What is Liturgy?

To define something is to begin by identifying what it is not.

Liturgy is not….
1. Private prayer, although it requires moments of
individualized prayer and is always deeply personal.
2. Evangelization, although persons are certainly drawn to
faith in Christ because of the quality of our liturgical
celebrations.
3. Catechesis, although we certainly grow in understanding
truths of our faith because of liturgical celebration.
4. The celebration of a “feel-good” sense of community of
the faithful.
 Liturgy is …
1. The work of God.
2. The work of God drawing us to union with the Divine.
3. The action of God transforming us more perfectly into being the
Body of Christ.
4. Our work, but this work is that of surrendering, of giving over
control rather than grasping it.
5. Our work, because it is first the work of Christ who gave himself to
the point of death and who now leads us to this point and beyond.
6. Ritual immersion in the paschal mystery. The liturgical act being
done is nothing less than God acting to transform us and our
surrendering to that transformation by choosing to pass through
the doorway of death to new life.
7. Most of us understand that term paschal mystery refers to Christ’s
life, death, and resurrection.
 LITURGY
It is the public and official prayer service and
worship
offered by the Church to the Father
through the Son, in
The Holy Spirit.

- (Katekesis sa Liturhiya, p.3)

 HOW IS LITURGY BEING CELEBRATED?
1. Signs and symbols
(Ex. Water, wine and bread, oil, sacred images, etc.)
2. Rituals
(Ex. Washing of the hands, use of incense, etc.)
3. Gestures or actions
(Ex. Kneeling, standing, sitting, raising of the eyes,
genuflecting, bowing, etc.)
4. Responses (words and songs)
 WORSHIP
• Worship is an external act by which we show
respect to another. Religious adoration may
be paid only to God because of his infinite and
uncreated goodness: this is known as Latria.
Veneration of the saints because of their
excellence is called Dulia. The special
veneration given to Mary, the Mother of God,
in virtue of her singular privileges and
perfections is called Hyperdulia.
 LITURGY
• Liturgy is the official public worship of the Church.
This includes all the rites, ceremonies and prayers
by which the Christian community assembles to
worship God under its authorized head as part of
the Universal Church. The chief liturgical service is
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This corporate
activity of the Mystical Body of Christ unites Head
and members in adoration, praise, petition,
thanksgiving and reparation, and is expressed in
prayer, sacrifices, sacraments and sacramentals.
 THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
• The Mass is the Holy Eucharist offered as a sacrifice of the
New Covenant in which our Lord, through the ministry of
the priest, offers Himself to God in an unbloody manner
under the appearance of bread and wine. The Mass is,
under a double aspect identical with the sacrifice of
Calvary. In both sacrifice Christ is the victim and the high
priest. The Mass is offered to God in adoration, praise,
petition, thanksgiving and reparation. The Mass is divided
into two principal parts: the Liturgy of the Word once
known as the Mass of the Catechumens, and the Liturgy
of the Eucharist that used to be Mass of the Faithful.
 LITURGICAL BOOKS
• The principal liturgical book for the Mass is the
Roman Missal. The inclusion of readings from the
Old Testament in the post Vatican II Mass has
necessitated, for practical purposes, the breakup of
the missal into two books: the Sacramentary,
containing the prayers and rubrics that are the
same in every Mass; and the Lectionary containing
the Scripture readings. There is another book,
seldom used, containing only the Gospel know as
Evangelary or the Book of Gospels.
 SACRED VESSELS AND ALTAR LINENS
• The priest needs only two sacred vessels for the Holy Mass: the
paten, a small plate in gold or gilded silver, on which the Sacred
Host is laid, and the chalice, also made from gold or gilded silver
out of respect for the precious blood. The unconsecrated large host
is laid on the paten which is placed over the fold purificator (12”x
18”) covering the chalice and this is covered by a small linen
covered stiff material for protection from dust and impurities. The
purificator is used to wipe the chalice during the offertory and after
communion. After the two species are consecrated, the chalice
must rest on the corporal (18”x18”), a white linen cloth spread in
the middle of the altar. The corporal catches any bits or drops of the
Sacred Host. Sacred Hosts for giving communion are kept in a
covered vessel known as the ciborium. Holy communion is taken to
the sick in a small pyx or custodia.
 SACRAMENTAL APPURTENANCES
Fragrant gums and spices that emit white smoke of
pleasing fragrance when burned are
sacramentals used in solemn Masses and other
liturgies. The incense is stored in the incense
boat. It is used by sprinkling it over burning coal
briquettes in a censer or thurible. The censer is
made of metal suspended by three chains.
Candles are an important sacramental of the Church used
at almost all liturgical services. They
Are symbol of faith and recall “the true light that
enlightens everyman who comes into the
world” (John 1, 9). They are a symbol of good example:
“Even so let your light shine before
men, in order that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt
5, 15f). they are also a symbol of sacrifice, hope, zeal and
joy. Candles, prescribed for liturgical
use should be of beeswax. Two are used at Low Mass, six
at High Mass, and fourteen if the
Blessed Sacrament is exposed. They are solemnly blessed
on Candlemass, February 2, the feast
of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin.
Near the altar, on the credence table, are placed
the ampullas or cruets containing the wine
and water, and also a manurtega (9”x12”) or small
towel.

During Mass or Benediction an Altar Bell is also

used. The aspergillum is used to sprinkle holy
water to a congregation.
 VESTMENTS
The vestments of the priest during the celebration
of the Holy Mass has been greatly simplified
after Vatican II. The amice, alb, cincture and
maniple have been done away for practical
reasons. Unfortunately, these vestments had not
only allegorical and edifying significance, but
also supplied lessons to the faithful. Only two are
generally used today: the chasuble and stole.
The stole hangs around the neck and represents
the spiritual power and dignity of the priest.
Near the altar, on the credence table, are placed
the ampullas or cruets containing the wine
and water, and also a manurtega (9”x12”) or small
towel.

During Mass or Benediction an Altar Bell is also

used. The aspergillum is used to sprinkle holy
water to a congregation.
 COLOR OF THE VESTMENTS
The vestments of the priest during the celebration
of the Holy Mass has been greatly simplified
after Vatican II. The amice, alb, cincture and
maniple have been done away for practical
reasons. Unfortunately, these vestments had not
only allegorical and edifying significance, but
also supplied lessons to the faithful. Only two are
generally used today: the chasuble and stole.
The stole hangs around the neck and represents
the spiritual power and dignity of the priest.
 COLOR OF THE VESTMENTS
• The ecclesiastical colors speak a language of
their own, a language of faith and of love, as
does the whole liturgy. From the past, an
allegorical meaning has been attached to men
in color. For the chasuble, only five colors are
now approved by the Church: white, red,
green, violet, and black. Green, white and red
may be replaced by cloth of gold which is
worn only on great solemnities.
 COLOR OF THE VESTMENTS
• White - is the sum of all colors and signifies
the joy and purity of the soul. White vestment
is the peaceable garments for the feast days
of Christ, Light of the World, of the Holy
Trinity, our Lady, the Angels, Confessors and
Virgins. It is also worn from Christmas to
Epiphany, and during Eastertide, when the
Church sings her most cheerful hymns in
honor of the Birth and Resurrection of the
Redeemer.
 COLOR OF THE VESTMENTS
• Red – signifies the fire of Love towards God,
and it is consequently the liturgical color for
the feast of the Holy Spirit, the God of Love;
for feast day on which the suffering and the
cross of Christ isd recalled; for the feastdays of
the Apostles and the Martyrs, who shed their
blood for faith out of love for the Redeemer.
• Green – is the color of hope, worn on ordinary
days.
 COLOR OF THE VESTMENTS
• Violet – is the color of humility and penitence
and is worn in time of repentance, during
Advent and Lent.
• Rose – symbolizes subdued joy, relieved
repentance. It may be used on the Third
Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday of
Lent.
• Black – is a symbol of death and mourning.
It may still be used at funeral liturgies, though
white is usually preferred.
 THE CHURCH CALENDAR

• The Church calendar is based

primarily on three recurring patterns:
weekly Sunday celebrations, annual
seasons, and special days,. Like
yearlong drama, the observance of
these occasions helps us learn the
Catholic faith and take part regularly
in the life of the Church.
 THE CHURCH CALENDAR
• Sunday celebrations – the Eucharistic
celebration of “the Lord’s Day” – on Sunday,
the day of Jesus’ Resurrection – is the oldest
element of the Christian calendar. Sundays
can provide us with regular despite from
work, learn about God and enjoy being
together.
• Annual seasons – the Church also observes
special seasons, each lasting several days or
weeks.
 THE CHURCH CALENDAR
• The Church year begins, not on January 1, but with Advent –
Christmas – Epiphany cycle of seasons, which focuses on our Lord’s
coming to earth. Advent, which means “coming” begins on Sunday
closest to November 30 and lasts until Christmas. It is a time when
we can examine our lives in preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth.
In this season, we also prepare ourselves for Christ’s future return in
glory to judge the world and to establish the kingdom. Advent is
followed by the Christmas season, which begins Christmas Day and
recalls the Lord’s birth. The Sunday after Christmas is dedicated to
the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph). In the Philippines the
Sunday between January 2 and 8 is Epiphany, which remembers the
visit of the Magi; and the Sunday after Epiphany commemorates the
Baptism of the Lord.
 ACTIVITY 3 (Reflection)
1. How is it possible for man to experience God’s
Presence?
2. What way do we experience God’s Presence in
our lives?
3. What way do you concretely share your
experience of God’s Presence in your
Congregation/ Church?
4. What are the effects of experiencing God’s
Presence?