YOUCAT Lesson 180, part 5 of 11 parts
YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth
180 Why is the Mass sometimes referred to as a
“worship service”?
A worship service is in the first place a service that God
performs for us—and only then is it our service offered to God. God gives himself to us under the form of
holy signs—so that we might do the same: give ourselves unreservedly to
him. [1145-1192]
…….Photo: …..Today if you hear
his voice, harden not your hearts (Psalms 95: 6)…. The Second Vatican
Council encouraged the scriptural reading of the Bible rather than relying
solely on devotional writings, booklets and the lives of the Catholic saints.
…..180
Jesus is there in Word and sacrament—God is present. That is the first and most important thing
about every liturgy. Only then do we
enter the picture. Jesus sacrifices his
life for us so that we might offer to him the spiritual sacrifice of our
life. In the Eucharist, Christ gives
himself to us, so that we might give ourselves to him. Thus we take part in the redeeming and
transforming sacrifice of Christ. Our
little life is burst open and led into the kingdom of God. God can live his life in our lives.
…….The following numbered paragraphs are
from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), Second Edition, and give
deeper understanding to YOUCAT Lesson 180:
Liturgical seasons
…….1163 "Holy
Mother Church believes that she should celebrate the saving work of her divine
Spouse in a sacred commemoration on certain days throughout the course of the
year. Once each week, on the day which she has called the Lord's Day, she keeps
the memory of the Lord's resurrection. She also celebrates it once every year,
together with his blessed Passion, at Easter, that most solemn of all feasts.
In the course of the year, moreover, she unfolds the whole mystery of Christ.
. . . Thus recalling the mysteries of the redemption, she opens up to
the faithful the riches of her Lord's powers and merits, so that these are in
some way made present in every age; the faithful lay hold of them and are
filled with saving grace." (Sacresanctum
concilium 102) 33 --Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second
Edition
…….1164 From the time of the Mosaic law, the
People of God have observed fixed feasts, beginning with Passover, to
commemorate the astonishing actions of the Savior God, to give him thanks for
them, to perpetuate their remembrance, and to teach new generations to conform
their conduct to them. In the age of the Church, between the Passover of Christ
already accomplished once for all, and its consummation in the kingdom of God,
the liturgy celebrated on fixed days bears the imprint of the newness of the
mystery of Christ. –CCC
…….1165 When the Church celebrates the mystery of
Christ, there is a word that marks her prayer: "Today!" - a word
echoing the prayer her Lord taught her and the call of the Holy Spirit. (compare Matthew 6:11; Hebrews 3:7- Heb 4:11; Psalms 95: 6) 34 This
"today" of the living God which man is called to enter is "the
hour" of Jesus' Passover, which reaches across and underlies all history:
Life extends over all beings and fills them with unlimited
light; the Orient of orients pervades the universe, and he who was "before
the daystar" and before the heavenly bodies, immortal and vast, the great
Christ, shines over all beings more brightly than the sun. Therefore a day of
long, eternal light is ushered in for us who believe in him, a day which is
never blotted out: the mystical Passover. (St.
Hippolytus, De pasch. 1-2 Sources Chrẻtiennes 27,117) 35 --CCC
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