33 Monstrance

This Sunday is the feast of Corpus Christi – the Body and Blood of Christ. We celebrate the great gift of the Eucharist in which Christ is really present with us. Consecrated hosts, also known as the Blessed Sacrament, are kept in the tabernacle so that Holy Communion can be taken to those who are sick at anytime. We believe that through the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus is present in a special way in Church and this is why we behave with respect and reverence. 

An important part of our faith is adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament is removed from the tabernacle and placed in a beautiful object called a monstrance. The word montrance comes from the Latin word 'monstrare' which means 'to show'. People are invited to pray in the Lord's presence and worship him and this is known as adoration. Sometimes a time of adoration ends with Benediction. Benediction is taken from a Latin word which means 'blessing'. The host contained in the monstrance is lifted up and the priest traces the shape of the cross before the congregation. This is a special way of asking God to bless his people and has been part of the Church's worship for many centuries.

CCC 1418 Because Christ himself is present in the sacrament of the altar, he is to be honored with the worship of adoration. "To visit the Blessed Sacrament is . . . a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, and a duty of adoration toward Christ our Lord" (Paul VI, MF 66).

See previous post for details of our 40 hours of adoration.

40 Hours Exposition

Exposition during 40 hours at Lancaster Cathedral 

A slight break from our objects to tell readers about our 40 Hours of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  All are welcome to come and join us as we celebrate 40 hours exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  See below for the timetable of services and times of shared prayer. 

During this time, the monstrance (from the Latin monstrare, to show) is placed on the altar with the Host (the Body of Christ) inside. Members of the parish take turns to pray before the Lord, so there is forty hours prayer (spread over four days) in His presence. 

Thursday 30th May 9am to 9.pm Exposition 9am Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist 10am Rosary Joyful Mysteries 12noon Angelus 12.15pm Votive Mass 4.pm Rosary Glorious Mysteries 7 to 8pm Confessions 8.45pm Compline and Benediction	Saturday 1st June 9am to 9.pm Exposition 10am Rosary Joyful Mysteries 12noon Angelus 12.15pm Mass of the Feast of the Holy Eucharist 4pm Rosary Glorious Mysteries 5.45 to 6.30pm Confessions 6.30pm Vigil Mass of Corpus Christi 8.45pm Compline and Benediction
Friday 31st May 9am to 9.pm Exposition 10am Rosary Joyful Mysteries 12noon Angelus 12.15pm Mass for vocations 4.pm Rosary Glorious Mysteries 7 to 8pm Confessions 8.45pm Compline and Benediction	Sunday 2nd June 9am to 5pm Exposition 10.30am Mass for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi 4.pm Rosary Glorious Mysteries 4.40pm Sung Vespers of Corpus Christi, Procession and final benediction

32 Baptism and the Trinity

The Trinity is central to Christian belief. When Jesus left the apostles to ascend to heaven, he told them to: 

'baptise everyone in the name of the 

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'

It is these same words that are used to baptise Christians today. Baptism is the start of our journey to God. Through the Eucharist, Jesus gives himself to us to help us on our journey to God. At Confirmation, we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit to renew us and strengthen us on our journey. 

Baptistery Lancaster Cathedral

32 Glory be to the Father

Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity. Each time we make the sign of the cross or pray the 'Glory be to the Father ..', we are professing our belief in the Trinity. The Trinity is the name given to the three persons in one God – God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. 
At the east end of Lancaster Cathedral the names of the three persons of the Holy Trinity (in Latin Pater, Filius and Spiritus Sanctus) appear in stained glass.

Pater:  Father ~ Filius: Son ~ Spiritus Sanctus: Holy Spirit

The relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit shown in the Trinity is therefore with us throughout our Christian life.

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be,

world without end.
Amen.

CCC 232 Christians are baptized "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Before receiving the sacrament, they respond to a three-part question when asked to confess the Father, the Son and the Spirit: "I do." "The faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity."

31 Chrism and Ordination

Chrism is used in three sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation and ordination. 

In 2008, our current Bishop, Michael Campbell, OSA was ordained as Bishop.  As part of the ordination rite, his head was anointed with the oil of Chrism. At priestly ordination, the hands are anointed; for a bishop, the anointing is on the head. Anointing has long been a sign of being chosen by God for a particular task - in the Old Testament, kings and priests are anointed in God's name. For Christians, it also shows how we are to be like Christ (the word 'Christ' literally means 'anointed one'.) After the anointing, Bishop Michael was presented with the Book of the Gospels, with the words:

"Receive the Gospel and preach the Word of God with unfailing patience and sound teaching".

Gospel held above Bishop Michael Campbell's head 

For further images and details of the rite of ordination which was reported at the time.

31 Chrism and consecration of the altar

Lancaster Cathedral 1909

Chrism is also used in the consecration of altars.  Lancaster Cathedral's 150th Anniversary Billington's Blog included an entry describing the consecration of the New High Altar:

In short, it involves the recitation of at least five psalms and other scriptural texts, the placing of the relics within the altar, the use of holy water and later holy oil to anoint the altar with five crosses and then the anointing of the entire surface of the altar.   For the full account of the New High Altar or further history of Lancaster Cathedral have a look at Billington's Blog

31 Blessing Oil of Chrism

The oil of Chrism is blessed in the Chrism Mass.  It is blessed by the Bishop who will use it for confirmations as he travels round the diocese.  It will also be used in Baptism.  Below are photographs from the Chrism Mass 2013.  

 

The Deacon wearing a green Dalmatic (vestment which is a sign of service) brought forward the ampullae which is the name of the large jug that holds the oil. The Bishop then adds balsam which is a sweet smelling liquid.

CCC 1241 The anointing with sacred chrism, perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian, that is, one "anointed" by the Holy Spirit, incorporated into Christ who is anointed priest, prophet, and king.


After this the Bishop blows over the oil and then raises his hands as he says a prayer to call down the Holy Spirit

. 

31 Oil of Chrism

The Oil of Chrism is used in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination. It is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit and it reminds us that the one who is being anointed has been chosen by God for a particular job. 

In Baptism, anointing with the oil of chrism reminds us of the call to follow Jesus as a Christian. In Confirmation the oil of chrism reminds us of the call to share the good news of Jesus' life with others by being a witness to Christ. A witness is a person who knows something about a person or event and shares that knowledge. We are called to share what we know about Jesus with others, through what we say and how we behave. 

When the oil of chrism is used at ordination, it reminds us that the priest is called to represent Jesus in the world and particularly at the altar when he celebrates Mass.

Priests collecting oils of
Chrism, Catechumens and Sick

When are the oils blessed?

The oils are all blessed at the Chrism Mass which in the Lancaster Diocese happens in the morning of Maundy Thursday.  At this Mass the priests of the diocese renew their vows and the Bishop blesses the three oils that they will use in the sacraments in the year ahead.

Here the priests are collecting their oil after the Chrism Mass in 2010.  Later this week we'll look at the blessing of Chrism, which is the 'sweet smelling oil' used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and for the consecration of altars.

For earlier postings about the other oils 

Oil of Catechumens

30 Holy Spirit Titles

CCC 693 Besides the proper name of "Holy Spirit," which is most frequently used in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Epistles, we also find in St. Paul the titles: 
the Spirit of the promise, 
the Spirit of adoption, 
the Spirit of Christ, 
the Spirit of the Lord, and
the Spirit of God - 
and, in St. Peter, the Spirit of glory.

Pentecost - 

CCC 731 On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance.

Pentecost in two minutes 

Today  we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost see Cathedral parish blog for our Holy Spirit cocktails! and the diocese launches a 9 week novena of prayer for vocations further details on Lancaster Vocations and on Cathedral Parish blog.over the coming weeks

30 Come, Holy Spirit

One of the Holy Spirit images from 
Lancaster Cathedral

We pray 'Come, Holy Spirit' as we prepare to celebrate Pentecost, fifty days after Easter. At Pentecost we remember when the Holy Spirit came to the apostles who were waiting in the upper room. After receiving the Holy Spirit, symbolised by a strong wind and tongues of fire that rested above each of them, the apostles had the courage to leave the upper room, go into the busy market place and proclaim the good news about Jesus who died and rose to life again. This was the start of the Church. Without the Holy Spirit would we know about Jesus today?  

As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost, we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives to give us strength, courage and wisdom to share the good news of Jesus' life with others through our words and actions. Come, Holy Spirit.  Through the coming days there will be posts that link to the Catechism, prayers and video clips for hymns to the Holy Spirit
Today the Latin Veni Creator Spiritus

29 Roman Missal - new translation

In November 2011, there was a new translation of the Roman Missal introduced. The Roman Missal website includes explanations of some of the changes as well as resources including service sheets with the core prayers. 

Webpage for Roman Missal with information about parts of the mass

Although the Mass is to be prayed it can be helpful to reflect on what happens.  The website includes short video clips of different parts of the Mass which might be used as a basis for discussion, to help talk to children, young people or individuals wanting to know more about what happens at Mass.

Links to video clips on sections of the Mass

29 Missal - Mass

The Missal contains the prayers we say during the Mass, is described in different ways, each reminding us of an important part of this central liturgy. 

CCC 1329 The Lord's Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his Passion and because it anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.

The Breaking of Bread, because Jesus used this rite, part of a Jewish meal when as master of the table he blessed and distributed the bread, above all at the Last Supper. It is by this action that his disciples will recognize him after his Resurrection, and it is this expression that the first Christians will use to designate their Eucharistic assemblies; by doing so they signified that all who eat the one broken bread, Christ, enter into communion with him and form but one body in him.

The Eucharistic assembly (synaxis), because the Eucharist is celebrated amid the assembly of the faithful, the visible expression of the Church

"Carrying the book" 

During the Mass altar servers will bring the Missal to the priest for him to read out the prayers. 

Altar Servers mass 2008

29 Missal

Image from Lancaster Diocesan webpage with further details of the new Roman Missal

The missal is the book that contains all the prayers and words that are used in the celebration of Mass throughout the year. The Sunday missal contains the prayers that are used just on each Sunday of the year but the weekday missal contains prayers to use everyday of the liturgical year. The priest uses the missal on the altar when he is celebrating Mass. 

Anyone can have either a smaller Sunday or weekday missal so that they can follow the prayers during Mass.  It can also be at home so that a person can spend time reflecting on the readings of the day which are in the Lectionary.

28 Baptismal Shawl and Baptismal Candle

White is a symbol of purity and the white baptismal shawl reminds us of the new start we are making as followers of Jesus and members of the Church. When we put on the shawl, it is as if we are clothing ourselves in Christ so that we can become more like him. 

Jesus is often called 'the light of the world' and he even used this name for himself. Just as a light shows us the way to go in the darkness, Jesus shows us the way to God. We are called to share the light of Christ with others through our words and actions. If we try to live as good followers of Jesus, we  will show others the way to God. The baptismal candle reminds us that Jesus is our light and our guide and when we are baptised, we are saying 'yes' to sharing that light with others.

CCC 1243 The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has "put on Christ," has risen with Christ. The candle, lit from the Easter candle, signifies that Christ has enlightened the neophyte. In him the baptized are "the light of the world." The newly baptized is now, in the only Son, a child of God entitled to say the prayer of the children of God: "Our Father."