catholic practices

What is a sacrament?

‘An outward sign of an inward grace’ (CCC)

What are the 7 sacraments?

INITIATION:

• Baptism

• Confirmation

• Eucharist

HEALING:

• Reconciliation

• Anointing of the sick

VOCATION:

• Matrimony

• Holy Orders

Outline three key features of Baptism. Add a SOW.

• Person freed from original sin

• Priest pours holy water over infant

• Infant anointed with Oil of Christ

• SOW: Jesus’ baptism

Outline three key features of Confirmatiom. Add a SOW.

• Candidates renew their baptism

• Candidate anointed with Oil of Chrism

• Candidate receives the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit

• SOW: ‘the Holy spirit will teach you’ (Bible)

Outline three key features of the Eucharist. Add a SOW.

• Transubstantiation occurs

• Being in the presence of Jesus

• Received at mass

• SOW: the Last Supper

Outline three key features of Reconciliation. Add a SOW.

• Sins are forgiven

• Restores relationship with God

• Penance shows repentance afterwards

• SOW: ‘forgive those who forgive our trespasses’ (Lords Prayer)

Outline three key features of Anointing the Sick.

• Anointing with oil takes place

• Prepares an individual for death

• Priest lays hands on ill person

Outline three key features of Matrimony. Add a SOW.

• Exchange of rings

• Two people give it to eachother permanently and exclusively

• New possibility of procreation

• SOW: ‘no longer two but one’ (Bible)

Outline three key features of Holy Orders.

• Prayer of consecration happens

• Given paten and chalice for the Eucharist

• Bishop given pastoral staff

What are the divergent attitudes towards sacraments?

Most Protestants only practice the eucharist and baptism. This is because they believe they’re expressions of grace rather than a communication of God’s grace.

What is the sacramental nature of reality?

Finding the grace of God in the physical world.

What is liturgical worship?

Structured public worship

What are the 4 sections of mass?

1. Introductory Rites

Penitential Rite, Gloria, opening prayer

2. Liturgy of the Word

Reading, homily, Nicene Creed, Bidding Prayers

3. Liturgy of the Eucharist

Offertory, Eucharistic Prayer, transubstantiation, communion

4. Concluding Rites

Blessings, dismissal

SOW for liturgical worship

‘the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life’ (CCC)

Why is the Eucharist important?

Jesus began the celebration of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Ever since, Christians have gathered and broken bread in Jesus' name.

Lumen Gentium makes clear that consuming the Eucharist makes individuals part of Jesus' body (the Church) and unites them.

What are the divergent attitudes towards liturgical worship?

CATHOLIC:

• Structured services with signs and symbols linking back to Apostolic Tradition

• Transubstantiation

• Nicene Creed

SOME PROTESTANT:

• Similar structure to Catholic masses

• Bread and wine purely symbolic

• Not usually Nicene Creed

OTHER PROTESTANT:

• Less structured, more symbolic - some would say less restricted connection with God

• Spontaneous involvement from members

What is the funeral rite?

A liturgical celebration, structured by Catholic church

What are the three types of funeral rites?

• Vigil of the Deceased

• The Funeral Liturgy

• The farewell / commendation

Outline three key features of the Vigil of the Deceased.

• Takes place in the home

• Led by priest or deacon

• Relatives spend time with the deceased

Outline three key features of the Funeral Liturgy.

• Takes place at Church

• Sprinkling of Holy Water (like Baptism)

• Liturgy of the Eucharist encouraged

Outline three key features of the farewell / commendation.

• Takes place in cemetery

• Final farewell to deceased

• Deceased placed into the hands of God

What are the aims of the Funeral Rite?

• Communion with the Deceased: Catholics support deceased with prayer to help and support deceased person in purgatory

• Communion of the Community: Catholics reassured they remain in connection with each other and the deceased through the Body of Christ (church)

• Proclamation of eternal life: gives Catholics hope for life after death, refocus on current lives

SOW for funerals

‘everyone who believes in me will never die (Bible)

What is prayer?

‘the raising of one’s mind and heart to God’ (CCC)

It is communication with God.

What are the different types of prayer?

• Repentance: acknowledging sins and asking for forgiveness

• Thanksgiving: thanking God

• Intercession: praying for others

• Adoration: praising God

• Petition: asking God for your own personal needs

What are formal and extempore prayer?

• Formal prayer: words from the Church’s tradition

• Extempore prayer: informal, using one’s own words

Why is the Lord’s prayer important?

• Taught by Jesus (Matthew)

• Reminds Catholics to honour God, ask for what they need each day, and to repent and forgive others

• Unites all Christians

• States key Christian beliefs

Why is it important to have different types of prayer?

• Different stages of life

What is popular piety?

Non-liturgical worship, not part of Church liturgy (rosary, Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic adoration)

What is the purpose of popular piety? (SOW)

‘extend the liturgical life of the Church but do not replace it’ (CCC)

What is the rosary, why is it significant and what are the divergent views on it?

• Description: The rosary is used anywhere. The person will pray focusing on key events in Jesus’ life; beads help the person count the prayers.

• Significance: Focuses on Jesus’ life and honours Mary

• Divergent views: Most other Christians don’t like to idolise Mary so don’t pray the rosary

What are the Stations of the Cross, why are they significant and what are the divergent views on them?

• Description: 14 stations on church walls, which show scenes from Jesus’ passion and death. People move between them and pray.

• Significance: Reminds us of Jesus’ suffering and the salvation we share

• Divergent views: Most protestants don’t do these as they don’t have the scenes in their churches. Som scenes not from bible. However they do meditate on Jesus’ suffering.

What is Eucharistic Adoration, why is it significant and what are the divergent views on it?

• Description: Adoration in front of the Holy Eucharist in a monstrance

• Significance: Focus of prayer

• Divergent views: Protestants don’t believe in transubstantiation so wouldn’t do this

What is a pilgrimage? (including SOW)

A journey to a special place of religious significance.

‘renewal in prayer’ (CCC)

What is the history of pilgrimages?

• ~40 CE: people started visiting Bethlehem

• 4th century: pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Holy Land and Rome

• 16th century: many places of pilgrimage destroyed as part of the Reformation in Europe.

• 19th century: resurgence in pilgrimage as transport improved.

Why is pilgrimage important for Christians today?

• Provides time and space for prayer

• Connection to other Christians

• Response to a busy life

What are some example places of pilgrimage and why are they significant?

• Holy Land: pray at sites important in Jesus’ life

• Lourdes: Mary appeared to Bernadette

• St Peter’s in the Vatican: connection to key saints

What are the divergent attitudes on key pilgrimage sites?

• Jerusalem: common place for all Christians as is based on Jesus’ life

• Rome: Protestants don’t see it as important as they don’t recognise the authority of the Pope

• Lourdes: Protestants don’t see it as important as they don’t elevate Mary like Catholics do

• Walsingham (visions of Angel Gabriel): both Protestants and Catholics visit

What are the 7 themes of CST?

• Dignity of Work

• Sanctity of Life

• Right & Responsibilities

• Preferential Option for the Poor

• The Common Good

• Care for Creation

• Solidarity

What does CAFOD do?

• Works for social justice

• Helps people to help themselves

• Raises awareness and educates Catholics

How do individual Catholics promote CST? Include a SOW.

• Corporal (bodily) works of mercy: e.g. feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick

• Spiritual works of mercy: e.g. comforting the sorrowful, forgiving offences, praying for people

• ‘whatever you did for the least, you did for me’ (Parable of the Sheep and Goats)

What does CST work for?

• Justice

• Peace among all humans

• Reconciliation / protecting the rights of humans