The Roman Catholic celebration of the Eucharist is at one and the same time the most exalting and humbling of events for believers. It is no less so for those of us who are priests. So often in our regular day to day ministries, we lose sight of the immensity and awesomeness of the mass and it can become routine, in spite of its inherent glory.
This summer, I am taking time during my personal and fraternal celebrations of the Eucharist here alongside the Ottawa River to search out musical power point presentations on YouTube that help me to concentrate on one specific prayer and moment of the liturgy at a time. I searching for these pieces, I have endeavored to choose offerings in a language other than English (although they often have English subtitles) as it helps me to enter into the mystery of each prayer, without getting tangled up in the words. It also helps to remind me of the truth that the Holy Roman Catholic Church is indeed universal and has much to offer from cultures formed differently than mine.
Here is my first offering. It is a presentation of the Kyrie. The Kyrie is actually a greek prayer in which we spiritually acknowledge our sinfulness before God and ask his forgiveness. It is a tenet of Catholic faith that the fulsome and authentic entry into this prayer will result in the forgiveness of most venial (everyday) sins.
Hope you like it.
This summer, I am taking time during my personal and fraternal celebrations of the Eucharist here alongside the Ottawa River to search out musical power point presentations on YouTube that help me to concentrate on one specific prayer and moment of the liturgy at a time. I searching for these pieces, I have endeavored to choose offerings in a language other than English (although they often have English subtitles) as it helps me to enter into the mystery of each prayer, without getting tangled up in the words. It also helps to remind me of the truth that the Holy Roman Catholic Church is indeed universal and has much to offer from cultures formed differently than mine.
Here is my first offering. It is a presentation of the Kyrie. The Kyrie is actually a greek prayer in which we spiritually acknowledge our sinfulness before God and ask his forgiveness. It is a tenet of Catholic faith that the fulsome and authentic entry into this prayer will result in the forgiveness of most venial (everyday) sins.
Hope you like it.
Thanks for this great part of Traditional worship, both Catholic and Mainstream Protestant.
ReplyDeleteCliff
Why does the RCC use images of Christ in it's worship and religion?
ReplyDelete"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, ..." Exodus ch20 vs 4, 5a
The Bible reiterates this command in various other places. But in direct opposition to this the Council of Trent says due honour and veneration is to given to images of Christ and the Virgin Mother of God.
Of course the argument will be made that they are not worshipping the images, but that they are just an aid to worship what the image represents. But that is weak argument because the masses of RC people have great reverence for these images. But God said in His Word not to have images. That is the point.
Besides these images do not represent the true God; they are merely an inanimate object or picture. Is not this a false representation of the true God?
As an example of the superstitious reverence people place in these images, many place crufixes in their homes as if they will bring some kind of blessing by being there. They will hang rosary beads in their car on the rear view mirror as if they will bring God's blessing or (from the virgin Mary) possibly save them from an accident. Why else would they hang them there? It's obviously a form of superstition, ie. that these objects have special powers.
Tim,
ReplyDeleteJesus did not teach that He is literally in the bread and wine; He is with His people (those who are born again by grace through faith) in a spiritual sense. What He was talking about in John chapter six is spiritual. The only way you can drink the blood and eat of the flesh of Christ is by believing in Him and that He died for you personally on the cross. It is speaking metaphorically. Jesus said His words were spiritual in verse 63. Believing the host contains the physical body and blood of Christ is nonsense and becomes idolatry. Believing that the priest has the power to change the elements into the body and blood of Christ is a complete misinterpreation of Scripture.
Besides all of that, Christ offered himself once on the cross 2000 years ago never to be repeated. Read Pauls' epistle to the Hebrews and get away from this false religion while there is still time. If you really believe in this business, it must mean you don't think the real sacrifice of Christ on the cross 2000 years was sufficient. Why are you trying to add something to what Christ has already completed fully? Jesus said God seeks a people to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. (John 4:24) If you are one of the elect, you will abandon this false system and believe that Christ paid the full price for your sins when He died on the cross and there is absolutely nothing you can add to what has already been done. (see Hebrews chapter nine) "In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace, that he lavished upon us." Ephesians ch1 vs7,8a Saint Josephs NAB
STG: How about the institution of the Eucharist in the Last Supper? It is more upon these scriptures (and the witness of the Apostles - evidence you don't accept as it is an expression of tradition) that the early Church believed in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
ReplyDeleteAs to the efficacy of the Cross: you have made an error in concluding that Catholics believe that it was in any way insufficient. It is simply a question of 'time'. Let me explain.
We teach that the Paschal Mystery (suffering, death & resurrection) is the summation of time. God exists outside of time. He created time and is thus referred to as the 'Alpha & Omega' (the beginning and the end). What Christ did was to take all sin, suffering - every deficiency of humanity - from the beginning and ending of time unto himself and, by his perfect oblation (offering) he offered himself as the sinless sacrifice for our salvation. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we reconnect to that essential event and free gift of God to mankind. It is NOT a re-crucifixion of Christ. It is a uniting with that one time, yet eternal event.
It's logical as well. Just as Christ is the possession of the infinity within the finite on earth - God and man united, so too is the Eucharist the means by which he taught his followers to always be able to remain united with him in faith until his return.
Hope this helps.
Fr. Tim
Just pondering all the noise.
ReplyDeletehttp://freethroughtruth.blogspot.com/2010/08/when-faced-with-truth-many-hide-from-it.html