History of the Mass

[Mary3]

I am a CCD teacher for 8th grade. Last night, my class attended a presentation by our Deacon on the history and significance of the Mass. I was disheartened by the presentation, to say the least. Here are some of the questions and answers I found most disturbing. I’m looking for resources to help flesh out some better answers for my students next week. (The questions were posed by the students, answers by the Deacon).

Q: Why does the priest add water to the wine?
A: In Christ’s time, ‘cultured’ people did not drink straight wine. It’s a tradition that made it’s way into the litugy and just stuck there.

Q: Why does the priest wash his hands before the consecration?
A: It is good manners to wash your hands before a meal.

Q: Why does the priest genuflect before the altar at the end of the entrance processional ?
A: The priest genuflects if he can see the tabernacle. There is no need to genuflect to the altar.

Q: What is a Deacon?
A: Deacon is the only ordained office mentioned in the New Testament. Priests will tell you that their office is mentioned in the NT, but that is incorrect.

Ugh.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Mary3:

I am a CCD teacher for 8th grade. Last night, my class attended a presentation by our Deacon on the history and significance of the Mass. I was disheartened by the presentation, to say the least. Here are some of the questions and answers I found most disturbing. I’m looking for resources to help flesh out some better answers for my students next week. (The questions were posed by the students, answers by the Deacon).
Ugh.

Q: Why does the priest add water to the wine?
A: In Christ’s time, ‘cultured’ people did not drink straight wine. It’s a tradition that made it’s way into the litugy and just stuck there.

That is correct all people would dilute the wine because it was very strong. However it also has symbolic purpose. Because Blood and water flowed from the side of Christ on the cross. The water represents us or humanity and the wine represents Christ or His Divinity.

Q: Why does the priest wash his hands before the consecration?
A: It is good manners to wash your hands before a meal.

Well, It is rooted in the Jewish purification ritual or washing that the High Priest did before offering the Pascal Sacrifice.

Q: Why does the priest genuflect before the altar at the end of the entrance processional ?
A: The priest genuflects if he can see the tabernacle. There is no need to genuflect to the altar.

In times past the tabernacle was in the center of the altar and the priest genuflected towards the tabernacle. Many times this is just done out of habit. More properly the priest should if the tabernacle is not directly behind the altar should Bow to the Crucifix and then kiss the altar which represents the place where the Sacrifice will take place. In other words the Cross.

Q: What is a Deacon?
A: Deacon is the only ordained office mentioned in the New Testament. Priests will tell you that their office is mentioned in the NT, but that is incorrect.

All three levels of Holy Orders are mentioned in the NT. In the Primitive Church most Christians gathered around their Bishop for the Eucharist, there were few priests and the Deacon assisted the Bishop and cared for the poor, carried the Eucharist to the sick, etc. As Christianity spread out Bishops started Ordaining more priests to assist with the celebration of the Eucharist and the Deacons disappeared until Vatican II reinstated the permanant Deacon in the 1960’s.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Mary3:

I am a CCD teacher for 8th grade. Last night, my class attended a presentation by our Deacon on the history and significance of the Mass. I was disheartened by the presentation, to say the least. Here are some of the questions and answers I found most disturbing. I’m looking for resources to help flesh out some better answers for my students next week. (The questions were posed by the students, answers by the Deacon).

Q: Why does the priest add water to the wine?
A: In Christ’s time, ‘cultured’ people did not drink straight wine. It’s a tradition that made it’s way into the litugy and just stuck there.

This is correct, but doesn’t go far enough. The symbolism reflects two events. When the Passover was being prepared, the animals were brought to the temple to be ritually slaughtered. The blood would be washed down the side of the temple with water, and people seeing this would know that the preparation had begin. This was, in fact, the same symbolism that people seeing the blood and water flow from Jesus’ side would have recognized.

Q: Why does the priest wash his hands before the consecration?
A: It is good manners to wash your hands before a meal.

While this statement is true, it has nothing to do with what is happening here. The Mass finds its origin in the Sabbath services at the temple linked to the Breaking of the Bread that took place on Sunday. The hand washing was a ritual part of the Sabbath services. In the Church of the 4th and 5th centuries, the offerings might be chickens or other live animals which the deacons would present to the priest. The hand washing then became necessary because of what had been handled. Today it remains as a reminder for the priest (and, by extension, all of us) of the need to be pure to serve at the altar of the Lord.

Q: Why does the priest genuflect before the altar at the end of the entrance processional ?
A: The priest genuflects if he can see the tabernacle. There is no need to genuflect to the altar.

The answer given, while correct, may be somewhat confusing. If there is a tabernacle present in the Church that can be seen (i.e., it’s not in a separate chapel) then the priest and other ministers (except those carrying something) will genuflect to the tabernacle if the tabernacle contains the consecrated spcies – that is, if Jesus is present. If there is no tabernacle then a bow to the altar is performed.

Q: What is a Deacon?
A: Deacon is the only ordained office mentioned in the New Testament. Priests will tell you that their office is mentioned in the NT, but that is incorrect.

And that answer is flat out wrong. Paul writes about both presbyters/priests (the Greek word is presbuteros) and bishops (Greek: episcopos). Other than the selection of Matthias to replace Judas, the only other laying on of hands to indicate ministry in the Acts of the Apostles is the seven deacons. But that answer still doesn’t reflect on the question.

A deacon is a man ordained, not to the priesthood but for service. With the priest he helps the bishop carry out his ministry to the People of God in his particular Church (diocese). He does receive Holy Orders just as the priest and bishop do. However, his ministry is primarily that of charity.

Deacon Ed

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Br. Rich SFO:

All three levels of Holy Orders are mentioned in the NT. In the Primitive Church most Christians gathered around their Bishop for the Eucharist, there were few priests and the Deacon assisted the Bishop and cared for the poor, carried the Eucharist to the sick, etc. As Christianity spread out Bishops started Ordaining more priests to assist with the celebration of the Eucharist and the Deacons disappeared until Vatican II reinstated the permanant Deacon in the 1960’s.

Actually, deacons never “disappeared” since it was, and is, considered a step on the way to the priesthood. There were always deacons, they just did not remain long in that order. What was restored was the permanency of the order (since canon law required that a bishop could not ordain a man not destined and suitable for the priesthood).

Deacon Ed