The Biblical and Heavenly Roots of the Sacred Liturgy

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 9/6/2010 | Msgr Charles Pope

[markomalley]

Catholics are often unaware just how Biblical the Sacred Liturgy is. The design of our traditional churches, the use of candles, incense, golden vessels, the postures of standing and kneeling, the altar, the singing of hymns, priests wearing albs and so forth are all depicted in the Scriptures. Some of these details were features of the ancient Jewish Temple, but most all of these are reiterated in the Book of Revelation which describes the liturgy of heaven.

The liturgy here on earth is modeled after the liturgy in heaven and that is why it is so serious to tamper with it. The Book of  Revelation describes the heavenly liturgy and focuses on a scroll or book  which contains the meaning of life and the answers to all we seek. It also focuses the Lamb of God, standing but with the marks of slaughter upon it. Does this not sound familiar? It is the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

We do well to be aware of the Biblical roots of the Sacred Liturgy not only for our own edification but also as an answer to Protestant Christians who have largely set aside these rituals and, some of whom, criticize our use of them. Many people consider our rituals empty and vain, “smells and bells.” Some consider austere liturgical environments devoid of much ritual to be “purer,” and closer to the worship in “spirit and in truth” that Jesus spoke of in John 4.

To such criticisms we must insist that these rituals, properly understood, are mystical and deeply biblical. Further, they are elements of the heavenly liturgy since almost all of them are mentioned as aspects of the worship or liturgy that takes place in heaven. In this light it is a serious mistake to set them aside or have a dismissive attitude toward them.

With that in mind we ought to consider the Biblical references to the most common elements of Catholic and Orthodox liturgies. I place an ocassional note in Red where it seems appropriate.

 Candles  -

• Rev 1:12-13 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,  and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man. In traditional catholic parishes there are six candles on the high altar and a seventh candle is brought out when the bishop is present. 

• Rev 4:6 Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne.

Altar -

• Rev 9:13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 
• Rev 8:3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.

Chair -

• Rev 4:1 and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald…. 
• Daniel 7:9  As I looked,  thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat;… In the sacred liturgy the Chair of the priest is prominent. But, as he takes his seat we are invited not to see Father Jones, but rather the Lord himself presiding in our midst.

Priests (elders) in Albs: 

• Rev 4:4 the elders sat, dressed in white garments…..

Bishop’s Miter, priest biretta –

• Rev 4:4, 10 With golden crowns on their heads……they cast down their crowns before the throne…. In the Liturgy the Bishop may only wear his miter at prescribed times. But when he goes to the altar he must cast aside his miter. The priest who wears the biretta in the Old Mass is instructed to tip his biretta at the mention of the the Holy Name and to lay it aside entirely when he goes to the altar.  

Focus on a scroll (Book) The Liturgy of the Word -

• Rev 5: 1 And I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I wept much that no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Weep not; lo, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” In the ancient world books, as we know them now, had not been invented. Texts were written on long scrolls and rolled up.

Incense, Intercessory prayer -

• Rev 8:3 another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God…..

• Rev 5:7 and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; 

Hymns  –

• Rev 5:8 – And they sang a new hymn: Worthy are you O Lord to receive the scroll and break open its seals. For you were slain and with your blood  you purchase for God men of every race and tongue, and those of every nation.
• Rev 14:1 Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads… and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.  

• Rev 15:3 And they (the multitude no one could count) sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and wonderful are thy deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are thy ways, O King of the ages!  Who shall not fear and glorify thy name, O Lord? For thou alone art holy. All nations shall come and worship thee,  for thy judgments have been revealed.”

Holy Holy Holy

• Rev 4:8 and day and night they never cease to sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

Prostration (Kneeling) -

• Rev 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne. …
• Rev 5:14 and the elders fell down and worshiped  - In today’s setting there is seldom room for everyone to lie, prostrate and  flat on the ground. Hence, kneeling developed as a practical solution to the lack of space but amounts to the same demenor of humble adoration.

Lamb of God -

• Rev 5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain,

Acclamations –  

• Rev 5:11  Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Amen!

• Rev 5:14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!”.

Silence

• Rev 8:1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (and you thought your priest paused too long after communion?)

Mary -

• Rev 12:1 And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. 

Happy are those called to his “supper”

• Revelation 19: 6Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying,  “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;… And the angel said£ to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

Golden Vessels, vestments  -

• Rev 1:12 – And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
• Rev 1:13 – and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest
• Rev 5:8 – the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense
• Rev 8:3 – Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, at the golden altar before the throne.

• Rev 15:16 – The angels were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.
• Rev 15:17  seven golden bowls

Stained Glass -

• Rev 21:10 [The heavenly city] had a great, high wall, with twelve gates,… The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. (The image of stained glass in our Church walls is hinted at here).

Here is but a partial list, drawn only from the Book of Revelation. I invite you to add to it.  You might also read The Lamb’s Supper by Scott Hahn, and The Mass: A Biblical Prayer,by Fr. Peter Stravinskas.

[Raycpa]

Awesome, thanks.

[dartuser]

Non Catholic question: ... really, Im not Catholic and I dont seek to stir up argument; there are other threads for that kind of debate.

But I was glancing though and I paused at the part where Catholics claim Mary is the woman in Revelation 12 and I found (at least what I consider) an inconsistency here.

The passage in question says the woman cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for her delivery.

My question is this (it really is a serious question and Im not conceided enough to think this is original) ... but if Mary was sinless, why did she have the curse of Genesis given to women during childbirth?

Not a problem for me as a non-Catholic as I think the woman in Rev 12 is the nation of Israel ...

But I was just wondering if some of the theologians up here have an answer for this ...

Again, Im not trying to say “aha I have you now “ ... Im sure there is a Catholic response ... I just dont know what it is and am curious how this issue would be handled. I will not post again to this thread ... Thanks to you all ...

[dartuser]

Actually, I dont see CATHOLIC CAUCUS so I think my question is appropriate and I will respond to answers ... thanks.

[RnMomof7]

The apostles never had a "mass". There is no mention of a mass in scripture.. or any type of "sacrifice" or "altar" or "priesthood "

The attempt to make the "mass" biblical by pulling scripture out of context will only please that already believe it

[RnMomof7]

She also has wigs and flies away...SERIOUS scriptural scholars believe the woman is Israel

[Pyro7480]

The apostles never had a "mass". There is no mention of a mass in scripture.. or any type of "sacrifice" or "altar" or "priesthood "

Of course, it wasn't called a "Mass." That's just one name for it. But they definitely had liturgy, which is the more "accurate," in a sense, name for it. You're argument is like those who don't believe in the Holy Trinity just because the term isn't in Scripture.

The attempt to make the "mass" biblical by pulling scripture out of context will only please that already believe it

Well, you're right except about the "out of context" part. For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.

[Pyro7480]

SERIOUS scriptural scholars believe the woman is Israel

So, by default, Catholics aren't serious scriptural scholars, in your opinion. But that doesn't take into account that right before the beginning of chapter 12, the last verse of chapter 11 mentions how the "temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his testament was seen in his temple, and there were lightnings, and voices, and an earthquake, and great hail." Then the woman is mentioned, who is the ark of the new testament.

[editor-surveyor]

“So, by default, Catholics aren’t serious scriptural scholars, in your opinion.”

.
The roman Catholic Church is caught up in seeking justification for their completely unscriptural deification of Mary, and use practically every mention of a woman toward that end.

It is very clear that the term “Woman” in Genesis refers to Israel, and the parallels throughout the rest of scriptures mesh perfectly with that understandsing.

Mary is of no particular importance in scripture beyond her carrying of the child into the world. Subsequent to that, she became the epitome of the average Jewish woman, including the bearing of at least five, and more likely seven additional children. There is no mention of Mary whatsoever after Pentecost, as her job had been completed.
.

[Pyro7480]

The roman Catholic Church is caught up in seeking justification for their completely unscriptural deification of Mary

Straw man alert! Neither Catholic nor Orthodox believe that Mary is a "goddess," contrary to the longstanding claim of too many "Reformed" Christians.

[editor-surveyor]

You literally pray to Mary!

You attach to her the title of Semiramis: Mother of God, and Queen of Heaven; both deeply idolatrous pagan titles.

Scripture clearly tells us (in the words of Christ) that we are to pray to the Father, under the authority given us by the son.

Nowhere in god’s word are we given permission to pray to any other than the Father. To do so is idolatry.
.

[Pyro7480]

You literally pray to Mary!

Yes, and? Your theology of prayer is erroneous.

You attach to her the title of Semiramis: Mother of God, and Queen of Heaven; both deeply idolatrous pagan titles.

Semiramis? Never heard of that. The title of "Mother of God," or, more properly, "Theotokos" in Greek, is a recognition of who Christ is- a Person who is both human and divine. Queen of Heaven is the more controversial one, but again, it's something that is a gift of Christ, her royal Son, not something she has because she is a goddess.

Nowhere in god’s word are we given permission to pray to any other than the Father. To do so is idolatry.

You're following the erroneous teachings of the "Reformers."

[Pyro7480]

Heck, it isn't even the original "Reformers," but someone that came much later!

Alexander Hislop

[RnMomof7]

Of course, it wasn't called a "Mass." That's just one name for it. But they definitely had liturgy, which is the more "accurate," in a sense, name for it. You're argument is like those who don't believe in the Holy Trinity just because the term isn't in Scripture.

Scripture please

There was no priesthood, no altars. The Lords table was not considered a sacrifice in the early church, so there were no need for those things that one needs for a sacrifice.

"Priesthood as we know it in the Catholic church was unheard of during the first generation of Christianity, because at that time priesthood was still associated with animal sacrifices in both the Jewish and pagan religions."

"A clearly defined local leadership in the form of elders, or presbyteroi, became still more important when the original apostles and disciples of Jesus died.
The chief elder in each community was often called the episkopos (Greek, 'overseer'). In English this came to be translated as 'bishop' (Latin, episcopus). Ordinarily he presided over the community's Eucharistic assembly."

"When the Eucharist came to be regarded as a sacrifice, the role of the bishop took on a priestly dimension. By the third century bishops were considered priests.
Presbyters or elders sometimes substituted for the bishop at the Eucharist. By the end of the third century people all over were using the title 'priest' (hierus in Greek and sacerdos in Latin) for whoever presided at the Eucharist."
Catholic Customs & Traditions, Greg Dues (New London: Twenty Third Publications, 2007). pg166

No priesthood, no sacrifice, no "liturgy" (unless one calls singing liturgy), no altar... The Catholic mass, and system is found NO WHERE in the NT church

[RnMomof7]

So, by default, Catholics aren't serious scriptural scholars, in your opinion. But that doesn't take into account that right before the beginning of chapter 12, the last verse of chapter 11 mentions how the "temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his testament was seen in his temple, and there were lightnings, and voices, and an earthquake, and great hail." Then the woman is mentioned, who is the ark of the new testament.

LOL..you just make my point so well

The Mercy seat sits atop the ark... so if She was the ark, she is the one that issues judgement, not Christ

This kind of teaching shows the perversion of scripture and how it is passed on.

The entire Bible is about Christ. All of the "types" are pointing to Christ.

The ark was a type of Christ, The mercy seat on top of it is where God met with men
Mary has not the authority to hear and judge men or to give or withold mercy

If you were to examine the history of the ark there would be striking resemblances to the ministry of Jesus our Lord:

The ark went before the people..It led them - Jesus went before them:

John 10:4 "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

The ark was in the middle of God's people - Jesus is in His people:

John 14:20 "At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

The people were to follow the ark - We are to follow Jesus: Luke 5:27-28 After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

And on and on, the ark was always first to lead them. It was death to those that were enemies of God. The ark brought blessings and curses.

http://www.bible-history.com/taberna...e_Covenant.htm Look For Christ not His mother , she does not save.

[RnMomof7]

Editor wrote: Nowhere in god’s word are we given permission to pray to any other than the Father. To do so is idolatry.

Pyro replied You're following the erroneous teachings of the "Reformers.

Could you point us to that "error" Where does scripture PRESCRIBE or ALLOW prayer to anyone but God?

[editor-surveyor]

> “Semiramis? Never heard of that.”

Because you never read the word of God?
.

Quote the scripture where the Lord allows a prayer to any human.
.

[HarleyD]

I wouldn't put a lot of stock in believing a literal interpretation of Revelation. Few can give a beginning to end interpretation. Even the Orthodox admit they don't understand the book.

I don't wish to highjack the discussion, but the seven churches of Revelation is a good example. If the Catholic Church was ONE church, why was their a need to address seven letter? And certainly God wasn't happy with all but one.

Burning incense or lighting candles do nothing. As Paul stated:

Col 2:23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

[markomalley]

If the Catholic Church was ONE church, why was their a need to address seven letter? And certainly God wasn't happy with all but one.

The seven churches were dealing with literal dioceses that were all part of the Church Universal (a/k/a Catholic). No different than the Church in Corinth, Thessaloniki, Rome, Colossae, Philippi, and the province of Galatia. And it didn't seem that God was too happy with many of them, either. Especially those rascals in Corinth.

As for the quote from St. Paul, you can clearly tell that he was referring to Judaizers. You can see that from looking at verse 11 in the same chapter: In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand in despoiling of the body of the flesh: but in the circumcision of Christ.

In fact, if anything, the context of the overall passage actually informs me that we should worship as the heavenly worship goes. After all, as St Paul says in the verse following: Therefore if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above...

So if they burn incense in heaven, that works for me. If they have candles burning, that works for me as well.

Do I think that either are essential for salvation? No. So if you don't care for incense or candles, by all means, don't.

[annalex]

That she is Mary is clear from the simple fact that she is identified as the mother of Christ in that chapter.

A scholar of scripture might conclude that therefore Mary did suffer labor pains, — the absence of which is nowhere in the scripture, — but that the woman in Rev 12 is Mary and no one else is plain scritpure. It is always amusing to see Protestants argue fantastical theories about the woman being “Israel”.