Center of our faith?

[Semandreu]

Our parish priest said repeatedly in his daily masses that the church (building) is the center of our faith. Then in one instance, he also said that the cross (in the altar) is the center of our faith. I fear that this might scandalize many parishioners. It can also give confusion to others. Isn’t it that the center of our faith is the EUCHARIST?

 

[Trishie]

The priest may be speaking in simplistic symbolic form which needs explanation so as not to confuse

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church

catholicdoors.com/catechis/cat0683.htm#770

752 In Christian usage, the word “church” designates the liturgical assembly, [Cf. 1 Cor 11:18; 14:19, 28, 34, 35] but also the local community [Cf. 1 Cor 1:2; 16:1] or the whole universal community of believers. [Cf. 1 Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6] These three meanings are inseparable. “The Church” is the People that God gathers in the whole world. She exists in local communities and is made real as a liturgical, above all a Eucharistic, assembly. She draws her life from the word and the Body of Christ and so herself becomes Christ’s Body. [1140, 832, 830]

748 The Church has no other light than Christ’s; according to a favorite image of the Church Fathers, the Church is like the moon, all its light reflected from the sun.

 

[MarkThompson]

Our parish priest said repeatedly in his daily masses that the church (building) is the center of our faith. Then in one instance, he also said that the cross (in the altar) is the center of our faith. I fear that this might scandalize many parishioners. It can also give confusion to others. Isn’t it that the center of our faith is the EUCHARIST?

I’m not sure he meant these to be taken as dogmatic statements of the faith. For instance, he is probably not so frivolous as to think that the “center” of the Catholic faith is the physical brick-and-timber structure of the parish church building. If I had to guess, I’d think he was trying to express the fact that the church building is the center, the “beating heart,” of a local faith community, the holy place where it gathers to celebrate the sacred mysteries. Which is true – the church should be the center of a community’s faith life. Then when he pointed to the cross (presumably a crucifix), I would guess that he was saying that Christ’s suffering and death which took place there is central to the economy of salvation.

I sure wouldn’t want to have to be the one to decide whether it is Christ’s death and resurrection or the Eucharist that is “the center of our faith.” And I wouldn’t take a priest’s remark that something is “the center” as somehow being a binding statement that he’s considered and rejected everything else as less important. If, in a homily about the Trinity, someone said that the mystery of the Sacred Trinity is central to our faith, should we accuse him of causing scandal? Or if someone said the same about the ineffable love God has for us? Would we stand there and split hairs: "Uh, no, the Trinity is a little bit outside of the center, maybe 10% less central than the Eucharist, but still a little bit more central than Christ’s dual nature . . . "?

You’re finding scandal where there isn’t any. If you want confirmation, go and actually ask your priest about what he meant, and I’m sure he’ll give you a satisfactory explanation.

 

[po18guy]

The Eucharist is the “Source and summit” of our faith. As to the center, that may need just a little more explanation from Father before his intent is clear. Certainly worth mentioning to him, as he may be unaware of the confusion.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Our parish priest said repeatedly in his daily masses that the church (building) is the center of our faith. Then in one instance, he also said that the cross (in the altar) is the center of our faith. I fear that this might scandalize many parishioners. It can also give confusion to others. Isn’t it that the center of our faith is the EUCHARIST?

Think of it in these terms: It is Jesus who is the center of our faith. The Church is the Body of Christ. Jesus suffered and died on the Cross. The Eucharist is Jesus. Your priest is not giving scandal–he is pointing to Jesus as the center of our faith in all the various ways He is present to us. Your priest is right on–his statements all point to Christ as the center of our faith. Try to expand your thinking some to include all the ways that Christ is present to us and you won’t be confused. Read the New Testament, esp. St. Paul’s letters, all of this is presented and expounded upon–the Body of Christ, Christ crucified, and the Eucharist–it all points to Christ as the center of our faith.

 

[Bookcat]

The Central Mystery of our Life and Faith is the Holy Trinity (see CCC)

But yes the paschal Mystery…the Death and Resurrection of Christ is central too

and thus the Eucharist (the source and summit!)

 

[Bookcat]

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life.

Catechism:

261 The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life. God alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

571 The Paschal mystery of Christ’s cross and Resurrection stands at the center of the Good News that the apostles, and the Church following them, are to proclaim to the world. God’s saving plan was accomplished “once for all” by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ.

Compendium of the Catechism issued by Pope Benedict XVI

1. What is the central mystery of Christian faith and life?

232-237

The central mystery of Christian faith and life is the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity. Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

And the Paschal Mystery though does stand at the center of our Faith

Compendium of the CCC

1. What is the importance of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus?

571-573

The Paschal Mystery of Jesus, which comprises his passion, death, resurrection, and glorification, stands at the center of the Christian faith because God’s saving plan was accomplished once for all by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ.

1. What is the center of the liturgical season?

1163-1167
1193

The center of the liturgical season is Sunday which is the foundation and kernel of the entire liturgical year and has its culmination in the annual celebration of Easter, the feast of feasts.

CCC

571 The Paschal mystery of Christ’s cross and Resurrection stands at the center of the Good News that the apostles, and the Church following them, are to proclaim to the world. God’s saving plan was accomplished “once for all” by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Our parish priest said repeatedly in his daily masses that the church (building) is the center of our faith. Then in one instance, he also said that the cross (in the altar) is the center of our faith. I fear that this might scandalize many parishioners. It can also give confusion to others. Isn’t it that the center of our faith is the EUCHARIST?

The center of our faith is God

 

[po18guy]

If Father was indicating the geographical center of our faith, then the parish would be appropriate at the local level. However, the spiritual and mystical center must be God in three Persons. I think a short conversation with Father will help clear this up.