THE ESSENTIAL

CHARACTERISTICS OF
LITURGY
 OPENING PRAYER

 SILENCING
 INTENDED LEARNING
OUTCOME

 Experience the value and meaning of liturgy and sacraments in their

lives as students and as members of the Church. (LO4)
 Discuss the Origin, Nature, Foundation, and Mission of the Church
and explain the categories and characteristics of the Church. (LO5)
 Show the importance of communion in the Church and commit
themselves to live their faith in union with the Church, the body of
Christ in the Liturgy and sacraments. (LO6)
 LEARNING ACTIVITY

 In group, the students will plan, develop and sponsor class liturgical
worship or rite.
 INPUT/CHRISTIAN MESSAGE

 CHARACTERISTICS OF LITURGY
1.) TRINITARIAN- The trinitarian characteristics of the Liturgy has its
basis in the letter of Paul to the Ephesians which declares:

“ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy
and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his
children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,
to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in
Beloved” (Eph. 1:3-6)
 SACRAMENTAL- is the symbolic ritual form of the church’s prayer.
As symbolic activity, the church members both-express their faith in
Christ and actually share in salvation through forgiveness and
communion with the Risen and glorified Jesus (CFC 509)
 The predominantly used symbols in the Catholic Church liturgy are: 1)
the gathering of the baptized assembly itself; 2) the natural symbols
from creation such as light, darkness, water, oil, and fire; 3) humanly
produced symbols such as bread and wine; and 4) Christian salvific
symbols such as the reading and interpretation of scripture, the sign of
the cross, the paschal candle, laying-on of hands, and others (CFC
1509)
 PASCHAL- The trinitarian understanding of salvation makes Christian liturgical
worship paschal. The Church liturgical prayer announces and celebrates as good
news the truth that Jesus dies, is buried, risen from the dead and ascended and is
seated at the right hand of the Father (Rom. 6:10; Heb. 7:24; 9:12; Jn. 13:1; 17:1)
 “The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives to God” Rom.
6:10
 “Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had came to
depart from this world and to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the
world, he loved them to the end.”
ECCLESIAL- The ecclesial characteristics of the liturgy has its basis in
the scripture namely: Hebrew 5:6; Revelation 1:6; 5:9-10;1 Peter 2:4-
10;3:5; Acts 2:42-47 and Romans 12:1
From the foregoing scriptural foundation, we came up with clear
understanding of liturgy as prayer of liturgical assembly. This prayerful
activity is gathering of the Church as an ordered communion of the
baptized (SC 26;LG 10;CCC1140; CFC 1507
 ETHICALLY ORIENTED- This liturgical characteristics involves a
moral dimension of Christian life. The Church liturgy is related to
moral life that calls for a Christian discipleship. This empowerment
through then liturgy, enables the faithful to express in their lives and
manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true
Church (SC 2).
 This ethical orientation of Christians has a basis in Hebrew 13:4,
Ephesians 2:21-22, 4:13, John 11:12, 52, 10:16, 17:13, Luke 24:27,
Matthew 28:20 and Acts 2:38. The immediately preceeding scriptural
passages speak of integral evangelization, that is, the interrelatedness of
knowledge faith, experienced faith and shared faith.
 CHURCH TEACHING

 TRINITARIAN AND PASCHAL- Based on the scriptures, the Church

teaches that her liturgical prayer is Trinitarian and paschal.

 These two qualities go together affirming the work of the Blessed

trinity through Jesus Christ’s Pachal Mystery.

 The trinity, then, is the concrete living, saving God who came to us in
the Risen Christ and the spirit, within the Christian community (CCC
1084; CFC 1506).
 ECCLESIAL- Liturgy is the Church activity celebrated by Christ
himself as Head, and performed by His members gathered togeteher as
an ordered communion of the baptized (SC 26; LG 10, CCC 1140, and
CFC 1507). The ecclesial quality draws Filipino Catholic to transcend
beyond family bonds of intimacy towards community solidarity fused in
faith in Christ (CFC 1508)
 SACRAMENTAL- The sacramental quality of the Church liturgy has
basis in Wisdom 13:1; Romans 1:9, Acts 14:7, Luke 8:10, 9:31, 22:7-20,
John 9:6 and Mark 7:33, 8:22.
 Under the foregoing scriptural passages liturgical events are but
expressions of faith by Church members in God who speaks to and live
with men through the visible cration which symbolizes his greatness and
nearness.
 ETHICALLY ORIENTED- Church liturgy related directly to the
moral life of her members. It aims at confirming their mission as
Christians to be the lights of the world (SC 9).
 ESCHATOLOGICAL- The Eschatological characteristic of the church
liturgy not only affirms the presence of Christ’s saving Paschal Mystery
but also involves believers in the invocation of the spirit of Christ to
bring to completion the salvation already begun but not tey fully
establihed/accomplished as depicted in prayers “Your kingdom Come”
EVALUATION
 MONOTHEISM

 Christians believe in only one God (monotheism).

 Because their pagan neighbors were polytheistic (worshiped many gods),

the Christians had to reject the Roman cult of worship and its acts of
sacrifice and public worship.

 Christian artists could not work in pagan temples. Christian teachers

could not teach mythology, nor could they serve as Roman judges or
magistrates.

 Many Christians were martyred because they refused to adore the images
of emperors, who proclaimed themselves gods.
 THE SCRIPTURES

 The canon of the Bible was developed in the earliest centuries of

Christianity.
 The Old Testament canon was based on a Greek translation of
Scripture called the Septuagint.
 After much discussion, a definitive New Testament canon was declared
at a large synod in Rome AD 382, and by the fifth century the entire
Western Church possessed the complete canon.
 Finally, in the Council of Trent (AD 1546) the Church made its
definitive statement concerning the canon of Scripture.
 The Catholic Church never considered the Scripture as authoritative
apart from its legitimate interpretation by the magisterium of the
Church, guided by the Holy Spirit.
 THE SCRIPTURES

 The Scriptures, while extremely important in the life of the Church,

were never seen as a complete record of everything that Jesus and the
Apostles did nor the sole source of Revelation. It is the Tradition of
the Church expressed in Christian literature, liturgical practices, and
statements that clarify and interpret Scripture. Scripture is a vital and
central part of a broader tradition.
SLAVERY AND CHRISTIANITY

 Slavery was an ancient and widespread institution during the time of

Christ. It is estimated that two of the seven million inhabitants of the
Italian peninsula were slaves at the time of the Emperor Augustus, and
the hardships and cruelties of Roman slavery are well known.

 Jesus never spoke directly about slavery, but it is clear that the Gospel
implicitly condemns slavery as a grave offence against humanity, as it
undermines the dignity of the human person, and is inconsistent with
Christ’s two great commandments.
 SLAVERY AND CHRISTIANITY

 Slaves in the early Christian community were welcomed, not as slaves, but
as brothers, equal in dignity, and as full and equal members of the
community.

 It was not Christianity’s purpose to abolish slavery, and the Christian

community did not have the moral authority or power to make such as
change. Rather, Christianity slowly undermined the institution of slavery.

 St. Paul taught slaves to obey their masters and masters to treat their slaves
with charity.

 Slaves rose to the highest position in the Church. Three of the first four
immediate successors of St. Peter, Sts. Linus, Anacletus, and Clement I,
were former slaves.
 NON-VIOLENCE

 Jesus taught non-violence and prayer in the face of persecution.

 While some early Christian writers forbade Christians to be members

of the Roman army and participation in war, some Christians did serve
in the Roman army.

 One soldier, St. Maurice, was a leader of a legion. He and his entire
legion (almost 6000 men) were executed for refusing to sacrifice to a
pagan god.

 In time, the just war theory was developed.

 St. Augustine was one of the first theologians to argue that war is
permitted in the case of self-defense.
 NON-VIOLENCE

 This doctrine was further developed by St. Thomas Aquinas. He stated

that war is acceptable if:

• It is initiated on the authority of a sovereign (a legitimate

government or ruler)
• The cause is just;
• Those waging the war have good and right intentions;
• The war will not bring about more harm than that perpetrated by
the enemy.

 It was later added by the Spaniard Francisco de Vitoria, that the war
must be waged by the proper means.
 THE STATE

 In the early Church, Christians would not fulfill the laws that violated
the teachings of the Church (e.g., participation in pagan cults, emperor
worship, and service in the Roman army), although they obeyed all of
the just laws issued by the Romans.
 MONEY MATTERS

 From the beginning, early Christians looked after the needs of the
Christian community.

 They engaged in education, medical care, and the distribution of alms.

 Christians were expected to be honest in commerce and to avoid usury.

 SEXUAL ETHICS: ABORTION
AND CONTRACEPTION
 The early Christian Fathers universally rejected abortion and infanticide, both of
which were prevalent in Roman society.
 These practices violently rejected the dignity of the human person and violated
the Fifth Commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.”
 The use of contraception was also rejected. The Church Fathers taught that
procreation within marriage was good and blessed, and one of the intrinsic
purposes of the marital act.
 Many of the methods of artificial contraception available today were practiced in
the Roman times. The Church opposes them today on the same grounds that it
opposed them then.
 Even ancient Greek philosophy saw artificial contraception as an unnatural
violation of the natural end of sexual relations.
 WOMEN

 While Roman and Greek cultures regarded women as inferior, Christianity

improved the condition of women in society both individually and as a
group.
 It changed the perception of women by recognizing them as spiritual
equals.
 The Blessed Virgin Mary was honored from the beginning as singularly
blessed by God and conceived without Original Sin, and instrumental in the
salvation of all people.
 Several women were instrumental in the conversion of Europe.
 Several Christian wives and mothers were vital in the conversion of their
husbands and children.
 Christian women also suffered equally for their faith and purity during the
early persecutions of Christianity.
 PART II
Important Writings of the Early Christian Period
“THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS”

 The title “Apostolic Father” is given to a number of the earliest

Christian writers.

 These men came immediately after the Apostles, and some had direct
links to the Apostles or to the communities established by them.

 Writing about religious or moral themes, their writings record early

Christian doctrine and spirituality.
 APOLOGISTS

 Apologetics (from the Greek meaning “defense”) defends and explains

the Christian Faith.
 The first period of apologetics dates from the beginning of Christianity
until the Fall of the Roman Empire AD 476.
 During this period the apologists faced attacks from Judaism, Gnostic
heresies, and various pagan religions.
 The title apologist refers to anyone who writes an apologetic work.
 Due to the work of apologists, Christianity began to gain converts
from the educated and elite classes in Roman society.
 For many Jews, Christianity, which rejected the need of circumcision
and other Jewish practices, denigrated and desecrated the Law and the
God of Abraham.
 APOLOGISTS

 One apologist, St. Justin Martyr defended Christ’s teachings as a

fulfillment of the Jewish Law and prophets.

 A great deal of apologetics was addressed to the pagan culture of the

Roman empire, carefully explaining Christian beliefs and practices, as
well as the benign and benevolent existence of Christianity in the
empire.
 THE DIDACHE

 The Didache was a short exposition of Christian morals, doctrine, and

customs that was composed in the first century.

 It’s sixteen chapters cover Christian moral life, Baptism, fasting, prayer,
the Eucharist, and Church hierarchy.
 TERTULLIAN

 Tertullian (AD 160–AD 225) received an education in Roman law.

Converting to Christianity, he wrote numerous works demonstrating
that Christianity formed no threat to the Roman Empire, but rather
was an asset.

 His works won him the title, “Father of Latin Theology.”

 Tertullian later joined a heretical Montanist sect and broke from the
Church.
 ST. HIPPOLYTUS AND THE
APOSTOLIC TRADITION
 St. Hippolytus (AD 170- AD 236) was possibly the most important
theologian of his time. He wrote and spoke against many heresies, but he
himself broke from the Church. Later, before dying a martyr’s death, he was
reconciled with Pope St. Pontian and the Church.
 His two most important works The Refutation of Heresies and The Apostolic
Tradition have survived.
 The latter work describes the passing down of the faith from one generation
to the next and provides insight into the rites of ordination, Baptism, and the
Eucharist of the third century.
 This work is also the source of the second Eucharist Prayer used in the Mass.
PART III Martyrdom as the Greatest
Testimony to Christianity

 Early Christians found that they had to be prepared to die for Christ.

 Those who did lose their lives quickly became the most venerated of all
Saints.

 The word martyr comes from the Greek meaning witness.

 Their lives, actions, and words strengthened and edified other

Christians, and even their deaths deeply affected those who witnessed
them.

 Christians understood martyrdom as an honor and a privilege as it was

a direct participation in the sufferings of Christ.
 CONCLUSION

 The early Christians, by their tremendous faith, transformed the Roman

culture and its values.

 Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church grew as an institution and as a

community of believers.
 THE CATACOMBS

 A Catacomb is an underground series of tunnels, chambers, and tomb

which served as burial places, shrines, and places of worship in the earliest
church.
 They have been discovered in Rome and throughout Italy, France, and
Northern Africa.
 In Rome alone there are over sixty catacombs and they account for
hundreds of miles of tunnels. The catacombs of St. Callixtus are four
stories deep, include four miles of galleries, and contain the remains of
sixteen Popes and dozens of Christian martyrs.
 The tombs are often adorned with religious inscriptions and Christian art.
 Large rooms called crypts, where prominent figures such as Popes or
martyrs were buried, were converted into small churches.
 THE CATACOMBS

 Catacombs were used for the celebration of Baptism and the Eucharist.

 Shunning the Roman practice of cremation and showing their belief in

the resurrection of the body, early Christians showed their strong sense
of community by preferring to be buried together.

 The tombs of martyrs became popular places of prayers and

inscriptions show that these “Saints” were asked to intercede for the
believers.

 Eventually these catacombs were abandoned and forgotten only to be

rediscovered in the sixteenth century. The information gained from the
catacombs serves to give us a clear idea of everyday Christian beliefs
and practices in the early Church.
 THE EARLY GROWTH OF
CHRISTIANITY
 Because of its large Jewish populations, Asia Minor became the first
great area of growth in Christianity.

 Many Jews converted to Christianity due to the missionary efforts of

St. Paul and the Apostles.

 By the end of the first century, the first Christian churches were
confined to the Easter Roman Empire, with the exception of Christian
communities found in Rome and in other parts of Italy.

 By the end of the third century, Christianity and Judaism had officially
separated and Christianity became largely a religion of the Gentiles. Its
informal center had shifted from Jerusalem to Rome, and the scene was
set for the Constantine (AD 312) and the embrace of Christianity as
the official religion of the Roman Empire.
 CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS

 The cross was one of the earliest and most widespread Christian
symbols.

 By the third century, the Sign of the Cross was deeply rooted in the
Christian people.

 Another ancient symbol is that of the fish. It recalls the multiplication

of the loaves and fishes, as well as Christ’s appearance to seven of his
disciples after the Resurrection.

 The Greek word for fish is ichthys and is an acrostic for the Greek
phrase Iesous CHristos THeou Yios Soter which means “Jesus Christ, Son
of God, Savior.”
The End