It is the “source and summit” of our faith. Without it we have nothing.
Peace!!!
First off, just so you know, we don’t refer to our liturgies as rituals, per se, they are liturgies.
Beautiful summaryFirst off, just so you know, we don’t refer to our liturgies as rituals, per se, they are liturgies.
There is more than one liturgy in which the truths and graces of God are given to us by word and sacrament. The Liturgy of the Mass consists of two main parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the first we hear God’s word, including the Gospel. In the second we receive the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ.
Another liturgy is the Liturgy of the Hours, which is the daily prayer life of the Church. Here is an example: divineoffice.org/.
Okay, having explained all this, we Catholics do not necessarily expect any emotional reaction within our liturgies. Our faith is not based on feelings but on the truths God has revealed to us in Christ through his Apostles. We attend Mass to worship God “in spirit and in truth,” to hear his word proclaimed and to receive the Eucharist.
The reason the Eucharist is so profound is because we receive the risen Christ in the Eucharist, which means we receive the graces of his life, death and resurrection. This grace enables us to do God’s work and to remain faithful to him even though we are fallen creatures prone to sin.
The Holy Spirit works through our sacraments to actually do what they promise. So baptism actually does remove the stain of original sin, confession actually does confer absolution for our actual sins, marriage actually does join a man and a woman into one flesh, etc. As human beings we cannot help but be moved by these realities in our lives.
All the liturgies are both tactile as well as spiritual. We hear, we sing, we eat and drink, we have water poured over our heads, we are anointed with oil, we see the various parts of the Mass as well as our sacred art, vestments, etc. All these things have spiritual content, as well, which moves the soul to love God and to be his arms and legs, voice and hands to a needy world.
When I receive the Holy Eucharist, I am receiving the Body & Blood, Soul & Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the core of our faith. I feel the same way about Eucharistic Adoration as I sit and reflect on the same.
Glad to. When you walk out of the confessional you can feel both a spiritual and physical lightness. Truly physical, as if a literal weight has been lifted from your shoulders, as if your spine suddenly loosens and stretches upward.
This is not true. The Rituale Romanum (translated Roman Ritual) is the official book containing all of the rituals for the services of the Roman Rite. Though the name of the book may have changed for modern editions, that doesn’t change that it outlines the *rituals *of our Church!First off, just so you know, we don’t refer to our liturgies as rituals, per se, they are liturgies.
By emphasizing liturgy over ritual for Matthew Light I meant to rid him of the notion, if he has that notion, that merely by reciting words or doing some ceremony that we believe we are saved, when this is not the case. Our liturgies are grace-filled and are not mere rituals as so many think of the word, not mere mumbo-jumbo or cant. Ritual may be an acceptable word, but too often it carries connotations of a lazy approach to spirituality, which is simply not so.
I was raised Catholic and I do like the art, stained glass, candles and…statues, incense…
And in my case, as a “convert” to the Catholic faith all those things attracted me to the Church, especially the crucifix–the reminder of what he did for us out of his ineffable love for us. I cannot now understand how I could ever have thought a bare cross sufficient, except to remind me that I must die upon my own cross by denying myself and taking up my cross to follow Jesus.
Confession is great. Its a way of getting back on the right track with God and getting a second chance to get it right.
I will learn more about Lent today!Lent is really something to learn about. Try to go through it this year if you can, Todays the first day. Follow the Passion of Christ these next 40 days. See what happens!!