I know you included the following questions just to give examples, but I’m going to respond to the first one in order to give a sample of the type of help you might receive here on the forum – at least from me if you make it clear you want every day language used.
I put things in parentheses and used
bolding to highlight the words in the “Answer” that correspond to the words in my response that are in parentheses. I realize this can make the answer look lengthy and complicated. But, if once you’ve read the whole answer through, you go back and reread it, omitting all the parts in parentheses, hopefully the response should read easily.
In this sample, I retyped my response with the parentheses parts omitted to give you an example of how it reads without the parentheses (indented paragraphs).
Example:
Question 218 / 220 in Compendium: “What is the liturgy? / In what does the sacramental economy consist?”
Answer: "The** liturgy **is the celebration of the mystery of Christ and in particular his Paschal Mystery. Through the exercise of the **priestly office of Jesus Christ **the liturgy manifests in signs and brings about the sanctification of humankind.
In the Mass and the Sacraments (liturgy), we celebrate especially Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross for our redemption (Paschal Mystery). In these liturgical rites (Mass and the Sacraments) Jesus is present as our high priest, offering His sacrifce and prayers to the Father on our behalf. (priestly office of Jesus Christ). He does this in and through things we can see, hear, touch, etc. (signs ; for example, priest, bread, wine, water, oil, words, …). When we participate in these rites, Jesus fills our souls with the graces He merited for us (brings about the sanctification of humankind).
Without the parts in parentheses:In the Mass and the Sacraments we celebrate especially Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross for our redemption. In these liturgical rites Jesus is present as our high priest, offering His sacrifice and prayers to the Father on our behalf. He does this in and through things we can see, hear, touch, etc. When we participate in these rites, Jesus fills our souls with the graces He merited for us
The **public worship **which is due to God is offered by the Mystical BOdy of Christ, that is, by its **head **and by its members. The sacramental economy consists in the communication of the fruits of Christ’s redemption through the celebration of the sacraments of the Church, most especially that of the Eucharist, until he comes (1 Cor 11:26)."
WOW - how can I possible understand something like that - so complex.
When we gather together at Church to worship God in the Mass and Sacraments (public worship), our prayers are united to those of Our Lord (head) and to those of all who are united to Him, on earth and in heaven (members) - the entire Church, head and members (Mystical Body of Christ). When we participate in these forms of worship (Mass and Sacraments) God communicates His redeeming graces into our souls (communication of the fruits of Christ’s redemption).
Without the parts in parentheses:When we gather together at Church to worship God in the Mass and Sacraments, our prayers are united to those of Our Lord and to those of all who are united to Him, on earth and in heaven - the entire Church, head and members. When we participate in these forms of worship, God communicates His redeeming graces into our souls
“Sacramental Economy” refers to the method Jesus established of using the visible things and rites of the Mass and Sacraments to communicate to our souls the invisible graces He merited for us. Visible things to communicate invisible grace. Do you find the above answers understandable?
it might be very helpful if you could find editions of the catechism and the Bible for children.
