LITURGY AND THE

SACRAMENTS

Liturgy is the Church’s

OFFICIALPUBLICCOMMUNALPRAYER

(Sacraments, Funerals, Liturgy of the Hours)

OFFICIAL(a spontaneous prayer service is not official)

PUBLIC(open to all)

COMMUNAL(we worship as a COMMUNITY – equality, solidarity, cooperation)

PRAYER(lifting up of our hearts to God)

Liturgical Books• Roman Missal

• Used by the priest at Mass, contains all the prayers of the Mass

• Lectionary for Mass• Contains the readings for Mass, first, second, responsorial

psalm and gospel acclamations• Book of Gospels

• Contains only the Gospels• Rite of Baptism for children

• Contains the rituals necessary for baptism. Each sacrament and other blessings and consecrations has a separate book

• Liturgy of the Hours• Readings, hymns and prayers for the seven “hours” of the

day. There is a book for each “season” of the year

• What is the Paschal Mystery?• The work of salvation accomplished

by Jesus mainly through his life, Passion, death, Resurrection and Ascension

• What is the Church?• The people of God; the whole

membership of the baptized who work in union with each other to participate in God’s work.

• Why do we study the Liturgy after our study of the Paschal Mystery and the Church?• Our understanding of the paschal mystery and

the Church is necessary to our understanding of the importance of the liturgy

• Why does our study of the sacraments begin with a study of the Liturgy?• The sacraments are one part of the liturgy.

We must understand the whole idea of the liturgy to then understand any liturgy that is part of the whole

Liturgy is

• God’s work of salvation in which we are called to participate

• Ritual, repeated, meaningful symbols and actions

• Decreed by Jesus “Do this in Memory of Me”

• As a community we are the “Body of Christ”.

• We are adopted children of God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit

• Through Jesus we receive a new law that fulfills the old law, a new covenant that fulfills the old covenant.

• Through the Holy Spirit we share the grace of God that helps us to live the new law.

• When we gather for liturgy we celebrate the Paschal mystery (EVERY Sunday celebrates Easter!) and receive the grace of the Spirit.

• We are called to gather together and participate in liturgy that in turn encourages us to go out and bring the good news to others.

Creation •Created in Original Justice•Original Sin breaks our relationship•God promises to help restore our relationship

SalvationHistory

•God begins to work for our salvation by setting his plan in motion with Abraham

•His plan continues through Moses and the Law, David and prophets

Redemption •Through His life, passion, death, resurrection and ascension (Paschal mystery) Jesus restores our relationship with God

•The Church with the help of the Holy Spirit continues the work of salvation.

Liturgy•The Liturgy is the way we participate in God’s work of salvation

• Where does our Liturgy come from?• Christ is its origin• Scripture and Tradition give us the essential

elements of Liturgy• Transmit the Word of God• Form a single deposit of faith

• The beliefs handed down from the time of the Apostles that makes clear the truths that cannot be laid aside since they are part of God’s revelation.

• The Magisterium (pope + bishops), with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is responsible for interpreting the deposit of faith

• The traditions that have influenced the Liturgy are customs, things we do because they are part of our history and culture• Washing hands, the direction the priest faces, etc.

• Essential elements are kept where traditional elements may be kept, modified or eliminated with the guidance of the Magisterium

• Tradition from the word meaning to “hand on or give over”.

• Our liturgy has been handed on to us by Jesus• “took bread, said the blessing, broke it and giving it to

the Apostles said “take and eat, this is my body…do this in memory of Me”

• “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was arrested, took bread….

• Liturgy is Trinitarian• The Trinity is at work in the Church’s Liturgy- Father,

Son, & Holy Spirit• Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith

• Begins with “In the name of the Father…”• Ends with a blessing of the Holy Trinity• Each person is involved in the Church’s Liturgy

• Father is the source of all blessings of creation and salvation

• Jesus who became incarnate to redeem us is central in the Liturgy

• Christ’s gift of himself is made present to us by the power of the Holy Spirit

The Rublev IconAndrei Rublev, 1425

• Liturgy is the prayer of the Church, in heaven, on Earth and in Purgatory• We are connected to all of those outside of time

and space, Mary, angels, saints, etc.

• Communion of Saints:• Heaven• Earth• Purgatory

• People on Earth pray for those in Purgatory, who get to Heaven, and then pray for those on Earth!

“Through Christ Our Lord”• We are united with the Trinity because God the Father

saves us through the actions of God, the Son, and we are able to live as Christ with the help of God, the Holy Spirit.

• Christ is present in all liturgy• In the ordained minister who acts in the person of

Jesus.• In the assembly of people, as the “Body of Christ”• In the Scripture, the “Word of God” that is an

essential element of every liturgy• In the Eucharist, in a special way, Jesus is truly

present in Body and Blood

“In the Unity of the Holy Spirit”The Holy Spirit:

• Prepares us to encounter Jesus

• Helps the assembly to see Jesus Presence within itself, in the Scripture and in the sacramental actions

• Transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood, the real presence, of Jesus, making Christ’s saving work present and active, here and now.

• The Holy Spirit helps us to take the message of God’s love to all whom we meet.

Trinitarian DoxologyThrough Him,

with Him, in Him,

In the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours,

almighty Father,forever and ever.

Amen.

Liturgical Calendar• Celebrates the

whole of the Paschal Mystery, from the Incarnation to Pentecost

Purple Waiting, penanceWhite/Gold JoyGreen Hope

• Advent: • Begins the Liturgical year• a time of preparation, 4 weeks (22-28 days) before

Christmas• To celebrate the birth of God made flesh• To celebrate Jesus coming into our own hearts• To prepare for the final coming of Jesus

• Christmas: • Begins on Dec. 25th and ends with the Solemnity of the

Baptism of Jesus (3rd Sunday after Christmas)• Includes Epiphany (aka Little Christmas/Three Kings

Day) on the 12th day of Christmas (revelation to the Gentiles)

• Also includes Feast of the Holy Innocents (12/28 – infants massacred by Herod), Feast of the Holy Family, and Feast of Mary, Mother of God (1/1)

• Ordinary Time I and II:• Numbered with ordinal numbers.• Two sections in the year,

• 1st between Christmas to Lent• 2nd between Pentecost to Advent.

• Lent:• Based on Jesus fasting 40 days in desert• Begins on Ash Wednesday (46 calendar days, Sundays don’t count)• Encouraged to fast, pray and give alms• Focus on what Jesus did for us

• Easter Triduum• Three Days when we remember in the most intense way the

suffering and death of Jesus• Begins the evening of Thursday and ends Sunday evening (in the

Jewish tradition)• Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper• Good Friday: Reflect on Passion narrative, venerate the

Cross• Easter Sunday: Easter Vigil on Saturday evening- great

celebration with candles, fire, water and the welcoming of new members

• Easter Season:• Begins on Easter Sunday and continues to Pentecost

Sunday, 50 days later.• Coincides with spring (goddess Estre, goddess of

Spring)• Liturgy speaks of new life• Centers on the hope of our new life, an everlasting

life.• 40 days after Easter: Ascension Thursday: Jesus

ascended back into heaven.• 50 days after Easter: season ends with Pentecost,

the Church is revealed and we, like the apostles, are sent forth to carry out Jesus’ mission to the world

Liturgical Rites & Traditions

• Latin Rites• Roman Rite***• Ambrosian Rite• Mozarabic Rite• Bragan Rite• Dominican Rite• Carmelite Rite• Carthusian Rite

Eastern Catholic Churches (21)• Eastern Rite

• Antiochene Rite• Chaldean Rite• Byzantine Rite• Alexandrian( Coptic, Ethiopian)

Rite• Armenian Rite

• Follows its own ancient traditions, has its own Bishops and different liturgical language and liturgical customs

Roman Catholic Church (1)

United under the leadership of the Bishop of Rome, the PopeThey either chose to remain united with the Roman church at the

time of the Schism (1054 AD) or reunited with it later.

1054: The Church is Split – Catholic and Orthodox

Filiaque (“and the Son”) Debate• Catholic Church says the

Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, reasoning that if the Spirit only came from the Father, there seem to be two sons.

• Catholic Church was OK with Orthodox not having these words, Orthodox insisted they be removed from Creed.

Other issues• Iconoclasm debate had

upset Catholics.• Also, Catholics had a

leadership model of one pope leading all, while Orthodox had a conciliar model, led by Patriarchs. (Stemming from 5 Patriarchs in the Roman Empire – the empire split, 4 in the East, only Rome in the West.)

Celebrating the Liturgy• All Liturgical celebrations are the same because Jesus

is present in the same way whether a large or small group, a renown celebrant or a local priest, music or silent.

• Tips for celebrating the Liturgy• Be there, physically, mentally and spiritually• Ask the Holy Spirit for help to fully participate• Listen and participate in the prayers• Listen to the readings and let them affect you

• Fervently pray during the Prayer of the Faithful• If there is singing, join in, singing hymns is like praying

twice according to St. Augustine• Respond during the liturgy with your heart as well as

your mouth• Use your whole body in prayer• Receive Communion with reverence, you are holding

the real body of Christ• When you leave Mass, obey the command to “Go

forth” and bring the good news out to the world with you.

Structure of Liturgy• Introductory Rites

• Greeting• Opening prayer

• Liturgy of the Word• Readings

• Celebration of Sacrament• Essential elements

• Liturgy of the Eucharist• Consecration and reception of Eucharist

• Concluding Rites• Blessing• Dismissal

sACRAMENTS• A symbol points to another reality.

• Sacraments are effective signs, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, to give grace.• In other words, they do not merely remind us or

represent another reality: they make that reality come true.

• A stop sign doesn’t ACTUALLY stop your car.• Baptism symbolizes AND creates new life. The

Eucharist symbolizes AND brings becomes the body and blood of Christ.

Sacraments and Mysteries

• We are used to murder mysteries, so when we heard the word mystery, we think of something we need to solve.

• In the Greek church, the word for sacrament means mystery.

• We can never SOLVE a mystery, but we can contemplate it to further understand it

• To receive a sacrament, one needs the required disposition. (i.e. to be forgiven in Reconciliation, one must feel sorry for their sins, intend to do better in the future)

• Sacraments DO NOT depend on the holiness of the priest or the recipient – they are a gift from God’s goodness.

Prayer• Prayer can be communal or private

• Types of prater:• Blessing/praise/adoration: blessing God;

acknowledging God’s greatness• Thanksgiving• Petition/contrition: pray for our needs, especially

forgiveness• Intercession: pray for the needs of others

• Advent The four-week liturgical season during which Christians prepare themselves for the celebration of Christmas.

•  • Christmas The feast day on which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus; also refers to the

liturgical season that immediately follows this day.•  • Eastern Catholic Churches The twenty-one Churches of the East, with their own theological,

liturgical, and administrative traditions, in union with the universal Catholic Church and her head, the Bishop of Rome.

•  • Epiphany A feast day celebrating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus and the revelation of

the Savior to the Gentiles. Originally celebrated on the twelfth day of Christmas (January 6), Epiphany is now celebrated on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8.

•  • icon From a Greek word meaning “to resemble”; a pictorial representation or image of a religious

figure or event typically painted on a wooden panel and used in the prayer and worship of Eastern Christians.

•  • Lent Traditionally, the span of forty days (excepting Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and

Easter Sunday. In the official Church calendar, it begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday evening with the celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It is followed by the Triduum, the three days of the Lord’s Passion, death, and Resurrection. It is the season during which believers focus on conversion, turning toward God more completely in their lives.

•  • liminal Of, relating to, or being an intermediate state, phase, or condition. This type of experience is one

of being between one significant moment and another; a threshold experience; for example, the time of engagement before marriage.

•  • Liturgical year The Church’s annual cycle of religious feasts and seasons that forms the context for the

Church’s worship. During it, we remember and celebrate God the Father’s saving plan as it is revealed through the life of his Son, Jesus Christ.

•  • liturgy The Church’s official, public, communal prayer. It is God’s work, in which the People of God

participate. The Church’s most important liturgy is the Eucharist, or the Mass. •  • Magisterium The Church’s living teaching office, which consists of all the bishops, in communion with the

Pope.•  • Ordinary Time The time in the liturgical year that is not part of a special season like Advent, Christmas,

Lent, or Easter.•  • Paschal Mystery The work of salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ mainly through his life, Passion,

death, Resurrection, and Ascension.•  

• Passover The night the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites marked by the blood of the lamb, and spared the firstborn sons from death. It also is the feast that celebrates the deliverance of the Chosen People from bondage in Egypt and the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land.

•  • Pentecost The biblical event following the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus at which the Holy Spirit

was poured out on his disciples; in the Christian liturgical year, the feast fifty days after Easter on which the biblical event of Pentecost is recalled and celebrated.

•  • ritual The established form of the words and actions for a ceremony that is repeated often. The actions

often have a symbolic meaning.•  • Tradition This word (from the Latin, meaning “to hand on”) refers to the process of passing on the Gospel

message. This began with the oral communication of the Gospel by the Apostles, was written down in the Scriptures, is handed down and lived out in the life of the Church, and is interpreted by the Magisterium under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

•  • Triduum The three days of the liturgical year that begin with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy

Thursday and end with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday.•  • Trinity From the Latin trinus, meaning “threefold,” referring to the central mystery of the Christian faith

that God exists as a communion of three distinct and interrelated Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This doctrine is a mystery that is inaccessible to human reason alone and is known through Divine Revelation only.

•  • World Youth Day Instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1985, World Youth Days are convocations of youth

held in Rome and in several cities around the world to celebrate and encourage the participation of youth in the life of the Church.