1.2 – Catholicism 101: People, Places, Sacred Things

Religion & Catholicism Religion – from “religio,” to “bind together” or “connect.” Religion is a human system of norms and values that is based on a belief in a superhuman order. Some religions (but not all) are “theistic” – from the word “theos” (God) – meaning that they believe in God (or gods). The study of God (or gods) is called “theology” – “theos” (God) + “ology” (study of) Religions are broadly divided into two groups: Eastern and Western. The 3 Western religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) are all monotheistic. Eastern religions often are not theistic. Christianity traces its roots to Judaism. Christianity today has 3 main branches: Roman Catholicism (the largest), Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism.

Important People in the Catholic Church ORDAINED: - Pope - Cardinals - Bishops (& Archbishops) - Priests - Deacons NON-ORDAINED (LAITY): - Everybody else (including religious-order brothers & sisters/nuns)

Ordination (Holy Orders). One of the Seven Sacraments in the Catholic Church – this is how a person becomes a priest or deacon. The ceremony is similar to a wedding in that it involves making a sacred commitment, in this case, to serve God and the Church. At Ordination, a bishop lays hands on the head of the candidate to become a priest or deacon. The bishop prays that the Holy Spirit will strengthen to person in his commitment to serve God and Church. All people who are not ordained are part of the laity. This includes religious brothers and sisters (nuns)

Jesus: Founder of the Church Pope: Top Leader of the Church. - First Pope was St. Peter - Pope Today: Pope Francis Cardinals: Advisors to the Pope. Together, they form the College of Cardinals. When a Pope dies, they meet to elect a new Pope. Bishops (& Archbishops): Appointed by the Pope to oversee specific church geographical areas, called dioceses. Priests: Ordained by a bishop or archbishop to serve the people of God by celebrating Mass and the sacraments. Deacons: Ordained by a bishop or archbishop to assists priests in serving the people of God. Laity: All Christians who are not one of the above group of ordained ministers.

PRIESTS Cannot get married. Preside & celebrate at Mass, where they “consecrate” (bless) bread and wine, which is changed into the Body and Blood of Christ, and preach. Hear Confessions (Sacrament of Reconciliation). Anoint sick (Sacrament of Anointing of Sick) Preside at marriages, funerals DEACONS Can be married. CANNOT celebrate Mass or consecrate bread and wine, but CAN preach. CANNOT hear confessions. CANNOT anoint the sick – but can visit the sick and take them communion. CAN preside at marriages and funerals.

Diocese (or Archdiocese): Geographic region in the church headed by a bishop (or archbishop). Examples: Diocese of Oakland, Archdiocese of San Francisco

Cathedral: The church of the bishop, because it contains his official “chair” – “cathedra.” Every diocese (or archdiocese) has ONLY ONE cathedral.

Religious Orders (Communities): A group of men (and/or women), created by a founder, who take “vows” (promises) to unite their lives into a spiritual family, to pray and serve the worldwide church. Example: Holy Cross, founded by Fr. Basil Moreau in France in Many other religious communities exist: Benedictines, Franciscans, Dominicans, Salesians, Christian Brothers, etc.

Vows: Sacred promises made to God. Example: Marriage Vows. Celibacy: Vow not to get married. Made by all priests and members of religious orders. Obedience: Vow to obey God and church leaders. Made by all priests, deacons and members of religious orders. Poverty: Vow to share all earnings and property in common with others in your religious community, and not to own or earn anything on your own. Made by all members of religious orders, but NOT by diocesan priests or deacons.

Two Kinds of Priests DIOCESAN PRIESTS – They are ordained by the bishop of a particular diocese, to work in that diocese and for that bishop. A bishop is appointed by the Pope. RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS – They are ordained as members of a religious order, or community, such as Holy Cross. They work in ministries of their religious order. They collaborate with the local bishop of a diocese where a ministry of the religious order is located. Members of religious orders elect their leaders.

Other Important Names & Titles BROTHER – A man who joins a religious community and takes vows, but who chooses not to become a priest. SISTER/NUN – A woman who joins a religious community and takes vows. MONK – A religious order priest or brother who lives in a monastery – a house dedicated to prayer. ABBOT – The head of a monastery, elected by monks. HERMIT – A person who chooses to live alone for spiritual reasons. ASCETIC – A person who practices strict spiritual disciplines such as fasting, long periods of prayer, privations (giving up things), etc. NOVICE – A person who spends a year at a Novitiate, a place of prayer run by a religious order, in order to discern whether to join that order. SEMINARIAN – A person studying theology as preparation for becoming a priest. PATRIARCH – The title of important bishops in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Important Catholic Places SPECIFIC PLACES: Holy Land (Israel, Palestine) Jerusalem Bethlehem Galilee Sea of Galilee Nazareth Jordan River Dead Sea Vatican City (in Rome) St. Peter’s Basilica Sistine Chapel St. John Lateran Cathedral (Rome) TYPES OF PLACES: Cathedral Diocese Basilica Parish Rectory Convent Monastery (Abbey) Seminary Novitiate Shrine

HOLY LAND (Israel, Palestine): Area in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, in the Middle East, where Jesus lived. JERUSALEM: Main holy city in Israel, where Jewish Temple was located. BETHLEHEM: Small town near Jerusalem where Jesus was born. NAZARETH: Small town in northern Israel where Jesus grew up. GALILEE: Region in northern Israel where Nazareth is located. SEA OF GALILEE: Large lake in region of Galilee. DEAD SEA: Large lake in desert southern part of Israel. JORDAN RIVER: River that runs north-south through Israel, connects Sea of Galilee to Dead Sea, and where Jesus was baptized.

VATICAN CITY (in Rome): Headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church – an independent nation located inside the city of Rome, Italy. It is 108 acres in size. ST. PETER’S BASILICA: The main church in Vatican City and largest church in the world, built atop the tomb of St. Peter. SISTINE CHAPEL: The Pope’s private chapel in Vatican City, decorated by gorgeous paintings of Michelangelo. ST. JOHN LATERAN CATHEDRAL: The Cathedral Church of Rome, where the Pope has his “cathedra” (bishop’s chair) and serves as bishop of Rome. NOTE: The Cathedral Church of Rome is NOT St. Peter’s Basilica!

Types of Places (1) Cathedral: The bishop’s headquarters- church in his diocese. Basilica: Any church designated by the Pope as having special importance. Some basilicas are cathedrals, but not all of them. And not all cathedrals are basilicas. Originally, basilicas were large public buildings in the Roman Empire. Parish Church: A church that serves a local neighborhood or territory. Rectory: House where priests live who work at a parish church. Convent: House where religious sisters (nuns) live, often next to a parish church or school.

Types of Places (2) Monastery (Abbey): Where monks live, pray and work. Some (but not all) religious orders are “monastic” – members withdraw from the world and spend most their lives within the monastery. Seminary: A school where men study theology, in order to become priests. Novitiate: A place where potential new members of a religious order spend a year in prayer and study, before taking their first vows, to discern God’s call in their lives. Shrine: A holy site where people visit on pilgrimage. Many are in the Holy Land or at places where Mary, the Mother of God, has appeared (such as Lourdes, France; Fatima, Portugal; or Guadalupe, Mexico)

Inside a Catholic Church INSIDE A CHURCH: Crucifix Sacristy Altar Ambo (Lectern) Tabernacle Sanctuary Lamp Easter (Pascual) Candle Baptismal Font Pew Kneelers Confessional Stations of the Cross Stained Glass Windows BOOKS, CLOTHES, VESSELS Sacramentary (Roman Missal) Lectionary Vestments Alb Stole Chasuble Chalice Paten Purificator

Crucifix: A cross with an image of Jesus on it. Protestants use an empty cross without the image of Jesus on it. Sacristy: A back room in the church where the priest prepares for Mass. Items for Mass are kept here Altar: The table in church where bread and wine are consecrated at Mass and changed into the Body & Blood of Jesus. Ambo/Lectern: Podium where readings are proclaimed at Mass. Tabernacle: A box where leftover consecrated hosts (Body of Christ) are kept after Mass. Sanctuary Lamp: A candle or light next to the tabernacle which burns at all times (usually 24 hours a day), whenever the Body of Christ is inside, to show that Jesus is present.

Easter (Paschal) Candle: A large candle near the altar or baptismal font, lit each year for the first time at the Easter Vigil (Night) Mass. It is lit for Masses during the season of Easter, and for baptisms and funerals. Baptismal Font: A basin or fountain with blessed water, used in baptisms. Pews (and kneelers): Long benches where people sit (and a place for them to kneel). Confessional: Two small rooms – one for the priest, the other for a person who wishes to confess his/her sins. A small slot or window connects the rooms so the person can speak to the priest. Newer churches sometimes have only one room, and the person confesses his/her sins face-to-face to the priest. Stations of the Cross: Fourteen images on the walls of the church, each depicting different episodes of Jesus’ last moments leading to his crucifixion, and used for prayer and meditation. Stained Glass Windows: Windows made of beautiful cut and colored glass, usually depicted a sacred image or story.

Sacramentary (Roman Missal): A book that contains the prayers used by the priest at Mass. Lectionary: A book that contains the Bible readings used at Mass. Vestments: Sacred clothes worn by the priest when saying Mass. They include: - Alb: A white under-garment robe; represents purity - Stole: Long cloth band, worn over the shoulders, symbolizing the yoke of the Lord. Deacons wear their stole at a diagonal, over just one shoulder. - Chasuble: The colorful outer garment worn by the priest at Mass. Chalice: The cup used at Mass by the priest to hold wine, which becomes the Blood of Christ. Paten: The plate used at Mass by the priest to hold the piece of bread, called the host, which becomes the Body of Christ. Purificator: White cloth used to clean the chalice (and paten).

Little Green Men The Martians are coming! The Martians are coming! But not quite yet! Soon, you will use information in this Power Point and in the next Power Point to explain your faith and to explain the Catholic faith to Martians!