Christian Celebration and Pilgrimage

Question 1

Why is Christmas important for Christians in terms of the incarnation?

Answer 1

• It is when Jesus, God incarnate, was born
• He freed us from sin and allowed us to achieve salvation - his incarnation is significant as only somebody who is fully human and fully God can do this
• ‘For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary’ - Nicene Creed

Question 2

Why is Christmas important for Christians in terms of the prophecy?

Answer 2

• In many parts of the Old Testament, there are signs that they believe the Lord incarnate will come
• This means that Christmas is a celebration of the fufillment of this prophecy
• Isaiah 7:14 (part of the Old Testament) reads: ‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel’

Question 3

Why is Christmas important for Christians in terms of the virgin birth?

Answer 3

• The fact that Mary is a virgin makes the birth truly miraculous and proves that Jesus is the son of God but also that he is fully human too
• ‘The holy spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you’

• The humility of being born in a stable also shows his humanity
• The fact that Bethlehem is an important pilgrimage destination demonstrates the significance of Christmas

Question 4

What are things Christians might do to celebrate Christmas?

Answer 4

• Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve to receive communion and be close to Jesus as soon as it becomes Christmas
• The celebration of Advent builds anticipation towards the incarnation - wreaths, calendars, candles will be used to celebrate this
• The present giving is symbolic of the 3 Wise Men giving presents to Jesus

Question 5

What are the four days in Easter Week?

Answer 5

• Palm Sunday
• Maundy Thursday
• Good Friday
• Easter Sunday

Question 6

What were the events and significance of Palm Sunday and how do Christians mark it today?

Answer 6

• Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey
• Palm leaves and clothes are laid before him (rather than a carpet for great leaders) and people shout ‘hosanna’ (save us now)
• It confirms his role as the Messiah and how his moral and spiritual teachings had had a significant impact
• Christians today celebrate it by making crosses out of palms in churches and reflecting on their faithfulness as some people in the crowds did not welcome him and called for his death

Question 7

What were the events of Maundy Thursday and how do Christians mark it today?

Answer 7

• On this day that The Last Supper took place
• After, Jesus is arrested in the garden of Gethsemane
• For Christians it is the start of the solemn part of the Holy Week, and is celebrated by the washing of the feet of the congregation to show you must be prepared to serve others as a Christian
• The Eucharist is then held to remember the Last Supper and follow his commandment of ‘do this in memory of me’

The events and significance of the Last Supper are in the other deck

Question 8

What were the events of Good Friday and how do Christians mark it today?

Answer 8

• It was the day of his cruxifixion
• After he died, his body was removed and put in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathaea
• Christians mark it with special services to meditate on his death and spread the message of Good Friday
• They sing hymns, read accounts, meditate, RCs will visit the stations of the cross
• Some may carry a cross through town to simulate his body being brought to a tomb

Events and significance of the cruxifiction are in the other deck

Question 9

What were the events of Easter Sunday and how do Christians mark it today?

Answer 9

• The resurrection took place on this day
• It is the most important day on the Christian calendar
• The atmosphere in churches changes to one of joy, new cloths and laid out and the churches are decorated
• Roman Catholics will all bring paschal candles into the church to represent the rolling away of the tombstone and the light of Jesus shining into the world
• Easter eggs are eaten to symbolise new life and how in an egg there is always life even if it seems dead

• The events and significance of the ressurection are in the other deck
• Overall, the significance of Easter comes from the significance of each event, particularily the cruxifiction and the ressurection

Question 10

What is the significance of Jerusalem for Christians as a place of pilgrimage and what do pilgrims do there?

Answer 10

• It is the place of the cruxifixion and resurrection of Christ (and the Passion, which is the rest of Holy Week such as Maundy Thursday)
• It therefore represents his sacrifice to remove our sins, and his resurrection as a sign of eternal life for all
• On Good Friday many Christians will walk along the Via Dolorosa which is the route Jesus carried his cross on Good Friday before being killed
• One Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built on the spot of Jesus’ tomb
• Inside this church is the Stone of Unction where Jesus’s body is said to rest - Pilgrims will pour oil on it and rub it with a hankerchief to take home as a relic

Question 11

What is the significance of Bethlehem for Christians as a place of pilgrimage and where do pilgrims go there?

Answer 11

• It is the place of Jesus’s birth and incarnation
• On the spot where he was born, The Church of the Nativity was built
• In a small area in the church, the Grotto of the Nativity is present with the 14 pointed Golden Star on the exact spot of Jesus’s birth
• Pilgrims will try and come to this exact spot to pray, with many kissing the star to show their devotion
• Particularily around Christmas time, many Christians will attend services in the Church of the Nativity

Question 12

What is the significance of Walsingham for Christians as a place of pilgrimage and where do pilgrims go there?

Answer 12

• It was the primary place of Christian pilgrimage in England for a millenium
• The Lady of the Manor of Walsingham had a vision in the 1000s of Virgin Mary telling her to build a home in Walsingham
• The story goes that they were struggling to build the house but one day they found it had suddenly completed itself and moved 200 yds, establishing it as miraculous
• People will journey here and walk the last mile barefoot, and accomodation will be provided
• There have been accounts of miraculous healing at Walsingham

Question 13

What are the general purposes of Christian pilgrimage outside of the significance of the individual places?

Answer 13

• Traditionally it was to seek forgiveness for sins as the journeys were arduous and long
• In the modern day it provides time for focused reflection free from distraction as much prayer and Bible reading occurs during the journeys, and improve your relationship with the wider Christian community

Question 14

What are the criticisms of pilgrimage for Christians?

Answer 14

• The money and time put into Pilgrimage should be channeled into helping the poor and others as this is a direct command of the Bible while pilgrimage is not compulsory
• The places become crowded and commercialised, losing their religious value and harming locals
• Many people feel praying at home can bring the same benefits
• Putting an expectation on pilgrimage is unfair on those who are without the time or money