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:

[aMorePerfectUnion]

We realize that you do not accept the Catholic Mass and Sacraments. Your loss.

Sorry ADSUM, but I had Roman religion for 19 years before I met Christ. I not only have the Lord's Supper, but Himself at all times, eternal life, assurance of salvation, amazing grace and of course, His precious Word.

It was no loss. It was eternal gain!

And do you have eternal life and assurance of salvation ADSUM? Now? If not, do you not want it?

"May God enlighten you to HIS TRUTH."

Indeed!

[metmom]

I could make up sentence using words found from the Bible and that wouldn’t necessarily make it Biblical.

Besides, the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek.

Not Latin or English, so your claim falls flat from the get go.

[Salvation]

** alter **

Who or what got altered? LOL!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Who or what got altered? LOL!

Gee, finally a good question! Thank you for asking!

Let's see... What Got Altered:

1. The Gospel of Grace
2. Salvation
3. Perversion of NT Church Offices
4. Popery
5. Transubstantiation
6. Prayer to departed saints
7. And so much more!

[metmom]

Even the devil can quote scripture.

And Jesus quoted it right back at him.

[metmom]

What?

Do you think Catholics are the only ones who can be sole arbiters of the truth?

It’s easy.

Anyone can read Scripture, especially Hebrews, and see that the priesthood has been done away with.

Jesus died, past tense, rose again, past tense, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

He is not continually dying, being slaughtered at the hands of Catholic priests.

I don’t know who they are killing or participating in his murder but it isn’t the living risen Lord Jesus Christ, seated in glory on high in Scripture.

[Salvation]

**He is not continually dying, being slaughtered at the hands of Catholic priests.**

This is not true.

[metmom]

Yet it is NOT Christian either to attack a good priest’s article which is BTW full of reference to scriptures.

Even the devil can quote Scripture.

Remember?

[ealgeone]

Per Obrien in the Faith of Millions He is.

[metmom]

arrogance and bluster....the two-headed monster of scripture alone...

And yet at the moment, here we are on a thread that is claiming that the mass is entirely based on that very same Scripture.

Does that mean the Catholic mass is also arrogance and bluster? After all, it is Scripture alone, correct?

[ealgeone]

metmom: **He is continually dying, being slaughtered at the hands of Catholic priests.**

salvation: This is not true.

John O' Brien, Roman Catholic Priest in the Faith of Millions.	Hebrews 9:24-28	Hebrews 10:11-13
When the priest pronounces the tremendous words of consecration, he reaches up into the heavens, brings Christ down from His throne, and places Him upon our altar to be offered up again as the Victim for the sins of man. It is a power greater than that of monarchs and emperors: it is greater than that of saints and angels, greater than that of Seraphim and Cherubim. Indeed it is greater even than the power of the Virgin Mary. While the Blessed Virgin was the human agency by which Christ became incarnate a single time, the priest brings Christ down from heaven, and renders Him present on our altar as the eternal Victim for the sins of man—not once but a thousand times! The priest speaks and lo! Christ, the eternal and omnipotent God, bows His head in humble obedience to the priest’s command.	24For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.	Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

[M Kehoe]

Sheesh.

5.56mm

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"And yet at the moment, here we are on a thread that is claiming that the mass is entirely based on that very same Scripture. Does that mean the Catholic mass is also arrogance and bluster? After all, it is Scripture alone, correct?

+1

Isn't it funny that Romans ridicule putting authority in God's Word above others while trying to justify their practices with Scripture???

😀

[daniel1212]

Every sentence of the Mass comes from the Bible.

Wrong, while even if true, this would prove what? There was a reason the devil quoted the Scriptures and the majority of the Book of Mormon is from the Bible.

This webpage contains the English translation of the Mass used up until 2011. (http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm)

Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water:

Lord God almighty, creator of all life, of body and soul, we ask you to bless this water: as we use it in faith forgive our sins and save us from all illness and the power of evil.

Nowhere is water itself ritually blessed in Scripture in order to forgive sins and heal bodies.

May almighty God cleanse us of our sins, and through the eucharist we celebrate make us worthy to sit at his table in his heavenly kingdom

Nowhere in the inspired record of the NT church is the Lord's supper taught or shown to be a means of making souls s worthy to sit at his table in his heavenly kingdom. Instead, believers are not to take part in this communal feast which signifies unity with Christ and each other whom He bought with His sinless shed blood. See here by God's grace.

and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

Nowhere nowhere are believers shown praying to created beings in Heaven (PTCBIH) or taught to, despite the Spirit inspiring the recording of about 200 prayers, and this being a most basic practice, with there always being plenty of created beings to pray to, and occasions for to do so since the Fall.

The above is not a complete list of all that a Mass can contain nor all that is not from the Bible, but it shall suffice to show that every sentence of the Mass does not come from the Bible, even though for a Cath this can mean according to what they read into it, as with PTCBIH .

[daniel1212]

The liturgy here on earth is modeled after the liturgy in Heaven;

Shame on him. He must know better than that just because something is in Scripture does not make it part of a liturgy, or make it Biblical to be part of a church service.

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.

And such in paganism also, as Newman affirms,

The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holydays and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on the fields; sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison [Note 17], are all of pagan origin , and sanctified by their adoption into the Church.." {374} "The introduction of Images was still later, and met with more opposition in the West than in the East." (John Henry Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, Chapter 8. Application of the Third Note of a True Development—Assimilative Power; http://www.newmanreader.org/works/development/chapter8.html

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.

Just where is this a set liturgy in Rv. 1? There is not even any singing, but a vision of the Lord (and not as a wafer) and His speaking.

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

This is a different scene, after "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." (Revelation 4:1)

All for now.

[daniel1212]

Never, ever, for a NT church. Priests are not a NT church office, nor do they appear before 100 AD, during the lives of the Apostles. It is made up using paganism in a later age.

As meaning a distinct sacerdotal class for whom the distinctive word for such is used.

[daniel1212]

From what I see, in this article, does point to Bible.

So does the Book of Mormon, and even the Qur'an (whose followers your church says worship God along with them), and so did the devil, who knows where authority resides and thus seeks to hijack it, and Rome often does the same.

[daniel1212]

Well there are a lot of anti-Catholics around here.

Along with the NT church of Scripture, in which Catholic distinctives are missing .

[daniel1212]

it is extremely difficult to step back and honestly look at the way the Romans warship when compared to what an honest observer sees in Scripture.

Sorry, my phone dictated it as warship not worship

Your phone was correct. Roman warship (exterminate the heretics/Prots) is also not worship!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Shame on him. He must know better than that just because something is in Scripture does not make it part of a liturgy, or make it Biblical to be part of a church service.

Oh, he doesn't know, based on the many, many posts Salvation has made of his articles.

Seems like a nice guy, despite being ignorant of Scripture.