Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe Educational System (AVBLES)

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN MOUNTAIN PROVINCE (CSMP)

CHRISTIAN LIVING EDUCATION 11

QUARTER III:
LITURGY
ENHANCED CONTENT STANDARDS:
The liturgy is an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ centered in the Eucharist which
commemorates Christ's Paschal Mystery, so that full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body
of Jesus Christ, that is by the Head and the members
(Catechism for the Filipino Catholics, 1568)

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:

Make a video presentation on active participation in the liturgy and involvement in their respective BEC’s.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES:

ELC 1: Analyze the meaning and purpose of liturgy.
ELC 2: Illustrate through a chart or poster the liturgical year that identifies the liturgical seasons and
their colors.
ELC 3: Classify the different sacred spaces and make a plan on how to help Christian communities
ELC 4: Create a short video that illustrates their role as member of the liturgical assembly.

ELC 3: 1: Origin and Definition of Liturgy

LESSON
ELC 4:
LESSON 2: Liturgical Year and Color
LESSON 3: Sacred Spaces
LESSON 4: Ministers for Liturgical Celebrations

Prepared by: Sarah Jane D. Daligis

BCSi

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LESSON 1: ORIGIN AND DEFINITION OF LITURGY
A. Evolution of the word LITURGY
GREEK WORDS

Leitos Ergon
(of the people) (work/activity)
LEITOURIGIA
(work/activity of the people)

“Liturgy” comes from the Greek word leitourgia, from the two root words “leitos” (of the people) and
“ergon” (work). Thus, liturgy is not an activity done for private use but for and by the community, whether in its
social or religious sense. It may also be interpreted that liturgy means “service made for the people or
community” or “service directly made for the common good.”

B. Definition of LITURGY
1. From the encyclical “Mediator Dei” of Pope Pius XII, 20 November 1947:
“Liturgy is the public worship which our Redeemer as head of the Church renders to the Father, as well
as the worship which the community of the faithful renders to its Founder, and through him to the heavenly
Father. In short, it is the worship rendered by the Mystical Body of Christ in the entirety of its head and members.”
(n. 25)
2. From the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy “Sacrosanctum Concilium”:
“Rightly, then, the Liturgy is considered as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. In the Liturgy,
by means of signs perceptible to the senses, human sanctification is signified & brought about in ways proper to
each of these signs. In the liturgy, the whole public worship is performed by the mystical Body of Jesus Christ,
that is by head & members.”
3. From the Youth Catechism Book (YouCat):
a. Liturgy is the official divine worship of the Church. A Liturgy is not an event that depends on good ideas
and great songs. No one makes or invents a liturgy. It is something living that grew over millennia of faith.
A Mass is a holy, venerable action. Liturgy becomes exciting when one senses that God himself is present
under its sacred signs and its precious, often ancient prayers. (YouCat 167)
b. Liturgy is always in the first place communion or fellowship with Jesus Christ. Every liturgy, not just the
celebration of the Eucharist, is an Easter in miniature. Jesus reveals his passage from death to life and
celebrates it with us. The most important liturgy in the world was the Paschal liturgy that Jesus celebrated
with His disciples in the upper room on the night before His death. The disciples thought that Jesus would
be commemorating the liberation of Israel from Egypt. Instead, Jesus celebrated the liberation of all
mankind from the power of death. Back in Egypt, it was the "blood of the lamb" that preserved the
Israelites from the angel of death. Now He Himself would be the lamb whose blood saves mankind from
death. For Jesus' death and resurrection is the proof that someone can die and nevertheless gain life.
This is the genuine substance of every Christian liturgy. Jesus Himself compared His death and
resurrection with Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt. Therefore, the redemptive effect of Jesus' death
and resurrection is called the Paschal mystery. There is an analogy between the life-saving blood of the
lamb at the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt (Ex 12) and Jesus, the true Paschal lamb that has
redeemed mankind from the bondage of death and sin. [Youcat 171]
c. The most profound origin of the liturgy is God, in whom there is an eternal, heavenly banquet of love—
the joy of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Because God is love, he would like to let us participate
in the feast of his joy and grant us his blessings. Our earthly liturgies must be celebrations full of beauty
and power: Feasts of the Father who created us—that is why the gifts of the earth play such a great part:
the bread, the wine, oil and light, incense, sacred music, and splendid colors. Feasts of the Son who
redeemed us—that is why we rejoice in our liberation, breathe deeply in listening to the Word, and are
strengthened in eating the eucharistic Gifts. Feasts of the Holy Spirit who lives in us—that is why there
is a wealth of consolation, knowledge, courage, strength, and blessing that flows from these sacred
assemblies. [YouCat 170]
4. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):
a. Through the liturgy, the Father fills us with his blessings in the Word made flesh who died and rose for
us and pours into our hearts the Holy Spirit. At the same time, the Church blesses the Father with her
worship, praise, and thanksgiving and begs him for the gift of his Son and the Holy Spirit. [CCC 221]
b. In the liturgy of the Church, it is His own paschal mystery that Christ signifies and makes present. By
giving the Holy Spirit to his apostles he entrusted to them and their successors the power to make present
the work of salvation through the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments, in which he himself acts to
communicate his grace to the faithful of all times and places throughout the world. [CCC 222]
c. The very closest cooperation is at work in the liturgy between the Holy Spirit and the Church. The Holy
Spirit prepares the Church to encounter her Lord. He recalls and manifests Christ to the faith of the
assembly. He makes the mystery of Christ really present. He unites the Church to the life and mission of
Christ and makes the gift of communion bear fruit in the Church. [CCC 223]

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 FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 1
Activity: faith-sharing
experience
Instruction:
Through group sharing (3-4 members), the students are to share their
experiences on any Liturgical celebrations.
Guide questions:
a. What is the essence of liturgy for me?
b. What happens to me when I celebrate the liturgy?

LESSON 2: THE LITURGICAL YEAR & COLOR

The Liturgical Year is the organization of the year as a progressive celebration of the mystery of Christ.
Vatican II explains:
“Holy Mother Church is conscious that she must celebrate the saving work of her divine Spouse by
devoutly recalling it on certain days throughout the course of the year. […] Within the cycle of a year, moreover,
she unfolds the whole mystery of Christ, from the incarnation and birth until the ascension, the day of Pentecost,
and the expectation of blessed hope and of the coming of the Lord.” (SC 102)
The Liturgical Year has to be considered as a true liturgy. That is the synthesis of the moments of
salvation, celebrated by the Church especially through the Eucharist, as a memorial of the events through which
the mystery of salvation is realized in history. It is the celebration-actualization of the mystery of Christ in time. It
is the sacramental presence of the mystery of Christ in the space of a year.

THE DIFFERENT SEASONS IN THE LITURGICAL YEAR:

1. Advent season comes from the Latin word Adventus which means “coming.” Advent then is a season
of joyful waiting for the coming of the Savior. On our part, we prepare ourselves for the coming of the
Lord, Jesus Christ. Advent allows us to reflect and direct our minds and hearts to Christ's second coming
at the end of time. Advent begins the church's liturgical year. It is composed of four Sundays and
weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas.
2. The Christmas season is one of the most important days of the church year. During this season, we
commemorate “the feast of the Incarnation” or the “feast of becoming flesh.” God chose to become one
of us (Emmanuel or God –with- us). This season begins with the vigil mass on Christmas and concludes
with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We celebrate the FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY on the first
Sunday after December 25 and the FEAST OF EPIPHANY on the second Sunday after December 25
which marks the end of the Christmas season.
3. Lenten season includes the 40-day preparation for the celebration of the highest feast of the Church,
which is Easter (The Lord's Resurrection). It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends before the Eucharistic
celebration on Holy Thursday. It is also a time of reparation as we do the stations of the cross, penance,
go for confession, practice almsgiving and exercise self-denial.
 Paschal Triduum is a three-day commemoration of the suffering, death and resurrection of
Jesus. It is the summit of the liturgical year.
 On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the “Last Supper” and reenact the Institution of the Holy
Eucharist, the ordination of the Apostles, and the washing of the feet.
 On Good Friday, the day commemorating the Lord’s Death on the Cross, no full mass is
celebrated.
 On Holy Saturday, the church quietly meditates during the day at the Lord's Tomb,
prayerfully preparing to celebrate the Resurrection.
4. Easter season is a 50-day joyful celebration of the Lord's resurrection from the dead and His sending
forth of the Holy Spirit called Pentecost. The term Easter came from the old English meaning "East". Just
like every new morning when the sun rises from the East. Easter also reminds us of our light and our
hope who is Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday to the second Sunday of Easter is called the “Octave of Easter”
or “Eight days” which allows us to celebrate Easter joy.
 Sunday is a miniature Easter and is the center of the liturgical season which is the foundation
and kernel of the entire liturgical year and has its culmination in the annual celebration of Easter,
the feast of feasts. [CCCC 241]
 Sunday is the most important day of the week because Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday.
Therefore, we also call it the ‘day of the Lord.’
 If Sunday is disregarded or abolished, only workdays are left in the week. Man, who was created
for joy, degenerates into a workhorse and a mindless consumer. We must learn on earth how to
celebrate properly, or else we will not know what to do in heaven. Heaven is an endless Sunday.
[Youcat 187]
5. Ordinary time is divided into two sections: one span of 4-8 weeks after Christmas time and another that
lasts about 6 months after Easter time. While Christmas and Easter highlight the central mysteries of the
Paschal Mystery, the Sundays and weeks of Ordinary Time take us through the life of Christ. Inspired by
the words and deeds of our Lord and Savior and nourished by the sacraments, we persevere to live each
day in joyful friendship with Him.

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THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR OF ORDINARY TIME includes the following solemnities and feasts:
• Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (2nd of January)
• Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist [24th of June)
• Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (29th of June)
• Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (6th of August)
• Solemnity of All Saints (1st of November)
• Commemoration of all faithful departed souls (2nd of November)
• Feast of the Baptism of the Lord or Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (celebrated on the Sunday that
falls between Jan. 2 and Jan. 8 and it always preempts the 1st Sunday in ordinary time)
• Solemnity of Pentecost (always begins the first week after ordinary time after Easter tide)
• Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (always preempts the first Sunday immediately after Pentecost)
• Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe (always preempts the 34th Sunday in
ordinary time)

MARIAN SOLEMNITIES IN THE LITURGICAL YEAR:

• The Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8th of December)
• The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (1st of January)
• The Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord (25th of March)
• The Solemnity of the Assumption (15th of August)
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 2
Activity: Describing the Liturgical Seasons Instruction:
Follow the given instructions below. Write your
answers on a whole sheet of pad paper.
Sacred Time: The Liturgical Calendar
Give a brief description of each liturgical season and place them in their proper order by numbering each,
beginning with Advent as “1.” One liturgical time occurs twice on the calendar and will, therefore, have two
numbers associated with it.
Number of Each Name of Liturgical Description of Liturgical Season
Season Season
Ordinary Time
Easter
Lent
1 Advent
Pentecost
Easter Triduum
Christmas

LITURGICAL COLORS
The color of the liturgical vestments changes from time to time. This is because the Church uses different
colors to indicate the season or feast that is being celebrated. The different colors are drawn from creation to
remind those participating in a liturgy of the different blessings of God.
1. WHITE (or Gold)
It is a festive and joyful color and, thus, is used during the Christmas and Easter seasons, and on major
feast days, such as, on the celebrations of the Lord other than of His Passion, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the
Holy Angels, and of Saints who were not martyrs, and on the Solemnities of All Saints. Because white symbolizes
the Resurrection, it is also the color often used for funerals.
2. PURPLE (or Violet)
It symbolizes repentance and penance. Vestments of purple or violet are used during the seasons of
Advent and Lent. The color reminds us of the violet flower that bows its head and is a symbol of humility. Lent is
the season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a quiet season of reflection. The color of Advent is more of a
rose-purple, like the sky just before sunrise. This is the time of year when the Church waits in joyful hope to
celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
3. GREEN
It is a sign of life in nature and as such it represents growth, life and hope. Green is worn most often
during liturgies in Ordinary Time. It symbolizes the graces that draw people into the life of God. Most of the
Church's year is Ordinary Time.
4. RED
It symbolizes both blood and fire. It is the color that is used on Passion (Palm) Sunday, Pentecost Sunday,
and for celebrations of the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is also the color that has traditionally been associated
with martyrs – those who have shed their blood for their faith – and so it is worn on the feast days of martyrs.
5. ROSE PINK

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 It is an optional color that may be used on the Third Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday of Lent.
On both days, the Entrance Antiphon calls us to rejoice, so the pink vestments mark a softening of the penitential
tone of the season.

LESSON 3: SACRED SPACES

The worship "in Spirit and in truth" of the New Covenant is not tied exclusively to any one place. The
whole earth is sacred and entrusted to the children of men. What matters above all is that, when the faithful
assemble in the same place, they are the "living stones," gathered to be "built into a spiritual house." For the
Body of the risen Christ is the spiritual temple from which the source of living water springs forth: incorporated
into Christ by the Holy Spirit, "we are the temple of the living God." 1179
Christians construct buildings for divine worship. These visible churches are not simply
gathering places but they signify and make visible the Church living in this place, the dwelling of God
with men reconciled and united in Christ. 1180
A church, "a house of prayer in which the Eucharist is celebrated and reserved, where the faithful
assemble, and where the presence of the Son of God our Savior, offered for us on the sacrificial altar for the
help and consolation of the faithful. This house ought to be in good taste and a worthy place for prayer and
sacred ceremonial." In this "House of God" the truth and the harmony of the signs that make it up should show
Christ to be present and active in this place.
1181

1. Sanctuary- “They shall make a sanctuary

for
me, that I may dwell in their midst” (Ex 25:8).
The sanctuary is the area, often raised, in the
front of the church where the altar, the ambo,
the celebrant’s chair and, in many churches,
the tabernacle are located.

2. Altar- The altar of the New Covenant is the Lord's Cross, from which the sacraments of the Paschal mystery
flow. On the altar, which is the center of the church, the sacrifice of the Cross is made present under sacramental
signs. The altar refers also the table of the Lord, to which the People of God are invited. 1182

3. Tabernacle- The tabernacle is to be situated "in churches in the worthiest place with the greatest honor." The
dignity, placement, and security of the Eucharistic Tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord is really
present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. 1183

4. Sanctuary Lamp- In every Catholic church we find a readily visible lamp or candle burning before the
tabernacle. This ever-present light still beckons to each of us. We all look for the flickering flame as soon as we
enter the church. Our attitude and demeanor change as we recognize that we are in the house of the living God.
The flame signifies his presence and a sign that our love for the Lord is eternal, never to be extinguished.

5. Ambry for Holy Oils - The sacred chrism (myron), used in anointing is the sacramental sign of the seal of the
gift of the Holy Spirit. It is traditionally reserved and venerated in a secure place in the sanctuary. The oil of
catechumens and the oil of the sick may also be placed there.

6. Chair or Cathedra- The chair (cathedra) of the bishop or the priest "should express his office of presiding
over the assembly and of directing prayer." 1184

7. Lectern or Ambo- The lectern (ambo): "The dignity of the Word of God requires the church to have a suitable
place for announcing his message so that the attention of the people may be easily directed to that place during
the liturgy of the Word.”

8. Baptistry or baptismal font- The gathering of the People of God begins with Baptism; a church must have a
place for the celebration of Baptism (baptistery) and for fostering remembrance of the baptismal promises (holy
water font). 1185

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9. Images, Statues and Relics- Statues and pictures of Jesus, the Blessed Mother and the saints adorn nearly
every church. Catholics don’t pray to or worship statues; rather we venerate, we admire, respect and seek
to imitate the individual emulated in the statue. We worship our living Lord, Jesus Christ, not his statue. The
saints depicted in our churches lived lives of heroic virtue and are now in heaven, where they can intercede for
us before God.

10. Easter Candle- The Easter (or Paschal) candle is located near the baptismal font, the exception being during
the Easter season when it is placed next to the ambo. This large candle represents the light of Christ, and a new
Paschal candle is blessed during each Easter Vigil. It is lit for every baptism, and the flame, the light of Christ, is
transferred to a candle given to the baptized individual or to an adult family member when an infant is baptized.

11. Sacristy- From the Latin word sacristra, meaning a room near the sanctuary or church entrance, this room
contains the bread and wine, sacred vessels, the books, the vestments and everything needed in the celebration
of the Mass. It is where the priests and ministers' vests are located. Here the sacred vessels are cleaned after
Mass.

12. Confessional box- Face-to-face confession, typically kneeling before a priest or sitting in a chair at his side,
was the norm until the Middle Ages when a screen was placed between the confessor and female penitents.
This action eventually led to the introduction of the confessional booth in the 16th century, which included screen
separation, and from that time until the Second Vatican Council, confessions were normally anonymous. In 1974,
the Church introduced a new formula for confession, which promoted a reconciliation room instead of a
confessional booth. Penitents could now go to confession face to face or behind a screen.

13. Prayer room/Adoration room/Blessed Sacrament room- A church must also be a space that invites us to
the recollection and silent prayer that extends and internalizes the great prayer of the Eucharist.

FA 3:

LESSON 4: MINISTERS FOR LITURGICAL CELEBRATION

Liturgy’s highest form is the celebration of the Mass, the center of our faith life. Together, as a church
family, we are all called to participate in the liturgy through our prayer, song and spoken responses at Mass.
Some of us are also called to serve at Mass as liturgical ministers.
In his First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes about spiritual gifts. He says: Now there are varieties
of gifts (charismata), but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are
varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone (1Cor 12: 4–6). So it is in and
through the members of his Body that Christ himself is still engaged in the work of service.
The key Christian ministries are the ordained ministries (Bishop, Priest and Deacon) but, through
Baptism, all the People of God share in the life of Christ and have a responsibility to take part in Christian ministry
in some way. There are numerous particular ministries in which the People of God can participate.

A. ORDAINED MINISTERS
1. Bishop- is a priest especially ordained to lead the Diocese or a Vicariate. His role is to teach and care for the
spiritual needs of the priests and people of his Diocese or Vicariate.
2. Priest- is ordained to preach the word and preside over the liturgy and the celebration of the Sacraments. His
role is also to care for the pastoral needs of his parish community.
3. Deacon- is ordained to serve the Church. He assists the Bishop or the priest in the celebration of the Eucharist.
He can only officiate Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage.

B. LAY MINISTERS
1. Altar Servers- they assist the priest during Sunday Mass, Holy Day Mass, weddings, funerals, Stations of the
Cross and Benediction. Altar servers must have made their First Communion. Adult Altar Servers assist the
priest during Funerals that occur when student altar servers are not available.
2. Lectors- they proclaim the Word of God clearly and understandably at Sunday Mass, Holy Day Mass,
Funerals and Daily Mass.
3. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion serve or assist with the distribution of Holy Communion at
Mass and funerals, they may bring communion to parishioners who are home-bound or who reside in nursing
homes and assisted living facilities.

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4. Ushers and Usherettes- For a welcoming community, ushers are the first face of the parish. They greet those
coming into our church, offer assistance to those in need, distribute parish bulletins, take up the collection, and
distribute other materials as needed. Ushers are needed at Sunday Mass, Holy Day Masses and Funerals.
5. Gift Bearers-carry bread and wine to the altar during the Offertory Procession at Mass. Families, groups, or
individuals are welcome to volunteer to serve as gift bearers.
6. Liturgical Musicians/Music Ministers/Choir- The liturgical musicians help the people to respond through
music and song during the Mass. They lead the assembly at key points in the liturgy such as the Entrance
Procession, the Psalm, the Alleluia, the Eucharistic Prayer, and Communion. The liturgical musicians could be
those who sing, play instruments, and join with others in a choir. Music is used to help people to participate in
the Mass and lift their hearts to God.
7. The Arts and Environment Committee- is responsible for planning and decorating the church for all liturgical
seasons, including but not limited to Lent, Christmas, Easter and Ordinary Time.

FA 4
Activity: Instruction:
Mini quiz Give what is asked or described. Write your answers on ¼ sheet of paper.
____________1. He is ordained to lead a diocese.
____________2. They received their first Holy Communion and they assisted the priest during masses
____________3. They carry the bread and wine to the altar during the offertory procession at mass.
____________4. It is the highest form of prayer and liturgy.
____________5. It was to them that Paul wrote about spiritual gifts.
____________6. It is the center of our faith life.
____________7. They are the key Christian ministries.
____________8. The sacrament that engages all people of God in the life of Christ with the responsibility
to take part in the Christian community.
____________9. They bring communion to the parishioners who cannot make it to the church as they are
very old or ill.
____________10. They are responsible for the physical beautification of the church for all liturgical seasons.

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