaim the good cease teaching and announcing the gospel of Jesus as the news, is consistent with the full revelation of the entire Christ” (Acts 5:42).
    [Show full text]
  • Feasts of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits Unleavened Bread
    Feasts of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits Unleavened Bread Scriptures Leviticus 23:5-6 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD’S Passover. Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD… Deuteronomy 16:2-3 You shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to establish His name. You shall not eat leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste)… Mark 8:15 And He was giving orders to them, saying, “And watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Matthew 16:6-12 And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning the bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
    [Show full text]
  • The Unleavened Cookbook (PDF)
    The Unleavened Cookbook Compiled by The Mid-Atlantic Living Church of God Congregations This cookbook has been compiled for the 2012 Spring Holy Day season. We would love to have feedback on the recipes included this year for future reference. Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................... ii What is Leaven? ....................................................................... iii Quick Reference: Leavening Agents ...........................................vi Cooking Measurement Equivalents .......................................... vii Breakfast .................................................................................. 1 Breads ...................................................................................... 5 Crackers .................................................................................. 22 Main Dishes and Sides............................................................. 27 Cookies ................................................................................... 40 Brownies, Bars, and Fudge ...................................................... 52 Desserts .................................................................................. 64 Pie Crust ................................................................................. 73 Gluten-Free Recipes ................................................................ 75 Appreciation is given to those listed below whose recipes compile the “Unleavened Days Cookbook” of the Mid-Atlantic Church of God
    [Show full text]
  • St. Matthew Catholic Church First Eucharist Parent Handbook
    St. Matthew Catholic Church First Eucharist Parent Handbook Welcome We are truly excited to be able to support you in preparing your child for the first time they will receive the sacred body and precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the coming weeks, the children will learn about the awesome gift that Jesus gives to us; the gift of Himself in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is Jesus’ true presence here on earth. In addition, the children will explore all parts of the Mass and will be introduced to the music, readings and responses that will be a part of the Mass of First Eucharist. We look forward to continuing this sacramental journey with your family. With joy, Inside this handbook The Mass ............................ ...….2 Lori Mathews The Mass in the Liturgical Year..3 Church Building .................. .…..4 My Communion Prayer * Preparing for the Mass ....... ..….5 Dear God, The Order of Mass .............. ..….7 I know that You give me many gifts. Receiving Communion ........ ..….9 The gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ in Holy Communion Follow-up to First Eucharist ....10 is the greatest of all. How can I ever thank You First Eucharist Preparation enough for this special gift? Dates…………………………………...11 At Mass we are called to be like Jesus, by loving and serving one another in the world. Mass of First Eucharist.………..12 As I become more like Him, please continue to help me. Show me the places and ways that Contact Information I can bring Your love, kindness, and peace to others.... Lori Mathews at in my family, [email protected] in my neighborhood, or by phone at 704-541-8362, in my community, extension 4 with my friends.
    [Show full text]
  • Basic Texts for the Catholic Mass
    COMMUNION RITE BASIC TEXTS for the CATHOLIC MASS rd Lord's Prayer: (New English Translation, Roman Missal, 3 Edition) All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. INTRODUCTORY RITES Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; Greeting: and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Priest: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,… People: Amen. All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Priest: The Lord be with you. (or another greeting) People: And with your spirit. Sign of Peace: Priest: The Peace of the Lord be with you always. All: And with your spirit. Penitential Act (Confiteor and/or Kyrie): A) All: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, Breaking of the Bread: that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, All: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace. therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
    [Show full text]
  • Holy Eucharist: Anglican Standard Text
    THE ORDER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER or HOLY COMMUNION, COMMONLY CALLED THE HOLY EUCHARIST Anglican Standard Text A hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung. THE ACCLAMATION The People standing, the Celebrant says this or a seasonal greeting (pages 145-146) Blessed be God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen. In the season of Lent Celebrant Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins. People His mercy endures for ever. From Easter Day until the Eve of Pentecost Celebrant Alleluia! Christ is risen! People The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! THE COLLECT FOR PURITY The Celebrant prays (and the People may be invited to join) Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. THE SUMMARY OF THE LAW Then follows the Summary of the Law, or The Decalogue (page 100). Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. T MATTHEW 22:37-40 THE KYRIE The Celebrant and People pray Lord, have mercy upon us.
    [Show full text]
  • 5. Why Use Wafers for Bread at the Eucharist?
    5. Why Use Wafers For Bread At The Eucharist? At St Mary's the practice at Anglican Services for as the Passover sacrifice (Seder) - unleavened. many years has been to use Communion Bread in Passover bread is unleavened in commemoration of the form of small round wafers. This is not the case the original Exodus from Egypt, when the bread had in all Anglican churches – indeed, there is wide to be made and eaten in haste, without time for it to variation in practice between the Christian churches. rise. Eastern Orthodox Churches, except the Armenians The marking on the wafers of a cross is very ancient and the Lebanese Maronites, use leavened bread; - Greek Eucharistic loaves are also marked with a Catholic Churches (and the Armenians and cross - and originally this may have been to make a Maronites), unleavened. Among Continental large bread easier to break. Since the twelfth Protestants, Lutherans generally use unleavened century in the West, the cross has often been in the bread, and Calvinists leavened. form of a crucifix. In Cranmer's first Anglican Prayer Book of 1549, The great practical advantage of the use of wafers is which changed as little from Roman Catholic use as that they are easier to handle and less likely to make possible, the use of unleavened bread was required. crumbs. Any unused consecrated bread and wine By the time of the second Prayer Book of 1552, should be consumed immediately after the service Cranmer had come further under the influence of by the celebrant, and this should include any pieces the more Protestant reformers, and stipulated that that have fallen on the floor.
    [Show full text]
  • AGNUS DEI, Lamb of God, a Designation of Jesus Christ Based
    (CE:71a-72a) AGNUS DEI, Lamb of God, a designation of Jesus Christ based on Isaiah 53:7 and used by John the Baptist who, upon seeing Jesus Christ, said, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29). The formula sounds the theme of divine sacrifice, calling to mind the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and sacrifice of the lamb in the Old Testament. It appears in various forms of worship in the Coptic church. In the Anaphora of Saint BASIL, during the prayers of oblation, the priest says, "Thou hast foreordained to make thyself the lamb without blemish, for the life of the world." In the Anaphora of Saint Gregory, the priest says, "Thou camest as a lamb to the slaughter, even unto the cross." At the descent of the Holy Spirit, the deacon asks the congregation to "bow down to the Lamb, the Word of God." In the fraction prayers at the feasts of angels, the heavenly host, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, the prayer starts with these words, "Here He is present with us at this sacred table, this day, Emmanuel, our God, the Lamb of God who carries away the sin of the whole world." Prayers said on Holy Saturday, include, ". Thou of Whom the Prophet Isaiah hath prophesied saying, "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.'" And the fraction prayers according to Saint CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA begin, "O Lamb of God who, by Thy suffering hast carried away the sins of the world .
    [Show full text]
  • Bishop Thomas Daly Has Instructed the Priests of the Spokane Diocese to Implement a Couple of Liturgical Changes Regarding the Issue of Postures at Mass
    Bishop Thomas Daly has instructed the priests of the Spokane Diocese to implement a couple of liturgical changes regarding the issue of postures at Mass. He writes: The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) states that for dioceses in the United States, “The faithful kneel after the Lamb of God unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.” I have decided to ask the faithful to kneel so as to be in harmony with most of the other dioceses in the United States. More importantly, I believe this posture of kneeling while the priest shows the Sacred Species to the people is a more accurate response to the declaration “Ecce Agnus Dei.” The translation of the Roman Missal … uses the word “behold” the Lamb of God instead of “this is” the Lamb of God. The word “behold” is a more accurate imperative which reflects the transcendent mystery before us – a mystery that should indeed drive us to our knees in love and adoration. I understand that the practice of standing until the last person receives is an expression of communion among the faithful. While that is a noble sentiment, I am concerned about those who are unable to stand because of advanced age or a physical handicap. I do not want the sick, elderly, and those with handicaps to feel further marginalized by their inability to physically demonstrate communion. As I have celebrated Masses throughout eastern Washington, I have noticed that the lived experience of this practice in parishes is that some people stand, some sit, some kneel, and others just look confused.
    [Show full text]