RCIA 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer 13: Liturgy and Liturgical - PDF document

9/2/2019 RCIA 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • Liturgy : work/service done in the name of the people – Christian: Church’s participation in Christ’s work of salvation through… • worship of God • proclamation of the Gospel • active life of charity 2 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • Narrower sense – Rites and ceremonies of the Church’s corporate worship • Mass • Other sacraments • Liturgy of the Hours • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults • Blessings 3 1

9/2/2019 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • Chief liturgist: Christ – Pleads continuously on our behalf to the Father – The Church offers thanks, praise, love to God in union with Jesus – God then blesses, sanctifies, loves His people 4 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • Work of the Trinity (from above) – Father: source of all blessing – Son: blessings come through Christ – Holy Spirit: sanctifies “We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.” 5 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • Work of the Church (from below) – Body of Christ united to her Head – Through the activity of the Holy Spirit – True worship rendered back to the Father 6 2

9/2/2019 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • Jesus is principal actor – In His Word – In His minister, the priest – In the people gathered in His name – In the sacrament of the Eucharist • Body • Blood • Soul • Divinity 7 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • The Mass as foretaste of Heaven – Jesus stands before the Father offering Himself eternally – All angels join in singing: • “Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen” (Rev 7:12) – We participate in this at Mass, uniting with them 8 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • The Sacraments – Mass is the summit of the Church’s liturgy – Other sacraments also constitute the core of liturgical life – Action of the Holy Spirit at work in the Body – They do what they symbolize 9 3

9/2/2019 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • Liturgical calendar – The liturgy sanctifies time (hours and days) – Advent – Christmas – Lent – Easter – Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) 10 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgy: An Introduction • Conclusion – As the Church prays, so she believes – Unity of celebration and worship • Yet incorporates rich cultural diversity • Exhibits catholicity (universality) – Human culture can be redeemed by being brought into the mystery of Christ 11 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Amen • Amen – Derived from Hebrew root providing “believe” – Indicates solidity, trustworthiness, faithfulness 12 4

9/2/2019 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Amen • Old Testament – “Truth” – Acceptance – Following expressions of praise 13 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Amen • New Testament – Following expressions of praise or a blessing – “[T]he faithful and true witness” (Rev 3:14) – Jesus’ uses of it • Opens a teaching with it to tell us that His statement is worthy of our complete trust 14 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Amen • Mass – End of creed: I believe it all – The Great Amen after “Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, God, for ever and ever.” – Receiving Communion: “Yes, it is true!” (CCC 1396) 15 5

9/2/2019 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Amen • Prayer – All prayers end with “Amen” – “so be it!” 16 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Amen • Jesus – “[T]he ‘Amen’ of infinite love and perfect faithfulness” (CCC 1064) 17 Crucifixion (c. 1622) by Anthony van Dyck 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgical Vocabulary List Altar : the table on which the central sacrifice of the Eucharist is offered during Mass 18 6

9/2/2019 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgical Vocabulary List Ciborium : holds the Eucharistic hosts Chalice : holds the wine to be consecrated 19 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgical Vocabulary List Genuflection : bending the right knee to the ground as an act of reverence 20 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgical Vocabulary List Holy Water : blessed water just inside the en- trance of church used to make sign of the cross – Powerful reminder of Baptism 21 7

9/2/2019 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgical Vocabulary List Lectionary : contains Scripture readings proclaimed during Mass Missal : Contains prayers, directions, and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass 22 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer Liturgical Vocabulary List Monstrance : vessel used to expose the Eucharist during adoration and Benediction Tabernacle : shrine for the exclusive reservation of the Blessed Sacrament – Solid, immovable, prominent 23 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer The Liturgy of the Hours • “Through [Christ] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God” (Hebrews 13:15) – Early Christians developed custom of praying regularly at fixed times throughout the day – Participation in public prayer of the community • Even more important than private prayer 24 8

9/2/2019 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer The Liturgy of the Hours • “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20) – In any liturgical prayer of the Church, the whole Mystical Body of Christ is present • As well as choirs of angels 25 (1893) by Heinrich Hofmann 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer The Liturgy of the Hours • Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) – Prayer of the whole People of God – Official prayer of the Church – Obligatory • in whole for priests, transitional deacons • in part for permanent deacons, some religious – All the faithful invited to participate 26 13: Liturgy and Liturgical Prayer The Liturgy of the Hours • Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) (cont.) – Four-week cycle of… • singing Psalms • reading Scripture • interceding for needs of whole Church – Five times a day (the whole day and night made holy) • Office of readings (early morning) • Lauds (morning) • Sext (noontime) • Vespers (early evening) • Compline (before bed) 27 9

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