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Shawnda Muir
April 14, 2018
Over 80 parishioners have registered for this Adult Faith Study - Awesome!
You are still welcome to attend any of the sessions, even if you can not make them all. You will definitely learn from each session.
We would also love to hear how you are enjoying the study and/or summary notes. Please consider commenting below.
And for those of you who miss a session or can't attend, here is a summary of the key points.
Introduction (Week 1)
What are the 3 Aspects of the Eucharist?
1. Mass as Sacrifice
2. Real Presence of Jesus
3. The Eucharist
What do we mean “Mass as Sacrifice”?
- Memorial to Jesus Christ of his death and resurrection
What do we mean “ Real Presence of Jesus”?
- Jesus is present in the bread and wine and when it is consecrated it becomes the body and blood of Christ.
- At every Mass, Jesus comes upon the altar and dwells in our midst.
What about the Eucharist?
- Holy Communion enters our bodies and unites our souls to God/Jesus Christ.
Do you know you are living tabernacle?
- Consuming the host, houses God within us, making us a "living tabernacle".
Introductory Rites (Week 2)
Why do we make the Sign of the Cross?
- To invoke God’s presence to bless us, help us and protect us.
Why does the priest say “ The Lord be with you”
- To inspire and encourage you in your God chosen purpose in life.
- To remind us that God is truly with us and present.
Why do we respond “And with your spirit”?
- The priest represents the one true priest – Jesus Christ.
- We address the spirit of priest to lead us in the Mass.
Why do we say the Confession of Faith?
- To cleanse our soul before we approach God in the Mass.
Why do we sing Kyrie or “ Lord Have Mercy”?
- Ask for God’s mercy before we prepare to celebrate sacred mysteries of the liturgy.
- Petition to the Lord for his help in our lives.
Why do we sing the Gloria?
- Joyful praise to welcome Jesus to the mass.
- Gratitude to Jesus Christ for our receiving salvation.
Liturgy of the Word - (Week 3)
The Bible is God’s spoken word
- More than 40 authors inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the truth.
Why do we have lectors to proclaim scripture?
- Human voice reads the word of God which is an honour and privilege. The listener is blessed to hear God’s word.
Why is there a cycle to the readings of scripture at Mass?
- Rooted in ancient Jewish practice.
- Reflects what was practised in Jesus’ day
- 3 year cycle -> Old Testament ->Psalms -> New Testament -> Gospel
- Order of readings significant as reflects God’s redemptive plan.
What does the “Liturgical Year” mean?
- The church walks us through the life and mission of Jesus through the seasons of the liturgical year.
- Celebrates Christ as ever present and living in the Church.
Liturgical Year:
4 weeks of Advent – Old testament period of humanity’s longing for the Savior.
Christmas Season – rejoice in the birth of Son of God
40 Days of Lent – Participation in Christ’s prayer and fasting in Desert.
- Prepare ourselves to enter Christ’s passion in Holy Week.
50 Days of Easter Season – Celebration of Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension into heaven.
- 50th Day -> Holy Spirit is sent on Pentecost
Ordinary Times – focus is on Jesus Christ’s public ministry.
What is the significance of the First Reading?
- From old testament
- Need to understand the story of Israel to understand Jesus’ life
Why do we respond “ Thanks be to God” after readings?
- It is our gratitude to God for speaking to us through the written word.
What is responsorial Psalm?
- God’s inspired words of praise and thanksgiving
- Collection of 150 sacred hymns from temple liturgy
What is the significance of the Second reading?
- From New Testament
- Reflects mystery of Jesus Christ, his saving work and meaning it has for our lives
What is the significance of the Gospel reading?
- Reflects how Jesus Christ is the centre of salvation with scriptures pointing to him.
- We stand and sing Alleluia in reverence to welcome Jesus’ words to us.
- Jesus speaking directly to us, teaching us how to go and live our lives.
- Prayer is said by the priest or the deacon to purify their lips to proclaim the Word.
Why do we make the sign of cross on forehead, lips and chest before Gospel read?
- To consecrate our thoughts , words and actions to the Lord so his words are always on our minds, lips and heart.
Why is there a homily?
- Instruction from an ordained priest or minister to understand the readings and gospel so we are able to apply what we have heard to our daily lives,
- Rooted in ancient Jewish custom: “Levites” ( who were the “priest”) helped the people to understand the law”.
What is the Creed?
- Summary of the entire story of salvation
- Narrative thread from Genesis to Book of Revelation.
Why do we say the Creed?
- To ground us and remind us that our beliefs and choices do matter. Counter-cultural to today’s societal view that anything goes.
- Reminds us that we are here for a reason and at end of our life , we will stand before our Lord
- To show that we follow Christ’s teachings
- Each week we say the Creed to re-affirm our belief in one God.
Why do we recite intercessory prayers or the “Prayer of Faithful”?
- To teach us to look at other peoples’ needs vs our own
- Pray for entire human family
Liturgy of Eucharist (Part 1- Week 4)
What is theOffertory?
- Preparation of gifts
- Gift of one’s self to God
- Rooted in early Church -> people brought gifts from home or fields reflecting their hard labour as sacrifice and honour to God, to give thanks to God.
What is meaning behind presentation of gifts?
- Bring to altar, bread, wine and people’s offering.
- For Israelites offering bread and wine which is a symbol of offering of one’s self
- Today’s society, the giving of money is offering of one’s self. Our hard work and labour is offered to God in thanks.
- Offer of money more than contribution, it teaches us to grow in self-giving love which unites us with Jesus Christ.
What is the symbolism of the bread and wine?
- Symbolic of Jesus’ last supper with disciples
- Memorial to Jesus done each week at mass
- In Israel, giving up bread and wine considered personal sacrifice. Bread and wine is their sustenance for life.
Why does the Priest mix water and wine?
- Wine symbolizes Christ’s divinity
- Water symbolizes our humanity
- Points to the Incarnation -> Mystery of God becoming man.
Why does Priest wash his hands?
- Rite from Old testament before entering sanctuary of temple.
- Symbolizes internal cleansing of the heart
- Indicates priest will stand at holy place which is the altar.
What is the Eucharistic Prayer? “The Lord be with you….Lift up our Hearts…”
- Ask Lord’s presence as we enter into the mystery of the holy sacrifice of Mass.
- The conjugation is asked to focus on what is taking place in Eucharistic prayer.
- Water and wine transformed to body and blood of Christ.
- Thank God for sending his son to save us from sin and Satan.
Why do we sing the Sanctus “ Holy, Holy, Holy Lord”?
- Welcomes Jesus to our church as he becomes present in the Eucharist on our altar.
Why does the priest pray over the bread and wine?
- Prays God will make holy this offering
Words of Institution and Consecration “Take this all of you and eat it……”
- Jesus’ words of himself as sacrificial lamb
- Everytime we celebrate Eucharist, we are brought present into Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins
Mystery of Faith
- Profound wonder and awe that Jesus Christ’s body and blood are now present on the altar as the bread and wine.
Liturgy of Eucharist (Part 2- Week 5)
Why do we pray the Our Father?
- Taught us by Jesus to call God “ Father”
- Petition focuses on God “ thy name, thy kingdom, thy will”
- Petition focuses on our needs “give us, forgive us, lead us and deliver us”
Why do we give a sign of peace to each other?
- Express our unity we share when we receive the holy communion
- Jesus as foundation of our lives provides internal spiritual peace for our daily lives
Why does the priest break the bread?
- Symbolic of Christ breaking to feed the large crowds (miracle of multiplying loaves)
- Symbolic of the Last Supper
Why does the priest add a bit of bread to wine chalice?
- Reunion of Christ’s body and blood in resurrection
Why do we sing “Lamb of God”?
- Jesus is the sacrificial lamb
Why do we have communion?
- For us it is an intimate union with the divine Lord
- Souls are nourished and healed by receiving Jesus through bread and wine (body/blood)
- After communion, we have a chance to reflect ad give thanks to Jesus.
Why does the priest bless and dismiss us at the end of mass?
- We are sent forth to do God’s will in our daily lives.
- To bring the mysteries of Christ into the world
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