The definition of "worship"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Leonine
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Leonine

Guest
What is,precisely, the definition of “worship” in Catholicism? Someone recently told me that you don’t or can’t have real/true “worship” as Catholics understand it, unless you have the “sacrifice.” I don’t think this is correct. I think one can worship in a true sense outside of the confines of the Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass may be the highest from of worship as it is the highest form of prayer. But, just as the Mass is not the only form of prayer, it is not the only form of worship.
 
I would add an honor given to God alone. As Catholics we honor the Blessed Mother and the saints, but worship God alone. I would say the Sacrifice of the Mass is the ultimate worship for Catholics.
 
I am pretty sure I heard Tim Staples say worship included sacrifice on last week’s CA Live. As pertains to Christian worship (vs. hero worship, devil, etc.), the Vatican says this:
The core of the mystery of Christian worship is the sacrifice of Christ offered to the Father and the work of the Risen Christ who sanctifies his People through the liturgical signs
Click to expand...
I think the problem is that a word like “worship” has been compromised in its definition by a secular society that has a hard time thinking about words from a religious or theological perspective. So worship, honor, devotion, admiration, adoration, adulation, exalting, cherishing, and more all mean the same things int he secular world.
 
20* Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."
Click to expand...
**John 4:20 **

Note that they prayed at home and in the synagogues, but worship was in the Temple, or for the Samaritians on the mountain, the place of sacrifice.
 
It means both honor as in showing respect\love, and honor given only to God.

If you mean worship in the older sense of the word worship for Catholics then yes Catholics worship God everytime we show love for Him.

If you mean worship in the modern sense of the word which most Protestants would take you to mean by the word Worship then our form of worship is expressed in the Mass. Since we cannot worship anything\anyone other than God our worship must be distinct and reserved only for God. Yes we can show love but we do that to other people also by singing and praising them. This is not Catholic worship, our official worship is special for God.

But as Catholics have an older understanding of the word Worship yes we can also understand it as the old King James Version of the Bible said Luke 14:10.
kingjbible.com/luke/14.htm

God Bless
Scylla
 
I agree with those posters who have indicated that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the highest form of worship that we, as Catholics can offer to the Father. In fact, we continue the practice of ancient Israel in offering sacrifice, only, instead of lambs and bullocks, we offer the true Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

The Protestant understanding of worship constitutes a word service. There is no sacrificial element in their form of worship. The Church, however, in following the mandate of her Divine Spouse, offers the Eucharistic Sacrifice and will continue to do so until He returns.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top