Ritual is an outward behaviour which expresses an inner intention; by creating a tradition, the Opening Mass becomes a perfect example of a ritual. A Short History of the by Michael Davies TAN BOOKS. For instance, just to have graduating seniors come and grab their diplomas off a table set up in a parking lot would not be fitting for a commencement event. Some Christians, especially those who call themselves “non-denominational,” criticize Catholicism for its rituals, especially those of the Mass. All ri… The first part of the Mass in the Western (Latin) Church is the Liturgy of the Word, and its main focus is on Bible readings as an integral part of daily and weekly worship. Additionally, through the mythology of Jesus Christ and St Francis the procession understands that the ritual preaches that living through suffering and simplicity closers their connection to God. Sequentially, the legacy of the MFIC and their mission to support communities such as the Indigenous people was apparent in the Mass and demonstrated this strong connection (MFIC, 2012). Ninian Smart’s Seven Dimensions clearly justify that the Opening Mass is a ritual that communicates a specific message through mythological, ritual and experiential elements. Ritual Mass: Readings from the OT: Readings from the NT: Responsorial Psalms: Alleluia Verse / Verse before the Gospel : Gospels: Corrrection (updated 3/15/13): Reading #817.2 was incorrectly listed as Hosea 8:30-35, but is actually Joshua 8:30-35. The members of the FOTH community played a large part in the mass. This webpage is intended to help you become familiar with the "Order of Mass" used in the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, it is described as the “the source and summit of the Christian life.” The term Mass is derived from the Latin word ‘missa’ meaning dismissal. Additionally, it is annually recurrent and is called a communal ceremony (Frawley, 2014) in that it establishes the values of the FOTH (Franciscans on the Hill) community. Mass is the main Eucharistic liturgical service in many forms of Western Christianity.The term Mass is commonly used in the Catholic Church, and in the Western Rite Orthodox, and Old Catholic churches. Rites and Ceremonies The point of entry into the world of Catholic ritual is the Mass, the main worship ceremony of the Church. Your intention is simply to show that we are “naturally hardwired” for ritual, and ritual in the form of … Our rituals are publicly carried out, with the exception of the Sacrament of Confession. Our central rituals would be the Seven Sacraments: Baptism; Confirmation; Eucharist ; Anointing of the Sick; Confession; Holy Orders; Matrimony Father Jamie Utronkie, CC explains the different aspects of the Catholic Mass. Your intention here is not to persuade your friend that the offering of Christ’s one sacrifice in the Mass is the highest form of worship. The texts and responses spoken by all the people are indicated in bold type below.Some of the greetings and prayers spoken by the presider (the priest or bishop) at each Mass are also included, in order to help you understand the structure and flow of the Mass more fully. There are no non-ritual cultures. These artistic representations of the religion increased the spirituality in entering the new academic year. See, for example, Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 10:16 and 11:24-29, and Matthew 28:19. Leave a comment. As a result, the Opening Mass is considered a ritual that presents the Franciscan tradition. Merely having soldiers gather together in a field and saying with a bullhorn, “Hey guys, pretty good job,” and then sending them on their merry way doesn’t do justice to the value of their sacrifice. It makes sense, therefore, for us to use ritual—formal words and gestures by our bodies—to communicate the value of the things we’re celebrating, and how much we appreciate those things. Welcoming the procession was the hymn “Canticle of the Sun” written by St Francis himself. Rituals are full of important symbolism. The Mount Alvernia Opening Mass is an example of a Catholic ritual and it reflects the ethos, beliefs and traditions of the Franciscan way of life. Click on the following link for a description and explanation of the complete outline of the Order of Celebrating Marriage With Mass. Catholic Rituals Prior to 2 nd Vatican Council (1960s & earlier) Post 2 nd Vatican Council (1970s to present day) Services: Before entering a church, men had to remove their hats but women were expected to keep their heads covered by a hat or a scarf. By the very definition of ritual, and Turner and Lovat’s examination of this, the Opening Mass identifies as a ritual. Gestures of Worship: Relearning Our Ritual Language This article by Helen Hull Hitchcock is about the importance of ritual language and gestures as part of liturgical reform. The Catholic Church has a number of rituals and practices like the Mass, Baptism, Confession, receiving Communion, praying the Rosary, Last Rites, etc. Many Roman Catholics follow the weekly rites of confession followed by Sunday Mass, which includes Liturgy of the Eucharist. Nevertheless, if the Holy Mass is the central act of our Catholic life, then Mass-going must surely remain one of the most indicative of these factors. The traditional Catholic mass involve four main parts, the gathering of the community or the Opening Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and finally the Concluding Rites. Since we’re in the New Covenant, we don’t need all that stuff anymore. The fact that every culture in human history has had rituals indicates that ritual corresponds to something in human nature. The Mass incorporates the Bible (Sacred Scripture), prayer, sacrifice, hymns, symbols, gestures, sacred food for the soul, and directions on how to live a Catholic life — all in one ceremony. Published on the web with permission of the author. We have used colors in the background and text so that this presentation cannot be downloaded with ease. Similarly, the San Damiano Cross was hung at the lectern reminding the congregation of their purpose by following St Francis’ mission and his dedication to God. And I bet your non-denominational friend doesn’t mind them. As to what must be offered in sacrifice, and how it is to be offered: God must tell us. The age-old rituals of the Mass and the sacraments are a source of consolation and comfort in that we recognize that Jesus himself is the agent here, active through the dialogue between the priest and the people and present in word, in sacrament and in the very assembly which is the body of Christ made visible in his members. Accordingly the Mass ritual is divided into four parts: Introduction, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, Conclusion. It is also believed that… But I think there’s something more fundamental to the objection than a search for New Testament prooftexts. I think it’s safe to say that your friend will not deny that these secular rituals are good. Unusually, the Opening Mass acknowledged the Aboriginal grounds on which the College was built differing from traditional Masses. (Although even in this scenario there is some formality!). As a congregation, saying the Franciscan Creed focused the procession on the message that, “Christ was poor and Christ was crucified; we seek to share in His poorness and in His suffering” which symbolised the Franciscan mission for simplicity to find a life of love over selfishness. With good reason therefore we consider the number of people coming to Mass, not only on Sundays but also very specially on weekdays. Participants are crucial to performing a meaningful and rich ritual. In the Catholic parish I grew up in, our priest was extremely reverent at all times during the mass. The Catholic Mass is a highly structured ritual, however the Opening Mass at Mt Alvernia College diverges from tradition by reflecting the Franciscan ethos, beliefs, values and the legacy of their founders – the Missionary Franciscan Sister of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC). To challenge that assumption, we can begin with passages in the New Testament that provide evidence that the early Christians viewed ritual as essential to their worship. Not that other parish priests I saw were not, however he had a deep reverence the entire time which was really obvious. The objection is based merely on the assumption that God didn’t intend such rituals to be a part of worship for his people in the New Covenant. Similarly, the words “Praise for our death; that makes our life real, the knowledge of loss that helps us to feel” contributed to the experiential dimension of the Mass helping them to understand the ethos of being a Franciscan. The experiential elements of this Mass, much like most religions, was supported by symbolism. Rituals of the Mass. I doubt your non-denominational friend would be fine with having the bride and groom just say, “Okay, we’re married. Preparation of the Gifts The early Christians each brought some bread and wine from their homes to the church to be used for the Mass and to be given to the clergy and the poor. For instance the sprinkling of holy water from an olive branch exemplifies a common blessing ritual and contributes to the school’s Communitas. Its prayers and rituals are the hallmark of our faith. Even American culture, which historically has tried rid itself of formality and tradition, has rituals. 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