rituals of the catholic mass

Roman Catholic Church rituals consist of ceremonies that happen routinely or only at specific points in someone's lifetime, such as a first communion or baptism. It is obvious that, although the Mt Alvernia Opening Mass differs from traditional Catholic Masses, it is a strong ritual that reflects their values, attitudes and beliefs by carrying out the unique legacy of the MFIC. The mythology of Jesus, St Francis and the MFIC all contribute to making the Mass a ritual in expressing the purpose of the ceremony. The Mass is the central, most important rite of the Catholic Church. There’s more to the story, however. The focus of ths blog is the ritual of the Catholic Mass. Click on the following link for a description and explanation of the complete outline of the Order of Celebrating Marriage With Mass. As a result, the Opening Mass is considered a ritual that presents the Franciscan tradition. This representation, as Fr. See, for example, Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 10:16 and 11:24-29, and Matthew 28:19. He argues that other things that pertain to worship, such as “genuflections, prostrations, and other manifestations of this kind of honor” may also be shown to men, although when directed to God they are performed with different intentions (Summa Contra Gentiles 3:120). So, as human beings not only do we need to use sensible things to communicate how much we appreciate something, we sense that we need to use special words and gestures that befit the dignity of the thing being celebrated. Lovat’s five step approach outlines the structure of a ritual where one leaves the ordinary and enters a spiritual space to strengthen their beliefs (Goldburg, 2009). I read through the girm and info given me which was quite interesting. And I bet your non-denominational friend doesn’t mind them. For instance the sprinkling of holy water from an olive branch exemplifies a common blessing ritual and contributes to the school’s Communitas. A religious ritual is a structured, often public, set of actions, based on tradition relating to one’s religion or beliefs (Smart, K. (2014, February). Many Roman Catholics follow the weekly rites of confession followed by Sunday Mass, which includes Liturgy of the Eucharist. Rituals are full of important symbolism. The Mass incorporates the Bible (Sacred Scripture), prayer, sacrifice, hymns, symbols, gestures, sacred food for the soul, and directions on how to live a Catholic life — all in one ceremony. The celebrant and other ministers enter in procession and reverence the altar with a bow and/or a kiss. The Catholic laity who lived on at home knew no other marriage service than that of their forefathers. Our central rituals would be the Seven Sacraments: Baptism; Confirmation; Eucharist ; Anointing of the Sick; Confession; Holy Orders; Matrimony The fact that every culture in human history has had rituals indicates that ritual corresponds to something in human nature. His rationale for this is that the exterior sacrifice signifies the interior sacrifice by which the human mind offers itself to God as the “principle of its creation,” “the author of its actions,” and “the end of its happiness.” Since such attributes can only be ascribed to God, St. Thomas concludes that sacrifice and worship ought to be given to God alone. Lighting candles is one of the symbols used in the Catholic Mass at the college Opening Mass, it is distinctly Franciscan because it had Franciscan symbols on it. After I grew up, moved away, etc. The altar is a symbol of Christ at the heart of the assembly and so deserves this special reverence. Rituals of the Mass. Being a Calendrical Rite it’s anticipated as it was prepared in advance (Vine, 2014). You can take your cue from St. Thomas Aquinas, who teaches that it’s befitting to man that he should “employ sensible signs in order to signify anything” (Summa Theologiae II–II:85:1). Furthermore, this physical action reinforced the Franciscan ethos, contributing to the experiential portion of the ritual. Catholic Rituals Prior to 2 nd Vatican Council (1960s & earlier) Post 2 nd Vatican Council (1970s to present day) Services: Before entering a church, men had to remove their hats but women were expected to keep their heads covered by a hat or a scarf. And if this is true of secular things, how much more true is it of divine things? Mythology is an important element within religion especially establishing the stories of its origin. A ritual would be nothing without participants. In the Catholic parish I grew up in, our priest was extremely reverent at all times during the mass. With good reason therefore we consider the number of people coming to Mass, not only on Sundays but also very specially on weekdays. All throughout there are certain parts of the structure, which differ from that of a traditional catholic mass. Following is the text of the Celebration of Matrimony (The Order of Celebrating Matrimony #58-69). For example, we don’t think having rituals at graduation ceremonies, or in military procedures, is a bad thing. Let’s get on with it.’”. Hi again, I just wanted to thank everybody here for the responses and help! John Hardon notes in his Pocket Catholic Dictionary, "means that because Christ is really present in his humanity, in heaven, and on the altar, he is capable now as he was on Good Friday of freely offering himself to the Father." And couples who get married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas dressed up in their camouflage outfits do not befit the dignity of marriage. For instance, just to have graduating seniors come and grab their diplomas off a table set up in a parking lot would not be fitting for a commencement event. Liturgy and Sacraments. Fact Sheet: The Meaning and Ritual of Catholic Religious Services What is the Catholic Mass? Additionally, it is annually recurrent and is called a communal ceremony (Frawley, 2014) in that it establishes the values of the FOTH (Franciscans on the Hill) community. Even American culture, which historically has tried rid itself of formality and tradition, has rituals. Similarly, the San Damiano Cross was hung at the lectern reminding the congregation of their purpose by following St Francis’ mission and his dedication to God. The Catholic Church teaches that in the New Testament the what is Christ himself, and the how is under the appearance of bread and wine in the Mass. As to what must be offered in sacrifice, and how it is to be offered: God must tell us. Catholics believe that by focusing on loving others, humans experience the fullness of life in Jesus. Sequentially, the legacy of the MFIC and their mission to support communities such as the Indigenous people was apparent in the Mass and demonstrated this strong connection (MFIC, 2012). All ri… This is the most common ritual that non-Catholics recognize, and it deals directly with taking communion, or … There are no non-ritual cultures. By examining the very definition, the Opening Mass is a ritual and diverges from traditional Catholic Masses with the uniqueness of the MFIC. I doubt your non-denominational friend would be fine with having the bride and groom just say, “Okay, we’re married. Additionally, through the mythology of Jesus Christ and St Francis the procession understands that the ritual preaches that living through suffering and simplicity closers their connection to God. in a variety of ways. ‘Franciscan spirituality, is the spirituality which comes from St. Francis and evolved within… A sacrament is an action made holy or special because of its believed ability to demonstrate a religious truth. Catholic Mass is the celebration of the Eucharist or Holy Communion, an essential sacrament in the Catholic Church. Your intention is simply to show that we are “naturally hardwired” for ritual, and ritual in the form of sacrifice is most befitting when it comes to the worship of God. Ritual is an outward behaviour which expresses an inner intention; by creating a tradition, the Opening Mass becomes a perfect example of a ritual. To challenge that assumption, we can begin with passages in the New Testament that provide evidence that the early Christians viewed ritual as essential to their worship. They may argue that such ritualized forms of worship were only for the Old Covenant. Accordingly the Mass ritual is divided into four parts: Introduction, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, Conclusion. Italics indicate the rubrics, the instructions to the presider. A Nuptial Mass is a Ritual Mass within which the sacrament of matrimony is celebrated. It makes sense, therefore, for us to use ritual—formal words and gestures by our bodies—to communicate the value of the things we’re celebrating, and how much we appreciate those things. Ninian Smart’s Seven Dimensions clearly justify that the Opening Mass is a ritual that communicates a specific message through mythological, ritual and experiential elements. The Catholic Mass is a highly structured ritual, however the Opening Mass at Mt Alvernia College diverges from tradition by reflecting the Franciscan ethos, beliefs, values and the legacy of their founders – the Missionary Franciscan Sister of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC). Ritual Mass: Readings from the OT: Readings from the NT: Responsorial Psalms: Alleluia Verse / Verse before the Gospel : Gospels: Corrrection (updated 3/15/13): Reading #817.2 was incorrectly listed as Hosea 8:30-35, but is actually Joshua 8:30-35. The word “rituals” can have many meanings, so I’m not sure which one you’re specifying. “But,” Aquinas continues, “it is agreed by any man that sacrifice should be offered to no person unless he is thought to be God or unless one pretends to think so.”. That’s for another time. The Opening Mass at Mount Alvernia College is a ritual that differs from traditional Catholic masses due to its Franciscan distinctiveness. Preparation of the Gifts The early Christians each brought some bread and wine from their homes to the church to be used for the Mass and to be given to the clergy and the poor. The Mass: Structure and Meaning (Source: USCCB) Introductory Rites. The magnitude of certain events demands words and gestures outside those of everyday life. Given this, your friend ought to at least see the reasonableness of the rituals of Catholic worship. Common Christmas practices in Catholic tradition. Ritual Paragraph. In fact, it is described as the “the source and summit of the Christian life.” The term Mass is derived from the Latin word ‘missa’ meaning dismissal. It is also believed that… March 18, 2014. The Mount Alvernia Opening Mass is an example of a Catholic ritual and it reflects the ethos, beliefs and traditions of the Franciscan way of life. The school song “My God, My All” was sung to welcome the community and the congregation’s dedication to their Lord. Similarly, the words “Praise for our death; that makes our life real, the knowledge of loss that helps us to feel” contributed to the experiential dimension of the Mass helping them to understand the ethos of being a Franciscan. A Short History of the by Michael Davies TAN BOOKS. The Catholic Mass is a highly structured ritual, however the Opening Mass at Mt Alvernia College diverges from tradition by reflecting the Franciscan ethos, beliefs, values and the legacy of their founders – the Missionary Franciscan Sister of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC). The Mass begins with the entrance song. I’ve […] The Mass, in particular, is the most important ritual in Catholics as it is the Lord’s Supper. The traditional Catholic mass involve four main parts, the gathering of the community or the Opening Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and finally the Concluding Rites. We have used colors in the background and text so that this presentation cannot be downloaded with ease. Your intention here is not to persuade your friend that the offering of Christ’s one sacrifice in the Mass is the highest form of worship. The reason for this is that man is a body-soul composite. It was this sort of reasoning that led Aquinas to conclude. According to Aquinas, the most befitting exterior gesture for worshipping God is sacrifice. (Although even in this scenario there is some formality!). Merely having soldiers gather together in a field and saying with a bullhorn, “Hey guys, pretty good job,” and then sending them on their merry way doesn’t do justice to the value of their sacrifice. Not that other parish priests I saw were not, however he had a deep reverence the entire time which was really obvious. The age-old rituals of the Mass and the sacraments are a source of consolation and comfort in that we recognize that Jesus himself is the agent here, active through the dialogue between the priest and the people and present in word, in sacrament and in the very assembly which is the body of Christ made visible in his members. At Mass these ritual actions are called 1) the Preparation of the Gifts, 2) the Eucharistic Prayer, 3) the Communion Rite. That’s for another time. Turner reintroduced “Communitas” which examines the communal equity experienced in Liminality which is the middle section of the ceremony (Goldburg, 2009). If it’s fitting to our human nature to use sensible signs when we’re communicating our appreciation and respect for worldly things, then it’s even more fitting to use sensible signs when communicating our appreciation and respect for God, since he is far superior in dignity to any worldly thing, and since we have a natural obligation to order all things—including our bodies—to him. ! The Catholic Church teaches that in the New Testament the what is Christ himself, and the how is under the appearance of bread and wine in the Mass. Rituals of the Mass. Leave a comment. Your intention is simply to show that we are “naturally hardwired” for ritual, and ritual in the form of … In every ritual there are key elements, including Place, Time, Participants, Leader or expert, Form or pattern, Community and Symbols. Some Christians, especially those who call themselves “non-denominational,” criticize Catholicism for its rituals, especially those of the Mass. Gestures of Worship: Relearning Our Ritual Language This article by Helen Hull Hitchcock is about the importance of ritual language and gestures as part of liturgical reform. The main narrative of Catholic Masses is the incorporation of the Gospel. But I think there’s something more fundamental to the objection than a search for New Testament prooftexts. And most still think that rituals at weddings are important. Participants are crucial to performing a meaningful and rich ritual. Your task now is to draw out the reason why your friend intuitively believes this. Your intention here is not to persuade your friend that the offering of Christ’s one sacrifice in the Mass is the highest form of worship. ! Rites and Ceremonies The point of entry into the world of Catholic ritual is the Mass, the main worship ceremony of the Church. By the very definition of ritual, and Turner and Lovat’s examination of this, the Opening Mass identifies as a ritual. Father Jamie Utronkie, CC explains the different aspects of the Catholic Mass. The Opening Mass, similar to other Catholic Masses, is a ritual that comprises a formal sequence of words and actions intended to re-establish the significance of the meaning of the practice and to beneficially affect the participants through Franciscan values and spirituality. Community. Through Victor Turner’s theory of religious ritual, the Exegetical procession of the Opening Mass examines the sense of community within ritual. Hence it is a dictate of natural reason that man should use certain sensibles, by offering them to God in sign of the subject and honor due to him, like those who make certain offerings to their lord in recognition of his authority (ibid). Throughout the ritual, the Mt Alvernia College Opening Mass projected the ethos, values, beliefs and legacy of the MFIC and diverged from traditional Catholic Masses. Mass is an important Catholic ritual celebrated in the Catholic community. 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