165. Amen

Amen

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 165

Ave Maria series

165  Why do we say “Amen” to the profession of our faith?

We say Amen—“Yes”—to the profession of our faith because God appoints us witnesses to the faith.  Anyone who says Amen assents freely and gladly to God’s work in creation and redemption.  [1061-1065]

Consecration of the host during Mass in the Grotto of the Annunciation, Nazareth. …..165

The Gospel of Saint John 6:53 is an example of Jesus using the double “Amen” to emphasize the importance of what he was telling the people when he said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.”  The Catholic faith holds that the bread and wine consecrated at Mass becomes the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is termed “transubstantiation.”  By no means is it a mere symbolical act.

The Hebrew word amen comes from a family of words that mean both “faith” and “steadfastness, reliability, fidelity”.  “He who says amen writes his signature” (St. Augustine).  We can pronounce this unconditional Yes only because Jesus in his death and Resurrection has proved to be faithful and trustworthy for us.  He himself is the human Yes to all God’s promises, just as he is also God’s definitive Yes to us.  527

Amen:  The word amen (from Hebrew aman=to be steadfast, trustworthy) is used in the Old Testament most often in the sense of “so be it”, to reaffirm one’s desire for God to act or to join in the praise of God.  In the New Testament it is commonly the affirmative concluding word of a prayer.  Most often, however, Jesus himself uses it as an otherwise unusual introduction to a speech.  It underscores the authority of his words.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.  That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God.  2 Corinthians 1:20

[1061-1065]

  "AMEN"

1061 The Creed, like the last book of the Bible,(1 Corinthians 5:28)⁶⁴⁴  ends with the Hebrew word amen. This word frequently concludes prayers in the New Testament. The Church likewise ends her prayers with "Amen." —Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

1062 In Hebrew, amen comes from the same root as the word "believe." This root expresses solidity, trustworthiness, faithfulness. And so we can understand why "Amen" may express both God's faithfulness towards us and our trust in him. —CCC

1063 In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we find the expression "God of truth" (literally "God of the Amen"), that is, the God who is faithful to his promises: "He who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth [amen]."(St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. illum. 18,29:Patrologia Graeca 33,1049)⁶⁴⁵  Our Lord often used the word "Amen," sometimes repeated,(compare Revelation 22:21)⁶⁴⁶ to emphasize the trustworthiness of his teaching, his authority founded on God's truth. --CCC

1064 Thus the Creed's final "Amen" repeats and confirms its first words: "I believe." To believe is to say "Amen" to God's words, promises and commandments; to entrust oneself completely to him who is the "Amen" of infinite love and perfect faithfulness. The Christian's everyday life will then be the "Amen" to the "I believe" of our baptismal profession of faith: --CCC

May your Creed be for you as a mirror. Look at yourself in it, to see if you believe everything you say you believe. And rejoice in your faith each day.( Isaiah 65:16)⁶⁴⁷  –CCC

1065 Jesus Christ himself is the "Amen."(compare Matthew 6:2,5,16; John 5:19)⁶⁴⁸    He is the definitive "Amen" of the Father's love for us. He takes up and completes our "Amen" to the Father: "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God"(St. Augustine, Sermo 58,11,13:Patrologia Latina 38,399)⁶⁴⁹  –CCC

Through him, with him, in him, 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
all glory and honor is yours, 
almighty Father, 
God, for ever and ever. 
AMEN. –CCC

Church  Consecration of