The Biblical Roots of the [Catholic] Liturgy

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 11-26-17 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

The Biblical Roots of the Liturgy

Msgr. Charles Pope • November 26, 2017 •

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. Many people consider our rituals to be empty and vain, “smells and bells.” Some think austere liturgical environments devoid of much ritual are “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 our 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 –

• 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 to see not 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’s 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 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, flat on the ground. Kneeling developed as a practical solution to the lack of space, but it amounts to the same demeanor 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” –

• Rev 19:6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder peals, 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, the 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, except for one quote drawn only from the Book of Revelation. I invite you to add to it.

Here is an awesome video with wonderful quotes:

[Elsie]

Go back to 1John 1.

No.

I asked a question; in three parts:

Total?
Absolute??
Unwavering???

Let's deal with them.

[Elsie]

I watch you guys day in and day out and often late into the night tie yourselves into knots trying to prove what is, isn’t and what isn’t, is.

Like Mary was/is sinless?

Although I will have to give Rome credit.

It does not even TRY to 'prove' it; just name it and claim it.

[infool7]

“Christ longed for us to be one Church, not my church, not your church but His Church

This is a peculiar comment from you. You never cease to talk all about your church on this thread.

I reviewed my posts and I didn't see one where I claimed such a thing. I am in communion with the One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ Jesus but it is not my Church it is His Church and I can't imagine having claimed it as mine. His Church does have quite the liberal (re-/)admission policy. You are only asked to lay your burdens down at the door.

[infool7]

Although I will have to give Rome credit.

Well it's a step in the right direction.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“can’t imagine having claimed it as mine. ”

Oh, but you do. And you claim things for it that are false.

[metmom]

Jesus didn’t die for a denomination or to have everyone united under one earthly religious head, as if that is helping you guys at the moment.

The current condition of the RCC actually refutes your contention that being united under one earthly religious head is somehow advantageous.

However, for all the varying denominational differences among the non-Catholics, we are united by our faith in Christ under one SPIRITUAL head, that is Jesus.

Our unity does not come from denominational affiliation but rather belonging to God’s family through the new birth, being born of the Spirit.

We don’t have to submit to one centralized authority here on earth. All the churches in the NT didn’t and there was no indication of that being set up at all in the NT. Not the slightest hint of one church being called the one true church as the Catholic church claims it is.

[metmom]

His Church does have quite the liberal (re-/)admission policy.

On the contrary, it's as exclusive as they come and you either toe the line or you get ex-communicated or accused of self-excommunicating yourself.

[infool7]

Astounding indeed. I claim that your charge of false claims are unfounded and scurrilous. By all means alert me to these “false claims” that you claim I have made so that I can make proper clarifications.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

By all means alert me to these “false claims” that you claim I have made so that I can make proper clarifications.

Here is your mynah bird claim that is both false and simply an assertion...

"the One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ Jesus"

False in that you apply it to Rome. False in that you claim it that the Roman church today is the same church.

As daniel1212 documented, none of the Apostles would recognize great portions of what is believed and practiced by Rome.

[infool7]

On the contrary, it's as exclusive as they come and you either toe the line or you get ex-communicated or accused of self-excommunicating yourself.

So do you think that's wrong? Some think His Church should be even more exclusive and others would have Satan himself sitting in a pew. "Go and sin no more" are Jesus' words and hey they haven't kicked me out yet and though I try not to I am still a sinner. Ultimately Jesus will be the one who judges who was in and who wasn't.

Here is the List of people excommunicated by the Catholic Church at wikipedia I cant vouch for it's accuracy or completeness but it's sufficient to illustrate the basics of ex-communication for those that are interested.

[infool7]

False in that you apply it to Rome. False in that you claim it that the Roman church today is the same church.

That's your claim and I claim that it is your claim that is the false claim.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Since there is no Biblical record supporting your claim and no historical record supporting your claim, it is simply your assertion.

Ping me when you find either.

[infool7]

The current condition of the RCC actually refutes your contention that being united under one earthly religious head is somehow advantageous.

C'mon give it two or three hundred years those issues will just sort themselves out as for the other things that's just not what I have come to believe. I believe in the... do I really have to type it again?

[infool7]

Since there is no Biblical record supporting your claim and no historical record supporting your claim, it is simply your assertion.

Oh, it's not just my assertion, there are 1.29 billion others that share it with me.

[editor-surveyor]

.
Stop pretending that there is any mystery.

1John explains it all completely, but apparently you reject his sincerity and his apostleship, or you would not be playing this game.

Is 1John the word of God?

If it is, then Torah is the required standard of righteousness, and adherance thereto is the measure of belief in Yeshua.

If you do not “walk as he walked” but think you’ll be saved, you are making Yeshua, and John liars.
.

[Elsie]

Well it's a step in the right direction.

Thanks; Rome; for the Book that changed my life.

[Elsie]

Stop pretending that there is any mystery.

Stop avoiding answer the simple questions.

If it is, then Torah is the required standard of righteousness, and adherence thereto is the measure of belief in Yeshua.

[Elsie]

... Torah is the required standard of righteousness,

Sure strange that JESUS failed to say this when He was asked...

John 6:28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

[Mark17]

We don’t have to submit to one centralized authority here on earth.

You are correct MM, we don’t, and judging from all the Catholic anti Frank threads, I am thinking a lot of Catholics don’t think so either.
Now, as you mentioned, I also have no idea what denominational background most of the born agains on the threads are, and quite frankly, don’t care. We are free to have different opinions about things like pre trib, mid trib, post trib. Spiritual gifts, and I don’t mean those fruitcakes who engage in holy laughter and hiss like snakes.
On the other hand, when it comes to the ONLY doctrine that matters a hill of beans, we march lockstep, in complete unison, with no wavering whatsoever. Of course, I refer to the plan of salvation. God, knowing how tigas ulo (hard headed) some so called religious people could be, made the plan of salvation so simple a 3 year old can understand it. Why certain individuals cannot grasp the concept, speaks volumes for their lack of spiritual discernment. I was only confronted with the gospel once, when one of the guys, literally and physically drew me a picture of how to make sure my name was written in the Lamb’s book of life. I wasn’t about to pass on the deal. 😂😊😄😀

[Elsie]

If you do not “walk as he walked” but think you’ll be saved, you are making Yeshua, and John liars.

How many lepers have YOU cured?