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[fbl9]

Okay, several times durring Mass, a bell is rung. What does that signify?

Thanks…

In my parish the only time bells are rung during the Mass,it at the consencration, of the host and then the wine. What i was told was it was kinds of a hey pay attention your God is being made present.
Oh yeah bells are rung at the beginning of Mass and at the end.
sometimes when the Gloria is sung at advent? and Easter Sunday.

 

[pablope]

Okay, several times durring Mass, a bell is rung. What does that signify?

Thanks…

it is rung three times.

First, when the priest calls on the HS and places his hands over the bread and wine (the Epiclesis)…when he raises the host and then when he raises the wine.

From the GIRM…A little before the consecration, the server may ring a bell as a signal to the faithful. Depending on local custom, he also rings the bell at the showing of both the host and the chalice.

 

[Red_in_205]

Clarify a teaching for me:

If the apostles were given certain gifts (forgiving sins, perfect teaching, etc.), then why does it necessarily follow that their successors hundreds or thousands of year later have the same gifts?

For example, if Peter was given special leadership and authority, then why does that necessarily mean that the bishops who followed him had that same authority?

 

[Telstar]

Clarify a teaching for me:

If the apostles were given certain gifts (forgiving sins, perfect teaching, etc.), then why does it necessarily follow that their successors hundreds or thousands of year later have the same gifts?

For example, if Peter was given special leadership and authority, then why does that necessarily mean that the bishops who followed him had that same authority?

Those ‘gifts’ (powers) are passed on to others through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, which is where Apostolic Succession comes into play in the Catholic Church.

 

[jmcrae]

Clarify a teaching for me:

If the apostles were given certain gifts (forgiving sins, perfect teaching, etc.), then why does it necessarily follow that their successors hundreds or thousands of year later have the same gifts?

For example, if Peter was given special leadership and authority, then why does that necessarily mean that the bishops who followed him had that same authority?

Only those upon whom they laid hands in the Sacrament of Ordination received this authority.

Only those who in turn received the laying on of hands from those who had already received the laying on of hands (Sacrament of Ordination) have these gifts. It is not simply a matter of belonging to the same Church. It is passed down deliberately from person to person in the Sacrament of Ordination.

If someone were to be “ordained” by someone whose own Ordination cannot be traced back to the Apostles by the laying on of hands in every generation, then no actual Ordination takes place. This is why Protestants do not have valid ordination - because Luther had never been given this authority, and thus, did not have it to begin with, to give to his followers, who were the original Protestants.

 

[fbl9]

Clarify a teaching for me:

If the apostles were given certain gifts (forgiving sins, perfect teaching, etc.), then why does it necessarily follow that their successors hundreds or thousands of year later have the same gifts?

For example, if Peter was given special leadership and authority, then why does that necessarily mean that the bishops who followed him had that same authority?

We see in the OT that God gave only a certain group authority. These men operated without the assurance of Christ’s promise of the Holy Spirit, yet still were to be obeyed.

 

[jmoneyideas]

I see people lighting candles before mass , whats that for…?

 

[pablope]

Clarify a teaching for me:

If the apostles were given certain gifts (forgiving sins, perfect teaching, etc.), then why does it necessarily follow that their successors hundreds or thousands of year later have the same gifts?

For example, if Peter was given special leadership and authority, then why does that necessarily mean that the bishops who followed him had that same authority?

In addition to the answers, in Acts 13, you can see Paul being ordained, prior to his first missionary journey.

*1Now there were in the church which was at Antioch, prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas, and Simon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them.

3Then they, fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away*

As you can see from this passage, it is not the individual who decides, but the bishop, guided by the HS, who decides if one is to be ordained to the priesthood. But of course, there is a lot of discernment and prayers in the ordinand prior to ordination. This is how Apostolic succession is transferred/conferred.

 

[pablope]

I see people lighting candles before mass , whats that for…?

Are these candles before the statues of saints, of Christ, of the BVM?

These candles are meant as offerings, prayers for our pleas, petitions, and the like.

 

[Telstar]

Are these candles before the statues of saints, of Christ, of the BVM?

These candles are meant as offerings, prayers for our pleas, petitions, and the like.

That’s what my first thought was, but then I was wondering if he was actually referring to the altar servers lighting the candles on the altar in preparation for Mass. That’s a whole different thing than people lighting votive candles for prayer intentions.

 

[pablope]

That’s what my first thought was, but then I was wondering if he was actually referring to the altar servers lighting the candles on the altar in preparation for Mass. That’s a whole different thing than people lighting votive candles for prayer intentions.

Hi, Telstar…LOL…that did not come to mind…I assumed it was the votive candles…when JMoney asked “before the mass”. Anyway, we will let him clarify the question.

 

[Telstar]

Hi, Telstar…LOL…that did not come to mind…I assumed it was the votive candles…when JMoney asked “before the mass”. Anyway, we will let him clarify the question.

Hi, pablope!

Yep, I think we need to know which kind of candles they’re talking about before we can really give them any answer. I’m hoping they come back and let us know.

 

[jmoneyideas]

Hi, Telstar…LOL…that did not come to mind…I assumed it was the votive candles…when JMoney asked “before the mass”. Anyway, we will let him clarify the question.

lol…It was before mass…The Candles are located at the back of the church…I see people come in light a candle and then go to there seats…WOW i really do sound like a newbie…

 

[Telstar]

lol…It was before mass…The Candles are located at the back of the church…I see people come in light a candle and then go to there seats…WOW i really do sound like a newbie…

LOL We were just a little confused and wanted to be sure.

OK, that’s the votive candles, then. The small ones burn for a day, the large ones will burn for a week. They’re usually lit in memory of a deceased loved one, or for a special prayer intention like when you’re looking for a new job, picking out a college or other things like that. There’s also a ‘donation box’ on the side, where a small stipend can be given to cover the cost of the candle, or as a donation for the poor. Sometimes there’s a ‘suggested’ amount posted for that donation, but it’s not mandatory. You can give more or less, depending on your circumstances. It’s like a small ‘sacrifice’ that you make for the prayer intention.

 

[pablope]

lol…It was before mass…The Candles are located at the back of the church…I see people come in light a candle and then go to there seats…WOW i really do sound like a newbie…

Hi, JMoney…I will add to your Catholic vocabulary…

Just adding on to what Telstar said…so when you hear a catholic say…" I will light a candle for you"…this is what they mean…they will light a candle in the Church…usually it is at a perpetual adoration chapel…as an offer of prayer for you…for whatever you asked prayers for…

And if you look at pictures of churches, at grottos, at pilgrimage sites, you will see candles burning and being lit…they are for prayer intentions.

 

[jmoneyideas]

Thanks Pals…
Oh and here is another quick question… What is a adoration chapel? What goes on in there? I never managed to actually go check it out…Thanks

 

[Newsy]

Thanks Pals…
Oh and here is another quick question… What is a adoration chapel? What goes on in there? I never managed to actually go check it out…Thanks

The Blessed Sacrament is displayed in a Monstrance. It is a quiet chapel where people go to pray in the presence of our Lord. Perpetual Adoration is simply, continual 24 hour per day, adoration. People take “shifts” to make sure there is always someone there. I much enjoyed an adoration chapel even before my conversion.

 

[Red_in_205]

Only those upon whom they laid hands in the Sacrament of Ordination received this authority.

Only those who in turn received the laying on of hands from those who had already received the laying on of hands (Sacrament of Ordination) have these gifts. It is not simply a matter of belonging to the same Church. It is passed down deliberately from person to person in the Sacrament of Ordination.

If someone were to be “ordained” by someone whose own Ordination cannot be traced back to the Apostles by the laying on of hands in every generation, then no actual Ordination takes place. This is why Protestants do not have valid ordination - because Luther had never been given this authority, and thus, did not have it to begin with, to give to his followers, who were the original Protestants.

I don’t think I did a very good job of phrasing my question.

To put it another way, how do we know that the special powers given to the apostles, such as to “bind in Heaven whatsoever you bind on Earth” or to be “guided unto all truth,” and so forth, are transferable to their successors as well as their authority over the church?

 

[rinnie]

Why can’t Catholics sing, as mused by Thomas Day in his book, Why Catholics Can’t Sing?

No just kidding, that’s not my real question.

OK, this is a toughy, so I apologize: If the Pope has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church and Peter was the first Pope, why does Peter refer to himself as only a fellow elder in 1 Peter?

I’ve always thought that that was a case for giving the Pope the status of First Among Equals. Or, perhaps the context of this particular verse should be taken into consideration.

Anyhow, this is not something that keeps me up at night, so don’t do a lot of research to find an answer. It’s just a bit of curiosity on my part.

You have to take the reading and put it into context is all.

But if you want to see where Peter was chosen check out where Peter stands up and states. Acts 15:7 God made his choice among us. Now if God did not make his Choice to be Peter why did Peter say so?

Peter state clear as day that he was the one to preach the new to the Gentiles. Thats US!!

 

[Newsy]

To put it another way, how do we know that the special powers given to the apostles, such as to “bind in Heaven whatsoever you bind on Earth” or to be “guided unto all truth,” and so forth, are transferable to their successors as well as their authority over the church?

Acts 1 tells us how and why they chose a replacement for Judas. We can see that if the authority didn’t reside in the office, then there would be no need to replace him. Pentacost hadn’t happened yet, they were a small group of believers, so why was it important to fill the office? Peter quotes scripture to address it, “20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it, and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.”.

The “laying on of hands” has taken place since the OT, it shows us when something is bestowed, i.e. the priesthood. Some protestant groups, like my former denomination, still use this as a sign when a person takes office, problem is they have no authority, it’s simply symbolic. It’s one of those items that are left over from the Reformation, but lose all significance when they are separated from the Church. It reminds me of the red candle that still hangs in my former church, it has no meaning if communion is symbolic.