Catholicism: Forms of Expression and Ways of Life Flashcards
Give a quote stating that you do not need a church to worship.
“worship… is not tied exclusively to any one place.” - CCC
How does church design reflect Catholic beliefs ?
- churches face east (sun rises from the east; Jesus rose and is the light of the world)
- shaped as a cruciform
- round churches to signify God’s eternal nature
- octagonal churches = star bringing light to world
- vaulted (open upwards space; connection with heaven)
- spire to get high and so close to God
- stained-glass windows to tell Bible stories
Why is the design of a church building important (quote) ?
“You learn your faith through the building” - Catholic architect
How are churches used ?
- to celebrate the Mass
- to celebrate sacraments
- for personal prayers during the day
- votive candles can be placed before a statue of Jesus or Mary to represent a personal prayer
- adoration of the blessed sacrament (in a monstrance or otherwise)
What is a lectern and what is its purpose and use in a church ?
- book stand from where readings are proclaimed from Bible, homily, prayers
- important as Scripture is important in Mass + liturgy
- lectern represents communication between God + humans through the Bible
What is an altar and what is its purpose and use in a church ?
- positioned so congregation have clear view of it
- where Eucharist is consecrated
- represents the table at Last Supper
- is made of stone or contain a piece of stone which usually contains relics of a saint
- sacrifice of Jesus offers redemption and reminds of salvation
What is a crucifix and what is its purpose and use in a church ?
- cross with a corpus (Jesus figure)
- usually near the altar
- reminds of Jesus’ sacrifice to redeem humanity
- can be looked at during prayer to strengthen feelings of love, hope and trust in God
- corpus there to remind of Jesus’ sacrifice
- used during Mass procession and Holy Week services
What is a tabernacle and what is its purpose and use in a church ?
- where the consecrated hosts are stored
- Catholics genuflect to the tabernacle as the enter + leave Mass as they believe Jesus is actually present in the Blessed Sacrament (consecrated hosts)
- near a sanctuary lamp to remind of Jesus’ presence
- reminds of link between old and new covenants as Moses kept decalogue in a tabernacle
What is a baptismal font and what is its purpose and use in a church ?
- basin where babies are baptised
- some churches have a pool for adult baptism
- important as baptism is the first Sacrament of Initiation
What is a confessional ?
small room for private conversations during the sacrament of reconciliation.
What are the Stations of the Cross ?
images from the story of the Passion of Christ to remind of Jesus’ death and suffering for humanity, often ending at the tabernacle.
Why are statues in Catholic churches ?
usually one of Mary and the church’s patron saint to assist worship and remind of Catholic beliefs about saints.
What is a water stoup ?
bowl of holy water at the entrance of a church used to make the sign of the cross when entering and leaving to remind of the Trinity and the congregation’s baptism.
Why are sacred objects sometimes found outside of the church ?
Catholics may have a small altar or crucifix at home to pray at, and sacred objects help them focus their mind and belief.
Why are sacred objects important to the Mass (quote) ?
“the contemplation of sacred icons… enters into the harmony of the signs of celebration.” - CCC
List 3 sacred vessels.
- chalice
- ciborium (covered dish containing hosts before and after consecration)
- paten (plate holding larger host)
List the three sacred cloths.
- corporal (linen square for chalice and host to rest on at the altar)
- purificator (wipes chalice between people drinking)
- pall (stiffened linen to cover chalice)
List three examples of books which are considered sacred objects.
- Gospel
- Altar Missal (instructions for Mass services throughout the year)
- lectionary
What are the two sacred vestments ?
- chasuble (outer robe)
- stole (scarf)
Give three misc. sacred objects.
- incense thurible
- monstrance
- hunger cloth (cover altar during Lent, covered in images/stories from the Bible to teach illiterate people about God - used in developing countries to signify God’s presence in their lives despite struggles)
What is a sarcophagus and why is it important ?
- stone box for a corpse displayed above ground (usually)
- have inscriptions indicating belief that they were awaiting resurrection
- most popes buried in sarcophagi
- used as objects of devotion as remind of the occupant
- sarcophagi of saints can be used to pray to and ask for intercession
What is a fresco ?
mural painted on fresh plaster
What was the Iconoclasm ?
The destruction of Catholic art by Christians who believed they were blasphemy and disobeyed the fourth commandment.
What is renaissance art focused on ?
Religious themes and stories from the Bible.
List four Catholic artworks and their portrayals.
- the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Jesus with a flaming heart with a crown of thorns)
- the Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci
- The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo
- the Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt
Why do some people disagree with The Creation of Adam ?
- shows God’s face (breaks fourth commandment as no one knows what God looks like and thus is disrespectful to God)
- relates God and humans too closely; humans may never usurp God
- makes it seem as if God is leaving humans alone
How is religious art used by Catholics in and out of church ?
- displaying in homes to bring faith more vividly into home life
- focus for devotion or private prayer
- as an expression of the artist’s love for God
- to convey stories and events from the Bible in areas where illiteracy rates are high
What does the CCC say about Catholic art (2 quotes) ?
- “Sacred art is true and beautiful when… evoking and glorifying… the transcendent mystery of God.”
- “Arising from talent given by the Creator… art is a form of practical wisdom”
How is art in churches curated ?
bishop of an area responsible for curating and handpicking all art to be used in decoration of a church
How do Catholics use statues in and out of church ?
- focus for devotion or personal prayer
- recall person/thing depicted
- teaching tools in illiterate places
- devotion shown by kneeling/kissing/touching/lighting votive candles before them
- most Catholic churches will have statues of Mary and the church’s saint
- in church and at home, nativity scenes are common
- Veneration of the Cross at Good Friday services where people touch and kiss statue Jesus’ feet on the cross
- statues of saints may remind of certain pilgrimages
- decorating the home w/statues can remind people to bring their religion into everyday life
How are statues disposed of when they have reached the end of their useful life or are not needed, and why ?
- regarded as sacred objects dedicated to God, so must not be thrown away or sold
- burned or buried
Why was the Council of Trent called and what was its conclusion ?
- to discuss calls for reform of the Catholic Church
- discussed the use of statues and art in Catholicism
- concluded that statues and art were not idols or worshipped by Catholics, merely focuses of devotion and aids to prayer, as well as honouring those depicted
What did the Council of Trent note about the use of art and statues in worship (quote) ?
“figures shall not be painted or adorned with a beauty exciting to lust… nothing that is profane”
What evidence is there in the Bible for statues being encouraged in worship (quote) ?
- Old Testament
- “two cherubim of gold should be made, of hammered work”
Why are symbols used in Christianity ?
- early Christians persecuted in ancient Rome and in other places, so had to secretly communicate who was safe to express faith with
What is the significance and use of the cross/crucifix symbol ?
- represents the cross on which Jesus died to save humanity’s sins
- found in all churches
- used as a focus for prayer
- worn as necklaces
- displayed in Catholic homes
What is the significance and use of the ichthus (fish) symbol ?
- Greek word for fish = ichthus
- Greek translation of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour spells out ichthus when abbreviated
- relates to the apostles being “fishers of men” and feeding the 5000
- used as stickers, logos, paintings to indicate Christian faith
What is the significance and use of the ChiRho symbol ?
- X and R (chi and ro) are the first two letters of the Greek name for Christ (Christos, or XPIETOE)
- used by Christians then adopted by Romans
- used on armour, shields, etc. in the Roman period
- now is found on vestments, the paschal candle, engravings etc.
What is the significance and use of the dove symbol ?
- represents the Holy Spirit at the baptism of Jesus, as well as the dove that brought hope to Noah after the flood
- symbol of peace both in secular and religious spaces
- found in art, stickers etc.
What is the significance and use of the eagle symbol ?
- symbol of Jesus’ divine nature
- those who wait for God rewarded with “wings like eagles”
- also symbol of John the evangelist
- found on lectern stands and in art
What is the significance and use of the alpha and omega symbol ?
- first and last letters of Greek alphabet
- represent Jesus’ eternity as part of the Trinity
- “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last”
- found on paschal candle, the altar, other church decorations
What is the significance and use of the evangelists’ symbols ?
- Matthew = Human/angel
- Mark = Lion
- Luke = Ox
- John = Eagle
- represent the 4 depictions of Jesus within each of these four gospels
- found on the lectern, decoration around the altar and on stained glass windows
- found in baptisteries of Italian cathedrals
How does the CCC describe the relationship between God and humans in relation to drama ?
“covenant drama which engages the heart”
What are mystery plays ?
- earliest form of drama in medieval Europe
- performances of Bible stories
- Harrowing of Hell very popular due to the noise and colours used when staging it
- sometimes performed on church grounds
- Pope Innocent III banned clergy from performing in them in 1210
- usually performed in street markets by local guilds in the Middle Ages
Give two places in England where mystery plays are popular.
- chester
- york
What are passion plays ?
- depict the Passion of Christ
- traditional part of Lent for some Christian denominations
- performed at Easter in public places
- often organised by the church
- famous = Oberammergau, Germany, Wintershall Estate, UK, Port Talibot (Michael Sheen) TV 2011
- originally in Latin but now performed in the local language
How do dramas help people understand their faith more ?
- bring realism to Bible stories
- allow people to embody the emotions of characters in these stories and understand them more fully
- can be used as focuses for prayer by the audience and as an act of devotion for the performers
- forges community between Christians from all denominations
- makes the Gospel stories relevant to modern day
What does the CCC say about music in worship ?
“He who sings prays twice”
What are the three types of traditional music in worship ?
- hymns
- plainchant
- psalms
What are hymns ?
- written as praise, adoration or prayer
- sung only at certain times in Catholic churches (like at the entrance of the Mass procession, offertory, after communion etc.)
- earliest hymns are psalms in the Old Testament
- link to readings or the theme of the Mass or Church season
- usually sung by whole congregation
What is plainchant ?
- singing w/o musical accompaniment
- originally the only type of music allowed in Church
- Gregorian chant = collection of chants compiled by Pope Gregory the Great
- often sung in Catholic churches or monasteries
What are psalms ?
- shared by both Jews and Christians as they come from the Old Testament
- first used in Temple in Jerusalem
- 150, sung over the course of a liturgical year
- second reading in Mass is often responsorial psalm, spoken or sung
How is contemporary music used in worship ?
- come from the charismatic movement (active style of worship including dancing and lively music)
- used in some Catholic parishes or Masses for youth groups
- appeal to younger Christians
- accompanies an experience of the Holy Spirit
- emotive; allow to feel and understand more fully than just using words or traditional music
