191 To Enter the House of God We Must Cross a Threshold

YOUCAT Lesson 191

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

191  What liturgical spaces define a house of God?

The central places of a house of God are the altar with the crucifix, the tabernacle, the celebrant’s chair, the ambo, the baptismal font, and the confessional.  [1182-1188]

Photo: …..Here, the “Great Amen” prayer is being intoned by the celebrant and joined in by the kneeling congregation prior to the distribution of Holy Communion.  This is an interior view of Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church, Woodruff, WI. In this view, L to R, are the vigil lamp, the lecturn, the altar, and the chair within the area of the sanctuary. …191

The altar is the central point of the church.  On it Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross and Resurrection are made present in the celebration of the Eucharist.  It is also the table to which the People of God are invited.  The tabernacle, a kind of sacred safe, houses with the greatest honor in a most worthy place in the church the Eucharistic species in which the Lord himself is present.  The so-called perpetual lamp indicates that the tabernacle is “occupied”.  If the lamp is not burning, the tabernacle is empty.  The raised chair (Latin cathedra) of the bishop or the priest means that ultimately Christ is the one who leads the congregation.  The ambo (from Greek anabainein=to climb up), the lectern for the Word of God, should manifest the value and dignity of the biblical readings as the Word of the living God.  Baptisms are performed at the baptismal font, and the holy water font should be a vivid reminder of our baptismal promises.  A confessional or confession room is there so that we can acknowledge our guilt and receive forgiveness.

…….WHERE IS THE LITURGY CELEBRATED?

…….1182   The altar of the New Covenant is the Lord's Cross, (compare Hebrews 13:10)⁵⁹   from which the sacraments of the Paschal mystery flow. On the altar, which is the center of the church, the sacrifice of the Cross is made present under sacramental signs. The altar is also the table of the Lord, to which the People of God are invited. (compare General Instruction to Roman Missal 259)⁶⁰    In certain Eastern liturgies, the altar is also the symbol of the tomb (Christ truly died and is truly risen). –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1183   The tabernacle is to be situated "in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor." ( Paul VI, Mysterium Fidei: Acts Apostolic Sedis (1965) 771)⁶¹    The dignity, placing, and security of the Eucharistic tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. (compare Sacrosanctum Concilium 128)⁶² –CCC

…….The  sacred chrism (myron), used in anointings as the sacramental sign of the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, is traditionally reserved and venerated in a secure place in the sanctuary. The oil of catechumens and the oil of the sick may also be placed there. –CCC

…….1184   The chair of the bishop (cathedra) or that of the priest "should express his office of presiding over the assembly and of directing prayer." (General Instruction to Roman Missal 271.)⁶³  --CCC

…….The lectern (ambo): "The dignity of the Word of God requires the church to have a suitable place for announcing his message so that the attention of the people may be easily directed to that place during the liturgy of the Word." (General Instruction to Roman Missal 272)⁶⁴ –CCC

…….1185 The gathering of the People of God begins with Baptism; a church must have a place for the celebration of Baptism (baptistry) and for fostering remembrance of the baptismal promises (holy water font).  –CCC

The renewal of the baptismal life requires penance. A church, then, must lend itself to the expression of repentance and the reception of forgiveness, which requires an appropriate place to receive penitents. –CCC

…….A church must also be a space that invites us to the recollection and silent prayer that extend and internalize the great prayer of the Eucharist. –CCC

…….1186   Finally, the church has an eschatological significance. To enter into the house of God, we must cross a threshold, which symbolizes passing from the world wounded by sin to the world of the new Life to which all men are called. The visible church is a symbol of the Father's house toward which the People of God is journeying and where the Father "will wipe every tear from their eyes." ( Revelation 21:4)⁶⁵   Also for this reason, the Church is the house of all God's children, open and welcoming. –CCC

…….IN BRIEF

…….1187 The liturgy is the work of the whole Christ, head and body. Our high priest celebrates it unceasingly in the heavenly liturgy, with the holy Mother of God, the apostles, all the saints, and the multitude of those who have already entered the kingdom.

…….1188 In a liturgical celebration, the whole assembly is leitourgos, each member according to his own function. The baptismal priesthood is that of the whole Body of Christ. But some of the faithful are ordained through the sacrament of Holy Orders to represent Christ as head of the Body. --CCC