RITUAL,

TRADIT

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LITU

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There exists a human need to ritualize and worship. Think about one or more events we

celebrate in our daily lives:

How do we celebrate? Why do we celebrate?

What are the symbols of what is being celebrated?

What do they represent?

The Mass, Sacraments, and many prayers incorporate ritual to deepen and enrich our

worship.

Ritual

“As Christ the Lord was about to celebrate with the disciples the paschal supper in which he instituted the sacrifice of his body and blood, he commanded that a large, furnished upper room be prepared. (Luke 22:12)”

Ritual is the familiar order of actions and words that makes it possible for many people to function as one to achieve the goal for which they have gathered. It allows people to spend time and energy on the purpose of coming together rather than on each single part of the assembly. It prevents the chaos that would occur if everyone in church “did their own thing.” It provides familiarity with what is going on.

A Faith Enriched by

Ritual

Christ’s commands directs and guides the ritual of the Mass

TraditionTradition is a belief, or practice passed down within a society that is maintained in the present with its origins in the past.

What family traditions do you have? How do you incorporate them in your daily life?

Why are these traditions important to you?What traditions do you hope to pass on?

The Church is guided by Holy Tradition through both oral and written tradition passed down by the apostles to their successors. It also has many ecclesial traditions derived from local churches over time.

“These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and times, in which the great Tradition is expressed. In the light of Tradition, these traditions can be retained, modified or even abandoned under the guidance of the Church's Magisterium.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church Part 1, Section 1, Chapter 2, Article 2, Line 83)

A Faith Informed by

Tradition Tradition unifies the Church and it’s people throughout all

of Christian history. Through tradition, Community (Church), Liturgy &

Worship, Sacrament, and Prayer are all related.  

A Brief History of the Tradition of the Mass

Because of Tradition, the Sunday mass has basically changed very little since those early years when the followers of Jesus gathered together.. Any differences are the result of borrowing from different cultures as the centuries went by.

Through history, religious groups have used cyclic religious traditions and rituals to celebrate their faith and to form the foundation of their religious convictions.

The celebration of Sunday is the most ancient of our Christian traditions. It goes back to the very earliest of times of Christianity. Those who believed Jesus was Christ and Lord gathered on the first day of the week, Sunday, because on that day Jesus was raised from the dead.

(Lk 24:1) 

The early believers in Jesus were still committed to their Jewish faith and traditions. At first they gathered on the Sabbath morning (Saturday) for an assembly modeled on the Jewish synagogue practice, which consisted of scripture readings and prayer.

On Saturday evening they would gather in one of their homes, a “house-church”, for a meal, (1Cor 11:17-22) probably the full Jewish Sabbath meal. A ritual of blessings and the Eucharistic cup and bread highlighted this meal. In this way Christians kept alive the memory and presence of Christ as He had requested.(Lk 22:1-9,1Cor 11:23-26)

A Brief History of the Tradition of the Mass

The day of worship, like all days at that time, was reckoned from sunset to sunset. Therefore Saturday (or Sabbath) night was already the first day of the week. The next morning continued the first day of the week, what we now call Sunday. This was an ordinary weekday on which people went about their business and daily chores.

In the early second century, this Eucharistic ritual was moved to a time before dawn on Sunday, the first day of the week. This change may have been caused by the persecutions initiated by Emperor Trajan, who forbade suspicious gatherings in the evening. A time before dawn was necessary because Sunday was still an ordinary workday.

Like all religious traditions, Sunday worship and rest is a cyclic tradition, repeating on a regular basis; in this case, weekly. Other religious traditions are monthly or seasonal. This cyclic or repetitive nature of religious traditions reinforces what is important to believers of all faiths. They gradually introduce believers to deeper and deeper experiences of faith.

The early Christians were so enthusiastic about their faith that they wanted to gather weekly to talk about it and to celebrate it. They believed that Jesus was among us.

About the year 96, however, about 65 years after Jesus, there is a hint in scripture that this original motivation was weakening: “We should not absent ourselves from the assembly, as some do, but encourage one another; and this all the more because you see the Day draws near.” (Hb 10:25)  

Later, at the beginning of the fourth century in Spain, even in the midst of a final persecution of Christians, the Council of Elvira declared that persons were to be Excommunicated for a short time if they lived in an area where the Eucharist was being celebrated and yet neglected to attend for three Sundays in a row.

By the thirteenth century it had become common law of the church that all Catholics, seven years of age and older, must attend Mass on Sunday unless excused for serious reason.

 The Code of Cannon Law (Canon 1247) reads: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.” The word “participate” implies that the attendance be active.

Sunday became a day of rest only when Christianity became legally free under Emperor Constantine in 313. In 321 he ordered a weekly holiday on the “venerable day of the Sun.”

A Brief History of the Tradition of the Mass

A Faith Centered on

Liturgy

The four-fold mission of Christ has become the mission of the Church. These four aspects of Christ’s mission are related to the liturgy: Prayer – praise and thanksgiving Proclamation- announcing the

kingdom of God Service - in her Liturgy, the Church

serves God and others Communion - Liturgy both

manifests and creates a community of people

Liturgy means “the work of the people.”

The public worship of God – liturgy - is the work of the people. The assembly of baptized believers does liturgy. Liturgy is public prayer, communalworship. It is not private prayer done by a collection of individuals at the same time and place, nor is it a performance by a few special ministers. Everyone is to participate. Liturgy is the “source and summit” of Christian life.Liturgy is intimately connected with life; it is an icon – a pattern – for living. Composed as it is of symbols, metaphors and rituals it is more real than most other things that fill our life. Liturgy is not only an intellectual experience, but an emotional, physical, spiritual happening. We are to celebrate our liturgies!

The mass revolves around two main rituals: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy

of the Eucharist.Liturgy of the Word – the ritual of scripture, prayers and chant was borrowed from the Jewish Sabbath synagogue services. Christian scripture has been the heart of the Liturgy of the Word at Mass. These Scriptures give new life to the believer.. Through this Word, proclaimed and preached, Jesus is really present. Three readings from scripture are read during Sunday Mass: The first is from the Hebrew

scriptures The second is from a letter to the

early churches. The third is from one of the

gospels. The cycle of these three readings

is repeated every three years.The first and third readings are usually connected. The second reading does not have a direct connection with the first and third. Instead, it is a part of a continuous reading of letters and is connected with the second reading from the previous and following Sundays.

Liturgy of Eucharist – This, too evolved from Jewish practices, from a special blessing of the bread and cup of wine at the Jewish Sabbath meal. The Christian Eucharist also echoes the annual Seder Meal during Passover, the Last Supper that Jesus ate with his apostles. As these believers remembered Jesus in the breaking of bread and sharing the cup, they experienced his continued presence among them. The word Eucharist comes from the

Greek word eucharistia, meaning “thanksgiving.” This ritual emphasizes a thanksgiving faithful to the words of Jesus: “Do this in memory of me”. (Lk 22:19), and remembrance of the sacrificial gift of Jesus Christ on the cross.

With the Eucharistic Prayer, there are four options, along with special ones for children’s liturgies and for other special occasions. When the words of Jesus from the Last Supper ring out again, the bread and wine become the Lord Jesus Christ. In every Mass we sing or call out our acceptance and affirmation of this great mystery taking place with the great Amen. Then we share the sacrificial meal of Communion – the many becoming the one body of Christ.

What does the word “Amen” mean to you?