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The Heavenly Elements of the Liturgy
Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 11-09-14 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 11/10/2014 7:20:24 AM PST by Salvation

The Heavenly Elements of the Liturgy

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

http://blog.adw.org/wp-content/uploads/swinging-incense-burner-218x300.jpg

In November, Catholics are encouraged to meditate on the “Last Things.” As you know, I write quite often on Hell. But I have written on Heaven, too. In this post I propose simply to set forth how much of our liturgy is a kind of dress rehearsal for Heaven.

Indeed, Catholics are often unaware just how biblical the Sacred Liturgy is. The design of our traditional churches; the use of candles, incense, and 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 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; 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  that contains the meaning of life and the answers to all we seek. It also focuses on 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 those Protestant Christians who have largely set aside these rituals and criticize our use of them. Many people consider our rituals to be 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 have added my own occasional note in red.

 Candles  -

Altar -

Chair -

Priests (elders) in Albs -

Bishop’s miter, priest’s biretta –

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

Incense, Intercessory prayer -

Hymns – 

Holy, Holy, Holy –

Prostration (Kneeling) -

Lamb of God -

Acclamations –

Amen! -

Silence – 

Mary -

Happy are those called to His “supper” -

Golden vessels, vestments  –

Stained Glass -

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.



TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: altar; bible; catholic; catholicmass; liturgy; mass; msgrcharlespope; sacramentals; stainedglass; theliturgy; themass
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To: defconw
Do your children come out of the womb knowing everything about their religion?

That would be a nice trick if I could do it. However, and I hate to be the one to break this to you, I don't have a womb.

You sure spend a lot of your day going after Catholics.

You've been reading my posting history?

21 posted on 11/10/2014 8:37:39 AM PST by Alex Murphy ("the defacto Leader of the FR Calvinist Protestant Brigades")
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To: Alex Murphy

Yes. But Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote the Gospels under the command and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Likewise Paul and the rest of them.

All this about 1500 years before Martin Luther appeared on the scene and decided he wanted to violate his most sacred oaths, quit the priesthood, and marry a nun. And then tell everyone that only HE knew what the Bible meant.


22 posted on 11/10/2014 8:39:06 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Alex Murphy
I see you on every catholic thread. Unlike you I am only interested in my own religion and I don't go on protestant threads. You post articles daily about the Catholic Church. I don't have to look at your history seeings how I have been on here ten years.

I said come out of the womb. NOT YOUR WOMB! Reading comprehension is a wonderful thing.

23 posted on 11/10/2014 8:42:19 AM PST by defconw (Both parties have clearly lost their minds!)
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To: stonehouse01; Dutchboy88
This is your opinion. Since you are not Catholic you are simply mocking the Faith from the outside. A non Catholic is not qualified to judge Catholics because of their denial of the Sacraments and Sacred Traditions (the Divine Liturgy, etc.); all of which are clearly referenced in the bible. Please do not mock and abuse our Faith since you do not have the authority to do so because you do not properly understand it.

Do we get to disqualify your posts, for not capitalizing the word "Bible"? Clearly the [shift] key is working on your keyboard, yet you keep missing one word, which not-so-coincidentally is the very subject of this thread! Not capitalizing the word "Bible" must be a Catholic thing. You're the third or fourth Catholic that I've seen do this.

24 posted on 11/10/2014 8:42:40 AM PST by Alex Murphy ("the defacto Leader of the FR Calvinist Protestant Brigades")
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To: Salvation

Loved it. I read The Lamb’s Supper. Great book.


25 posted on 11/10/2014 8:45:06 AM PST by tioga
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To: stonehouse01; Alex Murphy
"...(further protestant butchering of the bible)

Please do not mock and abuse our Faith"

You are in no position to describe "mock and abuse", my FRiend. You ask for what you will not give. The doctrines of the so-called RCC are straight from hell. There is no purgatory, there is no sacerdotalism, there is no veneration of Mary, there are no seven sacraments, there is no pope, there is no transubstantiation, there is no celibacy in the Scripture. Each of these dark doctrines are known plainly to the real world and understood for what they are..."fables fit for old women" I Tim 4:7

26 posted on 11/10/2014 8:45:56 AM PST by Dutchboy88
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To: Alex Murphy

Why not go back to you own? You think they are superior to us. So why hang out with us? I am posistive that anyone leaving the Catholic Church would not pick yours as the place to go. I know I wouldn’t.


27 posted on 11/10/2014 8:46:30 AM PST by defconw (Both parties have clearly lost their minds!)
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To: defconw
"What Denomination do you attend?"

The only denomination described in the Scriptures.

28 posted on 11/10/2014 8:47:32 AM PST by Dutchboy88
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To: Dutchboy88

In your opinion. We don’t share that opinion and any amount of bullying from you will not change that. So have a nice day.


29 posted on 11/10/2014 8:51:59 AM PST by defconw (Both parties have clearly lost their minds!)
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To: Dutchboy88

That’s what I figured your answer would be. Oh well, have a nice day.


30 posted on 11/10/2014 8:52:54 AM PST by defconw (Both parties have clearly lost their minds!)
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To: Dutchboy88

I will pray for you.


31 posted on 11/10/2014 8:54:10 AM PST by tioga
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To: Dutchboy88

All these had quotes from the Bible. Why do you have a problem with that?


32 posted on 11/10/2014 8:55:42 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: defconw; Dutchboy88
Why not go back to you own? You think they are superior to us. So why hang out with us? I am posistive that anyone leaving the Catholic Church would not pick yours as the place to go. I know I wouldn’t.

"Go back to my own" what? My womb? My mother's womb?That's just stupid. Even Jesus had to correct Nicodemus on that subject.

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

33 posted on 11/10/2014 8:56:06 AM PST by Alex Murphy ("the defacto Leader of the FR Calvinist Protestant Brigades")
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To: defconw
"We don’t share that opinion and any amount of bullying from you will not change that. So have a nice day."

Your answers belie an ignorance of the Scripture. When you have read the entire story, let me know...we'll talk further. And, I am having several great days, thanks.

34 posted on 11/10/2014 8:56:19 AM PST by Dutchboy88
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To: tioga

He wrote one on Mary that was really good as well. I can’t recall the name of it.


35 posted on 11/10/2014 8:57:27 AM PST by defconw (Both parties have clearly lost their minds!)
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To: Dutchboy88

May the Holy Spirit enlighten you as to the Church that Christ founded on the Apostles, the first Bishops.


36 posted on 11/10/2014 8:57:32 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Alex Murphy
""Go back to my own" what? My womb? My mother's womb?That's just stupid."

LOL.

37 posted on 11/10/2014 8:57:49 AM PST by Dutchboy88
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To: Dutchboy88

So are you saying that you do not believe in the Book of Revelation?


38 posted on 11/10/2014 9:00:06 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: defconw

I have both of them, I lent the one about Mary to my protestant neighbors and they converted to Catholocism after that. The wife had been yearning to become Catholic, but her husband was reticent because “Catholics worshipped Mary”. That book cleared the path for him. I had forgotten about Hahn’s books. In RCIA we have been discussing the mass, I think I will take my copy of the Lamb’s Supper to class to see if someone wants to borrow it. I’ll print up some copies of this homily as well.


39 posted on 11/10/2014 9:02:15 AM PST by tioga
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To: Salvation; Alex Murphy
"All these had quotes from the Bible. Why do you have a problem with that?"

Well, here's the one passage that just about sums up your monsignor's knowledge of the Scripture...

"At the Parbar on the west there were four at the highway and two at the Parbar." I Chron. 26:18

Now don't give me one of your YOPIOS versions of this...it clearly means the RCC doesn't understand the Bible.

40 posted on 11/10/2014 9:03:06 AM PST by Dutchboy88
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