Confirmation Lesson 1                 Church Tour

Why are we here? 

This is an adult class in the faith.  It is your time to decide for yourself that you would like to live in the catholic faith.  Your parents accepted this for you at baptism and know it is your turn to accept the faith for yourself.

The most important aspect of your faith is to have a personal relationship with God.  It is not enough to know facts about the church.  It is most important to build a personal relationship with Jesus based on all He has left us and done for us in the church. 

 

Baptismal font:

The bubbling water is a sign of life.  The Baptismal Font reminds us of three things when we enter the church. 

1.      When we sign ourselves with the water and the sign of the cross it reminds us of our baptism and all that that implies.

2.      It is a ritual that reminds us of why we are here.  It reminds us to forget the cares of the world and focus on being here to worship.

3.      It reminds us that we are all priests through our baptism.  Father is an ordained priest, we are all lay priest.  We are here to offer the sacrifice of the Mass to Jesus and the Father.

 

Baptism (Matthew 28:18-20) – Through our baptism we are forgiven of our sins and enter God’s family.  Bible verse: Go forth and teach all the nations.  Baptize in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  Baptism is the beginning of the journey.  A funeral is the end.  Holy water is used in each event.

 

Reconciliation (John 20:19 -23) - Is a ritual for forgiveness of very serious sins.  We are already forgiven when we walk into the confessional by the crucifixion on the cross.  The act of reconciliation is to help our psychological healing by being given a sign of God’s forgiveness.  Signs of forgiveness are important in our human relationships.  

 

Ambry of Oils – In the back of the church is our connection with the archbishop.  He blesses the oils and we use them for baptism, confirmation and healing.

Sacred Chrism – Baptism

Oil of the Catechism – Adult baptism and confirmation

Oil of the infirm –  Anointing of the sick.

 

Stations of the Cross – Via Delorosa ( Jerusalem ) 

Passion account (Matthew 26:47-75) & continuing (Matthew 27:1-60)

  1. Jesus is condemned
  2. Jesus accepts the cross
  3. Jesus falls for the 1st time
  4. Jesus meets his mother
  5. Simon helps Jesus carry the cross
  6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
  7. Jesus falls the 2nd time
  8. Jesus speaks to the women and children
  9. Jesus falls the 3rd time
  10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
  11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
  12. Jesus dies on the cross
  13.  Jesus is taken down from the cross
  14. Jesus is Laid in the tomb
  15.  The Resurrection prayed before the altar

 

 

The resurrection is the greatest feast of the church.  It doesn’t even compare to Christmas because it is when Jesus through his passion, death and resurrection has saved us all. 

 

Statues

Statue of Mary – Virgin Mother of Jesus

Statue of Joseph – Foster Father of Jesus

We don’t worship statues and saints, we venerate them and worship God. 

Saints have intercessory powers (example – you want the car tonight so you ask your mom to help convince your dad to let you have it.)

We imitate the saints examples of how to live our lives.

 

Sanctuary –

Pulpit – Proclaim the word of God

Book of the Gospels

 

Arc of the Covenant – (Bible Exodus)

In the Bible, when they were leaving to the promised land they had a ‘container’ that they called the arc of the covenant and each night they kept safely the rod of Aaron, the manna God sent down to them to eat in the desert and the stone tablets with the 10 commandments.  These were signs of God’s presence with His people.   We now use the Tabernacle in the same way except that after his death the manna was replaced with the Eucharist or Blessed Sacrament.  A candle is always lit except for Good Friday when the Body and Blood are not kept in the tabernacle.  

 

Candle over the Tabernacle –

When the Jews came to rest at night after the days journey, they put the arc of the covenant in a tent and put a light there signifying God’s presence with His people.  The Latin name for tent in tabernacle.  The tabernacle is the present day presence of God with His people.  The Sanctuary light tells us of that presence.

 

Church Lights – Spotlights in the sanctuary

Lights are on towards the tabernacle until Mass begins to signify Jesus and me time – our personal time with Jesus.  Lights go off at the start of Mass to recognize it is time for communal worship and remind us to be participating in the sacrifice of Mass.

 

Incense – Signifies respect & dignity

In the past it represented, to the Jews, their prayers rising up to God.

At funerals we incense the body as a sign of dignity – everyday of our lives our bodies need to be treated with the greatest of respect and dignity because of our baptism when the Father, Son and Holy Spirit take up residence in our earthy shells.

 

Rituals don’t save us but they lead us and remind us of what and why we do the things we do.