Unit 7 Mr. Salter 1

Liturgy – the public, official prayer of the Church  Liturgy is God’s Work ◦ The liturgy is not some thing, rather some one: Jesus Christ who becomes really present and active n the liturgy. ◦ Christian liturgy not only recalls the events that saved us, but actually them, makes them present.  Christ is not just remembered, like a dead man that was, but he is encountered as he really is.  Jesus is not just the object of thoughts and “devotion” at liturgy, rather he actually does things to us in his sacraments ◦ Man participates in God’s work of liturgy ◦ Instituted by Christ, for the universal Church and participated by all the faithful 2

 Liturgy in history ◦ Jesus is “present” (think about that multiply meaning:)  In time  With us (personal)  In gift  Liturgy in the Old and New Covenant ◦ Derived from the prayer of Old Testament  Not only the Eucharist (and sacraments), but the Liturgy of Hours ◦ Incorporating the Psalms, Passover, Jewish prayer  Many Jewish symbols are incorporated to more fully know the spiritual truths of the divine  Holy Spirit in Liturgy ◦ The Holy Spirit is fully present in all Liturgy of the Church ◦ The Holy Spirit is sent to prepare the assembly to be in communion with the Body of Christ 3

 Who Celebrates the Liturgy? ◦ The one adored in the liturgy is the Trinity  Creator, Lamb of God and Holy Spirit  In liturgy all creation adores God; “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord”: ◦ Those who take part in the service of praising God are: (as told in the Book of Revelation, all of creation))…:  Heavenly powers (angels)  All creation (four living beings)  Servants of the Old and New Covenants  Us – the new People of God  The Martyrs slain for the Word of God  The Holy Mother of God  The great multitude from every nation, all tribes, and peoples 4

 The role of the clergy and laity in the liturgy ◦ It is not the clergy who “celebrate “ the liturgy, but the whole Church ◦ It is the whole community, the Body of Christ united with the head (Christ) that celebrates.  Liturgical services are not private functions, but we are celebrations of the whole Church ◦ Worshippers at liturgy are like the cast of a play or instruments in a symphony; each part is necessary for the whole to be complete.  The ordained priest or minister is an “icon” of Christ; whose function is to serve the people (as Christ served).  Priests are our link to the historical Jesus 5

 Sources of sacred symbols ◦ Nature as a source of symbols  God speaks through visible creation; so intelligence can “read” the traces of its Creator  Light, darkness, wind, fire, ashes, water, earth  Symbolism is a natural language of all religions ◦ Society as a source of symbols  Washing, anointing, breaking bread, sharing a cup, handshaking, flags, ◦ Jewish history as a source of symbols  Baptism (circumcision), anointing, and consecration of kings and priests, laying on of hands, sacrifices, the Passover 6

 The four kinds of symbols in the liturgy ◦ Actions  Gestures and movement often “speak louder than words” ◦ Words  The Word of God is central to Liturgy  Also, the signs that surround the Word  Veneration of the Word – incense, bowing, procession, candles  Lectionary  Proclamation – from pulpit, lectern, ambo  Assemblies Responses – acclamations, meditation, psalms, litanies, profession of faith ◦ Images  An image cannot represent the invisible and incomprehensible God, but because the Son of God has lived and died, we can strive to meditate on Him (other religions, i.e. Islam forbid images of their God)  Crucifix, icons, windows, colors, architecture ◦ Music  St. Augustine, “He who sings, prays twice”  Angels sing; song and music draw us together with the heavenly choirs  Music is reverent, sacred, communal, heavenly 7

 Liturgical Seasons ◦ Advent ◦ Christmas ◦ Lent ◦ Holy Week and Easter ◦ Ordinary Time ◦ ◦ Liturgical Cycles  Sundays A, B, C  Weekdays I, II  Liturgy of the Hours, Divine Office ◦ Official daily prayer of ordained ministers of the Church ◦ Te Deum 8

 Sacred Places - in our Church buildings Altar – is the table of sacrifice, where Jesus become present Tabernacle – house of the Blessed Sacrament Chair – form the Chair of Peter sits our priest Lectern (pulpit) – form which we proclaim the Word of God Baptistery – place where we welcome the faithful into full union with the Lord  Liturgy and Spirituality ◦ Liturgy’s only purpose is to adore God ◦ Liturgy is the self-expression of the Church ◦ Good liturgy creates an inner silence; a silent joy-full love, worship-full wonder, and awe-full adoration  Out of liturgical silence we come to hear God speak ◦ Liturgy celebrates Christ present – in our life and the life of the Church 9