|
1.
Why
do Catholics go to Mass on Sunday?
2.
What
signs and actions emphasize the integral part of the liturgy of the
Word in sacramental celebrations?
3.
How
does the Eucharist help us become the Body of Christ?
4.
How
are the readings chosen for Sunday Mass?
5.
Why
do Catholics not eat meat on Fridays?
6.
Why
do Sunday Masses stress "community"?
7.
I
have a question regarding a prayer at mass which requests forgiveness
of sins from our Lord Jesus Christ and all of our brothers and
sisters. I do not know the entire prayer and would like to learn it.
If someone can help me I would sincerely appreciate it. Thank you
8.
If
unable to attend Sunday Mass, should you go to confession?
9.
If
I happen to attend mass twice in one day, is it permissible to receive
the Holy Eucharist at both masses? Thanks
10.
Although
a divorced Catholic cannot participate in receiving Holy Communion is
that person also unable to continue to go to confession to seek
absolution from sins other then divorce.
Why
do Catholics go to Mass on Sunday?
Sunday is
a celebration of the living presence of the Risen Lord in the midst of
his own people. For this presence to be properly proclaimed and lived,
it is not enough that the disciples of Christ pray individually and
commemorate the death and Resurrection of Christ inwardly, in the
secrecy of their hearts. Those who have received the grace of Baptism
are not saved as individuals alone, but as members of the Mystical
Body, having become part of the People of God. It is important
therefore that they come together to express fully the very identity
of the Church, the ekklesia, the assembly called together by the Risen
Lord who offered his life "to reunite the scattered children of
God" (Jn 11:52). They have become "one" in Christ (cf.
Gal 3:28) through the gift of the Spirit. This ecclesial dimension
intrinsic to the Eucharist is realized in every Eucharistic
celebration. But it is expressed most especially on the day when the
whole community comes together to commemorate the Lord's Resurrection.
Top
of Page
Home
What
signs and actions emphasize the integral part of the liturgy of the
Word in sacramental celebrations?
The
liturgy of the Word is an integral part of sacramental celebrations.
To nourish the faith of believers, the signs which accompany the Word
of God should be emphasized: the book of the Word (a lectionary or a
book of the Gospels), its veneration (procession, incense, candles),
the place of its proclamation (lectern or ambo), its audible and
intelligible reading, the minister's homily which extends its
proclamation, and the responses of the assembly (acclamations,
meditation psalms, litanies, and profession of faith).
Top
of Page
Home
How
does the Eucharist help us become the Body of Christ?
We gather
together in worship, not to "refuel" lives devoid of grace,
but because we need to celebrate all the grace-filled moments of our
lives, which are so easily overlooked or ignored. We gather at
Eucharist to be challenged to deeper awareness of what God is doing in
our lives, in this world, all week long. We have to keep remembering
to ask the questions: "Who are at the table? Who are around the
table?" as well as the question, "Who is on the table?"
The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes a moving passage in
which St. Augustine relates the Body of Christ in the Eucharist (on
the altar) to the Body of Christ that is the Church (at and around the
altar). Says Augustine at the turn of the fifth century: "If you
are the body and members of Christ, then it is your sacrament which is
placed on the table of the Lord; it is your sacrament that you
receive. To that which you are, you respond: 'Amen' ('Yes, it is
true!'), and by responding to it you assent to it. For you hear the
words 'The Body of Christ,' and respond 'Amen.' Be then a member of
the Body of Christ that your Amen may be true" (#1396).
Top
of Page
Home
How
are the readings chosen for Sunday Mass?
Because
Sunday is "the first holy day of all" and the foundation and
core of the whole liturgical year" (Constitution on the Liturgy,
#106), the most important passages of Scripture are presented in the
Sunday lectionary. The weekday lectionary complements the Sunday
lectionary. The Sunday lectionary (book of readings) uses a three-year
cycle based on the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke
present a "similar view," syn-opsis in Greek). Each year we
concentrate on one of these Gospels: Matthew in Cycle A, Mark Cycle B,
Luke in Cycle C. John's Gospel is featured primarily during the major
seasons or to highlight key doctrines such as the Eucharist. In
addition to a Gospel reading, each Sunday Eucharist has two other
readings. The first reading is usuall taken from the Old Testament and
is selected in the light of the theme of the Gospel to be read on that
Sunday. The second reading is taken from the letters of Paul or one of
the other writings of the New Testament. Like the Gospels, these books
are read semi-continuously and are selected so that over the course of
the three-year cycle we have a taste of each of the books of the New
Testament.
Top
of Page
Home
Why
do Catholics not eat meat on Fridays?
Actually,
the prohibition to abstain from meat has been lifted. But all
Catholics are still called upon to abstain from eating something on
that day and to give the money thus saved to the local Church for
distribution to the poor. Historically the principle behind Friday
abstinence was to put ourselves in solidarity with the poor who were
unable to afford meat on any day. By what we gave, we could then
ensure those poorer than us to have at least one meat dish per week.
To buy something else with the money saved from abstaining from eating
meat (such as fish, for example) is to defeat the whole purpose of the
absinence.
Top
of Page
Home
Why
do Sunday Masses stress "community"?
We come
on the Lord's Day to the table of the Eucharist because we have been
through the waters of Baptism. Because we died to our old selves and
became alive in Christ, we gather on Sunday, not as isolated persons,
but as the Church, with its diversity of cultures, languages and
races. This is difficult for those accustomed to think of themselves
as autonomous individuals--workers, tax-payers, citizens. But here,
the liturgy is celebrated by the assembled Church. Cultivate, then,
your deep awareness that it is not so many individuals who are
standing here singing, but the Church. It is not individuals who are
coming forward to the table, but the Church. It is not even
individuals who are going forth to live by the word they have listened
to and the Body and Blood of Christ they have eaten and tasted. It is
the Church going forth as a leaven in the midst of the world God
loves. We are here not to make our own prayer while each other person
in the church at the same time makes his or her own prayer. We are
baptized people standing with other baptized people. Our thanksgiving
is in the Church’s thanksgiving. Our attention to God’s word is in
the assembly’s attention. Our intercession is in the Church’s
intercession. The mystery of our transfiguration in Christ is in the
whole body of baptized people transfigured (Catechism of the Catholic
Church, #1136-1141). At liturgy we never close out the larger world.
The liturgy shows us gospel living and how to be in the world.
Catholic morality, how we deal in justice and charity day by day with
great and small matters, is to be encountered and uncovered from our
active participation in the liturgy.
Top
of Page
Home
I
have a question regarding a prayer at mass which requests forgiveness
of sins from our Lord Jesus Christ and all of our brothers and
sisters. I do not know the entire prayer and would like to learn it.
If someone can help me I would sincerely appreciate it.
The
prayer is this: I confess to almighty God and to you my brothers and
sisters that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in
my words in what I have done and in what I have failed to do and I ask
the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my
brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Amen.
Top
of Page
Home
If
unable to attend Sunday Mass, should you go to confession?
The
broadest and quickest answer would be yes. This way your
priest/confessor can assist you to clarify any motives associated with
the failure to attend.
Top
of Page
Home
If
I happen to attend mass twice in one day, is it permissable to receive
the Holy Eucharist at both masses?
Yes, you
may receive more than once in a day in exceptional circumstances, such
as at a funeral where your presence and recption of communion is very
important.
Top
of Page
Home
Although
a divorced Catholic cannot participate in receiving Holy Communion is
that person also unable to continue to go to confession to seek
absolution from sins other then divorce.
Divorce
in and of itself does NOT prevent anyone from receiving communion. It
is the remarriage - or the simulation of marriage with someone other
than your spouse - which prevents reception of communion. Since the
second marriage cannot be recognised, it is seen as living in an
adulterous condition, and it is this condition that places the person
outside of communion. And no one is barred from seeking reconciliation
- on the contrary, everyone is encouraged to seek reconciliation for
any sin. But, if one is living in a sinful condition (living with
someone who is not their recognised spouse in the eyes of the Church)
then absolution cannot be considered complete until the sinful
condition has been eliminated either by separation, or by obtaining an
annulment in a case where an annulment may be granted.
Top
of Page
Home
|