STRUCTURED, ORDERLY WORSHIP

     A structured, performed response to the actions of God's grace is called "liturgy," from the Greek word Λειτουργία meaning, "work of the people."  Various religions have liturgies associated with memorials that recall special moments in community life, special people or life events such as births, marriages, death, or other "rites of passage."

     The worship of the Christian church is a development of the rituals associated with both the Temple of Jerusalem as well as the Jewish synagogue.  Inasmuch as the Christian movement is an outgrowth of the religion of the Old Testament, it inherited and modified the life of worship and community of the people of Israel.  As the Christian movement inculturated regionally, the liturgies of various groups of Christians took on the character of the culture and people of the region.  These liturgies became part of the two bodies of Christian tradition known as Latin (Roman/ Western) or Greek (Byzantine/ Eastern) reflecting the language of the liturgy as well as the spirituality of the tradition.

THE MASS

     At the end of the Roman lturgy, the Priest offers a blessing to the parishioners.  After the blessing, the deacon dismisses the people. In fact, the dismissal gives the liturgy its name. The word "Mass" comes from the Latin word, missa. In the Latin Rite, the people are  dismissed with the words Ite, missa est (literally meaning "Go, she — meaning you, the Church — has been sent"). The word Missa is related to the word Latin word missio, the root of the English word "mission." The liturgy does not simply come to an end. Those assembled are sent forth to bring the fruits of the Eucharist to the world.

     The Mass is also referred to as "the Eucharist," a Greek word (εὐχαριστία) which means “to give thanks.” Although it is common to refer to the entire Mass as “the Eucharist,” the Mass actually contains two parts: the first is called the Liturgy of the Word (Mass of Catechumens) and the second is called the Liturgy of the Eucharist. (Mass of the Faithful).

     What’s important to know now is that the central part of the entire Mass–where the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus–happens during the second half, the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The first half is still important, though. In fact, it wouldn’t be the Mass without the Liturgy of the Word. The Catechism of the Catholic Church uses a lot of other words to define the Mass, including “The Holy and Divine Liturgy,” “Holy Communion,” “Holy Sacrifice,” and “Breaking of Bread” (CCC 1328-1332). Each of these different names emphasizes a different aspect of the Mass.

OUR DEVOTION AND PIETY

     While the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is "the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed" and "the font from which all her power flows," it is not possible for us to fill up all of our day with participation in the liturgy. The Second Vatican Council pointed out that the spiritual life "is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. . . . according to the teaching of the apostle, [the Christian] must pray without ceasing." 

     Popular devotional practices play a crucial role in helping to foster this ceaseless prayer. The faithful have always used a variety of practices as a means of permeating everyday life with prayer to God. Properly used, popular devotional practices do not replace the liturgical life of the Church; rather, they extend it into daily life.  Examples include pilgrimages, prayer (i.e., novenas, processions and celebrations in honor of Mary and the other saints, the rosary, the Angelus, the Stations of the Cross, the veneration of relics, and the use of sacramentals.

• Questions About Popular Devotions

• Traditional Devotions and Spirituality

• Thinking and Living Sacramentally

OUR LIFE

     The Catholic faith is summarized in the Symbol of the Apostles' Creed, the 10 Commandments (summarized by Jesus Christ in the "Two Greatest Commandments") and the Beatitudes.  Catholic social teaching is best understood as solidarity with the poor, the aged, the weak, the sick, the incarcerated and little children--in essence, the defenseless-- for Jesus said if we do not attend to the "least of these" we have not attended to Him (Matt. 25).

     We seek by God's grace to cultivate the Cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance), the Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope and Love), and avoid the Cardinal Sins (Pride, Coveting, Envy, Anger, Lust, Gluttony and Sloth).

     As faithful disciples of Jesus Christ in union with His successors, the Bishops and the Holy Father - the Pope - by God's grace, we strive to attend to the faith and morals handed down to us.  In the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians: 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (1 Cor. 9.24-27) 

     St. James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem, tells us "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26).  Further, St. Paul instructs us that real, living faith is obedient faith that "works through love" (Galatians 5:6).  While we are saved by grace through faith, "we were created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Ephesians 2.10).  Hence, it is the duty of a practicing Catholic, a disciple of Jesus Christ, to attend to: