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What is the symbolism of the Easter Vigil?
After the Sun has set, the priest lights a fire- symbolising the light of Christ rising from the tomb and destroying the power of sin and death
The priest traces the design of the Alpha and Omega symbols- this shows that Christ is eternal
The priest inserts five holders into the candle- representing the five wounds that Christ received
The priest lights the Paschal candle from a fire- symbolising the light of Christ coming into the world
The priest lights the candles held by the congregation with the Paschal candle- showing that all believers are able to share in the risen glory of Christ
Where else is the Paschal candle used?
“This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He is to walk always as a child of the light. May he keep the flame of faith alive in his heart.”
At baptisms- a person is given a candle lit from the Paschal candle- showing that they are filled with the light of Christ
At funerals- the Paschal candle is lit to show that the deceased person has joined Christ in the resurrected life
How does Michelangelo’s “Last Judgement” reflect Catholic beliefs?
Saints who were tortured are shown as having perfect bodies- reflects belief that people are made perfect in heaven and that people who stick to their faith will be raised to heaven
Everyone apart from Mary and Jesus was naked- all people are equal before God
One of the angels holds a small book holding all the names destined for heaven and another holds a much larger book holding the names destined for hell- shows people should not be complacent
People moving towards hell are pictured with a sense of despair- Hell is a place where the light of Christ cannot reach people
People are rising from their graves- all people will be raised up
Christ is the central figure in the painting- reflects importance as judge of all
The wounds from Christ’s crucifixion are still visible- Jesus came to power through suffering
Christ’s right hand is raised- he is raising the righteous to heaven as per the Parable of the Sheep and Goats
What is the significance of tombstones?
Often inscribed with letters ‘R.I.P’- expresses hope that the person is in heaven enjoying the peace of eternal life
Often shaped like a cross- expresses the hope the person will be resurrected with Jesus to eternal life
Some have an angel carved on them- reflects belief that a person’s guardian angel will present them to God to be judged mercifully
What is the significance of monuments?
Some have the Chi-Ro symbol- a reminder of the belief that Jesus died so everyone can experience eternal life in heaven
In the Middle Ages, monuments were decorated with symbols of decay- shows that everybody faces death and God’s judgement, regardless of wealth or importance
What is the significance of remembrance gardens?
They are designed as areas of peace and beauty- reflects the peace and beauty of heaven where the person hopefully is
They are quiet and reflective- allowing people to mourn for their loved ones and be present with them
What will happen after the cosmic disasters at the end of time?
The Son of Man will come to judge the whole of creation
The end of the current world order will lead to the creation of a new one
The reign of God will be established
How have beliefs about the resurrection and end of time changed over the years?
The early Christians believed Jesus’ resurrection meant that the end of the world would happen shortly
All people would then be resurrected and taken up into the presence of God
As time passed, Christians realised they have to live in the life of the resurrection while alive on Earth
This means following Jesus’ teachings and resisting sin- to prepare them for judgement after death
What does St Paul say about the resurrected body?
“What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable…” 1 Corinthians
He compares the relationship between the earthly body and the resurrected body to the relationship between a seed and a plant- in some ways they are the same, but they are also different
The raised body will live forever, be sinless and powerful and strong
What does John 20:19-29 say about the resurrected body?
This passage tells of Jesus’ resurrected body
Jesus was not limited by any physical barrier- he was fully present and touchable
What is the significance of the four last things?
These are the things that all people face at the end of their life: death, judgement, heaven/hell
Belief in the four last things encourages Christians to live good lives commited to God
What do Catholics believe about death?
Death is a transition to a new phase of life
It is not something to fear because it is a start of eternal life without the limitations of the earthly body
While the body dies, the soul lives on
The soul is judged by God and sent to heaven, hell or purgatory
At the end of time, at final judgement, the soul and the body will be reunited in a perfect form
What do Catholics believe about judgement?
After they die, they will be judged by God
God will consider everything a person has done in their lifetime
This is the moment of truth when people have to accept responsibility for their actions
Some Catholics believe that while God judges them, they also judge themselves in the light of his love
Because Jesus died so all people could be saved, God’s judgement will be merciful
What do Catholics believe about heaven?
Heaven is for those who are judged favourably
Heaven is the state of eternal happiness in the presence of God
In heaven, God’s love removes all cares and worries
God wants all people to join him in heaven but he also respects our free will- this means we must accept Him to enter heaven
What do Catholics believe about hell?
Hell is for those who are judged unfavourably
Hell is the state is eternal separation from God
Christians believe that God does not send people to hell- people send themselves by rejecting God
People in hell are aware of what they threw away and exist in an eternal state of anger and frustration toward themselves
What do Catholics believe about purgatory?
Catholics believe that when people are judged before God, many want to accept the offer of heaven
However, the presence and overwhelming love of God makes some people ashamed of the bad things they have done
In this case, they enter purgatory where the effects of sin are removed so the person can feel happy in the presence of God
The process of purgatory can be quickened with the help of prayers
What is particular judgement?
Happens immediately after a person dies
When God judges someone on a personal, individual basis- the actions they took during earthly life are judged
Results in a person going to heaven, hell or purgatory
What is final judgement?
Happens at the end of time
Christ will come in glory at the end of time and judge the whole of creation
After this happens, the Reign of God will be established and everything made perfect
Those judged favourably will stay with God forever in this perfect creation
What are other Christian beliefs about the afterlife?
All Christian denominations believe in the resurrection and in heaven
Many Christians do not believe in purgatory- only heaven and hell
Some Christians believe that judgement does not happen immediately after death- instead that they will wait in their graves for the Second Coming of Christ
What does the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus teach?
Showing love and kindness to others will lead people to heaven- this is shown by how the rich man went to hell for not showing love and kindness to Lazarus
Wealth can make it easier to forget other peoples’ needs- the rich man ‘feasted sumptuously every day’ but didn’t share any of his food with Lazarus
Hell is a place of torment- the rich man says he is ‘in agony in these flames’
People in hell are conscious and aware of those in heaven- the rich man is aware that Abraham and Lazarus are in heaven which increases his suffering
It is not possible to move between heaven and hell- Abraham tells the rich man that there is a ‘great chasm’ between the two
Having faith in God leads people to heaven- Abraham says the only way to enter heaven is to ‘listen to Moses and the prophets’
What is the process of cosmic reconiciliation?
“…through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of the Cross”
God the Father created all things to be perfectly balanced in harmony
Sin broke this harmony and threw the whole of creation out of balance
As the Son of God, Jesus was able to destroy the power of sin and death which disrupted God’s perfect creation
Jesus’ death and resurrection helped to restore harmony
The whole of creation will be fully restored and made perfect at the end of time- it will be reconciled with God
What did Julian of Norwich say about cosmic reconciliation?
“It was necessary that there should be sin’ but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well”
Sin is necessary because for humans to have free will, they have to have the choice to sin
‘All shall be well’ because sin will be defeated and all things made perfect at the end of time when the whole of creation will be brought together in harmony and reconciled with God
What did the Second Vatican Council confirm about the end of time?
“Since however we know not the day nor the hour, on Our Lord’s advice we must be constantly vigilant” Lumen Gentium
Christ will come in glory as the judge and saviour
No one is predestined to go to heaven and hell
God doesn’t send people to hell- people send themselves
People should be constantly preparing for the end of time by striving to follow Jesus’ teachings
What advice has been given to Catholics to get into heaven?
Keep faith in God
Perform good deeds and actions- “we perform with hope in the future the work commited to us in this world by the Father and thus work out our salvation”
Do not commit mortal sins- but if you do, confess and be truly sorry; “God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a wilful turning away from God is necessary and persistence in it until the end”
What is the symbolism of the anointing of the sick?
The priest sprinkling the room and patient with holy water- a reminder of baptism
The priest calls down the power and strength of the Holy Spirit- the Holy Spirit fills the person with a sense of peace and courage to overcome doubt and despair
The priest anoints the forehead and hands of the sick person with oil- giving hope of a new life whether it is a restoration of full health or eternal happiness with God and asking God for help
Holy Communion is given- showing that Christ is present
What is the symbolism of the commendation of the dying?
The dying person holds a crucifix- a reminder they are sharing in Christ’s death
A Bible reading and prayers are given- assures the person that God is with them and asks saints for their prayers as they face God’s judgement
Communion is given- shows that Christ is with the person on their journey from death to new life
A prayer is said which says the words ‘go forth, Christian soul, from this world…May you live in peace this day, may your home be with God in Zion’- this expresses the hope that the person can experience eternal peace with God
What is the symbolism of the reception of the body?
The body is taken to church in its coffin- representing the deceased being taken back to God
The coffin is sprinkled with holy water- as a reminder of baptism
The coffin is placed next to a lit Paschal candle- shows the light of the Risen Christ is shining on the person
What is the symbolism of the funeral Mass?
“I am the resurrection and the life… everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26
A ‘requiem’ Mass is held which means ‘rest’- this allows mourners to pray for the deceased person entering eternal life with the Father
Readings are read that focus on the effects of the resurrection- reflecting belief that Christ’s death and resurrection made life after death possible
What is the symbolism of the committal and burial or cremation?
“May the angels lead you to paradise and with poor old Lazarus of old may you enjoy eternal life”
Holy water is sprinkled over the coffin- a reminder of baptism
The priest waves smoke over the coffin- the rising smoke representing people’s prayers being offered up to God, God gave the dead person to the community for a while and now the family returns them to God
As the coffin is blessed, the congregation expresses a wish that the person enters eternal life- recognising this is only possible by Jesus
A prayer is said for the mourners- reflecting hope that they will meet the deceased in heaven
Prayers are said for eternal happiness with God and holy water is sprinkled- reflects fact that deceased person was a child of God that is hopefully returned to His care
What does the Catholic Church teach about sanctity of life?
All human life is holy and sacred
All life should therefore be respected and valued
All life belongs to God
People have a duty to give the ill and elderly all the care and support they need
Why is the Church against euthanasia?
“…we, without in any way hastening the hour of death, should be able to accept it with full responsibility and dignity.”
It is considered to be morally and morally unacceptable
Suffering is seen as a way to share in the suffering of Jesus on the cross
Suffering is part of being human but may be reduced with medication
It lowers the value and dignity of life- all life should be valued and respected, including the ill and suffering
Only God has a right to take away life
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