Catholic Christianity: Forms of Expression and Ways of Life

Question 1

Why do churches have tall ceilings?

Answer 1

Creating space pointing up – connection to God and heaven

Question 2

Why are church buildings sometimes cross shaped?

Answer 2

The importance of the death of Jesus.

Question 3

Why are new churches often round iwth the altar in the middle?

Answer 3

Circular with the altar in the middle. Shows the oneness of the worshippers and the eternity of God.

Question 4

Why do churches have stained glass windows?

Answer 4

Displaying Bible stories or lives of saints.

Question 5

What is the altar and what does it remind us of?

Answer 5

• The priest consecrates the bread and wine here. It reminds us of the sacrifice and death of Jesus on the cross.
• The altar as a table also reminds us we are sharing in a fellowship meal. The candles on the altar represent Jesus as the light of the world.

Question 6

What is the lecturn and why is it important?

Answer 6

• The priest or readers read from here. The scripture is read here
• We are nourished in spirit by listening to the Word. We read from the lectionary.

Question 7

What is the baptismal font?

Answer 7

The first sacrament in which a person becomes part of the Church.

Question 8

What is the tabernacle and why is it important?

Answer 8

• Where the consecrated host is kept.
• A focus for prayer and devotion. – They kneel towards the tabernacle.
• A sanctuary lamp near reminds Catholics of the presence of God in the tabernacle.

Question 9

What is the crucifix and why is it important?

Answer 9

• Usually on or near the altar.
• It reminds Catholics that Jesus died for us to forgive our sins and he was the price for our salvation.

Question 10

Why is the holy water container near the front of church important?

Answer 10

• They sign themselves with the water reminding us of the Trinity, the death of Jesus and their own baptism.
• It helps focus their mind as they enter the Church.

Question 11

What are the stations of the cross and why are they important?

Answer 11

• The different stations of the journey to Jesus’ death and resurrection
• Used during Lent to focus worship on the death of Jesus.

Question 12

Why are statues used and what are votive candles?

Answer 12

• There are statues throughout - usually one of Our Lady to help people pray.
• In front of the statues there will often be votive candles which are lighted symbolising their prayer.

Question 13

How are Church buildings used?

Answer 13

• For worship
• For prayer during the day.

Question 14

What are Sarcophagi?

Answer 14

• A Stone tomb. They were usually decorated with scenes from mythology and with Roman Gods.
• The first Christians adapted this and started using the stone tombs but developed images that would reflect beliefs about eternal life.

Question 15

What are sacred objects?

Answer 15

Sacred objects help Catholics to focus during their worship, whether in Church or elsewhere.

Question 16

What does the Church say about sacred objects?

Answer 16

The cross, images of Jesus, Mary, angels and saints are to be used in churches of God.

Question 17

What are sacred vessels?

Answer 17

They are used by the priest during the Mass, including those for the consecration of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

Question 18

Why are sarcohpagi still used today?

Answer 18

To help Catholics focus prayers on an individual

Question 19

What are Hunger Cloths?

Answer 19

They were used to cover the altar during Lent during the Middle Ages.

Question 20

Why were Hunger cloths used?

Answer 20

They tell stories of God helping people in the Bible and are still used as a reminder of these in developing countries.

Question 21

What is the purpose of sacred Art?

Answer 21

The purpose of sacred art is to show truth and beauty, which glorifies and emphasises the transcendent mystery of God.

Question 22

Why is sacred art important?

Answer 22

• Sacred art is supposed to lead an individual to prayer, faith, love and adoration for God in all that God is.
• Art is an aid for worship but is also a visual way of thanking God: an expression of ultimate thanksgiving.

Question 23

Why do people paint religious art?

Answer 23

• Some of the earliest Christian churches found across the world have some form of art or painting on their walls.
• Artists throughout the centuries have been inspired by scenes from the Bible, the lives of saints and religious events.

Question 24

What are some of the most famous religious paintings of all time?

Answer 24

• Michelangelo’s famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Rome, is one of his greatest works.
• Leonardo da Vinci’s late 15th-century work The Last Supper and The Transfiguration of Christ by Raphael are other examples.

Question 25

What is the difference between the belief in statues between Catholics and Protestants?

Answer 25

Many statues are often found in a Catholic church, compared to Protestant churches which do not have statues (due to the belief that they were idols).

Question 26

Why do Protestants not use statues?

Answer 26

• They think it is idolatry
• ‘You shall not worship false idols’

Question 27

Why do Catholics use statues in worship?

Answer 27

• They are not in themselves worshipped, but provide a focus point for any prayer or reflection.
• Often, votive candles are found in front of statues which people light.

Question 28

What are symbols?

Answer 28

Symbols make up an important aspect of any religious art. They can be found in many Catholic churches and serve as a reminder of any worshipper’s belief.

Question 29

How does the alpha and the omega symbolise Christ?

Answer 29

Alpha and Omega - a symbol for God, based on the words of Jesus from Revelation,

‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End’ (Revelation 22:13).

Question 30

How does the ChiRho symbolise Christ?

Answer 30

ChiRho - this symbol is formed of the first two letters in Greek, chi and rho, of the word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (christos), meaning Christ.

Question 31

How does the cross symbolise Christ?

Answer 31

Cross - the symbol which most commonly represents the cross on which Jesus died. The crucifix is this cross but with the addition of Jesus as a figure.

Question 32

What does the dove symbolise?

Answer 32

In the story of Jesus baptism, the Spirit descended like a dove and rests on Jesus. The dove represents the Holy Spirit.

‘the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon him and remains with him.’ (CCC 701).

Question 33

What does the eagle symbolise?

Answer 33

• Found supporting the lectern, the eagle is a symbol of hope and strength and therefore a symbol for salvation.
• Taken from the book of Revelation, it appears twice on the side of God.

Question 34

What does the fish symbolise?

Answer 34

• Is made up of the first letters of five words, which together make the Greek word for fish.
• Symbolises the disciples ‘I will make you fishers of men’

Question 35

What does the alpha and the omega symbolise?

Answer 35

• Symbolise God as the ‘first’ and the ‘last’; the beginning of all things and the end of all things.
• God is eternal.

Question 36

How are the four evangelists shown through symbols?

Answer 36

• Matthew - an angel or winged man, seen as a figure of salvation.
• Mark - a winged lion to represent courage, monarchy and royalty.
• Luke - a winged ox or bull representing sacrifice and strength.
• John - an eagle, the animal of the sky, which early Christians believed could look straight into the sun.

Question 37

Why are drama and music used in worship?

Answer 37

Artistic expression has been used as a form of worship for a long time. Some of the earliest European plays and choral works were based on scenes from the Bible.

Question 38

Why do people use plays to worship?

Answer 38

• Mystery plays represent Bible stories in churches, they are performed over four days and are accompanied by song.
• Mystery plays cover narratives such as Creation.
• Miracle plays tell the story of saints in the world.
• Passion plays became part of the Easter ritual of churches. The most famous is that staged by over 2,000 performers at Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany, as it has a 380-year tradition of Passion plays.

Question 39

Why do people use Music to worship?

Answer 39

• The earliest form of church music would have been sung psalms in the 1st century.
• Plainchant was developed by monks, which is a single sung unaccompanied melodic line.
• Liturgies set to music are typical of many composers, famous requiem masses for example include Mozart, Fauré and Verdi.

Question 40

Why do people use hymns to worship?

Answer 40

• Evangelical and Pentecostal churches tend to use contemporary worship music played with a band of electronic instruments.
• Music helps to express beliefs in a different form.