onegurlarmy1120 Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 hey everyone I'm buddhist and new to this forum and I just wanted to know what the symbols of Mass are and what they mean (like the Eucharist and how you're actually praying to Jesus and stuff). I've been to one before and my friend told me what to do and stuff but I didn't really get it ...if you can help me on this one thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quietfire Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Hi there, and welcome to the Phamily. Please stick around, and thanks for coming here with an open mind wishing to learn about Catholicism. I am, myself, learning about Catholicism. So we can learn together. Ok? Since you are Buddhist, and wish to understand the Mass properly, I am sure I am not the right person to answer all your questions. But one thing I have learned (and it simply blows my mind is this...) The Eucharist is (IS) the blood and body of Our Lord Jesus Christ. There are others here who will be more than willing to elaborate on this and other points concerning Mass. Please keep an open mind (no, no one is going to brain wash you!!!!) I have not been received into the Church. I have attended Protestant churches throughout my life, but found I am Catholic by desire. That is why I am here. I know you will learn alot here. And again, Welcome. Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Adam Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Hrm....symbolism in the mass. There is a lot of symbolism in the mass. And there are a lot of symbols in the sanctuary itself. [url="http://www.flyfreeministries.org/Traidtion-culture.htm#The%20Order%20of%20the%20Mass"]http://www.flyfreeministries.org/Traidtion...of%20the%20Mass[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quietfire Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Bro. You've become an apologist. Congrats. Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader_4 Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Hi onegurlarmy1120 welcome!! I know that this is probably what you do not want to hear but what part of the mass or when you attended one what thing struck out to you as kind of kewl...or even bizzzare? Basically you have the liturgy of the Word which is a fancy way of saying reading the bible and letting it sink into you and your thoughts meditating upon it. As well you have the Eucharist also known as Holy Communion here the Bread and Wine are turned into Jesus (I know it sounds weird but when you learn about how it works {probably not the right word} but the understanding of it all it makes total sense) This is the Big thing that happens in the mass. If you are framilliar with Judaism it is very similar in many ways as well as it takes century and millenia old traditions piled into one huge celebration with God in our midst....very mystical...and its ineffable...you cannot trully understand what is happening at the mass we can know what we are doing and such but the effects and the Eucharist and such we can not totally always understand because it is beyond our comphrension...it is cosmic. Now with things are you interested in or have serious good questions about? Phatcatholic and Brother Adam are great i hope i gave some help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archbishop 10-K Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 The Mass is a two-fold gathering: the Liturgy of the Word, and then the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The first is centered around 4 Scriptural passages, with the last being expounded on in a homily (sermon.) The Liturgy of the Eucharist is preparing for Communion. Unlike Protestant services, where the Eucharist (Communion) is only symbolic, the Catholic believes that the priest, through his power from ordination, transforms the bread and wine into the literal Body and Blood of Christ. Thus, the main purpose of a Catholic Mass is receiving the Eucharist, not hearing the sermon. Some basic info: Gathering at church every Sunday is an obligation as commanded by God in the Ten Commandments (keep the Sabbath holy.) In the Old Testament, Jews fulfilled this commandment by going to synagogue on Saturday. I have heard that the Jewish liturgy has a lot in common with the Catholic liturgy, but I can't verify this. Catholics may optionally attend Mass every day of the week, since, after all, being a Catholic is a 24/7 job. Before the Eucharist was instituted, the Jews of the Old Testament were required to confess their sins before a priest, which the sins were transferred onto an animal on an altar, and was then sacrificed (since the penalty for sin is death.) The best sacrificial animal was a spotless, innocent lamb. After God offered His Son Jesus Christ as an "ultimate sacrifice" (He who was without sin, the lamb of God), a NEW sacrifice was instituted: the Eucharist. To Catholics, the Eucharist is a sacrifice as literal as any animal sacrifice. The most important piece of church furniture, the altar, becomes exactly it's namesake: a table where sacrifices are offered. When we stand or kneel before the altar, we are standing at the foot of the cross on that fateful day on Calvary. The Eucharist is also symbolic of Our Lord's final meeting with His Apostles: the Last Supper. When we patake the Eucharist, we are in "communing", or dining, with Jesus. Our Lord gave us this rite to bring us closer than ever to Him while being on earth. Christ's death has also allowed us to confess our sins before a priest without shedding animal blood, but doing it in the name of the Father, son, and Holy Spirit. Our sins are transferred back to Christ as He was dying on the cross, since His sacrifice on that day was to atone for all the sins past, present, and future. Catholics tend to "deck out our churches" with as much bling as possible, since the church building is supposed to be the closest thing to Heaven on earth. While many say that it makes the Church more worldly, I think it means that we prioritize God over the rest of the world. After all, the Temple of the Old Testament was laden with gold and silver. In my personal opinion, I don't like churches that have plain walls and folding chairs when they can do better since it suggests that the congregation prefers to spend it's money on themselves. Currently, there is a conflict among the Catholic faithful between two different liturgies: one is the one that most churches use right now, called the Novus Ordo Missae (New Order of the Mass.) It was used starting in 1969, I think. Many Catholics opt to use the Traditional Latin Mass, a liturgy that was used before the 60's. The Traditional Mass is known for being in all Latin, the priest facing the altar instead of the congregation, and is more solemn. For more info on this, you might want to check out some other sources. The full text of the Novus Ordo can be found in English and Latin here: [url="http://www.latinliturgy.com/nomass.html"]http://www.latinliturgy.com/nomass.html[/url] The Traditional Mass here: [url="http://www.latinliturgy.com/tridmass.html"]http://www.latinliturgy.com/tridmass.html[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JeffCR07 Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Welcome! I hope you'll keep posting questions! Honestly, as everyone has said its a HUGE question. And to do justice to your question, it would take not just pages, but books. My best suggestion would be to check out that site that Brother Adam listed, its got some good stuff to start with. Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onegurlarmy1120 Posted June 21, 2004 Author Share Posted June 21, 2004 wow...thanks for all your help :] all the sites you gave me were very informative and helped me answer alot of my questions...THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JeffCR07 Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 Sure thing, any questions you ever have, feel free to ask! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 If you are still seeking to know more about the Mass and the Catholic teaching on the Mass, I urge you, and anyone interested in the meaning of the Mass, to buy "The Hidden Treasure" by Saint Leonard. You can order it at tanbooks.com. It is a very wonderful book filled with the thoughts of a man who had a great desire to spread the very essential and important message of what the Holy Mass is, and what it means in our daily lives. Every word is so charged and filled with the power of the Holy Ghost it amazes me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincessKRS Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 [quote name='onegurlarmy1120' date='Jun 20 2004, 08:14 PM'] wow...thanks for all your help :] all the sites you gave me were very informative and helped me answer alot of my questions...THANK YOU SO MUCH!! [/quote] Wow... that was relatively fast and painless. Do you have any other questions we can help you with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justified Saint Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 The Mass...it's heaven on earth as they say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 when in doubt, peep [url="http://phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showforum=21"][b]the reference section[/b][/url] here at phatmass there you will find an entry entitled [url="http://phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showtopic=6565"][i][b]Eucharist and the Sacrifice of the Mass[/b][/i][/url] which contains articles on just about every aspect of the Eucharist (the Real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ) as well as the Mass (the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist) you asked originally about the symbolism of the mass. as a buddhist, there are probably man "things" that you see in the mass that are foreign to you. what is that thing the priest is holding? what is he wearing? what is that big golden box behidn him? what are all those utensils on the altar? to answer some of those questions, i provide the following (from the "Eucharist and Sacrifice of the Mass" entry): [b]Vessels, Vestments, and Other Elements of the Mass[/b] --[url="http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/14424a.htm"]Tabernacle[/url] --[url="http://catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0119.html"]House of God Foundations[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03767a.htm"]Ciborium[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/CANDLES.HTM"]Votive Candles[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03084b.htm"]Burse[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04386c.htm"]Corporal[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01355a.htm"]Altar Linens[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09044b.htm"]Lavabo[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01793a.htm"]Aspergillum[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12588a.htm"]Pyx[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03561a.htm"]Chalice[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04543a.htm"]Cruet[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11541b.htm"]Paten[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11344a.htm"]Monstrance/Ostensorium[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07716a.htm"]Incense[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01349b.htm"]Altar Bells[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07542b.htm"]Humeral Veil[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01251b.htm"]Alb[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14301a.htm"]Stole[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03639a.htm"]Chasuble[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04608a.htm"]Dalmatic[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14343d.htm"]Surplice[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03519c.htm"]Censer/Thurible[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10354c.htm"]Missal[/url] --[url="http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.htm"]General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2003)[/url] --[url="http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/01362a.htm"]Altar (The Christian History Of)[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01356c.htm"]Altar Rail[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01381e.htm"]Ambo/Pulpit[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04476a.htm"]Credence Table[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01354b.htm"]Altar Lamp[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01352a.htm"]Altar Crucifix[/url] --[url="http://www.cin.org/users/james/questions/q028.htm"]Crosses and Crucifixes[/url] --[url="http://cuf.org/nonmemb/crosscrucfx.pdf"]Cross or Crucifix on the Altar?[/url] --[url="http://www.catholic-convert.com/DesktopModules/UserDocuments/UserDocuments_ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=55"]Cross vs. Crucifix: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Study[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12448a.htm"]Processional Cross[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07421b.htm"]Holy Oils[/url] --[url="http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/stations.htm"]Stations of the Cross[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02274a.htm"]Baptismal Font[/url] you also mentioned praying to Jesus and the Eucharist. this we call "Eucharistic Adoration" from the same entry i have compiled these articles on the subject: [b]Eucharistic Adoration[/b] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02465b.htm"]Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05713a.htm"]Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06151a.htm"]Forty Hours' Devotion[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01152a.htm"]Perpetual Adoration[/url] --[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15483b.htm"]Visits to the Blessed Sacrament[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=4631"]Devotion To The Real Presence And Growth In Sanctity[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=5480"]Instruction Concerning Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery (Inaestimabile Donum)[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=5464"]On the Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist (Dominicae Cenae)[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/VALUESAC.TXT"]The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist: The Value of Sacrifice[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/DOCTRINE/TAEUCHDV.TXT"]The Eucharistic Devotion of Saint Thomas Aquinas[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/BENBLSAC.htm"]Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament[/url] --[url="http://www.catholic.net/Catholic Church/Periodicals/Dossier/0910-96/article1.html"]Coram Sacratissimo (on Eucharistic Processions)[/url] --[url="http://www.adoremus.org/98-03_moroney.htm"]Eucharistic Adoration in a Parish Setting[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/DOCTRINE/WINDHEAV.TXT"]Eucharistic Adoration: A Window to Heaven[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/HISTOREA.TXT"]History of Eucharistic Adoration[/url] --[url="http://www.monksofadoration.org/Perstart.html"]How to Organize Perpetual Adoration[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/ArticleText/Index/65/SubIndex/120/ArticleIndex/27"]Miracles of Grace: The Unheralded Revival in Eucharistic Adoration[/url] --[url="http://www.catholic.net/Catholic Church/Periodicals/Faith/1112-96/spirit.html"]Our Lady and Eucharistic Devotion[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/PERPETAD.htm"]Perpetual Adoration Apostolates[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/ANCIDEVO.htm"]Perpetual Adoration: An Ancient Devotion in Modern Times[/url] --[url="http://www.catholic.net/Catholic Church/Periodicals/Faith/9%2010%2098/THE%20SACRAMENTS.html"]Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapels[/url] --[url="http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/q%26a/devotions/perpetualexposition.htm"]FAQ on Perpetual Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/ROSBLSAC.htm"]Rosary Before the Blessed Sacrament[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/DEV2MARY.htm"]To Jesus Through Mary[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/Mother/MA43.htm"]Sentinels Before the Bread of Life[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/99ws/ws990218.htm"]40 Hours with Jesus Christ: Part One[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/99ws/ws990225.htm"]40 Hours with Jesus Christ: Part Two[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/EUCHADOR.TXT"]Suggestions on Eucharistic Adoration[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1058"]What I Learned From a Muslim About Eucharistic Adoration[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/PERPADOR.TXT"]What Is Perpetual Adoration?[/url] --[url="http://cuf.org/nonmemb/perpador.pdf"]Promotion of Adoration[/url] --[url="http://cuf.org/nonmemb/euchador.pdf"]Norms for Eucharistic Adoration with Exposition[/url] --[url="http://www.catholiceducation.org/links/jump.cgi?ID=2905"]Eucharistic Adoration: Another Dimension[/url] --[url="http://www.catholiceducation.org/links/jump.cgi?ID=3080"]Most Precious Treasure[/url] of course, the culmination of the Mass, the "source and summit" of our faith is receiving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. this requires a faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the "accidents" of bread and wine. this is a profound topic, and one of the greatest mysteries of the Church. we can only hope to understand it to the best of our ability, although many great theologians have expounded effectively upon it. i have gathered there works, as well as many other articles explaining and defending the Real Presence. they include the following: [b]The Real Presence[/b] --[url="http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/05573a.htm"]The Real Presence[/url] --[url="http://www.catholic.com/library/Christ_in_the_Eucharist.asp"]Christ in the Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ89.HTM"]Fictional Dialogue on the Real Presence in the Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ435.HTM"]Is This God? A Treatise on the Holy Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://www.chnetwork.org/journals/eucharist/eucharist_6.htm"]But What Do We Mean By the Real Presence?[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1192"]The Antiquity of the Doctrine of Transubstantiation[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=3969"]The Eucharist: "It is the Lord!"[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=3742"]The Holy Eucharist is the Whole Christ[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=386"]The Sacrament of the Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/BIBPROVE.htm"]Bible Proves the Real Presence of Christ in Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://www.catholic-pages.com/mass/corpus.asp"]Saint Anthony's Proof of the Real Presence[/url] --[url="http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2964/corpus98.html"]This [i]Is[/i] My Body[/url] --[url="http://www.rosary-center.org/ll49n3.htm"]Transubstantiation[/url] --[url="http://www.catholic.net/Catholic Church/Periodicals/Homiletic/Jan98/transubstantiation.html"]Transubstantiation and Reason[/url] --[url="http://www.catholic.net/Catholic Church/Periodicals/Faith/0506-97/sacrem1.html"]The Blessed Sacrament is Truly Emmanuel[/url] --[url="http://www.catholic.net/Catholic Church/Periodicals/Dossier/0910-96/article5.html"]Ordinary Faith in the Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://cuf.org/nonmemb/realpres.pdf"]This is My Body: Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://catholicapologetics.net/apolo_111.htm"]The Holy Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://catholicapologetics.net/apolo_112.htm"]What Is the Holy Eucharist?[/url] --[url="http://www.envoymagazine.com/backissues/1.2/nutsandbolts.html"]"[b]My Flesh is Real Food[/b]"[/url] --[url="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/a/eucharist.html"]The Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://www.chnetwork.org/journals/eucharist/eucharist_4.htm"]The Real Presence[/url] --[url="http://www.chnetwork.org/journals/eucharist/eucharist_5.htm"]Transubstantiation and the Eucharist[/url] --[url="http://www.chnetwork.org/trans.htm"]Jesus Gives Himself to Us: Transubstantiation[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/97ws/ws970904.htm"]The Eucharist: Body and Blood of Christ[/url] --[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1340"]Is the Eucharist Really Christ's Body and Blood?[/url] --[url="http://cuf.org/nonmemb/blood.pdf"]Eat, Drink, and Be Catholic: The Biblical Prohibition of Eating Blood[/url] --[url="http://cuf.org/nonmemb/wine.pdf"]Just Grape Juice?: The Sober Truth About Biblical Wine[/url] admittedly, i have written this post in somewhat of a hurry, so i hope that i have included information that answers all of ur questions. of course, if you need more information, just consult the "Eucharist and Sacrifice of the Mass" entry that i linked to above. i often provide articles instead of explaining things myself b/c i feel that it is important that individuals are proactive in their learning. often times the knowledge you retain the most is the knowledge you have gained through your own search, your own reading, your own journey. may God Bless You in that journey, phatcatholic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JeffCR07 Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 O man, that reminds me, I can't believe I forgot. Scott Hahn's [u]The Lamb's Supper[/u] is an awesome explanation of the Mass, though it is a bit heavy in its referencing of Revelation, but its VERY readable and well written, its a great source if you have time and interest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
master_alterserver Posted June 22, 2004 Share Posted June 22, 2004 the reason I can´t become a Church******** is because you guys beat me to the good juicy stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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