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Chapter Two
Signs and Symbols• Signs: Anything that points to
something else– Words, objects, actions
• Symbols: Special signs which are part of what they point to
– Evoke deeper meaning than signs
• People can be signs and symbols
• Symbols more powerful than signs, but not identical to what they point to
• Sacraments are celebrations that are “woven from signs and symbols”
Signs and Symbols
• Liturgy first celebrated by Christ– Church also celebrates liturgy
• Whole community united with Christ celebrates liturgy– “Common priesthood”– “Ministerial priesthood”
Who Celebrates the Liturgy?
• Common priesthood– We share in Christ’s mission as priest,
prophet, and king
• How do we share in priestly ministry of Christ?
– As witness, when we live in community, through service, and worship
How is the liturgy celebrated?
• Ministerial Priesthood
- At service of common priesthood
- Holy Orders
- Priest represents Christ when presiding at Eucharist
How is the liturgy celebrated?
• Sacraments celebrated with:
– Signs and symbols
– Words and actions
– Singing and music
– Icons
• Signs and symbols come from God’s creation, from human life
How is the liturgy celebrated?
• More signs incorporated by Church since Pentecost– Scripture reading– Processions– Holy water– Kneeling– Anointing with oil – Candles– Incense
How is the liturgy celebrated?
• Word of God an integral part of sacramental celebrations
• Visible signs accompanying Word of God
– Lectionary
– Procession
– Incense
– Professions of faith
How is the liturgy celebrated?
• Music expresses what is in our hearts
• Music with liturgy contributes to:– Prayerfulness– Building of community– Increasing solemnity of the
liturgical rites
How is the liturgy celebrated?
• Use of icons--holy images used to focus our attention on Jesus– Statues, painting, stained glass
– Images of Mary and saints
How is the liturgy celebrated?
• Worship in Church structured around yearly, weekly, and daily schedules
• Liturgical year
When is the liturgy celebrated?
Christ’s birth Christ’s Life
Christ’s death Christ’s resurrection
• Roots of liturgical year are in Judaism
– Passover
– Pentecost
– Succoth (Feast of Booths)
When is the liturgy celebrated?
• Sunday– Original feast day for Christians
– Day Christ rose from the dead
• 321: Constantine declares Sunday day of rest
• Day of gathering in community to listen to word of God
When is the liturgy celebrated?
• Sunday Eucharist– Foundation and heart of Catholic
life– Communal celebration of Sunday
Mass– Public testimony of belonging to
Church– Serious obligation for Catholics
When is the liturgy celebrated?
• Easter– First annual feast celebrated by early
Church
– Yearly celebration in early Church
• Council of Nicea in 325– Resolves dispute over when to celebrate
Easter
– Sunday following first full moon after Spring equinox
When is the liturgy celebrated?
• Easter Vigil– climax of celebration of Easter Triduum
• Easter Season– 50 day period after Easter
• Ascension Thursday– 40 days after Easter
• Pentecost– 50 days after Easter, “birthday” of the Church
When is the liturgy celebrated?
• Lent in early Church– 40-day period of preparation for those
preparing to be baptized
• Lent means springtime
• Time of conversion with emphasis on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving
When is the liturgy celebrated?
• Christmas– Celebration of Epiphany (revelation or showing
forth) in Eastern Church
• Western Church by year 336– Celebrated Christmas December 25
• Connection between winter solstice and the Incarnation
When is the liturgy celebrated?
• Advent– Season of preparation for
Christmas
– Attention on second coming of Christ
– Season of joyful and spiritual expectation
When is the liturgy celebrated?
• Ordinary Time– Other weeks of liturgical year
– Many feast days commemorating Mary and saints
– Other feast days focusing on particular
truths of our faith
– Constant source of grace for the Church
When is the liturgy celebrated?
• Variety of liturgical rites in Church– Reflecting diverse cultures– Maintaining unity with
Tradition
• Church is “catholic”--universal
Where is the liturgy celebrated?
• Church– buildings constructed as house of prayer
• Key elements of Church:– Altar
– Tabernacle
– Lectern
– Holy Oils
– Baptisery
– Reconciliation Chapel
Where is the liturgy celebrated?