Chapter
11
Mass: It’s Not Just for Sundays
In This Chapter
The liturgy and why it is so important
Signs and symbols in liturgical celebrations
Statues, stained glass, and sacred elements
Breaking down the Church year
For Catholics, there is nothing quite like the Mass. It is considered a celebration commemorating, above all, the “paschal mystery,” which is Jesus’ Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Catholics attending Mass receive grace and strength of spirit while at the same time bearing witness to their faith.
While many people think of Mass as a Sundays-only obligation, it is actually celebrated daily—in fact, many times daily. Sunday may be a special day for worship in the Church, but it is by far not the only day for worship. The one day of the year when Mass is not celebrated in Catholic churches around the world is on Good Friday, the day that commemorates when Jesus was crucified and died.
The Mass consists of two parts, called the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and is fundamentally the same no matter where you go. The language may vary from country to country, but the Mass itself remains the same.
In this chapter, we will take a closer look at liturgy, what it is, and why it’s so important. We will also look at some of the elements most people so closely associate with Catholic liturgies, from holy water and incense to music and stained-glass windows.
What Is Liturgy?
The liturgy is where the People of God “participate in the work of God” and where Jesus Christ “continues the work of our redemption.” (1069) The Catechism calls the liturgy the “summit” of all Church activity and a “privileged place” for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But the liturgy is not only the summit of Church life, it is also the “source” of Church life. All of the Church’s “power” flows from it. (1074)
Church Speak
Liturgy at one time referred to a public work or duty. In the Christian faith, however, liturgy refers to official public worship, separating it from private prayer. When you attend Catholic Mass, for example, you are attending a liturgy.
Through the liturgy, believers are able to move from the visible to the invisible, from the “sign to the thing signified.” (1074–1075) In other words, it is through the physical manifestations of faith—liturgy, sacraments, prayer—that Catholics are able to access the spiritual dimensions of faith in a deeper and more personal way. (1074)
The liturgy is intimately connected to the Holy Trinity. So the Father, Son, and Spirit have a role in every Mass. The Father blesses the faithful through his Word made Incarnate, Jesus, and pours into the hearts of believers the gift of all gifts, the Holy Spirit. (1082)
During the liturgy, Jesus Christ makes his own death and Resurrection present once again. The Catechism explains because Jesus destroyed death through his Resurrection, his paschal mystery does not remain in the past but “participates in divine eternity,” meaning it is present in its fullness at every liturgy. (1085)
The Holy Spirit is front and center during the liturgy. In every celebration of the liturgy, the Holy Spirit is sent to bring believers into communion with Jesus Christ, and to form his “Body” on earth.
The Catechism calls the Spirit the “artisan” of the sacraments (1091) and says that he prepares the Church to encounter Christ in the liturgy. The Spirit, through his transforming power, makes the work of Christ present at every liturgy. (1112)
Teachable Moment
The Catholic liturgy blends worship elements from the Old Cov-enant, or Jewish tradition, while adding elements of the New Covenant. During liturgies, the faithful typically hear a reading from the Old Testament in addition to one of the Psalms, followed by a reading from the Epistles or Letters in the New Testament, and then a separate reading from one of the four Gospels. These Scriptures are read in a rotating cycle so that in a three-year period Catholics review much of Scripture.
On Earth as It Is in Heaven
The Church teaches that the liturgy is an “action” of the “whole Christ,” meaning that as head of the Church, Jesus is the “high priest” who offers himself over and over again without end to his Father, together with his Church, both on earth and in heaven. That means that the liturgy celebrated by living Catholics is linked to a heavenly liturgy. (1136)
The teaching of a “heavenly liturgy” is found in the Book of Reve-lation, where John speaks of seeing a vision of heaven and what will happen in the next life. He sees a throne surrounded by 24 elders also on thrones, which refer to the “servants of the Old and New Covenants,” the Catechism explains. (1138) He sees angels and the apostles, as well as the souls of those “slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God,” which refers to the Church’s martyrs. He sees the “bride, the wife of the Lamb, which refers to Mary the Mother of God, and he sees “a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.” (Rev 7:9)
John is telling us that the liturgy Catholics enact here on earth is a participation in the very liturgy celebrated in heaven.
Liturgy brings Catholics together in a public devotion, which is a critical aspect of the faith. It is not enough to pray alone; community is an important aspect of being Catholic. That’s not because Catholics are better as a group than they are as individuals but because Catholics are called to be the Body of Christ with one another.
That is why Catholics are referred to as a “priestly people,” with each person acting according to his or her vocation and role but unified in the Holy Spirit. In other words, ordained clergy are present to preside at the Mass, and lay men and women are present and participating through ministries within the Church and as the assembly. (1144)
Signs and Symbols
The liturgy is a celebration that brings together signs and symbols designed to help human beings make a connection to their heavenly Father. In the Church, these signs and symbols are important and necessary because they allow humans to communicate with God in a way that is more comfortable and familiar to earthly beings used to physical realities. (1146) In other words, we use things that are real and understandable to us.
The Church takes its sacramental signs and symbols from creation, from humanity’s “social life,” and from the Old Covenant.
Creation symbols include light and darkness, wind and fire, water and earth, trees and their fruit. For Catholics, those symbols are found in physical elements like holy water, candles, and flowers. (1147)
You’re Absolved If …
Do you wonder why Catholics bless themselves with holy water? Holy water is water that has been blessed by a priest or deacon. It is called a “sacramental” and is a reminder of the cleansing waters of baptism. Catholics typically dip the fingers of their right hand into holy water upon entering a church and make the Sign of the Cross. It is at once an act of reverence, recognizing that you are entering a sacred place, and a recommitment to the vows made at baptism.
The symbols of “social life” include washing and anointing, breaking bread, and sharing the cup. These activities, which closely relate to the everyday activities of human beings, are an important part of the Catholic liturgy because they are “a means of expressing the action of God who sanctifies men, and the action of men who offer worship to God.” (1148)
Finally, the symbols taken from the Old Covenant include anointing and consecration, laying on of hands, sacrifices, and, most important, Passover. The Church uses these symbols because they “prefigure” the sacraments of the New Covenant. (1147)
During his lifetime, Jesus used many of these same signs and symbols when preaching and healing. He mixed a paste of mud and water to cure a blind man. He turned water into wine at Cana. He multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed the 5,000. He walked on water. He talked about the birds of the sky and the lilies of the field, of mustard seeds and mountains. His teachings were filled with the kind of symbolism that could help humans understand something greater than them, and the Church continues that use of signs and symbols today.
Words and Actions
The Liturgy of the Word is the portion of the Mass that focuses on the reading of Scripture. The Catechism explains the liturgy is “a meeting of God’s children with their Father, in Christ and the Holy Spirit.” The meeting is a “dialogue” of words and actions, and the words are no less important than the actions. (1153)
Through the Liturgy of the Word, the faithful are nourished, but it is more than just a simple reading of Scripture. If you attend a Catholic Mass, you will see the lectionary, or book of Scripture, carried in procession with candles, and sometimes venerated with incense. It is read from a lectern, or ambo, and then the priest or deacon uses his homily to further explain the readings or teach through them. The congregation participates in the Scripture through responses and singing.
Catholics believe when the word of God is proclaimed with authority and received with faith, it has the power to change our hearts, our minds, our very reality.
Teachable Moment
Incense is a fragrant gum or resin that gives off smoke when it is burned. The Church uses incense as a “sacramental” (which we will discuss in more detail later.) It is used at Mass to “venerate” or show reverence for, the book of Gospels, the altar, the assembly of the faithful, the Eucharist, and more.
Making Music
Sacred music is an important part of Catholic liturgy, especially Sunday liturgy, but any old music won’t do. The songs sung at Mass must conform to Catholic doctrine and Scripture and must be appropriate for the liturgical season.
You’re Absolved If …
You might think contemporary Church music means singing Kumbaya, that popular folk group favorite from the 1970s. Today’s contemporary music is, like choir music, rooted in Scripture and Church teaching, even if it does include an occasional tambourine or maraca accompaniment.
The Catechism explains singing and music at Mass is “closely linked to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant” and that the combination of sacred music and words is a necessary part of liturgy. (1156)
In addition, music is not supposed to be reserved for those in the choir. The Church teaches that sacred music should be accessible to the faithful and that the assembly should be encouraged to participate.
St. Augustine once said, “He who sings prays twice.”
Sacred Images
When most people think of Catholic churches, they envision stained-glass windows and statues, and these things do give specific churches their personality. But why are those images so important?
First of all, the Church teaches that when it comes to sacred images, nothing is more important than the image of Jesus Christ. Any other sacred images simply reflect how Jesus has glorified others and are not meant to replace the image of Christ.
The Catechism explains, “Christian iconography expresses in images the same Gospel message that Scripture communicates by words.” (1160)
So statues and stained-glass windows of the Blessed Mother, saints, and angels are meant to draw the faithful closer to Christ as they contemplate his promise of salvation and how these holy men and women served as witnesses to it in their lifetimes and now are united to Christ in eternal life. (1161)
Church Speak
A crucifix is a cross bearing a figure of Christ on it. Catholic churches place a crucifix behind or over the altar. Many Catholics have a crucifix hanging in their homes.
A Church for All Seasons
Sunday is the epicenter of the Catholic liturgical calendar because it is what the Church considers the “Lord’s Day,” which is a day of Resurrection. The culmination of the sacred commemoration of Resurrection is the annual celebration of Easter.
Although Sunday is central, the entire liturgical year is meant to celebrate the “mystery of Christ,” from his Incarnation until he comes again at the end of time. In doing so, the Church celebrates the liturgy not only on Sundays but every day, with special feast days set aside to honor Mary and the saints. The Catechism explains that since the time of Mosaic Law, special “observed feasts” have been celebrated to give thanks to God and to instill the faith in each new generation. (1164)
How did Sunday get to be the Lord’s Day? The Church celebrates the paschal mystery every seventh day, recognizing Sunday as the day handed down through Tradition from the apostles as the Lord’s Day. The Catechism explains that Jesus’ Resurrection is both the first day of the week, which commemorates the first day of creation, and the “eighth day,” which Jesus—after he rested on the Great Sabbath—instituted as the “day the Lord has made.” (1166)
The Liturgical Year
The Catechism explains that Easter is the “feast of feasts” in the liturgical year, celebrated after what is known as the Triduum, which are the three days leading up to Easter—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. (1168)
You may have noticed that Easter, unlike Christmas, does not have a set date and moves from year to year. That’s because at the Council of Nicea in 325, the Church decided the Christian Passover, as Easter is known, would be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (this is the date when night and day are nearly the same length marking the first day of spring). Because of different methods of calculating this according to the Jewish calendar, the date of Easter sometimes varies between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Teachable Moment
The Church year begins with the first Sunday of Advent, which falls in late November or early December each year. Advent is the 4-week season of preparation for Christmas and is followed by the Christmas season. Lent is the 40-day season of preparation for Easter and is followed by the Easter season. The rest of the Church year is known as “ordinary time.”
Liturgy of the Hours
The apostles preached that Christians should “pray constantly.” This is made real in something called the Liturgy of the Hours, or the “divine office,” which is a public prayer that is prayed in common according to the rhythm of the hours of day and night.
Most closely associated with monastic life, the Liturgy of the Hours is meant to be prayed by all of the faithful as much as possible. It is referred to as an “extension of the Eucharistic celebration” in the Catechism. (1178)
The Liturgy of the Hours consists of prayers, Psalms, hymns, Scripture passages, and spiritual readings that are recited at certain hours of the day.
Church Speak
Lectio Divina means “sacred reading” and refers to a method of going deeper into Scripture or other spiritual readings as a way of prayer. It typically includes four steps: reading a passage, meditating on it, praying or responding to God, and then contemplating or listening for God’s response back to you.
Location, Location, Location
In order to celebrate the liturgy, people need a place to worship, and so we have churches—lots of them. The Catechism explains that as the “whole earth is sacred” and entrusted to humanity, there is no one place that is right for worship. After all, we are each supposed to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. (1179)
That being said, the faithful are expected to come up with a place that is “in good taste and a worthy place for prayer and sacred ceremonial.” A church is a place for the community to gather. It is a place where the Eucharist is “celebrated and reserved,” and where signs and symbols converge to show Christ to be present there. (1181)
Within every church, there are certain basic sacred elements:
The altar is the center of the church, where Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is made present through sacramental signs. It is also the table of the Lord, to which the People of God are invited. (1182)
The tabernacle is a place of dignity where the Eucharist is re-served. When the Eucharist, the consecrated bread also known as the Blessed Sacrament, is present in a tabernacle, a candle burns near it at all times. (1183)
The sacred chrism is oil blessed by the local bishop and used for anointings in certain sacraments. It is reserved in a secure place in the sanctuary, which is the part of the church containing the altar. (1183)
The chair of the bishop (cathedra) or the priest shows his position in “presiding over the assembly and of directing prayer.” (1184)
The lectern, or ambo, is where the Scripture is proclaimed. (1184) It is the podium from which Scripture is read.
The baptismal font, which contains holy water, is where the celebration of the sacrament of baptism occurs. It also may be used when the faithful renew their baptismal promises at certain liturgies. (1185)
The confessional must be present so that the faithful may seek reconciliation through the sacrament of penance. (1185) It is typically thought of as an enclosed booth or room where believers confess their sins privately to a priest.
The church must have a place where the faithful can sit in silent prayer.
The Catechism explains the visible church is a “symbol of the Father’s house” toward which the faithful are journeying. When you cross the threshold of a church, you pass from a “world wounded by sin” and into the world of “new life.” (1186)
Teachable Moment
Although most liturgies are offered in churches, a church is not necessary for the celebration of Mass. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) Priests can celebrate Masses in hospitals, in homes, in hotels, and many other ordinary places.
The Least You Need to Know
The liturgy is the source and summit of all the Church’s activity.
Signs and symbols, such as water and fire, are physical manifestations of spiritual life that help humans better understand the work of God.
Liturgical music, which must follow Church doctrine and Scrip-ture, is an integral part of liturgy. The faithful are encouraged to participate in the music.
Sacred images always have Christ at their center. Even images of Mary and the angels and saints are designed to draw the faithful closer to Christ by reminding them of the promise of salvation.
Sunday is the focal point of the Church year and is considered the day of resurrection, which culminates on Easter each year.
Churches are visible signs on earth of the Father’s house in heaven.