Church - Tour

WE ARE YOUR TEMPLE

An awesome thought, O Lord: We are your temple. You dwell in us. We must confess our feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. The plain truth is: we're all sinners. Even so, you make us your sanctuary. Without your steadfast love, though, these Temples are nothing. Move through these rooms with your Spirit. Touch that Holy of Holies, that sacred space within us. Teach us how to live...in Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Sacrament

(candidates are taught to kneel when passing in front of the Tabernacle)

O God, who in this wondrous sacrament has left us a memorial of your passion; grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of your body and blood, that we may ever continue to feel within ourselves the blessed fruit of your redemption. Who lives and reigns God, for ever and ever.

St. Thomas Aquinas

WE USUALLY TAKE THIS HANDOUT WITH US AND REFER TO IT AS WE TOUR THE CHURCH

Locations:

Nave (Latin for Boat);

Reconciliation chapel, or Confessionals;

Pews;

Kneelers;

Way of the Cross;

Stained glass windows;

Statue or shrine

Sanctuary (Latin sanctus, "holy")

Baptismal font or pool;

Altar / cloth / candles;

Ambo / pulpit / lectern (Latin legere, "to read") thus we have the Lectionary; Cross or crucifix (state difference and significance in liturgy);

Presider's chair;

Ambry;

Bells

Sacristy.

Vestments

Alb (from albus, Latin for "white");

Chasuble (Outergarment - from the Latin for "little house");

Stole (Sign of authority);

Cassock (Undergarment usually Black);

Cincture (Rope or belt around Alb);

Cope (A sort of cape for special Liturgy);

Humeral Veil (Same as above but small and scarf like);

Surplice (White & shirtlike over the cassock);

Dalmatic (Deacon’s special outergarment)

Bishop

Ring;

Skull cap or zucchetto;

Mitre (Pointed hat);

Crosier (Long Shepherd’s cane rounded on top);

Pallium (similar to stole but worn around the neck)

Tabernacle: Locked box in the Sanctuary or in a special Chapel containing the consecrated host reserved, for later distribution to the congregation or to the sick or housebound. A Sanctuary Lamp burns over the Tabernacle to draw attention to the reserved sacrament.

Pascal (Easter) Candle: Up to 36" tall usually decorated either with a wax relief or transfer. It has grains of incense attached, the letters ‘Alpha’ and ‘Omega’ (meaning Christ is the beginning and the end), and the numbers of the current year. It is blessed at the Easter Vigil ceremony and represents Christ the light of the world.

Chalice: Cup or goblet for the wine of the Mass. Made in a variety of precious metals mainly gold, silver or gold plated silver (inside).

The Purificator Rectangular piece of linen folded twice lengthwise across the top of the chalice and used for wiping and drying the chalice.

Pall: A small square of stiffened linen, displaying the cross, which is placed over the chalice to protect the contents from flies or dust.

Also the name for the White cloth cover over coffins in church. Why?

Ciborium: From the Latin, ‘cibus’, "food" and this is a similar container to the Chalice but used to hold the wafers or host of Holy Communion. It is more round and has a cover often augmented with a cross or other design.

Paten: A small gold or silver plate for holding the priest’s host. It can be used in place of the Ciborium to distribute the host at Communion.

Monstrance: For displaying the consecrated host during the service of Benediction, usually held in Church on the first Friday of each month after a whole day of exposition. The priest blesses the people with the Eucharist displayed in the Monstrance.

Pyx : This is a small golden box with a lid to contain the consecrated host. It is used to carry communion to the sick and housebound.

Cruets: Glass vessels used to separately contain the wine and the water which are mixed together at the consecration.

Thurible: Metal censer suspended from a chain for burning incense during certain services. Inside it, a lighted piece of charcoal has incense placed on it which burns and releases smoke with sweet aroma.

Boat and spoon: The boat is a container for granules of incense and a spoon is used by the priest to transfer these to the thurible.

Seven Branch Candlesticks: Two of these are used one placed on either side of the monstrance during the service of Benediction. The Menorah, or 7 branch candlestick, dates back to Old Testament times.

Ambry: Contains three vessels of oil: the oil of catechumens which is used to bless and strengthen those preparing for baptism; the oil of the sick with which the priest brings Jesus' strength and healing to those who are joined with the suffering Christ in serious illness; and the sacred chrism which is used in celebrating the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. The word "Christ" means "anointed,"

Votive Candles – Pricket Stand

The Stations of the Cross

The depiction of the Passion of Jesus and the Catholic devotion of commemorating it. The Stations themselves are usually a series of 14 pictures or sculptures depicting the scenes. This devotion can be traced to a Franciscan tradition connected to visiting the actual sites in Jerusalem where Jesus suffered and died. As such a pilgrimage was impossible for many, paintings or statues depicting the stations were erected around or in the local churches as a way of bringing Jerusalem to the people. The number and names of the stations changed radically at various times in history, though the current list of fourteen stations is now almost universal. Many, nowadays, add a 15th station, depicting Christ's Resurrection so as not to end the devotion on a negative note.

It has become a tradition for the Pope to lead an annual public prayer of the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome on Good Friday, the Pope himself carrying a cross from station to station.

The celebration of the Stations of the Cross is especially common on the Fridays of Lent, and especially Good Friday. Community celebrations are usually accompanied by various songs and prayers.

1. Jesus is condemned to death

2. The cross is laid upon Him

3. Jesus falls for the first time

4. He meets His Blessed Mother

5. Simon of Cyrene made to carry cross

6. Veronica wipes Jesus’ face

7. Jesus falls for the second time

8. He meets the women of Jerusalem

9. Jesus falls for the third time

10. He is stripped of His garments

11. Jesus is Crucified

12. Jesus dies upon the Cross