February 1, 2007 at 11:08 · Filed under Personal
I have been asked many times where the actual words to the Litrugy (aka Mass) come from. They seem so foreign at times to those looking in. I found this online and love the fact that with every line of the prayer they put the scripture. Pretty nifty! Enjoy!
● Originally compiled by Phat Mass Crew
Greeting:
Priest: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19)
People: Amen (1 Chr 16:36)
Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor 13:13)
People: And also with you.
Penitential Rite:
All: I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault. (Jas. 5:16) In my thoughts and in my words, (Rom. 12:16) In what I have done and what I have failed to do; (Jas 3:6) and I ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angel and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. (1 Thess 5:25)
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. (1 John 1:9)
People: Amen (1 Chr 16:36)
All: Lord have mercy. (Tb 8:4) Christ have mercy. (1 Tim 1:2) Lord have mercy.
Gloria:
All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. (Luke 2:14)
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, (Rev 19:6)
we worship you, (Rev. 22:9) we give you thanks, (Eph. 5:20)
we praise you for your glory. (Rev 7:12)
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, (2 John 3)
Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us; (John 1:29)
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer. (Rom 8:34)
For you alone are the Holy One, (Luke 4:34)
You alone are Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ. (Luke 1:32)
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. (John 14:26)
[The Liturgy of the Word consists of four readings from Scripture: the first is typically from the Old Testament, the second a psalm, followed by a reading from one of the epistles. Finally, the Gospel is proclaimed during which the people stand out of respect for the Word. The chosen readings change daily.]
Click here to get today’s liturgical readings from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
[A Sermon on the readings follows.] (2 Tim 4:1-2)
Profession of Faith: [the Nicene (or Apostles) Creed]
All:
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, (Gen 14:19) of all that is seen and unseen. (Col 1:16)
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, (Luke 1:35) eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father. (Heb 1:3) Through him all things were made. (John 1:2-3) For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: (John 3:13) by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, (Matt 1:18) and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, (John 19:16) he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4) He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:51) and is seated at the right hand of the Father. (Col 3:1) He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1) and his kingdom will have no end. (Luke 1:33)
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, (Acts 2:17) who proceeds from the Father and the Son. (John 14:16) With the Father and Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. (1 Peter 1:10-11)
We believe in one holy, Catholic and apostolic Church. (Rom 12:5) We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38) We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. (Rom 6:5) Amen
Liturgy of the Eucharist:
[The gifts are brought to the altar. These include the bread and wine and the offering collected from the people.] (Malachi 3:10)
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. (Eccl. 3:13) It will become for us the bread of life. (John 6:35)
People: Blessed be God forever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink. (Luke 22:17-18)
People: Blessed be God forever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. (Heb. 12:28)
People: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our sake and the good of all his Church. (Ps 50:23)
Eucharistic Prayers:
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord. (Lam 3:41)
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord Our God. (Col 3:17)
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise. (Col 1:3)
Preface acclamation:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. (Is 6:3) Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. (Mark 11:9-10)
Eucharistic prayer:
[There are four of these, based on ancient prayers of the Church. Eucharistic Prayer Two follows as an example:]
Priest: Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. (2 Macc. 14:36) Let your spirit come upon these gifts (water and wine) to make them holy, so that they may become the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before he was given up to death, (Phil 2:8) a death he freely accepted, (John 10:17-18) he took bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you. When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this is memory of me. (Mark 14:22-25) Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life, Lord Jesus, come in glory. (Heb 2:14-15)
Priest: In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup. (John 6:51) We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor.10:17) Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love together with our Pope and our bishop, and all the clergy. Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again: bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence. (2 Macc 12:45-46) Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages. May we praise you in union with them, and give you glory though your Son, Jesus Christ. (2 Thes 1:4-5) Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
All: Amen. (Rom 11:36)
Communion Rite:
The Lord’s Prayer:
All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matt 6:9-13)
Priest: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. (John 17:15)
All: For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles; I leave you peace, my peace I give to you. (John 14:27) Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always! (John 20:19)
People: And also with you!
[The priest then directs the people to exchange a sign, such as a handshake or a kiss, or a word of God’s peace to one another.]
Breaking of the Bread:
All: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. (John 1:29)
Communion:
Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper. (Rev. 19:9)
People: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed. (Matt 8:8)
[Communion is distributed to the faithful at the altar by the priest and lay ministers.]
Dismissal:
Priest: Blessed be the name of the Lord. Now and forever. (Dan 2:20) May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:51) Go in peace (Luke 7:50) to love and serve the Lord. (2 Chr 35:3)
[During the blessing the people make the Sign of the Cross, the traditional sign of the baptized and a public sign of their belief in the power of God.]
People: Thanks be to God. (2 Cor 9:15)
August 20, 2006 at 11:04 · Filed under Personal
Splish Splash I was taking a dip in the Jordan
After speaking with my fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are non-Catholics, I began to realize that what they equated to Baptism was in fact we called Confirmation. Let me walk through what we consider Confirmation for those who don’t know:
It has been variously designated: bebaiosis or confirmatio, a making fast or sure; teleiosis or consummatio, a perfecting or completing, as expressing its relation to baptism. With reference to its effect it is the “Sacrament of the Holy Ghost”, the “Sacrament of the Seal” (signaculum, sigillum, sphragis). From the external rite it is known as the “imposition of hands” (epithesis cheiron), or as “anointing with chrism” (unctio, chrismatio, chrisma, myron). The names at present in use are, for the Western Church, confirmatio, and for the Greek, to myron.
In more layman’s terms this is the affirmation of your acceptance of the Holy Spirit. It is the crowning of your Baptism. Where the roads split with Catholics and Non-Catholics is the Original Sin and Salvation aspects of this sacrament. Let us go into the specifics of this sacrament to first better understand the outward grace.
What is baptism? Baptism is derived from the Greek word, bapto, or baptizo, to wash or to immerse. Baptism in the Catholic Church is given as the washing away of original sin. Baptism isn’t to say that this person has accepted Christ into their lives. An infant cannot fully accept into their hearts this joy because obviously they know nothing about the purpose. That is where it falls onto the parents to be good stewards of their child’s faith. Why would we baptize a child? Why not just wait till they are older and more accepting?
In most non-Catholic denominations, baptism is almost referred to as a symbolic acceptance of your acceptance of Christ. Wow. If there was one teaching that fully was given from God it is that baptism isn’t simply the symbolic acceptance, it is that a spiritual effect. *Maybe that is where the split comes on infant baptism…hmmm…* Another area we differ is that you only need one baptism. The “Born Again” repetitive baptism is to deny your salvation. To say that you needed multiple baptisms would be to say that the saving grace the Lord offers you is able to leave. This is another topic for discussion. Let us first affirm that baptism isn’t symbolic with scripture as it pertains to the rest of this discussion:
Acts 2:38 – Peter (said) to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 22:16 – Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.’
Romans 6:1-4 – What then shall we say? Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound? Of course not! How can we who died to sin yet live in it? Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.
We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.
Col 2:11-12 – In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ. You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
We can very quickly gather that in fact baptism is the outward sign of God’s grace upon us. It is through baptism that we receive the grace of Christ in our lives. No where do we read that only someone accepting or in complete understanding can receive this grace. To argue that infants cannot understand is null and void. What can’t they understand that would require them to wait?
Now we have to discuss this on the basis that the Bible is sola scripture or full and true. You cannot let your emotions get in the way of your understanding of the teachings of Christ. The disciples were not commanded to baptize only those over 14 or only people 5’5″. The Apostles were only sent to baptize the nations. The nations include everyone. To negate the teachings would require you to assume that the Apostles were crazy heretics.
Let us also look into the history of the Church. I think some misunderstanding occurs when we look back to the origins of Christ’s Church. We have documentation stating that in fact infants were baptized as early as 113 A.D. and that the there was no arguments until the Protestant Reformation. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, for over 1500 years not a soul argued the fact that infants should be baptized. Also let us glance at what many non-Catholics reaffirm as division among the Catholic Church as all this deserves is a slight glance: During the early Church there an argument about which day was the infant to be baptized…ASAP…or the 8th day as Jewish law for circumcision had stated. In 1500+ years there goes your one inter-Church disagreement on the subject :)
Lastly I would like to support this stance with scripture of baptisms occurring as infants and other young children in the Bible:
Acts 2:38,39 – Peter (said) to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him
Acts 22:16 – Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
Matt. 19:14 – Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. Can infants be excluded from baptism if Jesus specifically said let the children come to me? Seems kinda ballsy!
Luke 18:15–16 – Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God
Luke 18:15 in Greek – Prosepheron de auto kai ta brepha Definition of Greek word brepa; infants
Acts 16:15 – She was baptized, with her household. Unless you assume that household means her and just the people over 15…
Acts 16:33 - “…the same hour of the night . . . he was baptized, with all his family…” Once again does family just mean him and his wife?
1 Cor. 1:16 – I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. I guess Paul was just off his rocker with these 3 different verses :) He must have meant to say Adults only! SHEESH!
March 15, 2006 at 11:05 · Filed under Personal
Sola Scriptura…THATS UNBIBLICAL!
Brothers and Sisters I wanted to talk today about Sola Scriptura. The term is Latin for Scripture Alone. Many of my Protestant Brothers and Sisters site this as all we need for guidance in our faith. I always hear “The Bible is the only thing I read and need.” As a Theologian in training I can’t help but smile. One blogger put it this way:
“Scripture is the only infallible rule for faith and practice”
Now when these words are spoke I know this is an opportunity to discuss the Catholic faith. Let me speak a little on why this topic came up. I found a Christian Rapper online and was listening to his music. I was enjoying some of the songs when a track about Sola Scriptura came on and I began to cringe. Usually I let these things just pass by because it isn’t the time or place. What got me this time was at the end of the song he “calls out” Roman Catholics. I was very very hurt that a CHRISTIAN Brother would call us out like that. I began to wonder about the double standard in place. All the same I wanted to write down the argurments I have used in the past. Without further wait:
Sola Scriptura changes like a high school girls wardrobe
- The Catholic Church established the New Testament canon and books. The Catholic Church is based on tradition. The Protestant denominations sight the New Testament as proof of SS. Therefore the Protestants of today have already based their church in tradition.
- Given time, every Church forms a tradition. Why do you have a have a Sater Meal?
- Hard to argue against the Catholic Church that formed the Bible who you claim as the sole source
Sola Scriptura is like car with square wheels, just doesn’t work
- There are over 20,000 Protestant denominations despite what Ephisians 4:5 says – one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
- If Sola Scriptura assumes that only the Bible is correct, why are there 20,000 denominations? Are there 20,000 different Bibles?
- Peter and Paul had this battle 2000 or so years ago. Look at what St. Peter says to the early Church in 2 Peter 3:15-16 -And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.
Sola Scriptura is not out of any history book I know
- All the Orthodox Churches of today (IE Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) who can both trace their origin to the original apostoles deny Sola Scriptura.
- Somehow the early church for 400 years worked without the New Testament cannon. What were they using?
- The Creed which so many Protestants use known as the Nicene or the Apostles Creed States - “We believe in one holy catholic apostolic Church” not “We Believe in the Bible Alone”
Sola Scriptura is not Biblical
- 2 Timothy 1:13,14 – Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the holy Spirit that dwells within us.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 – And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 – I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 – Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.
- Many many more but I need to get to my next point, all we needed was those few for this point
Sola Scriptura is 2 + 2 = 5
- The scripture doesn’t teach to just use the scripture. SO….how does that all work?
- If the New Testament canon wasn’t created when the scripture was in place, how can the scripture tell us to use something that is unknown?
- You can’t tell me as a Catholic that my Church is infallible if your Scripture to what you base that in was decided by that same very Church.
- Sola Scriptura is unable to deal with a simple fact of history, the printing press wasn’t created until 1450. Most people couldn’t read well into the 1900′s.
