C3 Festivals, Fasts, Pilgrimage, and Historic Sites

Question 1

What is a pilgrimage?

Answer 1

Journey to a holy place, an opportunity for believers to focus on their journey to God

Question 2

Why do you think some refer to places of pilgrimage as being like a piece of heaven on Earth?

Answer 2

Because it’s somewhere that God has taken on Earth and made it precious

Question 3

What are 5 reasons someone (Christians) would want to go on a pilgrimage?

Answer 3

1. For healing
2. To follow in the footsteps
3. To learn about the roots of their religion
4. To show gratitude and devotion
5. To increase their sense of belonging to a wider church community

Question 4

Via Dolorosa

Answer 4

Way of Sorrow (suffering)

Question 5

Sepulchre

Answer 5

Tomb, or monument in which a dead person is placed

Question 6

Holy Land

Answer 6

What Christians refer to as the Holy Land is the place of Jesus’ birth, life death, and resurrection

Question 7

Importance of the Holy Land for Christians

Answer 7

Being here can bring the important stories of Jesus from the bible to life and bring them closer to God

Question 8

3 key sites in the Holy Land

Answer 8

The Church of the Nativity, Via Dolorosa, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Question 9

3 key points about the Church of the Nativity

Answer 9

1. Found in Bethlehem
2. The church was built on the site where many Christians believe Jesus was born
3. Christians can touch and pray at the gold star that makes the spot of Jesus’ birth-Christians praise God for the gift of his son

Question 10

3 key points about Via Dolorosa

Answer 10

1. Means ‘way of sorrow/suffering’
2. Involves walking through streets of Jerusalem along the path Jesus took from his trial with Pilate carrying his cross to Golgotha where he was crucified
3. Christians will pray and think about the sacrifice of Jesus

Question 11

3 key points about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Answer 11

1. Found in the center of Jerusalem and marks the site of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection
2. Inside the church is a sepulchre marking the place of Jesus’ birth
3. Christians will remember his death and celebrate the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection

Question 12

Extra info about The Church of the Nativity

Answer 12

This is where God came into the world as human (INCARNATION happened here)

Question 13

Extra info about Via Dolorosa

Answer 13

• Some walk it barefoot to suffer in some way as Jesus suffered on this journey with his cross
  -People would want to walk in the same steps as Jesus because it’s like walking in the same place as a celebrity (someone you look up to)

Question 14

Extra info about The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Answer 14

-It is considered to be the most sacred site in the world for many Christians
-It’s the sight that’s most connected with Jesus’ death, resurrection, and our salvation
-It marks God’s life as human on Earth

Question 15

Apparition

Answer 15

An appearance or vision

Question 16

Intercession

Answer 16

Asking for help in prayer

Question 17

3 points on the background of Lourdes

Answer 17

1. Lourdes is a town in Southern France, famous for St. Bernadette’s 18 apparitions of Mary
2. Mary told Bernadette to dig where she found a spring and Mary gave the instruction that people should bathe in the waters for healing
3. It has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for Catholics and many sick and disabled people go on pilgrimage to bathe in the waters

Question 18

Advent

Answer 18

A time of preparation

Question 19

3 key Christian beliefs about Advent

Answer 19

1. Advent is the season of preparation for Christmas. It follows the four Sundays before Christmas
2. Today most Christians see Advent as a time of preparation for celebrating the incarnation at Christmas
3. Some churches focus on the theme of repentance in preparing for the coming of Jesus at Christmas

Question 20

Parousia

Answer 20

The second coming- when it is believed Jesus will return to the world at the end of time to be its judge

Question 21

Relation between Advent and Parousia

Answer 21

During the Middle Ages, Advent became associated with the preparation for the Second coming

Question 22

3 key points on Christingle

Answer 22

1. Christingle services may be held in Advent, at Christmas, or Epiphany
2. Some churches have Christingle services. Lighted candles are given to children on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christ, the light of the world
3. Orange and red ribbon to represent the blood of Jesus wrapped around it, fruits and sweets are skewered on 4 cocktail sticks (fruits of the Earth and the 4 seasons), one candle stuck in the center of the orange to represent Christ as the light of the world

Question 23

3 key points on Advent

Answer 23

1. Advent wreaths have been used since the 16th century; they are lit on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas
2. 3 purple candles around the wreath to symbolize hope, peace, and love- 1 pink candle lit on the third Sunday to symbolize joy
3. The final white candle in the middle Is lit on Christmas day; it’s white to associate with angels and the birth of Jesus

Question 24

Key knowledge of Advent and Christmas

Answer 24

-the accounts of his birth are given in the gospels Matthew and Luke, each containing a slightly different version
(Luke doesn’t contain wise men-they’re shepherds instead, and Matthew has wise men that are guided by a star and bring gifts)

Question 25

How Christians celebrate Christmas

Answer 25

1. At midnight on Christmas Eve, may Christians go to a special service to celebrate Jesus’ birth
2. These services include carols, hymns, and readings
3. ‘Advent’ means the arrival of that which has been awaited- the period of waiting for Jesus’ birth and his second coming (parousia)

Question 26

3 points as to why Christmas is important to Christians

Answer 26

1. Jesus’ incarnation
2. As Christians have this Parousia hope, they believe that they must live as Jesus commanded them to they encourage others to share and have this hope for themselves
3. Christmas is a time for celebration as well as a time to reflect on the need for peace in the world, as well as remembering and helping the less fortunate

Question 27

Feast of Epiphany key context
(sometimes known as 3 Kings Day)

Answer 27

1. Celebrated by some Christian churches on the 6th of January
2. Marks and commemorates the visitation of the Magi to Jesus as recorded in Matthew’s gospel
3. For many Christians it makes the end of the Christmas season but this is a festival in its own right (not an extension of Christmas)

Question 28

Lent

Answer 28

40 days and 40 nights (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. It is a time of preparation for the Easter season

Question 29

Repentance

Answer 29

Being sorry and seeking forgiveness

Question 30

Scripture focus of Lent in scripture

Answer 30

Matthew 4:1-11- Jesus is tested in the wilderness

• Jesus had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights- he was hungry
  -The tempter challenged him saying “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread”
  -Jesus answered “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”

Question 31

What do Christians do on Ash Wendesday

Answer 31

-go to church and recieve ashes in the shape of a cross on their forehead