The Structure of the Mass.
Penitential Rite We acknowledge our sins and call on the mercy of God
Readings
We listen to God's word in the Bible - Through which he speaks to us with a promise for our lives.
Offertory
The bread and wine are brought to the altar. In spirit we offer our lives as well.
Eucharist Prayer
Jesus is made present, and through him we offer our prayer to the Father for the needs of the world
Communion
We receive Christ's body and blood, a moment of intimate closeness to Jesus
Dismissal
We are sent out 'to love and serve the Lord' and to bring his Good News to others.
Readings
We listen to God's word in the Bible - Through which he speaks to us with a promise for our lives.
Offertory
The bread and wine are brought to the altar. In spirit we offer our lives as well.
Eucharist Prayer
Jesus is made present, and through him we offer our prayer to the Father for the needs of the world
Communion
We receive Christ's body and blood, a moment of intimate closeness to Jesus
Dismissal
We are sent out 'to love and serve the Lord' and to bring his Good News to others.
Signs and Symbols inside a Cathlic Church
"Why signs and images?
Catholic Church, Whether old or new, will always be a building rich is signs and symbolism, and likely to contain objects and images not readily understandable to all visitor. However, we know that through our sense we engage with the world and grow in knowledge and so we depend on sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. The Catholic Church makes use of all five senses to help us grow in knowledge of God and our faith, by way of 'sacramentals' - these are symbols and images designed to help us in our relationship with God, and not simply 'decoration'.
Catholic Church, Whether old or new, will always be a building rich is signs and symbolism, and likely to contain objects and images not readily understandable to all visitor. However, we know that through our sense we engage with the world and grow in knowledge and so we depend on sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. The Catholic Church makes use of all five senses to help us grow in knowledge of God and our faith, by way of 'sacramentals' - these are symbols and images designed to help us in our relationship with God, and not simply 'decoration'.
"This is the most important object in the building - the living heart of a Catholic Church. The tabernacle is a shrine, usually mad of precious metal and often veiled with a colored cloth. It most often stands in the sanctuary, or perhaps in a small chapel of its own, set aside for private prayer. The tabernacle contains the Blessed Sacrament, the bread consecrated by the priest at Mass which is transformed into the Body of Christ. It is reserved in the tabernacle so that Holy Communion can be taken to the sick, but also so that people can pray in the presence of Jesus, who we believe remains there, body, blood, soul and divinity, under the appearance of bread. Near the tabernacle you will always see a lamp burning - symbolizing the living presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament."
"The altar will always be the most prominent abject within the sanctuary, the holy table on which the sacrifice of the Mass is offered. Traditionally, an altar which has been consecrated (specially blessed by the bishop) is made of stone and contains relics of the saints - a practice which goes back to the earliest centuries of Christianity. Because the body and blood of Christ will rest here during the Mass, the altar is treated with particular reverence; it is covered with a white cloth, and candles are placed on or near it. The priest will kiss it at the beginning and end of Mass, and it may be honored with incense."
Signs and Symbols inside the Church, CTS Essenctials.
Signs and Symbols inside the Church, CTS Essenctials.
"Another important image in the church is the crucifix which hangs somewhere near the altar: the image of Jesus on the cross reminds us of his supreme, loving sacrifice which is represented for us at every celebration of the Mass."
Catholic Truth Society, Essentials.
Catholic Truth Society, Essentials.
"Catholics venerate Mary as Mother of God, and in a special way as the spiritual mother of all Christians. In honoring Mary we honor her Son, and we believe that she will always pray for his disciples. Catholics worship God alone, but we honor Mary as a person uniquely close to Jesus Christ. Thus we can be sure of finding in any Catholic church a statue, or at least a picture, of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady) often depicted holding the infant Jesus."
Catholic Truth Society, Essentials.
Catholic Truth Society, Essentials.
"Near the font there may also be an aumbry, a special cupboard containing the holy oils used for baptisms, confirmations and anoiting the sick."
Catholic Truth Society
Catholic Truth Society
"A familiar image of Jesus which will be found in almost every Catholic Church is the Sacred Heart, showing Jesus displaying his wounded heart - another reminder of his wonderful love. Devotion to the heart of Jesus is very old, but is especially associated with St Margaret Mary Alacoque, who lived in the seventeenth century."
"During Mass teh priest wears special vestments. These derive from the clothing commonly worn by people during the first centuries of Christianity. Secular fashion changed, but the Church kept to the old style. Thus it was that clothing once common to all, became the distintive dress of the clergy. The colour of these vestments, and very often the veil of the taberncacle and other hangings will vary acccording to the season of the Church's year.
"These fourteen pictures, or carvings, which can be elaborate or very simple, depict the final journey of Jesus to Calvary, from his judgment by Pilate to his burial in the tomb. Usually set on the walls, Catholics use this set of images in their private prayers or sometimes - especially during Lent - at a public service."
"This is another reminder of baptism which is found in stoups, or bowls, near the doors of a Catholic Church - on entering we make the sign of the cross with the holy water, which ha been blessed by the priest, and can also be taken away for use in people's private devotion at home."
Catholic Truth Society.
Catholic Truth Society.
"Often near the Font, this very large decorated candle is placed on a high stand: a new paschal candle is blessed each year at the Easter Vigil, and is lit throughout the Easter season and afterwords for every baptism and funeral - a powerful symbol of Jesus Christ, Light of the World and our hope of eternal life." Catholic Truth Society, Essentials
"Often placed within or close to the sanctuary, from here the Word of God (sripture) is proclaimed during the Mass and other liturgies. If the altar is the 'first table', the ambo is a 'second table' of the word. Homilies, sermons and prayers are often given from the Ambo, which is ususally made of wood or stone, and can be elegantly decorated or covered, and treated with reverence."