CHAPTER 10 MASS IN THE CATHEDRAL

THE SPIRITUALITY OF MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANS LED TO THE BUILDING OF GIANT GOTHIC CATHEDRALS. THE INTRICATE WINDOWS, WOODCRAVINGS, AND RELIEF SCULPTURES ALL GAVE PRAISE TO THE GLORY OF GOD. ALTHOUGH TODAY’S MASS DIFFERS FROM A MEDIEVAL MASS THE EUCHARIST IS STILL THE CHURCH’S GREAT OFFERING OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR THE GIFT OF SALVATION.

CHURCH BUILDINGS THE CHURCH BUILDING IS A HOME FOR GOD’S PEOPLE AND AN IMPORTANT SYMBOL OF OUR RELIGION CHURCH ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN, AND HOLY OBJECTS HELP EXPRESS OUR DESIRE TO BE CLOSE TO GOD. THE PEOPLE WHO WORSHIP IN THE CHURCH OR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CHURCH BUILDING.

MEDIEVAL MASS VS MASS TODAY MEDIEVAL LITURGY 1. Priest had his back toward the people. 2. The laity did not participate in the Mass 3. Mass was in Latin 4. People sat silently and prayed in their pews 5. People were considered unworthy to receive communion daily, so the priest received for them 6. Incense & candles were used 7. Angelic chanting TODAY”S LITURGY 1. Priest and altar now face the people. 2. The laity participate in the celebration as lectors, singers, and extraordinary ministers 3. Less incense and candles 4. People can receive the Holy Eucharist everyday. 5. Mass is in the language of the culture of the people

VOTIVE MASSES THEY ARE OFFERED FOR PARTICULAR PRAYER INTENTIONS, NOT IN CELEBRATION OF SPECIFIC FEASTS OR SEASONS OF THE CHURCH YEAR. MASSES FOR THE DEAD MASSES FOR PEACE MASSES FOR THANKSGIVING MASSES FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM FAMINE THESE MASSES ARE OFFERED ON WEEKDAYS IN ORDINARY TIME WITH NO FEAST ATTACHED.

THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST TRANSUBSTANTIATION- IS THE SACRED MYSTERY IN WHICH BREAD AND WINE ARE CHANGED INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST THIS DOCTRINE WAS AFFIRMED BY THE 4 TH LATERAN COUNCIL IN ST BONAVENTURE DEFENDED THE DOCTRINE OF TRANSUBSTANTIATION. HE TAUGHT THAT CHRISTIANS RECEIVED GOD’S GRACE NOT BY SIMPLY LOOKING AT THE HOST BUT BY ACTUALLY RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST

KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH THE SABBATH IS A DAY DEDICATED TO GOD SUNDAY IS THE SABBATH DAY FOR CHRISTIANS THE THIRD COMMANDMENT TELLS US THAT THE SABBATH IS A DAY WE MUST KEEP HOLY AND DEVOTE TO GOD, AS WELL AS A DAY OF REST ON WHICH WE REFRAIN FROM WORK MASS IS CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY BECAUSE IT IS IN MEMORY OF JESUS AND BECAUSE THE EUCHARIST IS CENTRAL TO OUR FAITH, AND TO CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION. PARTICIPATING IN THE EUCHARISTIC LITURGY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS THE OFFICIAL WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH; IT UNITES US TO JESUS CHRIST

THE FOURTH LATERAN COUNCIL 1215, POPE INNOCENT III CALLED THE COUNCIL TOGETHER IN LATERN PALACE IN ROME THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED 70 CANONS OR RULES FOR THE CHURCH ONE RULE WAS THAT PEOPLE MUST INDIVIDUALLY CONFESS THEIR MORTAL SINS IN THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR CHRISTIANS WERE DIRECTED TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST DURING THE EASTER SEASON PRIESTS WERE COMMANDED NOT TO REVEAL ANY SIN A PERSON DISCLOSED IN CONFESSION ANY PRIEST FOUND GUILTY OF BETRAYING THE TRUST IN THE CONFESSIONAL WOULD LOSE HIS PRIESTLY OFFICE AND CONFINED TO A MONASTERY TO DO PERPETUAL PENANCE

WE BELIEVE AT MASS, WE OFFER THANKSGIVING TO GOD THE FATHER. THE EUCHARIST RECALLS CHRIST’S SACRIFICE AND MAKES HIM TRULY PRESNT TO US!

THE GOTHIC CATHEDRAL GOTHIC CHURCHES CONTRIBUTED TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH BY PROVIDING PLACES OF BEAUTY TO WORSHIP, BY REMINDING PEOPLE OF GOD’S POWER AND THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS, AND BY PROVIDING MONKS WITH A PLACE TO CHANT THE DIVINE OFFICE AN IMPORTANT FEATURE WAS ITS CRUCIFORM, OR CROSSLIKE SHAPE

FIRST GOTHIC CATHEDRAL 1144 BUILT NEXT TO A BENEDICTINE ABBEY AT SAINT DENIS, NEAR PARIS, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MONASTARIES IN EUROPE HIGH ARCHING RIB-VAULTED CEILINGS ELABORATELY DECORATED STAINED GLASS WINDOWS CRUCIFORM IT WAS A GREAT ADVANCEMENT IN ARCHITECTURE IT WAS AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

MEDITATING WITH BLESSED JULIAN OF NORWICH BORN 1342 CHRISTIAN MYSTIC-A PERSON WHO SEEKS TO KNOW GOD DIRECTLY THROUGH SPIRITUAL INSIGHT SHE BELIEVED LOVE UNITES US WITH THE LORD SHE LEFT HER FAMILY TO LIVE AS AN ANCHORESS AN ANCHORESS USUALLY LIVED ALONE IN A ROOM BUILT ON THE SIDE OF THE CHURCH THE SOLITARY LIFE OF AN ANCHORESS WOULD ALLOW HER TO MEDITATE AND FOCUS ON HER SPIRITUAL LIFE SHE EXPERIENCED REVELATIONS FROM GOD PEOPLE CAME TO HER FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE SHE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT HER REVELATIONS, REVELATIONS OF DIVINE LOVE