Why do we proclaim the Lord's death, and not his resurrection, until He comes again?

[SteveVH]

Let me preface my question by stating that I do realize that there is no resurrection without the crucifiction. It is really one action. However, I have always wondered why we “proclaim your death, oh Lord, until you come in glory”. He is risen. Just wonder why that wasn’t also incorporated. I’m sure I’m missing something that is obvious, but I would love an explanation.

Thanks.

 

[po18guy]

Christ said, at the institution of the Holy Eucharist (Luke 22:19), “This is my Body, given (by dying) for you, do this in remembrance of me”. Likewise, He said "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out (by dying) for many (Mark 14:24). Saint Paul preached “Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Of course, we would have no hope without the resurrection, but it was the suffering and death of the Son of Man that redeemed us from the sin of man.

 

[SteveVH]

Christ said, at the institution of the Holy Eucharist (Luke 22:19), “This is my Body, given (by dying) for you, do this in remembrance of me”. Likewise, He said "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out (by dying) for many (Mark 14:24). Saint Paul preached “Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Of course, we would have no hope without the resurrection, but it was the suffering and death of the Son of Man that redeemed us from the sin of man.

I didn’t dream I would get a satisfactory answer in the first post. Thank you. Just as I said, I was missing something obvious and actually answered my own question last week when I was asked why I wear a crucifix rather than a cross. My response was that it wasn’t the cross that saved us, but rather the One hanging on it.

I truly appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut here. Thanks again.

 

[patsydtr]

We DO proclaim His Resurrection! It is during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Priest will sing: " Let us proclaim the mystery of faith". There are two choices that absolutely mention our Lords’ resurrection. They are:

1. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
2. Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the savior of the world.

There are two others, one of which you mentioned. I hope this helps you.
God Bless+

 

[StrawberryJam]

We DO proclaim His Resurrection! It is during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Priest will sing: " Let us proclaim the mystery of faith". There are two choices that absolutely mention our Lords’ resurrection. They are:

1. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
2. Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the savior of the world.

There are two others, one of which you mentioned. I hope this helps you.
God Bless+

I have to agree with this post. The very first thing that came to mind after reading the opening thread was the melody sung by the congregation at Mass,

Christ has died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.

The Resurrection is very well known amoung catholic believers.

Many a catholic church even will have the name Resurrection in it.

I’ve heard many a homily where the Resurrection is the central theme.

Christ makes all things new again is the general theme amoung most homilies I have listened to.

Go to a Mass and see if you can find the Resurrection in it.

You will.

 

[Earnest_Bunbury]

Here is a question… How do we get:
Faith is perfected not through searching the scriptures, but face to face (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
From this:
1 Thess 3:10: Night and day more abundantly praying that we may see your face, and may accomplish those things that are wanting to your faith?

Seems a bit iffy in many ways to me.

 

[Hesychios]

Traditionally the eastern churches have emphasized the Resurrection. The western churches have emphasized the Passion. Both elements are present in both traditions, but there is a distinct difference in emphasis that cannot be denied.

One should note that crucifixion images in the east usually portray a virile resurrected Jesus. (The San Damiano cross of Saint Francis, actually of eastern origin, is a good example of this style). In the west, some attempts have been made to do the same but it seems to often come off badly.

 

[po18guy]

Here is a question… How do we get:
Faith is perfected not through searching the scriptures, but face to face (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
From this:
1 Thess 3:10: Night and day more abundantly praying that we may see your face, and may accomplish those things that are wanting to your faith?

Seems a bit iffy in many ways to me.

Sorry about that! It’s a paraphrase, not a quote, intended to counter the claims of “bible only” Christians, who say that scripture is all you need.

1 Thessalonians 3:10

From the RSV2CE: “praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith”

From the New Jerusalem Bible: “We are earnestly praying night and day to be able to see you face to face again and make up any shortcomings in your faith”

From the Douay-Rheims 1899 edition: “Night and day more abundantly praying that we may see your face, and may accomplish those things that are wanting to your faith”

And from the King James Version: “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith”

Just to clear up any confusion, I will note that it is a reference to that passage.

 

[po18guy]

I was asked why I wear a crucifix rather than a cross. My response was that it wasn’t the cross that saved us, but rather the One hanging on it.

Exactly. Until Good Friday, the cross was the universal symbol of pagan death. Only the Body of Christ turned it forever into the universal symbol of new life.

 

[patrick457]

Traditionally the eastern churches have emphasized the Resurrection. The western churches have emphasized the Passion. Both elements are present in both traditions, but there is a distinct difference in emphasis that cannot be denied.

One should note that crucifixion images in the east usually portray a virile resurrected Jesus. (The San Damiano cross of Saint Francis, actually of eastern origin, is a good example of this style). In the west, some attempts have been made to do the same but it seems to often come off badly.

Well, it’d seem that in the earliest days of Christianity, the emphasis is more on the triumph of Jesus during death rather than on the details of the death itself (see for example this symbolic representation from the 4th-century Sarcophagus of Domatilla). It was around in the Middle Ages that the West began to dwell on the Passion aspect in a much deeper way, it seems.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/EarlyCrucifixionRome.jpg

These are two of the earliest Christian images of the death of Jesus, roughly contemporaneous with each other. The topmost is a panel from the wooden door of the basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome (the original one, dating from AD 430-32!); the image below is another panel from an ivory casket (ca. AD 420-430), also coming from Rome but is now located in the British Museum. You can notice that there is little to no indication of death - Jesus is in a fully-erect pose, with arms fully outstretched. BTW, the below might also interest you - a fresco from Santa Maria Antiqua, also from the Eternal City. That church is decorated with ancient frescoes in Byzantine style, dating back to Pope Martin I (649-655), Pope John VII (705-707), and Pope Zachary (741-752). Below is the Crucifixion, dating back from the time of Pope Zachary. As was common in Eastern art back then - as seen here, here and here) - the Lord is wearing a colobium (also see the Volto Santo of Lucca and the Batlló Crucifix for other Western examples of a clothed, almost-not-suffering triumphal crucified Christ):

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8619/santamariaantiquaromacr.jpg

 

[patrick457]

As an aside - how certain Western liturgies express this Pauline clause:

Mozarabic Rite: Quotiescúmque manducavéritis panem hunc et cálicem istum bibéritis, mortem Dómini annuntiábitis donec véniat in claritate(m) de cælis.

As often as you shall eat this bread and drink this chalice, you shall show forth the death of the Lord until He comes (aloud) in glory from heaven.

Ambrosian Rite: Mandans quoque et dicens ad eos: Hæc quotiescumque feceritis, in meam commemorationem facietis: mortem meam prædicabitis, resurrectionem meam annuntiabitis, adventum meum sperabitis, donec iterum de cælis veniam ad vos.

Commanding them and saying to them: “As often as you do these things, you shall do them in commemoration of me: proclaiming my death, showing forth my resurrection, hoping in my coming, until I come again from heaven to you.”

Stowe Missal (Celtic Rite): Hæc quotiescumque feceritis, in meam commemorationem faciatis: passionem meam predicabitis, resurrectionem meam adnuntiabitis, aduentum meum sperabitis, donec iterum ueniam ad uos de cælis.

“Whenever you do these things, you shall do them in commemoration of me: proclaiming my passion, showing forth my resurrection, hoping in my coming, until I come again to you from heaven.”

 

[SteveVH]

I have to agree with this post. The very first thing that came to mind after reading the opening thread was the melody sung by the congregation at Mass,

Christ has died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.

The Resurrection is very well known amoung catholic believers.

Many a catholic church even will have the name Resurrection in it.

I’ve heard many a homily where the Resurrection is the central theme.

Christ makes all things new again is the general theme amoung most homilies I have listened to.

Go to a Mass and see if you can find the Resurrection in it.

You will.

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I am very aware of the various memorial acclamations and certainly didn’t mean to imply that Catholics ignore the resurrection in any way. It was just that one line that made me stop and think. I actually was aware of a couple of non-Catholics who were attending Mass when this occured to me and wondered what they might think when they heard those words. To say something along the lines of “We proclaim your sacrifice until you come in glory” might be a little clearer as to what is actually being proclaimed, but hey, I’ll always go with the Church on these issues.

 

[StrawberryJam]

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I am very aware of the various memorial acclamations and certainly didn’t mean to imply that Catholics ignore the resurrection in any way. It was just that one line that made me stop and think. I actually was aware of a couple of non-Catholics who were attending Mass when this occured to me and wondered what they might think when they heard those words. To say something along the lines of “We proclaim your sacrifice until you come in glory” might be a little clearer as to what is actually being proclaimed, but hey, I’ll always go with the Church on these issues.

I think I understand what you mean Steve. In non catholic churches I have visited, I think there is perhaps a difference in understanding the terminology being used.
There may be more agreement than disagreement on this really.