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2nd century- time of martyrdom in the Church. Christians were forced to celebrate the Eucharist in catacombs for fear of death. Saturninus, in a cross-examination said, Without the Sunday Eucharist, we cannot live. Do you know that the Christian exists for the Eucharist and the Eucharist for Christians? We will discuss the Eucharist later, but with regard to the liturgy, the Eucharist is the centerpiece and of all liturgical celebrations and that all are ordered to it. Liturgy in Greek= ergos (work) and leiton (the people): in the Greek context, public work aimed at the good Liturgy in the context of the Church is used to denotes taking part of the people of God in the work of God The concept of liturgy includes: (PresenceHistoryActionWorshipSanctification) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The WORSHIP of God blessing Him for all his gifts The PRESENCE of Christ the priest in the liturgical action The ACTION of the Holy Spirit in the Churchs Liturgy The HISTORY of Salvation continued and brought about through effective signs in the liturgy The SANCTIFICATION of mankind through the liturgical action

The Liturgy as the work of the Blessed Trinity (Purpose and Celebration) 1. God the Father as origin and end of liturgy The Church, united to the Lord and under the action of the Holy Spirit, blesses God the Father for His ineffable gift In terms of celebration: Father who created us, gifts of the earth play a great part 2. The glorified Christ Through the liturgy, Christ carries out his priestly function. It is an exercise of His priestly office. Every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the Priest and His Body, the Church (whole communion of Saints), is a sacred action surpassing all others. Nothing may have priority over the liturgy. In terms of celebration: Redeemer- we rejoice in our liberation, breathe deeply in listening to word of God, strengthened by the Eucharistic gifts 3. God the Holy Spirit brings about the mystery of Christ in the Churchs Liturgy. Prepare the people of God for their meeting with Christ, manifest Christ, bring about Christs work of salvation, and carry out the gift of communion in the Church

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In terms of celebration: Holy Spirit who lives in us, wealth of spiritual gifts The Liturgy- the adoration rendered to God by the Church in union with Christ- is the most efficacious means of achieving sanctity. (Pius XII, Mediator Dei) Sole purpose of liturgy is that we might have life and have it abundantly; not in terms of material things but of the spiritual nourishment of the soul. (An anecdote form Bp. Fulton Sheen) Two tadpoles at the bottom of a pond were one day discussing the problem of existence. One said to the other, "I think I will stick my head out to see if there is anything else in the world." The other tadpole said, "Don't be silly, do you think there is anything else in this world besides water?" So those who live the natural life ignore the beauty of the higher life of grace. Why the Church needs the liturgy? Just as man needs air to stay alive, so too the Church. The liturgy is not an event that depends on good ideas and great songs nor a mere meeting of people, who make up their own form of celebration. xxxx NEW SECTION xxxx Sacraments: A sacrament is a visible sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace (entrusted to the His Church) BONUS: DIVINE SENSE OF HUMOR by Bp. Fulton Sheen No one can ever understand the sacraments unless he has what might be called a "divine sense of humor." A person is said to have a sense of humor if he can "see through" things; one lacks a sense of humor if he cannot "see through" things. When the Lord Incarnate walked this earth, He brought to it what might be called a "divine sense of humor." There is only one thing that He took seriously, and that was the soul. He said: "What exchange shall a man give for his soul?" Our Lord had a divine sense of humor, because He revealed that the universe was sacramental. A sacrament, in a very broad sense of the term, combines two elements: one visible, the other invisible-one that can be seen, or tasted, or touched, or heard; the other unseen to the eyes of the flesh. Example: Funny Joke, Horse (sound), Man (Sound and meaning) Our world has become too serious. In a world without a divine sense of humor, architecture loses decoration and people lose courtesy in their relationships with one another. If there is divine sense of humor, we will see the presence of God in things. Example, a pelican feeding her young from her own veins symbolized the sacrifice of Christ; the gargoyle peering from behind a pillar in a cathedral reminded us that temptations are to be found even in the most holy places. 2 errors: Atheism cuts off creation from its Creator; pantheism identifies nature with God. The true notion is that the material universe is a sign or an indication of what God is. We look at the purity of the snowflake and we see something of the goodness of God.

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7 Sacraments (not in order) : Confirmation Holy orders Anointing of the sick Matrimony Baptism Eucharist Reconciliation We need the sacraments for us be like Jesus through Jesus, and to live as children of God in freedom and glory. The sacraments are needed, along with faith, because we should come to God with all our senses not just with the intellect. Sacraments are Christs gift to His Church. They exist for the Church (She is established nourished, and perfected) and through the Church (power of the Church). -> Apostles The effectiveness of the sacrament does not depend on the worthiness of the minister. Though they ought to live a holy life, still, the sacraments are effective because Christ himself is at work in them. Ex Opere Operato (sacramental action) The sacraments act ex opere operato, by the very fact of the action being performed, independent of the minister. The effect on the person receiving the sacrament is called ex opere operantis, and depends on the interior disposition of the receiver. (The sacraments are signs of grace, but the grace only works in us to the extent that we are open to it- state of mortal sin?.) iturgy is a constitutive element of the holy and living Tradition. For this reason no sacramental rite may be modified or manipulated at the will of the minister or the community. Even the supreme authority in the Church may not change the liturgy arbitrarily, but only in the obedience of faith and with religious respect for the mystery of the liturgy. Practical Considerations 1. Active Participation- being aware of the meaning of each liturgical celebration; not taking it for granted In a 1998 address, John Paul II explained the meaning of the first principle: Active participation certainly means that, in gesture, word, song, and service, all the members of the community take part in an act of worship, which is anything but inert or passive. Yet active participation does not preclude the active passivity of silence, stillness, and listening: indeed, it demands it. In a culture which neither favors nor fosters meditative quiet, the art of interior listening is learned only with difficulty. Here we see how the liturgy, though it must always be properly inculturated, must also be countercultural. 2. Pray for the Priests (fidelity and obedience) 3. Pray for the Church, unity of Christians