An Introduction to Liturgy and the Sacraments of the Catholic Church Presenter: Fr. Clifford Smith, Pastor St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church Plano, Texas Diocese of Dallas

Part One: Liturgy, Rites & Ritual in the Catholic Church Adult Faith Formation St. Mark the Evangelist

Primary Source Material on the Liturgy of the Catholic Church Catechism of the Catholic Church ( Part Two: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery ) 1983 Code of Canon Law Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Vatican II Introductory notes to the Roman Missal, and the Rites of Baptism, Confirmation, etc.

Worship & Liturgy Our fundamental duty as people … is to direct the whole of our life and activity toward God as Creator and Savior.

Worship & Liturgy In broadest terms we call this activity worship, as it pertains to that honor and praise due to God in either our private or communal lives.

Worship & Liturgy The word 'liturgy' comes from the Greek leitourgia [from leos for people, and ergon for work.] Prior to the time of Christ it meant any public duty or service, or in Jewish terms, service in the temple.

Worship & Liturgy In Christian terms liturgy refers to the official public worship of the Church … especially as distinguished from private devotions.

Liturgy … … is the public worship by the Mystical Body of Christ, of both its Head (Christ) and its members. … seeks to bring about an encounter between worshippers and the saving mystery.

In Liturgy the Past Becomes Present Although liturgy is concerned with past events, the historical saving work of Christ, it is not concerned with them as past, but experienced as present.

In Liturgy the Past Becomes Present By the mystery of liturgy we are actualizing past events, making them present so that the saving power of Christ can be made present to the worshipper in the here and now.

Understanding Liturgy We need to understand liturgy as the exercise here and now on earth of Christ's priestly office, an office in which all the baptized have some share.

Understanding Liturgy It is to be distinguished from Christ's teaching role, which is a prophetic ministry, as well as from the Church's rule and moral guidance.

Understanding Liturgy Christ's priestly work concerns itself with worship and our sanctification.

Understanding Liturgy Liturgy is particularly directed toward giving proper honor to God and making us more holy and acceptable to God.

Understanding Liturgy It is always God-centered and God directed.

Understanding Liturgy Liturgy is where Christian meets Christ in the fullness of his redeeming activity.

Understanding Liturgy It is making present in word, symbol and sacrament the paschal mystery of Christ so that through its celebration we may in this place and time make a saving encounter with God.

Understanding Liturgy "In earthly liturgy we share in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle." [CCC 1090]

Understanding Liturgy "In the liturgy … every liturgical action … is an encounter between Christ and the Church. The liturgical assembly derives its unity from the "communion of the Holy Spirit “… This assembly transcends racial, cultural, social … all human affinities." [CCC 1098]

Understanding Liturgy "The mission of the Holy Spirit in the liturgy of the Church is to prepare the assembly to encounter Christ; to recall and manifest Christ to the faith of the assembly; to make the saving work of Christ present and active by his transforming power." [CCC 1112]

Purpose of Liturgy is … … to give glory and honor to God through public, communal prayer.

Purpose of Liturgy is … … to build up the faith of the people.

Purpose of Liturgy is … … to teach the faithful the meaning of Christ's words through the sacred mysteries. Liturgy is not simply an intellectual exercise, but an act of the whole person, including the senses and emotions.

Liturgy includes … … the spoken word, music, gestures, movements and actions, and symbolic and material things.

The highest form of liturgy is found in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Liturgy is also found in any celebrations of the Word, in the Liturgy of the Hours, consecration of Religious, Rites associated with Adult Initiation and rites of blessing and other public sacramentals.

Liturgy is Multi-dimensional Liturgy occurs vertically, that is the going-out of ourselves to God … God Us

Liturgy is Multi-dimensional … and horizontally, that is the on-going relationship between ourselves and neighbor … God Us

Liturgy is Multi-dimensional …united in a single act of public, communal worship. God Us

Rites A rite is an established, ceremonious, usually religious act. Rites fall into three major categories: -rites of passage, generally changing an individual's social status, such as marriage, baptism, or graduation.

Rites -rites of worship, where a community comes together to worship, such as the Mass. -rites of personal devotion, where an individual worships, including prayer and retreats, etc.

Rites … also refers to a body of liturgical tradition usually emanating from a specific center. Examples include the Roman or Latin Rite, and the Byzantine Rite. Such rites may include various sub-rites. For example, the Byzantine Rite has Greek, Russian, etc.

Ritual A ritual is a set of actions, often thought to have symbolic value, the performance of which is usually prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community.

The Church Year … The Second Vatican Council called us to recognize that the saving work of Jesus Christ is commemorated "on certain days throughout the course of the year."

The Church Year … “Once each week … she keeps the memory of the Lord's resurrection. She also celebrates it once a year, together with his blessed passion, at Easter, that most solemn of all feasts.” [SC, para. 102]

The Church Year … “In the course of the year, moreover, she unfolds the whole mystery of Christ from the incarnation and nativity to the ascension, to Pentecost and the expectation of the blessed hope of the coming of the Lord.” [SC, para. 102]

The Church Year … The Church Year, in fact, is comprised of two cycles:

The Church Year … (1) The yearly cycle of the life of Christ, called the Temporal or Dependent Cycle because it is anchored by Advent at the beginning and Easter in the middle and pertains primarily to Sunday feasts.

The Church Year … (2) …and the yearly calendar of the feasts of saints and martyrs, called the Sanctoral Cycle, and those feasts of the Church, of Jesus and Mary, which have specific and regular calendar dates.

Seasons of the Church YearAdvent Christmas Ordinary Time Lent Triduum Easter

Advent The beginning of the Church Year, starting four Sundays prior to December 25 th. It is a time to remember the birth of the Christ Child & the future Second Coming of Christ as Judge of the World.

Advent Time Period: Starts counting back four Sundays prior to December 25 th Liturgical Color: Violet/purple

Christmas Season A celebration of God's gift of himself/his Son to the world. A joyful time of peace and good will.

Christmas Season Time Period: From the Vigil Mass of Christmas through the Mass of the Baptism of the Lord. Liturgical Color: White

Ordinary Time [First Part] A neutral time, not of high celebration, the "counted" [ordinal] Sundays separating Christmas Time from Lent.

Ordinary Time [First Part] Time Period: Following the Masses of the Baptism of the Lord until Ash Wednesday. Liturgical Color: Green

Lent Calculated forty days prior Easter Sunday, not counting Sundays. A time of penance for our sins, fasting and charity in preparation for the benefits of Christ's death and resurrection.

Lent Time Period: Begins with Ash Wednesday, and lasts until the Mass of the Lord's Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday. Liturgical Color: Violet/purple

When does Lent begin? The date for Easter is based on a complex formulae going back nearly 1900 years: the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the vernal equinox (the first day of Spring or March 21 st.)

When does Lent begin? Because the Lunar calendar is different from the Solar calendar Easter falls on a different Sunday every year.

Triduum … “the three days” Begins with the evening Mass on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, commemorating the Last Supper, Crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ, as well as the Vigil Mass of the Resurrection.

Triduum … “the three days” Time Period: From Holy Thursday evening, through the Easter Vigil Mass on the evening of Saturday. Liturgical Color: White for Holy Thursday and the Easter Vigil, and red for Good Friday.

Easter Season Easter Sunday to Pentecost [the beginning of the Church.] The Highest celebration of the Church Year. Fifty (50) days.

Easter Season Time Period: From the Sunday morning Mass of Easter to Pentecost. Liturgical Color: White, except Pentecost which is red.

Ordinary Time [Second Part] A neutral time, not of high celebration., beginning after Pentecost Sunday and lasting until the new Church Year begins with Advent.

Ordinary Time [Second Part] Time Period: From the week following Pentecost to the First Sunday in Advent and the start of a new Church Year. Liturgical Color: Green

Liturgical Colors White is used for feasts and memorials of the Lord [except his passion]; for feasts and memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of angels, of saints who were not martyrs.

Liturgical Colors Red is used on day commemorating the martyrdom of apostles, evangelists and other martyrs. Purple and Black may be used for funerals and Masses for the Dead.

Liturgical Colors Rose-colored vestments may be worn for Gaudete Sunday [third Sunday in Advent... Phil. 4:4-5] and Laetare Sunday [fourth Sunday in Lent.]

Quiz 1.What is worship? 2.What is liturgy? 3.What is a rite? 4.What does ritual mean? 5.What are the two cycles of the Church Year? 6.Name the seasons of the Church Year. 7.What are the five vestment colors and when are they used in the Church Year?

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