Religion For Leaving Certificate
Section G: Worship, Prayer and Ritual
Chapter 1: Symbol
Symbolic Actions
Actions, gesture and words often act in a mysterious way by
communicating thoughts and feelings that might otherwise be difficult
to convey.
Language And Symbol
Symbolic language affects people deeply and seems to point to a deeper
and more mysterious reality.
Characteristics Of Symbols
1. Symbols have many meanings.
2. Symbols can affect us in many ways e.g. emotionally, spiritually
and even sensually.
3. Symbols participate in that which they represent e.g. water is a
symbol of new life in the Christian tradition of Baptism.
4. Symbols have the ability to relate to mystery e.g. death remains
one of the greatest mysteries. The cross in Christianity acts as a
symbol for the victory of life over death.
Human Beings As Symbol – Makers
Often people search for meaning when confronted with the mysteries of
life and death.
Death
Death is one of the ultimate mysteries and is surrounded by many
religious symbols.
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Love
It is often very difficult to put words on feelings of love and affection.
Wedding rings are symbols that have already been created. Couples
also convey love and affection by exchanging presents.
The Power Of Symbols In Contemporary Religion
1. Believers can’t see God ( John 1:18 ), yet God remains very much
present in believers’ awareness. This tension lies at the heart of all
religious traditions because believers have to rely on Faith to
accept that there are Spiritual realities.
2. Symbols are powerful because they can act as physical
manifestations of Spiritual realities.
3. Religious symbols come in many forms: symbolic place, symbolic
time, symbolic language and the sacramental symbol of oil, water,
bread and wine.
The Power Of Symbol In Contemporary Secular Society
1. Secular symbol e.g. national flag – it rouses feelings of pride and
national identity at sporting occasions.
2. In contemporary society, fashion, music and sport have become
highly symbolic.
The Cross As Religious Symbol
1. The cross is a Christian symbol that represents the instrument of
execution that killed Jesus.
2. Jesus was accused of treason, a crime punishable by death.
3. He was crucified on Calvary.
4. Some people find comfort in the cross in times of distress because
they know that, through Jesus, God understands human suffering
and shares our feelings of loss, pain and grief.
5. The cross is also a symbol of victory.
6. Christians believe that Jesus overcame sin and death through his
own death and resurrection.
7. The cross symbolises ‘ Atonement ‘ ( where God and man become
one )‘.
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8. The cross symbolises fear, isolation, pain and suffering, which are
present in people’s lives.
9. The cross symbolises hope – for Jesus died and was slain, rose
again and was glorified.
10.Those who suffer isolation and pain in contemporary society, yet
believe that one day their suffering will be eased, find their own
reflection in the figure who died and rose again on the third day.
11.Those who fear death see in the cross a powerful symbol of the
victory of life over death.
Exam Question
1. Some people have argued recently that the cross is a gory and
distasteful religious symbol and should be replaced with nice
music and soft lighting. They believe that such symbols would be
more comforting and relevant to people’s lives today. Do you
agree with such a position or do you think the cross is a necessary
and relevant religious symbol ?
Chapter 2: Ritual
Ritual And Life
1. Rituals are experiences that we regard as significant.
2. Rituals carry meaning, they renew us and they often challenge
how we understand ourselves and our lives.
The Meaning And Experience Of Ritual
1. A ritual is a structured human activity that follows a set pattern,
using words and symbols to mark important events of transition.
2. Rituals are made up of word and symbol, significant people,
places and times.
3. Ritual in a society addresses the great mysteries of human
existence.
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Types Of Rituals
Transitional And Restorative Rituals
Rites of passage are significant transitional rituals e.g. birth,
adolescence, maturity and old age and of death and the afterlife,
whereas healing rites are familiar restorative rituals e.g. anointing of
the sick.
Example Of A Religious Ritual In Contemporary Culture : Bar Mitzvah
Bar Mitzvah
1. Bar Mitzvah ‘ Son of the Commandment ‘ – determines Religious
Maturity in the Jewish Religion.
2. A Jewish boy reaches maturity at the age of 13 and soon after his
13th birthday he is called to the Synagogue to read from the Torah
during the morning service.
3. The boy now becomes part of the ‘ Quorum ‘ that is needed for
religious services in the Synagogue.
4. The boy prepares for his Bar Mitzvah months beforehand by
attending classes with the Rabbi to prepare him to be able to read
the Torah in front of the whole community.
5. On the given morning the boy wears special garments and stands
on a platform ‘ Bimah ‘ to read the text.
6. Afterwards there is a special meal to mark the boy’s coming of
age.
7. The boy now has a role to play in his local Jewish community. He
belongs fully to his religious community and this enhances his
sense of identity and responsibility within the group.
8. Finally, the ritual is significant for the boy’s family, as they feel
proud that they have given the boy the gift of religious belonging
and identity.
Exam Question
1. Write an account on one religious ritual and one secular ritual in
contemporary culture that you have studied.
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Example Of A Secular Ritual In Contemporary Culture : Registry
Office Marriage
Registry Office Marriage
A Civil Marriage is a civil contract, and in order that a civil marriage is
valid in Ireland, a number of requirements must first be met:
1. The couple must be free to marry each other.
2. The persons involved must freely give consent to marriage, and
they should not be coerced.
3. Those wishing to marry must be 18 years of age.
4. The couple must give three months - notice to the civil authorities
of their intention to marry.
5. A civil marriage should be treated with the formality and
solemnity that is required.
6. The marriage takes place in a registrar’s office.
7. The marriage must involve at least five people: the registrar, the
couple about to be married and two witnesses.
8. In the presence of the registrar and witnesses, both parties each
make the following declaration : ‘ I do solemnly declare that I
know not of any lawful impediment why I ( name ) may not be
joined in matrimony to ( name ). Each person then says : ‘ I call
upon these person here present to witness that I ( name ) do take
thee ( name ) to be my lawful wedded wife ( or husband ) ‘.
9. Immediately after the solemnisation of the marriage, it must be
registered.
10.Once the registration takes place the couple are then legally
married.
11.This is a very significant secular ritual because both parties have
entered into civil contract to be married to each other.
12.It is a decision that they have freely made and marks their desire
to enter marriage and its responsibilities.
13.The couple have now transformed their status within society and
publicly declared their love and commitment to each other.
Ritualism
Ritualism is a term that is applied to regular and excessive use of ritual.
Rituals involve set patterns of word, rite and symbol, yet if they are
repeated regularly the practice can revert to ritualism, whereby those
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who participate become increasingly unconscious of the true meaning of
the ritual. Viewed in a negative way, ritualism simply becomes empty
ritual. Those who attend are unaware of what they are doing but attend
the ritual through force of habit or because of social pressure. For
example, if a person attends Mass regularly, yet fails to listen or actively
participate in the sacrament, then the experience won’t be very fruitful.
If rituals are repeated regularly, then they lack newness because they
are a set pattern of activity and at times become tedious. The emptiness
and lack of awareness and meaning constitute ritualism.
There are, however, some positive features associated with ritualism.
Formal prayers, for example, benefit from the fact that they are part of
a set pattern of words and actions, which are regularly repeated. In this
way they are easily memorised and recited. The Rosary, for example, is
regularly recited in many different contexts in Catholic worship, but it
is this regularity and repetition that makes it easy for Catholics to
remember the format of the prayer.
Exam Question
1. Explain what is meant by ‘ ritualism ‘ and give one positive and
one negative feature of it.
Chapter 3 : Sacrament
Catholic Sacraments
What is a Sacrament ?
‘ The Sacraments are perceptible signs ( words and actions ) accessible
to our human nature. By the action of Christ and the power of the Holy
Spirit they make present efficaciously the grace that they signify ‘.
( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1084 )
1. The purpose of a Sacrament is to sanctify people and to worship
God.
2. Sacraments nourish and strengthen Faith and they confer the
presence and love of God, traditionally known as grace.
3. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the origin of the
church’s existence and is also in a very real way the source of the
Sacramental life of the church.
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4. Christ continues to act in the church through the sacraments.
5. The Sacraments are the life blood of the church.
6. Those who celebrate the Sacraments participate in the death and
resurrection of Christ, they can be healed and reconciled through
the power of the Holy Spirit and they are called to share in the
future in the fullness of God’s own life. Herein lies the meaning
and relevance of the seven sacraments in the Catholic tradition.
Protestant Sacraments
Martin Luther in the Protestant Reformation
1. On 31st October 1517 Martin Luther is said to have posted ninety
– five theses on the door of Wittenberg Cathedral to debate a
number of points of Catholic Doctrine.
2. He was a German Augustinian priest who was tormented by
doubts about his own personal salvation, even though he regularly
received the sacrament of reconciliation.
3. Continually plagued by temptations, he questioned whether he
could be just in God’s eyes.
4. Then in the letter to the Romans ( 1:16 – 17 ) he discovered that
God saves those who have faith.
5. This was significant for Luther, as he began to believe that it was
faith alone, not good works, that saved a person and made them
just and upright in God’s eyes.
6. Luther was excommunicated in 1520, but by that stage he had
rejected the authority of the Pope and Church tradition anyway.
7. Luther favoured and trusted his own religious experiences and
beliefs and turned to the authority of scripture above that of the
church tradition.
8. Catholics regarded God’s spoken word through the church as the
greatest authority, whilst for Protestant the greatest authority for
God’s spoken word was the scriptures.
9. Following on from Luther, Protestants emphasised the role of
personal experience in religious belief and practice.
10.Catholic theologians argued that the effects of the sacraments
need not be experienced, for they operate at a deeper or spiritual
level.
11.Catholic sacramental theology still holds that sacraments are
valid and give grace.
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12.However, the lack of experiential evidence led the reformers to
reject the church’s teaching on sacramental theology.
13.By the time of the reformation the accepted definition of a
sacrament was that it was a sign instituted by Christ to give grace.
14.The reformers felt that several of the sacraments weren’t
instituted by Christ.
15.Based on scriptural evidence, the reformers accepted that only
Baptism and the Eucharist were instituted by Christ.
An Anglican Understanding Of Sacrament
1. A Sacrament is : ‘ an outward and visible sign of an inward and
spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a
means whereby we receive the same, and as a pledge to assure us
thereof ‘.
2. This means that for Anglicans a sacrament must be given by
Christ to act as a means of grace.
3. Anglicans only accept two sacraments i.e. Baptism and the
Eucharist.
4. The book of common prayer does accept that there are five other
ministries : confirmation, ordination, holy matrimony, ministry of
absolution and ministry of healing.
The Function Of Sacramental Symbols
There are two functions to sacramental symbols :
1. Sacramental symbols reveal and participate in Divine realities.
2. Sacramental symbols signify and actually bring about a different
reality.
Water In Baptism
1. Baptism is a sacrament of initiation.
2. Baptism is understood as ‘ the basis of the whole Christian life,
the gateway to life in the spirit, and the door which gives access to
the other sacraments ‘ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213 ).
3. In Christianity, through Baptism, a person is given a new life in
Jesus Christ. Water, as a symbol participates in this act in so far
as water is life giving. Those who are baptised are a new creation
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in Christ, it was over water that the spirit of God hovered at the
moment of creation in the book of Genesis.
4. The symbolic actions in the sacrament of baptism transforms the
person and makes them a Christian.
Anointing In Confirmation
1. Anointing is used in Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and the
Sacrament of the sick.
2. In confirmation the anointing is a spirit – filled event.
3. In Confirmation the person is anointed with chrism.
4. The anointing in Confirmation strengthens the person in wisdom,
courage, and understanding.
5. In the rite of Confirmation the Bishop traces the sign of the cross
on the person’s forehead with the oil and says : ‘ be sealed with
the gift of the Holy Spirit ‘.
Bread And Wine
1. The Eucharist is the source of the Christian Life.
2. The Eucharist is a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on
the cross.
3. At the Eucharist Jesus is present and so is his sacrifice on the
cross, because they are one and the same thing.
4. The bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of
Christ and we too are changed when we are told to go forth and
spread the good news and to love and serve God. By doing this, we
too may have to make sacrifices.
5. The Eucharist is the greatest act of worship for Catholics.
6. The Word Eucharist means ‘ thanksgiving ‘. We are thankful for
him having given us life for our creation. Jesus’ death on the cross
meant that each of us could be saved from sin
7. The order of Mass :
 Introduction
 Liturgy of the Word
 Liturgy of the Eucharist
 Conclusion
8. In the Eucharist Jesus is referred to as ‘ the lamb of God ‘.
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9. The Hebrews were freed by the blood of the lamb on Passover
night, just as Christians were freed from sin and death by Jesus’
blood on the cross.
10.The host is made from unleavened bread.
11.The bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.
Exam Questions
1. 2009 O.L. (a) Outline the understanding of sacrament in One
Christian denomination you have studied. (b) Examine the part
played by two symbols in a sacramental celebration you have
studied.
2. Write an account about the functions of two sacramental symbols
you have studied.
3. 2010: For Christians the things of this world are so transparent
that in them and through they know God’s presence. Discuss this
statement with reference to the meaning of sacrament in two
Christian denominations that you have studied.
Chapter 4 : The Need For Reflection
1. Reflection is when we take time out and reconsider our
understandings, feelings, desires and concerns.
2. Reflection turns the person inward to think about their
understanding of themselves and the world around them.
3. Without reflection we can fail to understand our relationships
properly and fail to pick up on tensions and frustrations.
4. Without reflection we can ignore our true feelings in a
relationship we may deny the fact that deep down we are unhappy
with the way the relationship is moving forward.
5. Reflection allows us to imagine other possibilities, be that in work,
relationships, ambitions or deep within our own spirituality.
6. Reflection puts a person in touch with their true identity or
authentic self.
7. It facilitates self – understanding and the ability to know who I
am.
8. A person who doesn’t reflect may lose sight of the fact that often
times in life there actually is a choice.
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9. Young people present crucial choices that need to be reflected
upon, such as the choices surrounding sexual responsibility and
issues of alcohol and drugs.
Exam Questions
1. Why do you think reflection is so important in the life of a young
person ?
2. ‘ The young person who enters adulthood needs to reflect on the
following key issues which determine their identity: dependence
and independence, freedom and responsibility, commitment and
vocation, faith and spirituality ‘. Do you agree ? Give reasons for
your answer.
Religious Experience
1. A religious experience is a ‘ depth ‘ experience which encounters
with realities in life such as truth, meaning, the sacred, love and
beauty.
2. ‘ The underlying characteristic of a religious experience is that
individuals find themselves drawn into a new relationship with
that which is termed the transcendent ‘ ( Fr. Dermot Lane, the
experience of God ).
3. Religious experiences share the following characteristics :
 All religious experiences reveal the transcendent.
 They are also encounters with the mystery.
 They can be life changing.
 They can involve a conversion.
 They can give a person a new perspective or insight into life.
 It can change a person’s attitude towards life and others
and ultimately towards the transcendent.
 They can change a person’s understanding of themselves,
their value and priorities.
 The birth of a child can prove to be a religious experience
for many parents. It is a time when they are filled with awe
as they delight in the creation of a new human being.
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Exam Question
1. What is the most significant thing that a religious experience
reveals ?
Chapter 5: The Human Being as Prayer
Worship And Prayer
Worship is the praise, honour, thanksgiving and acknowledgement
given to the transcendent being by individuals and communities of
believers.
Worship And Awe As Response To Mystery
1. Worship is a human response to the mysterious presence of the
Divine.
2. Awe is a feeling a person has when they experience the mysterious
nature of the transcendent and this experience of awe is important
in the participation in worship. People can be filled with awe and
wonder when they experience the greatness of the divine; ‘ For I
am a great King says the Lord of Hosts, and my name is awesome
before the nations ‘ ( Malachi 1:14 ). Such a feeling can be
experienced in moments of quiet meditation, in encountering
unconditional love, in witnessing the beauty of a sunset or in the
force and power of the natural world. This feeling of awe and
wonder in the presence of the divine is often the prerequisite for
the act of worship. Worship is a way of responding to the feeling
of awe and the experience of the transcendent in human life. As
worship is directed towards mystery, it involves the use of
symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and time. Sacred actions,
such as special meals, blessings, kneeling and genuflection, also
characterise public worship.
3. Worship involves the use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space
and time.
4. Sacred actions e.g. meals, blessings etc. also characterise public
worship.
5. Examples of individual worship may take the form of prayer,
meditation, or contemplation.
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6. Public worship may involve sacred texts, music recitation or
prayers and creeds.
7. The Christian Church’s formal worship of God is called liturgy.
The liturgy helps to deepen one’s relationship with the Divine.
Exam Question
1. Write an account on the relationship between awe and worship ?
Prayer
1. The word prayer means request or petition.
2. Prayer reflects the human need for a communication with Divine
and Spiritual realities.
3. Prayer is communicating with God.
Prayer And The Relationship With The Divine In The Christian
Tradition
1. Prayer is a personal address from the heart and mind that seeks
communion with the Divine.
2. Prayer reflects the need for the Divine in the context of a person’s
own sense of fragility and vulnerability.
3. Our achievements, pleasures and friendships can’t seem to satisfy
an inner emptiness at the centre of our souls.
4. The soul longs for a personal relationship with God because it is
loved by God and seeks a relationship with the source of this love.
5. Our relationship with God is nourished through prayer.
6. Through prayer a person comes to know God more fully and to
share in a love that directs them to the needs of the poor and the
outcast.
7. Christian prayer changes individuals by raising their awareness
of the characteristics of being a Christian.
8. Prayer sustains and nourishes Christian identity.
9. Christian prayer can lead to a move away from self towards the
other, in compassion, charity and a willingness to serve.
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Prayer And The Relationship With The Divine In The Jewish Tradition.
1. When a Jew prays they should do so sincerely and with true
devotion.
2. The Jewish term ‘ Kavannah ‘ expresses that prayer should
involve a direction of the mind towards God with true devotion.
3. Within Judaism there is an awareness that in prayer one stands
before the ‘ Holy One ‘ and the ‘ lord of the universe ‘.
4. Rabbinic tradition insisted that one should approach God with
the utmost reverence and respect because prayer is an encounter
with a God who is mighty and majestic.
5. Jews are reminded that their relationship with God in prayer
should be one of trust in a personal being of power and love.
6. God remains steadfast in his care for those who approach in
Faith.
7. The Talmud lays down a general principle that a person should
not hesitate to come to God in prayer.
Exam Question
Write an account on prayer and the relationship with the Divine in two
religions that you have studied.
Chapter 6 : Contexts For Prayer
Christian Church – A Place Of Worship And Prayer
1. The church is a place of worship and prayer.
2. The liturgy is celebrated in the church.
3. The liturgy of the Eucharist is the ‘ Source and Summit of the
Christian life ‘ ( Luman gentium, 11 ).
4. The church is a place where the sacraments can be celebrated.
5. The Baptismal font points to a new life in Christ and the altar
represent Christ’s sacrifice.
6. Catholics believe that God is present in the Eucharist.
7. When the mass is over, some of the hosts are placed in the
tabernacle, so when a person enters the church to pray they
believe that God is present in the tabernacle.
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A Synagogue
1. The Synagogue is the place where the Jews worship.
2. Jews go to the Synagogue on the Sabbath.
3. The Synagogue points to Jerusalem. An alcove is built into the
Jerusalem – facing wall for the ark of Aron Hakodesh, meaning
‘ Holy Ark ‘. The sacred scrolls of the Torah are kept in the Ark
and it is the focal point for those assembled.
4. The Torah is the teaching of God and their sacred text.
5. The Synagogue liturgy emphasises the joy and sweetness of
keeping the Torah.
6. Before the reading of the Torah it is brought in procession around
the Synagogue and at some point it raised to show the
congregation.
7. When the reading has finished, the scroll is dressed in its Torah
ornaments and returned to the Ark.
8. The readings take place on the Bimah which is in front of the ark.
Exam Question
1. 2006 O.L. : Diwali, Easter Sunday, Passover, Ramadan, Wesak.
(a) Different religious traditions have special times, such as those
listed above, which are regarded as sacred. Choose one such time
and explain how (i) A symbol associated with the time you have
chosen marks this time as sacred. (ii) A ritual associated with the
time you have chosen marks this time as sacred. (b) Explain why
the time you have described above is important to the member of
the world religion with which it is most associated.
2. 2010: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. All
religions regard certain time or season as sacred. Compare the
features that make a time or season as sacred in two of the major
world religions listed above.
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Sacred Time
Passover
1. The book of Exodus recounts the freeing of the Israelites from
Captivity in Egypt.
2. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt and they cried out to Yahweh
to set them free.
3. Yahweh sent Moses to the Pharaoh to ask for their release but he
was refused time and time again.
4. Yahweh sent plagues to change the Pharaoh’s mind, but to no
avail.
5. Then on the 10th day of the first month Yahweh ordered that each
family take a lamb and slaughter it.
6. The flesh was to be eaten along with unleavened bread and bitter
herbs and the blood of the lamb was to be placed on the lintels
and doorposts of the houses.
7. That night Yahweh would visit the land of Egypt and strike down
the first-born male of each household but would pass over the
houses marked in lamb’s blood.
8. The Israelites would be saved by the blood of the lamb. And so it
came to be.
9. On the night of the Passover the first-born males of Egyptian
households were struck down and the Israelites were freed from
slavery.
10.Yahweh spoke to the Israelites, saying: ‘ This day shall be a day of
remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the
Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it …’
( Exodus 12:14 ).
11.The Israelites would be saved by the blood of the lamb.
12.The Passover is also known as the festival of unleavened bread
and is celebrated on the 15th day of the Jewish Month of Nisan.
13.Today the festival of Passover is celebrated at home with a Sedar
meal.
14.During this meal special foods are eaten, cups of wine are drank,
songs are sung and the great story of freedom is shared again.
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Easter
1. Easter is the most sacred time of the year for Christians as it
celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christi
2. It roots lie in the Jewish festival of Passover.
3. According to Christian tradition, through his death and
resurrection Jesus gave this ancient festival a new meaning.
4. Jesus chose to leave Galilee and make his way south to Jerusalem
during the Passover (John 13:1).
5. At a time when Jews were celebrating their freedom from slavery
by the blood of the lamb, Jesus was crucified outside the walls of
Jerusalem.
6. His death won an eternal redemption for all ( Hebrews 9:12).
7. Christians later made a link between the sacrifice of the Paschal
Lamb and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
8. The Jews were saved by the blood of the lamb but Christians
believed that they were saved by the blood of Christ.
9. Even today Christians refer to Christ as the ‘ Lamb of God.
10.The Easter festival is the most important in the liturgical year and
it includes the three days of the Paschal Triduum.
11.It begins with a Mass on Holy Thursday night which
commemorates the Last Supper.
12. On Good Friday afternoon Jesus’ passion and death on a cross
are celebrated.
13.Easter Saturday is a day of waiting and silence.
14.The celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection begins with the Easter
Vigil on Saturday evening.
15.The Paschal fire and the Paschal candle, which will be used
throughout the year, are lit.
16.Easter celebrates Jesus’ victory over sin and death and is
therefore the most sacred time in the year.
17.Certain features of Easter determine that it a sacred time.
18.The celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection reminds
Christians that their salvation and redemption was won through
the shedding of innocent blood.
19.The Disciples were obviously distraught and dejected after Jesus’
execution as a common criminal.
20. Yet the power of God raised Jesus from the dead and in this
victory Christianity was born.
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Chapter 7: The Praying Tradition
Traditional Forms Of Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s prayer is truly the summary of the whole Gospel
( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2761 ).
 ‘ Abba ‘, ‘ Father ‘: - Jesus addressed God as ‘ Father ‘ or ‘
Abba ‘, and in this prayer he encourages his Disciples to address
God in the same manner ( Romans 8:15; Galations 4:6 ).
 ‘ Hallowed be thy name ‘ : - praise God’s name and pray for the
coming of the Kingdom of God.
 ‘ Thy Kingdom come ‘ : - The kingdom of God was to be
understood as the reign of God, which exists within the lives of
those who follow Jesus ( Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12 ).
 ‘ Give us this day ‘ : - God will take care of the material
necessities, ‘ set your hearts on the Kingdom, and these other
things will be given you as well ‘ ( Luke 12 : 31 )
 ‘ And forgive us our sins ‘ : - Jesus outs no limits on the extent to
which we should forgive others.
 ‘ Lead us not into temptation ‘ : - when we find ourselves in
moments of temptation, we won’t give in.
 But deliver us from evil amen.
The origins of the Our Father is found in the Didache which is an
ancient book of basic instructions for Christians which originates from
the very early church. In this book it is St. Matthew’s form of prayer
that is used. According to the ‘ Didache ‘ the Lord’s prayer should be
said three times a day.
The Shema
1. The Shema is a formal prayer in Jewish liturgy.
2. It consists of three biblical passages: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11: 13
– 21 and numbers 15:37 – 41.
3. It is recited twice a day.
4. The prayer was used every day in the temple as part of the
temple worship.
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5. The priest recited a blessing, the Ten Commandments, the
Shema and then another blessing.
6. The prayer acts as a profession of Faith and is also recited just
before death.
7. The main part of the prayer begins by acknowledging the unity
of God and that there is only one God.
8. After the Shema is a command to love God with all one’s being.
9. The prayer asks for a surrender of all that a person has to the
love of God. It asks for a dedication of every aspect of life, heart,
mind and soul to God who is one.
10.Jews hold the Shema with deep reverence and affection.
11.For the Jews, the Shema is the most important text in the old
testament and the first paragraphs of the prayer are written on
a piece of parchment and placed inside a wooden or metal box
called a Mezuzah, which is fixed to the doorposts of the houses.
Exam Questions
1. 2006 (a) World Religions have different types of formal prayer and
ways of praying. Describe one example of either a formal prayer or
a way of praying associated with one of the following world religions
– Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam. (b) Explain
the origin of the example you have given and describe how it is used
in the religious tradition associated with it. (c) Describe an example
of either a formal prayer or a way of praying associated with one
other world religion listed above and compare the way it is used
with the example you have described in (a) above.
2. 2009 O.L. Compare the way in which people pray in two of the
following major world religions making reference to where and
when people pray. Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam,
Judaism.
Chapter 8 : Meditation
1. Meditation focuses and concentrates on a single theme, idea,
symbol or text, but contemplation can be understood as a way of
communicating with the Divine at the depths of a person’s being.
2. Mediation is good for dealing with stress and anxiety, which
explains why it has become popular in western culture.
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3. Many today feel that their lives are too stressed and meditation is
a way of allowing the mind and body to relax.
Christian Meditation: An Experience Of Encounter
1. Transcendental meditation is a practice which is taken out of its
religious context and becomes a process of self – improvement by
reducing stress and anxiety, thus leading to a more relaxed way of
life.
2. Christian meditation is a spiritual discipline which, whilst
providing inner calm and relaxation, is directed towards an
encounter with Christ.
3. The purpose is an act of love directed towards Christ.
4. Christian meditation turns the person away from preoccupation
with self towards the Divine.
5. People who practise Christian meditation are empowered by their
experience of an encounter with Christ to act like Christ; to serve
as he served, to forgive as he forgave and to bring healing into the
lives of those around them.
Buddhist Meditation : An Experience Of Emptying
1. Buddhism seeks through meditation, to achieve a true vision of
reality.
2. Such a vision leads to a release from the cycles of rebirth to the
eventual freedom of Nirvana ( enlightenment )
3. There are two types of Buddhist meditation: calm ( Samatha )
meditation and insight ( Vipasyana ) meditation.
4. A Buddhist begins meditation with the practice of mindfulness.
5. Mindfulness can be understood as a total awareness and it is
applied to four areas : the body, the sensations, thought and
mental objects.
6. Mindfulness of the body begins with an awareness of the
unconscious activity of breathing as the person focuses on
inhaling and exhaling. This leads to an awareness of the whole
body and an ensuing feeling of tranquillity.
7. Mindfulness is the applied to the various sensations.
8. The objective now is to detach oneself from the various facets or
experience that may have distorted the true nature of experience.
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9. Detachment leads to a clearer way of thinking, free from bias,
prejudice or flawed interpretation, leading to a truer vision of
reality.
10.In this experience of emptiness the person is led into a new
interior dimension, free form external distractions, leading to
simplicity, peace and contentment.
11.Meditation is seen to lead to a happier and more spiritual life.
12.Those who practise meditation move away from selfishness and
this ultimately creates a better and more generous and wise
individual.
Mantra
1. A mantra is the Sanskrit term for ‘ sacred utterance ‘.
2. Mantras contain wisdom and their repetition leads to
identification with the absolute.
Exam Questions
1. 2007 O.L. (a) Outline how meditation is practiced in one world
religion you have studied. (b) Explain why either meditation or
contemplation is used as a form of prayer today.
2. 2009: Compare what is involved in meditation for members of the
Buddhist and Christian Traditions
Chapter 9 : The Contemplative Traditions
Contemplative Life
The contemplative life is characterised by stillness, solitude, silence and
prayer.
Pilgrimage
1. A pilgrimage is a journey to a place that is regarded as sacred
because it is associated with a person or event or religious
significance.
2. It is believed that God is present at the site and responds to
prayers of praise and petition.
3. The inner spiritual journey can be described as a pilgrimage.
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Croagh Patrick
1. Croagh Patrick is known as ‘The Reek’ and has been a sacred site
since ancient times.
2. Christian tradition says that Patrick went up this mountain and
spent 40 days praying, fasting and reflecting there.
3. In 441 Saint Patrick rested his tired and weary body on the slopes
of the sacred mountain.
4. He climbed to the top to spend 40 days and nights in silence and
solitude to fast and pray his way through the season of lent.
5. There he battled with the spiritual forces of darkness.
6. He eventually came down from the mountain on Easter Sunday
morning to celebrate Mass with those who gathered to greet him.
7. Saint Patrick built a simple church on the summit, called
‘ Tempall Phadraig ‘.
8. Today almost 25,000 pilgrims make their way to the top of
Croagh Patrick on the last Sunday of July which is called ‘ Reek
Sunday ‘.
9. The first step on the pilgrimage path is a statue of St. Patrick.
Many people stop and pray there.
10.Some people make this pilgrimage in their bare feet as a sign of
devotion.
11.There are three stations that the pilgrims visit and at the summit
and each one has a sign with instructions for the proper prayers
and rituals that pilgrims must make on the way.
12.First station: is at the base of the mountain and here pilgrims
walk around a mound of stones seven times, saying 7 Our Fathers,
seven Hail Mary’s and one Creed. Second Station: takes place on
the summit and has four different stages. The pilgrims first kneel
and say seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and one creed. They
then pray near the chapel where Mass is said every day for the
Pope’s intentions. Next, they walk around the chapel 15 times
while saying 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys. Finally, they
walk around the area known as Patrick’s bed seven times, again
saying seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and one creed. Third
Station: takes place at Rolig Mhuire. Here the pilgrims walk
seven times around each mound of stones, again repeating the
sequence of seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and one creed.
Finally, they walk around the whole enclosure of Rolig Mhuire
praying.
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13. When they get to the summit they visit St. Patrick’s bed. They
celebrate Mass and also have the chance to avail of the sacrament
of reconciliation.
The Tradition Of Pilgrimage Continues To Have Popular Appeal In
Today’s Society
1. There is something very physical about the act of pilgrimage.
Hindus wash in the river Ganges and Jews place prayers in the
cracked walls of their ancient temple in Jerusalem. Muslims
journey to Mecca to walk around the Ka’ba and enter the
sanctuary to touch or kiss the famous black stone. Irish Catholics
go barefoot and climb the mountain top. It appears there is
something powerful touching the sacred place. Touch is the most
evocative of the senses and when on pilgrimage we can walk on,
touch or kiss the sacred.
2. The physical sense of pilgrimage also finds expression in the belief
that cures and miracles happen at the sacred place. A pilgrimage
site often associated with a special presence of the Divine, which
can be manifested in healing those afflicted with sickness. Often
those who go on pilgrimage use it as an act of prayerful petition
for someone who is sick. Alternatively, the pilgrimage can be an
expression of praise and thanksgiving for a prayer that has been
answered.
3. People who visit pilgrimage sites report how they were overcome
by the peaceful and prayerful atmosphere.
4. Since the earliest traditions of the church, fasting, hardship and
abstinence have been prerequisites for the spiritual journey, and
the popularity of this tradition marks the ongoing need to find
places of regeneration and spiritual renewal.
5. One of the characteristics of pilgrimage is the fellowship that
emerges between the pilgrims. People talk to strangers about the
wonder, hardships, worries, blessings and friendships in life.
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Retreat
1. Retreats for individuals can take place in hermitages, where the
person can focus on reading, prayer, reflection and meditation.
2. It is threshold moment of solitude, stillness and silence which
leads to a spiritual renewal. A retreat can last for a day or a
month depending on the person’s needs and spiritual maturity.
3. Some retreats are given by a retreat director, who may focus on a
theme relating to the spiritual journey.
4. In modern times it seems appropriate that lay people should be
given the chance to practise the contemplative life, on retreat, so
as to be renewed by the experience of the presence of God.
Exam Questions
1. 2007 O.L Hermitage, Pilgrimage, Poustinia, Retreat. Describe
what is involved in one of the above Contemplative Practices.
2. 2009: Hermitage, Pilgrimage, Poustinia, Retreat. Describe the
origins of two of the above contemplative practices and discuss the
importance of each for the way people live out their religious faith
today.
3. 2010 O.L. Outline the origins of one contemplative tradition that
you have studied.
Chapter 10 : The Mystic Tradition
Characteristics Of The Mystic Tradition
1. A Mystic is someone whose experience of the presence of God is
so intense as to be transforming.
2. It is an experience beyond the grasp of language and
understanding.
3. It is so intense as to be life – altering.
4. A mystical experience is an experience beyond description or
words.
5. The experience involves the intellect in a way that gives the
Mystic fresh insight so as to be able to integrate all their previous
knowledge.
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Christian Mysticism
1. Christian Mysticism originates in the baptisimal invitation to
enter the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
2. It is a gift received in baptism.
3. Mysticism is a potential for every Christian, but only some
have experienced a very deep and intense union with God.
Two Christian Mystics – Teresa Of Avila And Thomas Merton
Teresa Of Avila
1. Teresa of Avila was born in 1515 to a wealthy family in the
fortress town of Avila in Spain.
2. As a child she was an avid reader and displayed an interest in the
spiritual.
3. This interest led her to enter the Carmelite convent.
4. Unfortunately she suffered serious ill health for three years and at
one point her grave had been dug in the convent grounds ! She
recovered but experienced uncertain health for the rest of her life.
5. One of her greatest ambitions was to open her own convent and in
doing reform the Carmelite order.
6. She achieved this with the help of John of The Cross.
7. She enforced the primitive rule in the convent as an austere life of
prayer and strict enclosure.
8. Teresa experienced an intense and mystical relationship with
God.
9. Teresa explained mental prayer as ‘ nothing else than an intimate
sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be
alone with him whom we know loves us ‘.
10.Teresa had mystical experiences such as levitations, visions and
spiritual rapture, yet she constantly felt the pain of being
misunderstood, along with the fear that she might be having
delusions.
11.Despite these intense mystical experiences Teresa should be
understood as a down-to-earth and tough woman who battled for
what she believed in and was courageous enough to see through
her reforms in the face of fierce hostility.
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12.The spiritual life did not always come east to Teresa and she
experienced long periods of separation from prayer.
13.She often found it difficult to enter the oratory to pray and this is
one reason why Teresa’s life and work is so important to us today.
14.In this great mystic we witness the difficulties that even she
experienced on the spiritual journey, as she was constantly
plagued by the sense of her own sinfulness.
15.Whilst her enclosed life demanded thorough self – knowledge and
deep inner examination, she never became self – absorbed.
16.Her life was directed to the service of others and she found God in
the little things of everyday life.
17.She once told her nuns, ‘ the Lord walks among the pots and pans
‘. Throughout her life she gradually moved from self centredness
to surrendering herself to the will of God and relaxing into God’s
love. She often tried to help those who were learning how to pray,
and after her death the following prayer was found in her own
handwriting. It encapsulates her understanding of the spiritual
journey :
‘ Let nothing disturb thee,
Let nothing dismay thee,
All things pass:
God never changes.
Patience attains
All that it strives for.
One who has God
Finds nothing lacking:
God alone suffices
Thomas Merton
1. Thomas Merton was born in America in 1915 and was to
become one of the most influential spiritual writers of the 20th
Century.
2. As a young man he was a professed atheist.
3. After entering communism and atheism Merton was
eventually drawn to Catholicism based on his reading and
discussion with significant Catholics. He was baptised in 1938.
4. Merton joined the Cistercian Monastery.
5. Merton embraced the solitary life of prayer, meditation, work
and silence.
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6. His life was characterised by Asceticism, discipline and
dedication.
7. He revealed that at the heart of this tradition lay a compassion
for others.
8. His was a spirituality founded on love, purity of heart and
compassion.
9. Merton believed that such compassion could transform a
world torn apart by cruelty, hatred and war.
10.In his journals he wrote : ‘ now I see more and more that
there is only one realistic answer : LOVE ‘.
11.Merton’s experience of contemplative life provided him with a
new vision of Spiritual wonder and awakening which he
shared with countless others.
12.He will be remembered as a spiritual fulfilment among the
distractions and superficiality of the modern era.
Exam Questions
1. 2007: (a) Outline the characteristics of one mystical tradition that
you have studied. (b) Profile the life and work of one mystic you
have studied.
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SECTION G
WORSHIP,
PRAYER AND
RITUAL
Revised Edition 2012
Barbara Cunningham Taheny
28
Section G: Worship, Prayer and Ritual
Chapter 1: Symbol – characteristics of symbol, the power of symbols in
contemporary religion and in contemporary secular society, the cross as
religious symbol
Chapter 2: Ritual – religious ritual in contemporary culture ( Bar
Mitzvah ), Secular ritual in Contemporary Culture ( Registry Office
Marriage )
Chapter 3: Sacrament – Catholic and Protestant Sacraments. The
function of Sacramental Symbols
Chapter 4: The need for Reflection – religious experience
Chapter 5: The human being as prayer – worship and awe as response
to Mystery, prayer and the relationship with the Divine in the Christian
Tradition and the Jewish tradition
Chapter 6: Contexts for prayer – Christian Church – a place of worship
and prayer and a synagogue. Sacred time – Passover and Easter.
Chapter 7: The praying tradition – traditional forms of prayer – the
Lord’s prayer, the Shema
Chapter 8: Meditation – Christian and Buddhist
Chapter 9: The Contemplative Traditions: Pilgrimage – Croagh
Patrick, retreats.
Chapter 10: The Mystic Tradition – Teresa of Avila and Thomas
Merton.
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Leaving Certificate
Religion
Section G
Worship, Prayer and Ritual
Sample Answers
30
Sample answers to the following questions in Section G : Worship,
Prayer and Ritual.
1. Some people have argued recently that the cross is a gory and
distasteful religious symbol and should be replaced … do you
agree with such a position or do you think the cross is a necessary
and relevant religious symbol. P.33
2. Write an account on one religious ritual and one secular ritual in
contemporary society that you have studied. P.34
3. Explain what is meant by ‘ ritualism ‘ and give one positive and
one negative feature of it. P.35
4. Write about the functions of two sacramental symbols you have
studied. P.36
5. For Christians the things of this world are so transparent that in
them and through them they know God’s presence. Discuss this
statement with reference to the meaning of sacrament in two
Christian Denominations. P.38
6. Is there a need for reflection in today’s world ? p.40
7. Why do you think reflection is so important in the life of a young
person ?p.40
8. ‘The young person who enters adulthood needs to reflect on the
following key issues which determine their identity: dependence
and independence, freedom and responsibility, commitment and
vocation, faith and spirituality ‘. Do you agree? Give reasons for
your answer. P.42
9. What is the relationship between awe and worship ? p.42
10. Another sample answer to question 8. P.44
11.Examine the part played by two symbols in a sacramental
celebration you have studied.p.45
12.Describe one example of where a sense of the sacred can be seen
in the way people live today. P.46
13.Outline how meditation is practised in one world religion that you
have studied. P.46
14.Explain why either meditation or contemplation is used as a form
of prayer today. P.47
15.World religions have different types of formal prayer and ways of
praying. Describe one example of either a formal prayer or a way
of praying associated with one of the following world religions –
Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
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(a) Explain the origin of the example you have given and describe
how it is used in the religious tradition associated with it.
(b) Describe an example of either a formal prayer or a way of
praying associated with one other world religion listed above and
compare the way it is used with the example you have described in
(a) above. P.48
16.What is the most significant thing a religious experience reveals ?
p.50
17.Write an account on prayer and the relationship with the Divine
in two religions you have studied. P.51
18.Explain the ways in which two rites in Christian Worship
remember Jesus.p.52
19.Write an account on how God is present in the Catholic
Church.p.53
20.How is the search for the Spiritual evident in society today ? p.54
21.Write an account on worship and awe with response to
mystery.p.55
22.Profile the life and work of one mystic you have studied. P.56
23.Write an account on one example of a religious ritual in
contemporary culture and explain its significance on those who
participate.p.57
24.What is ritualism and discuss one positive and one negative
feature of it.p.58
25.Hermitage, Poustinia, Pilgrimage, retreat. Choose two of the
above and describe the significance of each one in the
development of contemplative practice. P.59
26.Write an account about the functions of two symbols used in a
sacramental celebration.
27.Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism. All religions
regard certain times as sacred. Compare the feature that make a
time or season as sacred in two of the major world religions listed
above.
28.Outline the function of two symbols used in a sacramental
celebration you have studied.
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1. Some people have argued recently that the cross is a gory and
distasteful religious symbol and should be replaced… do you agree
with such a position or do you think the cross is a necessary and
relevant religious symbol.
I disagree with the statement that the cross is a gory and distasteful
symbol. Yes, music and soft lighting is nice and upbeat but life is not
always bright and nice but on the contrary life has good and bad, like
the symbol of the cross. The bad is the pain and suffering of Jesus in the
hours up to death and the good being that he rose from the dead
allowing us to live life to the full.
I believe the cross is a necessary and relevant religious symbol and
should be preserved, for many reasons:
 Its power to translate a message into todays’ society.
 The many meanings and symbols it contains.
 How it reminds us of Christ’s experience on the cross.
I believe in the power of the symbol of the cross because its meaning
can be used today. In our lives we eventually deal with great pain
and suffering and when we are pushed into our darkest corner we
are assured that, through Christ’s Crucifixion that God understands
our anxiety and grief. In essence God can empathise with humanity
through the suffering inflicted on his Son Jesus Christ. I strongly
believe this powerful message can be used today as a source of
comfort to us when we are down. The Cross is a symbol of great
importance as it represents many meanings, for example victory.
Through the cross we are reminded of Jesus’ extraordinary
resurrection on the 3rd day after his death. This conveys his defeat
over death. To people this reminds us of the victory over the evils in
this world. It shows how evil will always be defeated and with the
power of the Kingdom of God, good things and good people will
always prevail over the bad. The cross also symbolises atonement
where God and man become one. Finally the cross symbolises hope,
it gives Christians a sense of fulfilment. It is a source of peace we
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acquire when we are at our lowest. I believe that it gives us hope as
for Jesus was slain and rose again and was glorified, as Christians
through the cross we pray we can overcome the hardship in our lives
as Jesus did. For those who suffer isolation and pain in
contemporary society, yet believe that one day their suffering will be
eased and they will be able to find their own reflection in the figure
who died and rose again on the third day. The cross reminds us of
the hurt and pain Jesus went through. We are reminded that he gave
his life for humanity. He overcame sin and death through his own
death and resurrection.
Although some people would regard the symbol as ‘gory’ as it is a
representation of the instrument used to execute Jesus. It is a
powerful and meaningful symbol in modern society. It has the ability
to give people hope, comfort, and security. Finally the cross reminds
all Christians of Jesus’ brutal experience on the cross but
furthermore it reminds us of his glory and divinity as he defeated
death.
In conclusion, although the cross might represent Jesus’ crucifixion
which might seem gory and distasteful, it also represents life as life
can be gory and distasteful and it is therefore a realistic symbol for
Christians to find comfort in.
2. Write an account on one religious ritual and one secular ritual in
contemporary society that you have studied.
A ritual is an experience that we regard as significant. They carry
meaning. They renew us and often challenge how we understand
ourselves and our lives using words and symbols that mark important
events of transition. A religious ritual I have studied is the Bar Mitzvah
in the Jewish Religion and one secular ritual I have studied in
contemporary society is the registry office marriages.
A Religious Ritual in Contemporary Society that I have studied is the
‘Bar Mitzvah’.
Bar Mitzvah means ‘ Son of the Commandment’ and it determines
religious maturity at the age of 13 for a Jewish boy. Soon after his
birthday he is called to the Synagogue to read from the Torah during
the morning service. The boy now becomes part of the ‘ Quorum’ that is
needed for Religious Services in the Synagogue. The boy prepares for
his Bar Mitzvah months before hand by attending classes with the
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Rabbi to prepare him to be able to read the Torah in front of the whole
community. On the given morning the boy wears special garments and
stands on the platform ‘ Bimah’ to read the text. Afterwards there is a
special meal to mark the boy’s coming of age. They boy now has a role
to play in his local Jewish community. He belongs fully to his Religious
community and this enhances his sense of identity and responsibility
within the group. Finally the ritual is significant for the boy’s family, as
they feel proud that they have given the boy the gift of Religious
belonging and identity.
A Secular Ritual that I have studied in Contemporary Society is the
Registry Office Marriage
A civil marriage is a civil contract, and in order that a civil marriage is
valid in Ireland, a number of requirements must first be met:
 The couple must be free to marry each other.
 Persons involved must freely give consent to marriage and not be
coerced.
 Those wishing to be married must be 18 years old.
 They must give three months - notice to the authorities of their
attention to marry.
 Civil marriage must be treated with the formality and solemnity
that is required.
This marriage unlike a Religious Ceremony in a church takes place in a
Registrar’s Office. The marriage must involve five or more people – the
registrar, the couple and two witnesses. In the presence of these five
people both parties each say ‘ I do solemnly swear that I know not any
lawful impediment why I may not be joined in matrimony to ….’ Then
say ‘ I call upon these present to witness that I do take thee … to be my
lawful wedded husband’. Immediately after this the marriage is
registered. Once the registration takes place the couple are then legally
married. This is significant because both parties have entered into civil
contract to be married. It is a decision that they have freely made. The
couple have now transformed their status within society and publicly
declared their love for each other.
To conclude, the Bar Mitzvah and the Registry Office Marriage may be
very different on many levels but both rituals are significant in the lives
of the people encountering the journeys after they take place.
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3. Explain what is meant by ‘ritualism’ and give one positive and one
negative feature of it.
Ritualism is a term that is applied to regular and excessive use of ritual.
One negative feature of ritualism is that if rituals are repeated regularly
the practice can revert to ritualism, whereby those who participate
become unconscious of the true meaning. If a person attends Mass
regularly they can become unconscious to the true meaning of the Word
of God. The Sacraments will become repetitive and they won’t
participate in them fully. Viewed in a negative way, ritualism simply
becomes an empty ritual. Those who attend are unaware of what they
are doing because it becomes a habit. When rituals are repeated
regularly, they then lack newness because they are a set pattern of
activity and at times become tedious. There is no longer a meaning to
these rituals as they once did.
One positive feature of ritualism is formal prayers. People who pray
benefit from the fact that they are part of a set pattern of words and
actions, which are regularly repeated. In this way they are easily
memorised and recited in many different contexts in Catholic Worship,
but it is this regularity and repetition that makes it easy for Catholics to
remember the format of the prayer e.g. Our Father.
In conclusion, ritualism uses excessive and regular use of ritual. If it is
over used rituals can lose their meanings, but at the same time when
they are regularly said people benefit from these rituals being regularly
repeated as people can remember them.
4. Write about the functions of two sacramental symbols you have
studied.
Symbols play a big part in Sacramental celebrations. There are two
functions to Sacramental symbols: that are revealed and participate in
Divine realities and they signify and actually bring about a different
reality. The two symbols I have studied are water in Baptism and the
bread and wine in the Eucharist.
Baptism: is a sacrament of initiation. Baptism is understood as ‘ the
basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the
door which gives access to the other sacraments ‘ ( Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 1213 )
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In Christianity, through Baptism, a person is given a new life in Jesus
Christ. Water, as a symbol, participates in this act in so far as water is
life-giving. Those who are baptised are a new creation in Christ; it was
over water that the spirit of God hovered at the moment of creation in
the book of Genesis.
The symbolic actions in the Sacrament of Baptism combined with the
words of Baptism transforms the person and it makes them a Christian.
The Catechism puts it thus: ‘ This Sacrament is also called ‘ the
washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit’, for it signifies
and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit’ ( Catechism
of the Catholic Church, 1215 ). Here sacramental symbols transform
deeper realities and actually make them happen. In the Rite of Baptism
the priest baptises the person, usually a child, by pouring water over
his/her forehead, saying: ‘ I baptise you in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit ‘. The symbolic actions in the
Sacrament of Baptism, transforms the person and makes them a
Christian.
Bread and Wine: the symbols of bread and wine are used in the
Eucharist. According to the Catholic tradition, ‘ The Eucharist is the
source and summit of the Christian life ‘ ( Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 1324 )
The Eucharist is a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on the
cross. In the Eucharist Jesus is referred to as ‘ The Lamb of God ‘
because he was offered as a sacrifice on the cross, just as the lamb was
offered as a sacrifice to free the Hebrews from Slavery. The Hebrews
were freed by the blood of the lamb on Passover night, just as
Christians were freed from sin and death by Jesus’ blood on the cross.
The host is made from unleavened bread, reminding those present of
the unleavened bread that was used on the night of the Passover. The
Eucharistic Prayer tells us how Jesus took the bread on the night of the
Last Supper and gave it a new meaning: ‘ On the night he was betrayed,
he took bread and gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is
my body which will be given up for you.’
The second function of sacramental symbols is to signify and bring
about different realities. According to the Catechism, the ‘bread and
wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of
Christ’ ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1333). During the
Eucharistic Prayer the priest calls the Holy Spirit to come down upon
the gifts: ‘ And so, Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make
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them holy by the power of your Spirit that they may become the body
and blood of Christ, at whose command we celebrate this Eucharist.’
The bread and wine, through the words of the Eucharist and the power
of the Holy Spirit, become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, the function of the symbols of water in Baptism and
bread and wine in the Eucharist shows a profound and deep meaning
for all those who participate in these sacraments.
5. For Christians the things of this world are so transparent that in
them and through them they know God’s presence. Discuss this
statement with reference to the meaning of sacrament in two
Christian denominations.
The things of this world are transparent in that they show God’s
presence. This is an interesting statement which I agree with. Christians
are called to live out God’s message and this includes not being
influenced by material things. In modern life, there is ever more
importance placed on materialism, and it is the job of Christians to try
and look past this and appreciate the beauty, complexity and diversity
of nature and spirituality. This alone sparks belief in a divine creator
and it is in this way that Christians can truly feel God’s presence.
Another way Christians can feel God’s presence is by celebrating the
sacraments. A sacrament is a religious experience whereby the
participants receive special graces from God.
The key aim of sacraments is to confer the love and presence of God.
This is known as grace. To both the Catholic Church and the Anglican
Church Sacraments show God’s presence and confer God’s grace. They
reveal the transparency of God’s presence everywhere.
Catholics feel the presence of God by celebrating sacraments. The
Catholic Church understands sacraments to be ‘ perceptible signs
accessible to our human nature. By the action of Christ and the Power
of the Holy Spirit they make present efficaciously the grace that they
signify. The purpose of Sacraments is to worship God. This is
demonstrated in the sacrament of reconciliation where Catholics are
forgiven from sin so that they can move on with their lives. They
nourish and strengthen Faith and confer the presence and love of God
traditionally known as grace. The death and resurrection of Christ was
the beginning of the church and through the seven sacraments Christ is
continued. The Sacraments are the life and blood of the church and
experiencing them brings one closer to Christ and God. For Example:
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Baptism brings a person into connection with God. In a way these
sacraments bound the Catholic identity to Christ and through the
power of the Holy Spirit are called to share in the fullness of God’s own
life. Sacraments mark times of transition in life such as the sacrament of
Confirmation, when we move from childhood faith into adult faith.
Therefore those who participate in celebrating sacraments are part of
the death and resurrection of Christ and are called to share in the
future in the fullness of God’s own life. It is true to say that for
Christians the things of this world are so transparent that in them and
through them they know God’s presence through the sacraments of
Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Reconciliation, Holy
Orders and Sacrament of the sick.
Anglicans place importance on the sacraments as a means of grace,
sanctification and salvation as expressed in the churches liturgy.
Sacraments are “ visible signs of invisible grace”. This meaning comes
from Luther’s reformation who believed in the importance of the
scriptures, and not the word of God, and because Christ had not
ordained 5 of Catholic’s 7 Sacraments, they only perform two: Baptism
and Eucharist as having been ordained by Christ and as necessary for
salvation.
Baptism is the sacrament by which a person is initiated into the
churches faith. It has the effect of receiving the individual into the
household of God, allowing him to receive the grace of the other
sacraments. The intention of baptism is threefold: a. a renunciation of
sin and of all that is opposed to the will of God, b. a statement of belief
in God, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and c. a commitment to follow
Christ as Lord and Saviour.
The Eucharist is the means by which Christ becomes present to the
Christian community gathered in his name. It is the central act of
worship, receiving the Body of Christ as the Blessed Sacrament, his
spiritual body and blood.
In conclusion, the general Christian understanding of Sacrament is that
they are rites or ceremonies observed by the church as a means of a
visible sign of grace. Sacraments are ceremonial in nature which
separates them from the other things Jesus instructed Christians to do.
The things are practical and naturally effective in an inward and
spiritual sense. In this way Christians feel Gods presence. To Christians,
the Sacraments are more than an experience as they signify meaning on
a much more spiritual level. We can see in both denominations that the
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transparency of the sacraments and their rich symbolism convey God’s
presence.
6. Is there a need for reflection in today’s world?.
Yes. I believe there is a strong need for reflection in today’s world.
Reflection is when we take time out to really listen to and understand
our desires, understandings and concerns. Today’s world is a very busy
place. Lots of people are under pressure at work due to the recession,
and reflection would be vitally important to these people to prevent
their minds being overloaded.
Reflection can turn us inward to examine our true self and our
relationship with the world. In this way, it can relieve stress and bring a
sense of calm, while you think back and process your decisions.
Lack of reflection can cause built up tension and anger, which may lead
to paranoia or anxiety. Without reflection, relationships may suffer as
we would fail to take account of our true feelings and omit to see that
the person wasn’t happy, but got so used to the routine they didn’t
notice. This would lead to projection of negative views on the other
person most unfairly.
Reflection puts us in touch with our inner most true self. For some
people this is a daunting task, in case they uncover a difficult memory
or something they don’t like themselves, but I would say ‘ How can we
change ourselves for the better if we don’t know ourselves. At this time
of desperate and hunger in the world, I think it’s important for people
to reflect on these issues and how they affect us.
Reflection facilitates itself. It’s important young people meditate to
address important questions about sexual responsibilities, drugs and
alcohol. If a young person does not reflect on their actions and decisions
they may not feel accountable and this can be dangerous. I also think
that taking time out to reflect can and does build up our selfconfidence.
7. Why do you think reflection is so important in the life of a young
person ?
Reflection is important in the life of a young person today as life
presents many crucial choices for them to make that need to be reflected
upon, such as the choices surrounding sexual responsibility and issues of
alcohol and drugs.
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Reflection is when we take time out and reconsider our understandings,
feelings, desires and concerns. Young people are at a critical stage in
their lives and reflection perhaps is most important to them and they
need to take time to reflect.
Young people are still developing and life throws at them many new
experiences and dilemmas. To avoid walking a bad path young people
take time out to consider their understandings, feelings, desires and
concerns. They turn inwards and think about their understanding of
themselves and others around them. Reflection is very important today
due to the growth of youth drug culture and the dangers and personal
choices it represents. A person who doesn’t reflect may lose sight of the
fact that there is a choice in life.
In today’s world young people are more and more faced and forced to
deal with sexual responsibility in their relationships and the world
around them. Without reflection we can fail to understand our
relationship properly and fail to pick up on tensions and frustrations.
We may also fail to see the possible dangerous outcomes of our
interactions. Teenage pregnancy and the spreading of disease through
many sexual partners is an ever growing problem among younger
people. It is imperative that they reflect on what needs to be done to
combat the problem or at least ensure the person is safe from these
problems.
Young people today are bombarded with the media’s interpretation of
‘perfection’, and this can cause severe insecurities. I think the most
important reason why a young person should reflect is to know
themselves well. It gives a person an understanding of their inner selves
and also their relationship with the world around them. To learn from
mistakes, we must know ourselves and our capabilities.
Finally, reflection is important in the lives of young people because it
opens up possibilities in the mind, both academically and perhaps
socially as well.
In conclusion, reflection is very important in the lives of young people
today. It allows us to truly know ourselves as well as our relationships
with the world and others. It shows us that there are choices and also
highlight possibilities in our lives.
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8. ‘ The young person who enters adulthood needs to reflect on the
following key issues which determine their identity: dependence and
independence, freedom and responsibility, commitment and
vocation, faith and spirituality ‘ do you agree ? Give reasons for your
answer.
Yes I agree with this statement. For a young person encroaching on
adulthood it is very important that they reflect on issues that determine
their identity.
Often in life there are those who follow and those who lead. A young
person must decide whether they are to be dependent or independent.
They must decide whether they make decisions for themselves or let
others do it for them. A young person must reflect on this if they are to
overcome being misled, or making a bad decision for themselves.
A young person must reflect on freedom and responsibility. Most young
people today are mostly free from the burden of responsibility. As they
get older, they will hopefully learn that they just like their parents have
responsibilities. Certain responsibilities are passed from the parent to
the child like the health of the child and also certain duties are given to
them. Without reflection a young person may neglect or ignore
responsibilities. This would have detrimental effects on them in later life
when they have, for example, children and homes of their own.
It is important for a young person to reflect on commitment and
vocation. A young person must find what is important to them and do
their best to achieve what is important, whether it be a family or a job.
Without reflection a person may become unhappy because they do not
know what they want. They may lose sight that they do have a future in
which they can do what they enjoy.
The need for reflection on faith and spirituality is very important for a
young person as it helps a person make decisions. Once a person has a
guide in life other things come easier to them, e.g. religion has very clear
guidelines on sexuality. With reflection and faith a person may
overcome any hurdles in their way much easier.
9. What is the relationship between awe and worship ?
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The relationship between awe and worship can be an important one as
they are both closely linked. Worship is the praise, honour,
thanksgiving and acknowledgement given to the transcendent being by
individuals and communities of believers. Awe can be something you get
from worship. It is a feeling as opposed to worship which is an act.
Worship can be controlled and you do so freely, while awe is a feeling
that doesn’t come along often, and for some maybe never, and this is
therefore uncontrollable. Awe is a feeling a person has when they
experience the mysterious nature of the transcendent and this
experience of awe is important in the participation in worship. People
can be filled with awe and wonder when they experience the greatness
of the divine. ‘ For I am a great king says the Lord of Hosts, and my
name is awesome before the nations ‘. ( Malachi 1:14 ). Such a feeling
can be experienced in moments of quiet meditation, in encountering
unconditional love, in witnessing the beauty of a sunset or in the force
and power of the natural world. This feeling of awe and wonder in the
presence of the divine is after the prerequisite for the act of worship.
Worship is a way of responding to the feeling of awe and the experience
of the transcendent in human life. As worship is directed towards
mystery it involves the use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and
time. Sacred actions, such as special meals, blessings, kneeling and
genuflection, also characterised public worship. Worship involves the
use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and time. Sacred actions like
meals, blessings etc.. also characterise public worship. Examples of
individual worship may take the form of prayer, meditation, or
contemplation.
Public worship may involve sacred texts, music recitation or prayers
and creeds. The Christian church’s formal worship of God is called
liturgy. The liturgy helps to deepen one’s relationship between awe and
worship is clear and clearly important. Without one the other can’t
succeed and are both a major part of most religions.
Worship is the praise, honour, thanksgiving and acknowledgement
given to the transcendent being by individuals and communities of
believers. It is a human response to the mysterious presence of believers.
Awe is a feeling a person has when they experience the mysterious
nature of the transcendent and this experience of awe is important in
the participation of worship.
People can be filled with awe and wonder when they experience the
greatness of the divine. ‘ For I am a great king says the Lord of Host
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and my name is awesome before the nations’. ( Malachi 1:14) Such a
feeling can be experienced in moments of quiet meditation, in
encountering unconditional love, in witnessing the beauty of a sunset or
in the force and power of the natural world. Many people see God in the
little things of life. Some see God in nature, as he is the Creator of this
world. This feeling of awe and wonder in the presence of the divine is
often the prerequisite for the act of worship.
Worship is a way of responding to the feeling of awe and the experience
of the transcendence in the human life. It can lead us to practice our
faith and deepen our religious faith. As worship is directed towards
mystery, it involves the use of symbols, sacred stories, sacred space and
time. The use of symbols, stories, space and time help us deepen our
relationship with God and understand him. Sacred actions such as
special meals, blessings, kneeling and genuflection also characterise
public worship. These sacred actions are done in a group of people who
are using worship as a way to respond to the feeling of awe. Public
worship may involve sacred texts, music recitation or prayers and
creeds. Examples of individual worship may take the form of prayer,
meditation, or contemplation. These give the person time alone with
God and it also gives them time to reflect on their own life. Prayer is a
big part in both individual and public worship. It reflects the human
need for a communication with Divine and Spiritual realities. The
Christian Church’s formal worship of God is called liturgy. The Liturgy
helps to deepen one’s relationship with the Divine.
In conclusion, awe is important in the participation in worship. It helps
people see the beauty of the natural world, which God created. The
feeling of awe helps people respond to the act of worship. They deepen
their relationship and faith with God.
10.‘ The young person who enters adulthood needs to reflect on the
following key issues which determine their identity: dependence and
independence, freedom and responsibility, commitment and
vocation, faith and spirituality. Do you agree ? Give reasons for your
answers.
Yes, I do agree that a young person who enters adulthood needs to
reflect on the following key issues which determine the identity as they
think about their understanding of themselves and the world around
them. Reflection is when we take time out and reconsider our
understandings, feelings, desires, and concerns. Reflecting on these
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issues helps young people to discover their true identity and it helps
them grow into mature adults.
When young people reflect on dependence and independence they
realise how mature they are, and how they are not fully independent.
When a young person gains independence, they must realise that they
have more decisions to make than they did. If they don’t reflect on these
decisions they could make the wrong choice. Young people may not
realise that they are still dependent on a number of issues i.e. parents
for shelter, and in order for them to realise this they must reflect.
When a young person enters adulthood they gain freedom and
responsibility. Before they were adults they hadn’t got as much
freedom. Now they can do whatever they want but they must realise
that bad actions do have consequences. They also have more
responsibilities and they have to be responsible for themselves. If they
break a law they must take responsibility and own up. As they now have
more freedom and responsibilities they need to reflect on their decisions
and actions.
When a young person reaches adulthood they need to reflect on
commitment and vocation. As we grow up we will have certain
commitments which we must stick to. They help us grow and learn. If
we don’t reflect on our commitments we won’t understand them or
ourselves. Vocations allow us to fulfil our goals. Reflection on our
vocations allow us to imagine other possibilities, be that in work,
relationships, ambitions or deep within our own spirituality.
Reflecting on our faith and spirituality is important for young people
reaching adulthood. They ask questions on their faith and they discover
their beliefs. It puts them in touch with their true identity and they
learn to understand themselves.
In conclusion, I do agree that it is important for young people who are
entering adulthood to reflect on these key issues as they learn more
about themselves. They become in touch with their true identity.
11.Examine the part played by two symbols in a sacramental
celebration you have studied.
Symbols play a big part in Sacramental celebrations. Two symbols in a
sacramental celebration that I have studied are water in Baptism and
the Bread and wine in the Eucharist.
Baptism is a Sacrament of Initiation. It is the entry into the Catholic
Church. Baptism is understood as the basis of the whole Christian life,
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‘the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to
other sacraments.’ Cathechism of the Catholic Church, 1213. If a
person does not receive baptism they are unable to receive confirmation
or get married, as they were not initiated into the Catholic Church.
In Christianity, through baptism, a person is given a new life in Jesus
Christ. They are part of Christ’s family. Water, as a symbol participates
in this act in so far as water is life giving. The water washes away
original sin and we are now invited to participate in the other
sacraments. Those who are baptised are a new creation in Christ, it was
over water that the Spirit of God hovered at the moment of creation in
the book of Genesis. The symbolic actions in the sacraments of baptism
transforms the person and makes them Christian.
The second symbol that I have studied is the bread and wine in the
Eucharist. The Eucharist is the source of the Christian life. The
Eucharist is a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross.
Christians remember that Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God. The
Hebrews were freed by the blood of the lamb on Passover night, just as
the Christians were freed from sin and death by Jesus’ blood on the
cross. The host is made from unleavened bread. The priest blesses the
bread and wine. He says’ take this all of you and eat it, this is my body
and which has been given up for you’ Do this in memory of me. This
remembers what Christ said to the apostles during the last supper. The
bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ. During the
celebration of the Eucharist we receive communion and this symbolises
that we undertake to live out our lives like Christ.
12. Describe one example of where a sense of the sacred can be seen in
the way people live today.
An example of where a sense of the sacred can be seen in the way people
live today is pilgrimage. Pilgrimage also can help people find meaning in
society today. A pilgrimage I have studied is Lourdes.
In 1858 a young local girl, Bernadette Soubirous claimed a beautiful
lady appeared to her in the remote grotto of Massabiele. The lady
identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Many believed her to
be the Blessed Virgin Mary. The lady appeared 18 times and by 1859
thousands of pilgrims were visiting Lourdes. The spring water from
Lourdes is believed to have some healing properties. The Catholic
Church has officially recognised 67 miraculous healings. Connected
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with this pilgrimage is often the consumption of or bathing in the
Lourdes water.
Many people go on pilgrimages such as Lourdes for various reasons:
 To ask God for guidance
 To receive the strength needed to face a crisis
 To strengthen their faith
 To deepen their relationship with God
 To share faith experiences with other pilgrims
 To remind themselves that life is a great journey.
All these reasons can help people find meaning in society today.
Pilgrimages such as Lourdes can help people to make important
decisions in their lives as it can give them time to reflect and discern
what is the best for them and others before making important decisions
in life.
The sense of the divine, holy and sacred in Lourdes gives meaning to
people’s lives in society today.
13. Outline how meditation is practised in one world religion that you
have studied.
Meditation is practised in Buddhism as an experience of emptying.
Buddhism seeks through meditation to achieve a true vision of reality.
Such a vision leads to a release from the cycles of rebirth to the eventual
freedom of Nivana ( Enlightenment ).
There are two types of Buddhist meditation: calm ( Samatha )
meditation and Vipasyana ( insight ) meditation. A Buddhist begins
meditation with the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness can be
understood as a total awareness and it is applied to four areas: the body,
the sensations, thought and mental objects. Mindfulness of the body
begins with an awareness of the unconscious activity of breathing as the
person focuses on inhaling and exhaling. This leads to an awareness of
the whole body and an ensuing feeling of tranquillity.
Mindfulness is then applied to the various sensations. The objective now
is to detach oneself from the various facets or experiences that may have
distorted the true nature of experience. Detachment leads to a deeper
way of thinking free from bias, prejudice or flawed interpretation,
leading to a truer vision of reality. In this experience of emptiness the
person is lead into a new interior dimension, free from external
distractions, leading to simplicity, peace and contentment.
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14.Explain why either meditation or contemplation is used as a form of
prayer today.
Meditation is used as a form of prayer today because in today’s world
many people feel that their lives are too stressed and meditation is a way
of allowing the mind and body to relax.
Meditation focuses and concentrates on a single theme, idea, symbol or
text. Contemplation can be understood as a way of communicating with
the Divine at the depths of a person’s being. Meditation is good for
dealing with stress and anxiety, which explains why it has become
popular in western culture.
Meditation is seen to lead to a happier and more spiritual life. Those
who practise meditation, move away from selfishness and this ultimately
creates a better and more generous and wise individual.
Meditation is also very popular in Christianity. People who practice
Christian meditation are empowered by their experience of an
encounter with Christ to act like Christ; to serve as he served; to forgive
as he forgave and to bring healing into the lives of those around them.
15. (a) World religions have different types of formal prayer and ways
of praying. Describe one example of either a formal prayer or a way
of praying associated with one of the following world religions –
Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
One example of a formal prayer associated with Christianity is the
Lord’s prayer. The Lord’s prayer is truly the summary of the whole
gospel ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2761 )
‘ Abba ‘, ‘ Father ‘: Jesus addressed Goad as ‘ Father’ of ‘ Abba ‘, and
in the prayer he encourages his Disciples to address God in the same
manner ( Romans 8:15; Galations 4:6 )
‘Hallowed be thy name ‘:- Praise God’s name and pray for the coming
of the Kingdom of God.
‘ Thy Kingdom come ‘ :- The kingdom of God was to be understood as
the reign of God, which exists within the lives of those who follow Jesus
( Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12 )
‘ Give us this day ‘ :- God will take care of the material necessities, set
your hearts on the Kingdom, and these other things will be given to you
as well . ( Luke 12:31)
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‘ And forgive us our sins ‘:- Jesus outs no limits on the extent to which
we should forgive others.
‘ Lead us not into temptation’:- when we find ourselves in moments of
temptation, we won’t give in.
‘ But deliver us from evil. Amen. ‘:- Keep us free from sin and show us
the way to heaven.
(b) Explain the origin of the example you have given
and describe how it is used in the religious tradition
associated with it.
The origins of the Our Father is found in the Didache which is an
ancient book of basic instructions for Christians which originates from
the very early church. In this book it is St. Matthew’s form of prayer
that is used.
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven,
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil Amen.
According to the ‘ Didache ‘ the Lord’s prayer should be said three
times a day.
The Our Father is very commonly used in Christianity. It is one of the
first prayers a child learns because of its importance. The meaning is
regarded as truly important for all Christians. It has been translated
into many languages including Irish because of how universal it is
viewed as. According to the Didache the Lord’s prayer should be said
three times daily. On Easter Day 2007, it was estimated that two billion
Catholics, Anglicans, Protestants and Eastern Orthodox Christians
read, recited or sang the Our Father in hundreds of languages.
Although theological differences and various modes of worship divide
Christians, there is a sense of solidarity in knowing that Christians
around the globe are praying together, and this prayer unites us as one.
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© Describe an example of either a formal prayer or a way of
praying associated with one other world religion listed above
and compare the way it is used with the example you have
described in (a) above.
Another example of a formal prayer associated with one other world
religion is The Shema which is associated with Judaism. The Shema is a
formal prayer in Jewish Liturgy.
The Shema consists of three biblical passages: Deuteronomy 6:4-9,
11:13-21 and Numbers 15: 37-41. It is recited twice a day. The prayer
was used every day in the temple as part of the temple worship. The
priest recited a blessing, the Ten Commandments, the Shema and then
another blessing. The prayer acts as a profession of faith and is also
recited just before death. The main part of the prayer begins by
acknowledging the unity of God and that there is only one God. After
the Shema is a command to love God with all one’s being. The prayer
asks for a surrender of all that a person has to the love of God. It asks
for a dedication of every aspect of life, heart, mind and soul to God who
is one. Jews hold the Shema with deep reverence and affection. For the
Jews, the Shema is the most important text in the Old Testament and
the first paragraphs of the prayer are written on a piece of parchment
and placed inside a wooden or metal box called a Mezuzah, which is
fixed to the doorpost of the houses.
In comparing the Shema with the Lord’s prayer we can see that both
are meant to be recited more than once daily. Both prayers are
regarded as very important to members of its religion. In contrast, the
Shema requires a dedication to prayers which the Lord’s prayer does
not.
16.What is the most significant thing a religious experience reveals ?
There are many different religious experiences that a person can
experience. Through them there can be many different things that are
revealed through them.
A religious experience can be defined as something that is a depth
experience which encounters with realities in life such as truth,
meaning, the sacred, love and beauty. ‘The underlying characteristic of
any religious experience is that individuals find themselves drawn into a
new relationship with that which is termed the transcendent’ Fr.
Dermot Lane, the experience of God.
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All religious experiences share the following characteristics:
 All religious experiences reveal the transcendent
 They are also encounters with the mystery
 They can be life changing
 They can involve a conversation between oneself and God or a
priest.
 They can give a persona new perspective or insight into life.
 It can change a person’s attitude towards life and others and
ultimately towards the transcendent.
 They can change a person’s understanding of themselves, their
values and priorities.
An example of a positive religious experience could be the birth of a
child. This experience gives parents a new perspective and insight on
life. Most are filled with pride and joy and determined to protect and
cherish the little baby. This opens their understanding of themselves
and of course rearranges their priorities. It is a time when they are filled
with awe as they delight in the creation of a new human being showing
the power of the transcendent.
A negative religious experience can occur if someone you love is sick,
this can turn a person to religion for comfort and hope. They pray that
their loved one makes it, and beg and plead. When they don’t get better
and they die, that person’s life is changed forever. In some cases, it
would involve a conversion against religion, and it changes a person’s
attitude towards life and others.
I think the most important thing that comes from a religious experience
is that it can change our understanding of ourselves and our priorities.
In essence, it can change us, hopefully for the better.
17.Write an account on prayer and the relationship with the Divine in
two religions you have studied.
Prayer can be seen as having a conversation with God. Prayer is an
important part of faith because it brings you closer to your God. This is
evident in the connection between prayer and God in Christian and
Jewish faith.
Prayer is a personal address from the heart and mind that seeks
communion with the Divine. People pray to reach out to God and ask
for forgiveness or guidance. Prayer reflects the need for the Divine in
the context of a person’s own sense of fragility and vulnerability. Prayer
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is important in this way because where someone may feel fragile and
unable to speak to others about how we feel but knowing you can tell
God can help heal us and allow us to become confident in whom we are
especially during teenage years. Our achievements, pleasures and
friendships can’t seem to satisfy an inner emptiness at the centre of our
souls. Although we get distracted by material things and the various
facets of life, prayer can bring us back to our spiritual selves and stay
connected with what’s important. The soul longs for a personal
relationship with God because it is loved by God and seeks a
relationship with the source of this love. Our relationship with God is
nourished through prayer. We gain a deeper relationship with God
through sharing problems asking for guidance. Through prayer a
person comes to know God more fully and they share in a love that
directs them to the needs of the poor and the outcasts. Through prayer
we reflect and want to be like him and do as Jesus did. We want to help
others and be like him. Prayer teaches us to do as Jesus did and outline
the characteristics involved in being a Christian e.g. compassion and
forgiveness.
Like the Christian religion Jewish people find prayer equally important.
When a Jew prays they do so with sincerity and true devotion to God.
The Jewish term Kavannagh expresses that prayer should involve a
direction of the mind towards God with true devotion meaning that
before prayer one stands before the ‘Holy One’ and ‘ Lord of the
Universe ‘. Rabbinic tradition insisted that one should approach God
with the utmost reverence and respect because prayer is an encounter
with a God who is mighty and majestic. One should respect God and be
thankful of what he has given you. Jews are reminded that their
relationship with God in prayer should be one of trust in a personal
being of power and love. When praying one should never be afraid of
being their true self or ashamed of what they’ve done because God will
love you no matter what. God remains steadfast in his care for those
who approach in faith and the Talmud lays down a general principle
that a person should not hesitate to come to God in prayer. This is
important because you will never have a true relationship with God
until you stop hesitating and allow yourself to fully be open to the faith.
To conclude, prayer is important for a relationship with the Divine
because to be part of a religion you must allow yourself to communicate
with the Lord, share your fears and doubts and to try and live like Jesus
did. As shown above prayer is essential to your relationship with the
Divine in Christianity and Judaism.
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18. Explain the ways in which two rites in Christian Worship remember
Jesus.
It appears that from early in the development of Christian Worship,
remembering the action of Jesus at the last supper and recalling the
significance of his death and resurrection were central. This
remembering was a call to live as Jesus did.
One rite in which Christian Worship remembers Jesus is through the
rite of the Eucharist. Christians celebrate the Eucharist in both word
and deed. They listen to the word of God through scripture. They break
bread and share wine. The Eucharist is the source of the Christian life.
The Eucharist is a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on the
cross. In the Eucharist Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God. For
Catholics Christ is truly present in the bread and wine after
consecration when they become the Body and Blood of Christ,
transubstantiation refers to what occurs in the Sacrament of the
Eucharist.
Christians also remember Jesus through the rites of confirmation.
Anointing is used in confirmation. In Confirmation, the anointing is a
spirit filled event. In Confirmation the person is anointed with Chrism
oil. This anointing in Confirmation strengthens the person in wisdom,
courage and understanding of the message of Jesus. In the rite of
Confirmation the Bishop traces the sign of the cross on the person’s
forehead with the oil and says ‘ be sealed with the gift of the Holy
Spirit ‘. Once confirmed the presence of the Holy Spirit stays with you
for your entire life. The gifts of the Holy Spirit includes: peace, joy, love,
wonder and awe in God’s presence and courage. These gifts give the
people being confirmed the strength to go out and share God’s love in
peace, truth, justice and love.
These rites experienced at specific phases in a Christian’s life are rooted
in Christ and therefore through worship are concerned with
remembering the message values and life of Jesus Christ.
19.Write an account on how God is present in the Catholic Church.
God is always present in the Catholic Church in many different ways.
The church is a place of prayer and worship, a place to worship God.
God is present in the church when people are there to pray. He is there
because they are there. The liturgy is celebrated in the church. The
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liturgy of the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life
( Lumen Gentium, 11 )
The Church is the place where the sacraments can be celebrated.
Throughout all the 7 sacraments of the Catholic Church God is present
at every single one of them, but in each sacrament he is present in a
different way for example in the sacrament of Baptism God is present
through the Baptismal Font. It represents new life in God and the altar
represents Christ’s sacrifice.
Catholics believe that God is present in the Eucharist. We believe that
the bread and wine which is changed into the body and blood of Christ
through transubstantiation contains the presence of God. This was the
last thing Jesus asked us to do in his memory at the last supper. So
because of its significance, God will always be present at this time.
When mass is over some of the remaining hosts are placed in the
tabernacle, so when the person enters the church to pray they believe
that God is present in the tabernacle.
In conclusion the main way that God is present throughout the whole of
the Catholic Church is through the Eucharist, through the body and
blood of Christ, through his Son that he gave up for our Salvation.
20.How is the search for the spiritual evident in society today ?
For many people, spirituality and indeed the search for the spiritual has
been an important part of the journey through life. People are always
seeking and will continue in the future to find the truth and meaning
behind life and the spiritual aspects of human natural lives. This search
for the spiritual is evident even in society today from the action which
the people searching make. These actions include reflection, pilgrimage,
prayer/worship and retreats.
Reflection is a key part of the search for the spiritual. Reflection is when
a person takes time out and secludes oneself from worldly distractions
for a time to reconsider one’s feelings, understandings, desires, concerns
and previous actions. In its nature, reflection turns the person inward to
contemplate upon their understanding of themselves and the world
around them. Without reflection one can fail to understand or ignore
personal feelings that may cause unhappiness. Reflection puts a person
in touch with their true identity or authentic self. Effectively, reflection
allows a person to imagine either possibilities in relationships, work,
ambitions or even one’s own spirituality.
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Pilgrimage: Every year for hundreds of years people have made
pilgrimages to many places e.g. Lough Derg, Knock, Croagh Patrick. A
pilgrimage is a journey made by a person or a community to a sacred
place because it is associated with a person or event of religious
significance. In theory, the inner spiritual journey can be described as a
pilgrimage. People make pilgrimages for many different reasons.
However, all of these revolve around worshipping God and showing
their devotion. People go on pilgrimage to :
 Strengthen their relationship with God.
 To look for guidance
 To seek forgiveness for wrong doing in their lives
 To share faith experiences with other pilgrims
 To have some alone time with themselves and with God.
Pilgrimage is a clear example of how many people are searching for the
spiritual.
Prayer / Worship: is another way people approach their own search for
the spiritual. The goal or objective of prayer is to communicate with
God, the transcendent being. It reflects the human need to communicate
with God. There are many different forms of prayer which
subsequently are said for different reasons e.g. petition, contrition,
contemplation etc… People can also pray formally or informally, alone
or with a group, all of whom have similar values and are also searching
for the spiritual. The Eucharist is a great form of worship that we
Catholics participate in and during this liturgy we hear the word of God
and then at the end of the celebration we are asked to ‘ go in peace to
love and serve the Lord ‘.
Retreats: these are also a way in which people are on a search for the
spiritual in the modern day. Retreats can also be done in solitude or in a
communal manner with many people also on retreat. In retreats, a
person can focus on reading, prayer, reflection, meditation, without any
outside distractions. To avoid distractions people often take this time in
silence to go on retreat. Sometimes retreats may have themes, focusing
on one’s spiritual journey. A spiritual director is also available where
the retreatant may go and share with their spiritual director what is
happening for them during their time on retreat.
In conclusion, it is apparent that many people in the distant past right
up to the present modern day have been on the search for the spiritual
and will continue to do so well into the future.
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21.Write an account on worship and awe with response to mystery.
Worship is a human response to the mysterious presence of the divine.
Awe is a feeling a person has when they experience the mysterious
nature of the transcendent and this experience of awe is important in
the participation of worship. People can be filled with awe and wonder
when they experience the greatness of the Divine. ‘ For I am a great
King says the Lord of Hosts and my name is awesome before the nations
‘. ( Malachi 1:14 )
Such a feeling can be experienced in moments of quiet meditation, in
encountering unconditional love, in witnessing the beauty of the sunset
or in the force and power of the natural world. The feeling of awe and
wonder in the presence of the divine is often is after the prerequisite for
the act of worship. Worship is a way of responding to the feeling of awe
and the experience of the transcendence in human life. As worship is
directed towards mystery, it involves the use of symbols, sacred stories,
sacred space and time. Sacred actions, such as special meals, blessings,
kneeling and genuflection, also characterize public worship. The
Christian church’s formal worship of God is called liturgy. The liturgy
helps to deepen one’s relationship with the divine.
22.Profile the life and work of one mystic you have studied
One mystic that I have studied is Teresa of Avila. Teresa of Avila was
born in 1515 to a wealthy family in the fortress town of Avila in Spain.
As a child she was an avid reader and displayed an interest in the
spiritual. This influenced her to join the Carmelite order. She
experienced ill health as a nun and at one point her grave was dug in
convent grounds. However, she recovered but suffered uncertain health
for the rest of her life. Her greatest ambition was to set up her own
convent and in doing so reform the Carmelite order. She did this with
the help of John of the Cross. She enforced the primitive rule in the
convent as an austere life of prayer and strict enclosure.
Teresa experienced an intense and mystical relationship with God. She
once described mental prayer as “ nothing else than an intimate sharing
between friends; it means taking the time to frequently be alone with He
whom we know loves us “. Teresa had mystical experiences such as
levitations, visions and spiritual rapture, yet she constantly felt the pain
of being misunderstood, along with the fear that she might be having
delusions.
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Despite these intense mystical experiences Teresa should be understood
as a down to earth and tough woman who battled for what she believed
in and was courageous enough to see through her reforms in the face of
fierce hostility.
The spiritual life didn’t always come easy to Teresa and she experienced
long periods of separation from prayer. She often found it difficult to
enter the oratory and this is one of the reasons why her life and work is
so important to us today.
In this great mystic we witness the difficulties that even she faced on her
spiritual journey, as she was constantly plagued by the sense of her own
sinfulness. While her enclosed life demanded thorough self-knowledge
and deep inner examination, she never became self – absorbed.
Her life was dedicated to the service of others and she found God in the
little things of everyday. She once told the nuns “ the Lord walks among
the pots and pans “. Throughout her life she gradually moved from selfcenteredness to surrendering herself to the will of God and finally
relaxing into his love. She often tried to help those who were learning to
pray and after her death the following prayer was found in her own
hand-writing. It encapsulates her understanding of the spiritual
journey:
“ Let nothing disturb thee,
Let nothing dismay thee,
All things pass:
God never changes.
Patience attains
All that it strives for.
One who has God
Finds nothing lacking:
God alone suffices”.
23.Write an account on one example of a religious ritual in
contemporary culture and explain its significance for those who
participate.
One example of a religious ritual in contemporary culture is from the
Jewish Faith and it is the Bar Mitzvah. Bar Mitzvah means ‘ Son of
the commandment’ and takes place when a Jewish boy reaches
Jewish maturity at the age of 13.
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The boy, soon after his birthday is taken to the Synagogue to read
from the Torah in front of the congregation. Soon after he joins the
‘ Quorum’ as part of the group who participate in the services. The
process of the Bar Mitzvah takes place months in advance with the
boy going to classes with the Rabbi to learn how to read the Torah in
Hebrew. On the day he wears special garments; skullcap, tallit,
teffelin and stands on the ‘Bimah’ facing the congregation before
reading from a passage in the Torah. When he is done he is officially
a man in the eyes of his father.
This ritual is significant for those who participate because the
‘Quorum’ receives a new member, a person from the younger
generation to learn how to carry out the Jewish traditions and help
perform the services. Without Bar Mitzvahs, the ‘Quorum’ would
not have its members and therefore the services could not take place.
Another reason is he is a new part of the ‘life blood’ of the Jewish
faith in order to carry on its significance for future generations. It is
significant for the family as they have helped give the boy a sense of
religious identity and have finally raised the ‘boy’ into a ‘man’. It is
with their help he has completed his development into manhood and
a better connection with his faith. It is also significant for the family
as it signifies a shift in practice, they now have another member of
the family to help with the services and pride will be found here.
Finally, it is most significant for the boy, as he now is a part of the
wider community of others who share his faith. He has just
completed another stepping stone in his life and most importantly he
is now a ‘man’ within the views of his religion who can take an active
part in the services in the synagogue.
In conclusion, the Bar Mitzvah is one example of a religious ritual in
contemporary culture and it is hugely significant for all those who
participate in this ritual of coming of age.
24.What is ritualism and discuss one positive and one negative feature
of it ?
Ritualism is the regular and excessive use of an experience, set or way
within rituals that is repetitive and frequently used. Ritualism has both
its positives and negatives. Within the positives it creates a sense of
community and closeness. For example in Baptism, the parents,
godparents and family are called to the church to baptise the child and
welcome them into the Christian faith. This form of ritualism creates a
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community, with a new member being initiated by their parents, who in
turn were initiated by their parents into their faith. The Godparents
reaffirm their vows they took and promise to raise the child in the
Christian Faith. From this ritual, the washing away of original sin, the
use of the catechumen and Chrism oil and the lighting of the baptismal
candle from the paschal candle show the positive side of ritualism as a
force that creates bonds within the community as it ties people of the
same faith together and the experience of newness, the child is now a
part of something larger and wonderful, the family of God. Nothing can
make such scenes dull, no matter how many times you are present at
baptism as the ritual always feels new with a new member being
welcomed into the Christian Faith.
Ritualism can also have a negative side. One example of this can be
found in the celebration of the Eucharist ‘Mass’. If a person attends
Mass regularly, yet fails to listen or actively participate in the
celebration, then the experience won’t be very fruitful. For many
participants in Mass, they stand, kneel, say the responses, receive Holy
Communion and leave the celebration without much effect on their
lives. The kernel of the Eucharist is the changing of the bread and wine
into the body and blood of Christ ‘transubstantiation’ and we are
invited to receive Jesus into our lives when we receive Holy Communion
‘the more we receive the Eucharist, the more we become the Eucharist’.
How sad it is that this can be lost because sometimes this ritual is such a
habit that it loses its full meaning.
In conclusion, ritualism can be both positive and negative. It will only
become negative if the meaning of the ritual is lost. The reason why
baptism is positive is because the moral and meaning is still relevant to
us today. When you compare this to Mass, not many people see mass as
relevant, therefore the meaning is lost.
25.Hermitage, Poustinia, pilgrimage and retreat. Choose two of the
above and describe the significance of each one in the development of
contemplative practice.
The contemplative practice is one incorporates solitude, silence and
prayer. The two contemplative practices that I have chosen to discuss
are pilgrimage and retreat.
Firstly, pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place. Many people go on
pilgrimage for many different reasons:
 To deepen their relationship with God.
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 To seek guidance.
 To look for forgiveness for their wrong doing in life.
 To take time out and ‘be’.
 To share faith experiences with other pilgrims.
 To offer it up for some intention.
Croagh Patrick is an example of a place of pilgrimage. Here St. Patrick
went up the mountain and spent 40 days and 40 nights praying,
reflecting and fasting and spending time in the presence of God. It was
here that he banished all the snakes form Ireland. On Easter Sunday he
came down the mountain and he celebrated mass with everyone on the
4th Sunday of July which is now known as Reek Sunday. Today many
people make this journey on ‘Reek Sunday’. It is very significant for
them. Many make this pilgrimage in their bare feet and offer their
suffering for someone or something. There are three stages to this
journey. Stage 1 takes place at the base of the mountain and here
pilgrims walk around a mound of stones seven times, saying 7 Our
Fathers, seven Hail Marys and one creed. Second station: takes place on
the summit and has four different stages. The pilgrim first kneels and
says 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys and 1 Creed. They then pray near the
chapel where Mass is said every day for the Pope’s intentions. Next,
they walk around the chapel 15 times while saying 15 Our Fathers, and
15 Hail Marys . Finally, they walk around the area known as Patrick’s
bed seven times, again saying 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys and 1 Creed.
Third station: takes place at Rolig Mhuire. Here the pilgrims walk
seven times around each mound of stones, again repeating the sequence
of 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys and 1 Creed. Finally, they walk around
the whole enclosure of Rolig Mhuire praying. This form of pilgrimage is
extremely important in the development of contemplative practice.
Secondly retreat is another form that has helped develop the
contemplative practice and is very significant for many people. Retreat
can be seen as taking time out of one’s busy life to spend time in the
silence, solitude and prayer with God. Retreats for individuals can take
place in hermitages, where the person can focus on reading, prayer,
reflection and meditation. It is a threshold moment of solitude, stillness
and silence which leads to a spiritual renewal. A retreat can last for a
day or a month depending on the person’s needs and spiritual maturity.
Some retreats are given by a retreat director, who may focus on a theme
relating to the spiritual journey.
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Retreats are very significant for those who participate as they will have
the opportunity to be renewed by the experience of the presence of God.
I have some personal experience with going on retreat. During 5th year
in school I went on a class retreat. Our retreat master was Mr. Gerry
Bates a former teacher at our school. We went on retreat to Orlagh
Retreat house in the mountains near Tallaght. From our school we
walked to Orlagh retreat house up in the mountains. Once there we did
many things such as reflection, prayer and meditation. There was one
part of the retreat that I found to be very significant to the development
of contemplative practice in my life. That was when we were in the
garden of Orlagh house. We walked one by one alone down a path
through the garden. While I was on this walk I was alone and I was
reflecting on my life and I also said some prayers for myself and for
those who needed it. I felt that I was not spiritually alone. I could feel
the presence of God walking with me. It was a profound experience that
was important for me and hugely significant in my life. It was truly an
experience of contemplative practice in my life and I know that it will
stand to me for the rest of my life.
In conclusion, it is clear that the practice of pilgrimage and retreat are
very significant to the development of contemplative practice. They are
opportunities where one can experience, solitude, reflection and prayer
and thus deepen their relationship with God.
26.Write an account about the functions of two symbols used in a
sacramental celebration.
Two functions of symbols used in sacramental celebration are to
participate in Divine realities and to bring about a new reality. Two
symbols in a sacramental celebration that I have studied are bread and
wine in the Eucharist. Bread and wine are the source and summit of
Christian life. Eucharist is a memorial service, remembering how Jesus
sacrificed himself for us. The origins of the Eucharist are the last
supper. At this meal, Jesus and his apostles were gathered together to
celebrate the Passover meal. This was taken away to be sacrificed for us,
hence the name ‘ the last supper ‘. Jesus was trying to teach the apostles
that night. Symbolically he took that bread and said ‘ take this all of you
and eat it. This is my body given up for you. Do this in memory of me.
Then he took the wine and said this is my blood which is given up for
you, do this in memory of me. This is known as transubstantiation. It is
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here that we participate in the Divine Realities. This is the first function
of a sacramental symbol.
When we receive communion we experience a change. we are told to ‘
go forth and spread the good news’. It is believed that we become closer
to God and in turn the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit. There is a well - known saying ‘the more you receive the
Eucharist, the more you become the Eucharist’. At the last supper,
Jesus said ‘ do this in memory of me’ when he completed the process of
transubstantiation it became clear that Jesus wanted us to repeat this
celebration. In turn, this brought us to our second function, it brought
about a new reality.
In conclusion the bread and wine of Eucharist both participates in
Divine reality and brings about a new reality.
Or
In this essay I shall be exploring various sacramental symbols used in a
sacramental celebration within the church. Firstly I ask the question
what is a sacrament ? Sacraments are perceivable signs which confer
our faith in Jesus Christ and God. In the sacrament of the Eucharist,
the symbol of bread and the symbol of wine are used. For the Christian,
life begins with the Eucharist and it is the foundation for the basis of the
Church as it stems directly from the execution of Jesus Christ.
Symbols within sacrament represent and have two functions, firstly they
reveal and participate in divine realities and secondly they play a vital
role in the actual bringing about of different realities. In the sacrament
of the Eucharist, which means ‘thanksgiving’ the sacramental symbols
of bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ in
a process known as transubstantiation. The bread and wine are highly
symbolic in this instance as they help to represent the sacrifice which
Jesus made for his people. As we know Jesus was found guilty of treason
and was subsequently crucified on Calvary, the symbol of the bread and
wine help remind us of God and Jesus’ love for us. In this instance the
function of the bread and wine is to help reveal divine realities to the
people. However, as the bread and wine are highly symbolic, we receive
the Eucharist with a view to go forth and spread the Good News and
message of Jesus Christ. We become one with Christ when we receive
Eucharist and it is believed that the more we receive the Eucharist, the
more we become the Eucharist. This sacrament serves as a means of
physically representing an inner and spiritual occurrence. The function
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of the bread and wine is of extreme importance in this sacrament as it
helps to reveal a divine reality. The divine process of transubstantiation
would be impossible without the symbols of both bread and wine. As we
receive this gift our Eucharist it then serves a second function, in
bringing about an actual reality, in so far as we become one with Jesus
and are encouraged to go forth and spread the message of love.
In conclusion, two symbols in a sacrament that I have studied are bread
and wine in the Eucharist. They primarily serve two functions which
are to bring about actual realities and to reveal divine realities to the
Christian people.
27.Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. All religions
regard certain times as sacred. Compare the features that make a
time or season as sacred in two of the major religions listed above.
It is true that various religions hold sacred times close to their
traditions. In this essay I shall be comparing the time of Passover in the
Jewish religion with that of Easter Sunday in the Christian Tradition.
Both times have some similarities but they also have some key
differences as I shall highlight in this essay. The book of Exodus recalls
the freeing of the Israelites from Egyptian rule. At the time, the
Israelites pleaded with Yahweh to help their cause. He sent Moses to
convince the Pharaoh, but it was to no avail. He even sent great blights
to change the dynamic of the slavery but still they were not free. Then
Yahweh ordered each family to take a baby lamb and sacrifice it. The
lamb would be eaten by all Israelites with unleavened bread and
following this they would smear the blood of the lamb on their doorpost.
Then on the tenth night of the first month Yahweh would come and kill
the first born male of each household, however he would ‘ pass-over’
those who had the blood of the lamb smeared above their door. And so
it came to be and the Israelites were freed. Nowadays this sacred time
falls around the month Nisan. It is now referred to as the festival of
unleavened bread, where Jews drink fine wine and share the great story
of freedom.
The Christian equivalent of Passover is Easter Sunday. Surprisingly its
roots lie in the festival of Passover. This is due to the fact that Jesus
travelled to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. The time of Easter reaches
around the Paschal Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy
Saturday. On Holy Thursday we celebrate a Mass which commemorates
the Last Supper. On Good Friday Jesus’ passion is relieved. This act of
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sacrifice by Jesus gave a whole new meaning to Passover, as Jews
believed they were saved from the blood of the lamb, our salvation
derives from the blood of Jesus, so much so that we refer to Jesus as ‘the
lamb of God’. Both religions are encouraged to view their sacred times
as a day of rememberance. The eating of the unleavened bread is
similar to the concept of the last supper. Perhaps the main similarities
that both traditions share is the concept of freedom, during Passover
Jews were freed from captivity and saved from a life of slavery, however
in Christianity, Christians were freed of sin and were given hope of life
after death. The idea of faith in one’s God is to be found in both Sacred
times. Perhaps the key difference in both sacred times is the nature in
that they represent, for example the physical happenings which
occurred differ significantly. Yet that which they represent us
undoubtedly and inextricably connected. This is evident with the simple
connection of the Sedar meal and the Last Supper.
In conclusion, two sacred times that I have studied are Passover and
Easter. The two possess a number of similarities as highlighted above
and are of extreme importance and significant in their respected
religions.
28.Outline the function of two symbols used in a sacramental
celebration you have studied.
Symbols play a big part in Sacramental celebrations. There are two
functions to sacramental symbols: that are revealed and participate in
Divine Realities and they also signify and actually bring about a
different reality. The two symbols I have studied are the Bread and
Wine in the Sacramental celebration of the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is the source of the Christian Life. The Eucharist is a
memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross. As the
Eucharist Jesus is present and so is his sacrifice on the cross, because
they are one and the same thing. During the consecration of the Mass
the priest takes the bread and says ‘ this is my body which will given up
for you, do this in memory of me. This symbolises the body of Christ.
We the at communion time are invited to receive the body of Christ. ‘
The more we receive the Eucharist, the more we become the Eucharist.
Then at the end of Mass we are invited to go to love and serve the Lord.
We are encouraged to go and spread the word of God and to try and
live in the image and likeness of God. Equally, during the consecration
the priest takes the wine and he says ‘ this is my blood which is given up
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for you, do this in memory of me. This symbolises that the Hebrews
were freed by the blood of the lamb on Passover night, just as
Christians were freed from sin and death by Jesus’ blood on the cross.
The changing of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ is
known as transubstantiation.
In conclusion, the function of the symbols of bread and wine used in the
sacramental celebration of the Eucharist is integral to our
understanding as to what happened at the Last Supper. The Eucharist
is the greatest act of worship for Catholics and by changing the bread
and wine into the body and blood of Christ he gave us life for our
creation. Jesus’ death on the cross meant that each of us could be saved
from sin.
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