Jewish roots of Catholic liturgy
• Jewish words
– Amen – from Emunah – Yes!
– Alleluia – from hallaluyah – Praise God!
– Hosanna – from hoshianah – God saves!
Jewish roots of Catholic liturgy
• Jewish Scripture
– The Lord be with you. (Ruth 2:4)
– Old Testament readings
– Psalms
– Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 6:3)
– Blessed is he who enters in the name of the Lord.
(Psalm 118)
– Pray for us; we pray to the Lord (Jeremiah 42:2,
Exodus 9:28)
– Lord, hear our prayer. (2 Kings 20:2-5; Isaiah 38:25)
Jewish roots of Catholic liturgy
Jewish Passover
• Completed when the
Israelites eat the flesh of
the Lamb
• Celebrating the feast
makes Jews participants
in the first Passover
night
Catholic Mass
• Jesus is the Lamb of God
• Celebrating the Eucharist
commemorates Christ’s
passover; His sacrifice on
the cross remains ever
present
Jewish roots of Catholic liturgy
Jewish ceremony
“Blessed are you, Lord our
God, king of the universe,
who brings forth bread
from the earth, who
creates the fruit of the
vine.”
Catholic ceremony
“Blessed are you, Lord, God of
all creation. Through your
goodness we have this bread
to offer, which earth has given
and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread
of life; “…we have this wine to
offer, fruit of the vine and
work of human hands. It will
become our spiritual drink.”
Jewish roots of Catholic liturgy
Jewish ceremony
3 year cycle of readings of
Jewish scripture,
proclaiming all of Torah
Catholic ceremony
3 year cycle of readings of Old
Testament and New
Testament, proclaiming almost
all of the New Testament