February St. Dominic’s RCIA Program Disciple The Communion of 5 Saints & Mary 8 Goal • An important aspect of the Catholic faith is community (The Body of Christ). This community is not limited to those around us; instead, it extends throughout the world and across the ages. The Church believes in the in the Communion of Saints, people who lived extraordinary lives of faith and are now in heaven with God. These saints inspire us with their lives and continue to support us with their prayers and intercessions. Among the saints no one is venerated more than Jesus’ mother Mary. Mary is an image and model of the Church and an inspiration and constant support for us all. Agenda • Welcome, Reminder of Rite of Acceptance this Sunday (2) • Opening Prayer (3) Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers, heavenly Virtues, Cherubim and Seraphim; all Saints of God, holy men and women, and especially my patrons: intercede for me that I may be worthy to offer this Sacrifice to almighty God, to the praise and glory of His name, for my own welfare and also that of all His holy Church. Amen. ~ from the Roman Missal • Video Clip: Insight into Saints (10) • Presentation: Saints (35-40) • Discussion (15) • Who is a Catholic saint that intrigues you or inspires you? –What is it about their story that interests you? • Name one person living (or who was alive when you were younger) that you would ask to help you or pray for you? – Why did you trust them to help or pray for you? • Break (10) • Presentation: Mary (30-35) • Mariana (Q & A on Liturgy) (5, time permitting) • Dismissal Housekeeping • Feb. 10th (Sunday): Rite of Acceptance, in the church. -At the 11:30am and 5:30pm Masses. Arrive at 11am or 4:45pm, respectively, with your sponsor. -We’ll also start the RCIA dismissals on Feb. 10th at the 11:30 and 5:30 Masses -Dismissals are for those who were not baptized Catholic. -See the Participants Guide: Part 2 for a script of the Rite of Acceptance. • March 10th (Sunday): Rite of Sending and Rite of Election -Rite of Sending: 11:30 Mass at St. Dominic’s (special blessing/dismissal) -Rite of Election: 4:00 Service at the Cathedral (be early, 3:30) -Mainly for candidates for Baptism, Reception, and First Communion -Sponsors are welcome (particularly for the Rite of Election). -Family and team members welcome • March 30 (Saturday) RCIA Spring Retreat -March 30th, 9 AM - 5:30 PM. -For RCIA Participant's and Team. Required for those journeying towards the Easter Sacraments. -@ St. Albert's Priory, 5890 Birch Ct, Oakland, CA 94618 (6-minute walk from the Rockridge BART). Track down your Baptismal Certificate (only people for reception and confirmation): -Please request a copy of your baptismal certificate from baptismal church. -If they don’t keep records, get a letter from a family member. -Catholics: If records were lost, talk to us. Handouts • Session Overview (this sheet) • Slides: The Communion of Saints • Pier Giorgio Frassati: Zealous for God’s World • Quotes from Saint Catherine of Siena • Christian Witness In A Multi-Religious World: Recommendations For Conduct • Rite of Acceptance—Script • Preview of Sunday Readings Preparing for next week (Topic: Reconciliation) • What is required for an apology? • Do you have any anxieties about confessing your sins privately to a priest? Is there anything in particular that you look forward to about this Sacrament? • What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? RCIA Q&A – Disciple 8 Are all Masses essentially the same? The Mass has the same structure in every Catholic Church, despite apparent differences in expression. Indeed, the basic structure has been in place since at the Second Century and is outlined in Saint Justin Martyr’s Apologiae, circa 155 CE. (CCC 1345) All Catholic Masses have the same elements, in two parts that form a unity (CCC 1346): • The gathering; the Liturgy of the Word, with readings, homily, profession of faith, and intercessions; and • The Liturgy of the Eucharist, with the presentation of the bread and wine, the consecratory thanksgiving, and communion; followed by the dismissal Most of the text of a Mass is set and does not vary from day to day; this is referred to as the “Ordinary.” Variation is found in the “Propers” (what is proper to that day), which are short prayers or sung texts that follow a set cycle incorporating the cycle of the liturgical year and seasons, holy days, commemorations of saints, etc. Similarly, the readings are from a three-year cycle, set forth in the Lectionary. Hymns and other music have the same kind of variation, with typically a large number of appropriate options. Attending Sunday Mass at Saint Dominic’s, one will become accustomed to hearing what is referred to as the “Ordinary Form” (Novos Ordo). This is the rite most frequently heard in Roman Catholic Churches. There are additional rites, however, that are equally valid (CCC 1203). Here at Saint Dominic’s, one may have the opportunity to attend Masses in the Dominican Rite, as well as the Syrio-Malabar Rite. The Extraordinary Form, based on the Tridentine, pre-Vatican II, Rite is celebrated regularly at various churches in the Bay Area, as is the Byzantine Rite. These (and other) rites include the same structural elements as the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, even though they may at first seem very different. Liturgical celebration expresses itself through symbolic action and symbolism, and responds to the genius and culture of the various cultures of the people where the Church finds herself, but all still signify and communicate the same mystery of Christ. (CCC 1204, 1207-1206) Keep in mind that the style of a liturgical rite is not the rite itself. At Saint Dominic’s, we have seven Masses for each Sunday, and each has the same rite but very different style. Similarly, the language in which it is said does not define a rite; for example, the Ordinary Form is celebrated both in English (or other modern languages) and in Latin, as well as in a combination of the two. In addition, the music and song may vary expressing the cultural richness of the assembly (CCC 1158), the criteria for their use being beauty expressive of prayer, unanimous participation of the assembly, and the sacred character of the celebration. (CCC 1191) Why don't Dominicans say the "O my Jesus" prayer when praying the rosary? The rosary is far older that the Fatima Prayer (“O my Jesus” prayer), which originated only in the 20th Century, following the revelations at Fatima in 1917. This Marian apparition was only approved by the bishop as an authentic miracle in 1930, at which point the Fatima Prayer began to be incorporated as an option for additional prayer in the rosary. According to tradition, the rosary was given to Saint Dominic during an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1214. The Dominican’s practice of saying the rosary is one of the simplest. This is the form of saying the rosary that is provided in the leaflet the parish makes available, although one can add additional prayers if one wishes. The forms for adding optional prayers – including not only the Fatima Prayer, but also the Miraculous Medal Prayer, the Fatima Ave, the Prayer to Saint Michael, the Eucharistic Prayer, etc. – are readily available online or in various prayer books. Why is John less read at Mass? (especially since John 6 is so critical to Catholics' understanding of the Eucharist?) Reading from the Gospel of John follows a different pattern from that of the three Synoptic Gospels. As Matthew, Mark, and Luke are essentially parallel in structure and content, they are the basis of the three-year cycle of readings (Years A, B, and C, respectively), in which each Gospel is read largely continuously. John, however, has a different chronology, style, and theological emphasis and is read during Advent, Lent, Holy Week, and from Easter to Pentecost. In addition, as Mark is the shortest Gospel, John is used to fill in during the year of Mark (Year B). So it is not so much that John is read less at Mass, but that he is read on a different schedule, at points in the year when it is most appropriate. (As an aside, in the Synoptic Gospel’s Jesus’s ministry covers a single year, where in John, it covers three years.) Why is incense only used sometimes? The use of incense is in the Ordinary Form Mass is a liturgical decision made in accordance with both the solemnity and style of the celebration and the availability of servers. It adds to the sense of mystery and solemnity of the Mass. Its use is very ancient, going back to the Jewish Temple Rites in Jerusalem, where it was used for sanctification and purification. The smoke of the incense also symbolizes the prayers of the faithful, as in Psalm 141: “Let my prayer arise before you like incense, the raising up of my hands like an evening oblation.” According to the General Instructions on the Roman Missal (GIRM), in the Ordinary Form Mass incense may be used during entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to cense the altar, during the procession and proclamation of the Gospel, at the offertory to cense the altar, priest, and people, and at the elevation of the Sacred Body and Precious Blood. It is often also used during the Easter Vigil and funerals, even when not otherwise used in a parish. In the Extraordinary Form Mass, incense is required whenever a Mass is sung, which is referred to as a High or Solemn Mass, but it is not used at a spoken or Low Mass.