Faith and Family Questions

FAQ Revised: Monday 07 September 2009 16:51:37

Table of Contents

1. Vatican Council

2. Liturgical

3. General

1. Vatican Council

1.1. What were Pope John XXIII's hopes and goals for the ecumenical council that he convoked?
Fifty years ago, on January 25, 1959, at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, newly elected Pope John XXIII made a brief announcement to a small group of cardinals gathered at the Roman Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. In his brief talk, John announced his intention to convoke an ecumenical council and gave an indication of his hopes for the council.

John talked about the need to reaffirm the church's doctrine, traditions and practices, while addressing several things that were close to his heart. He hoped that the council would promote "the enlightenment, edification and joy of the entire Christian people." John also wished that the council would extend "a renewed cordial invitation to the faithful of the separated communities to participate with us in this quest for unity and grace, for which so many souls long."

Both of these hopes were remarkable when compared to the attitudes of previous popes. John spoke in a positive, affirming and joyful manner of Christians and the world. John's invitation to the other Christian churches was not an invitation to return but an open ended invitation to "participate" in the mutual quest for "unity." This also countered the tendency of previous popes either to avoid or condemn ecumenical encounters. By the summer of 1959, John's hopes would set the tone for the ecumenical council he felt inspired to convoke.

(C)2008 Liturgical Publications Inc. New Berlin, WI 53151



2. Liturgical

2.1. Why was the name for this Sunday changed from Corpus Christi to the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ?
The Lectionary revised by Vatican II changed the name of this feast from Corpus Christi, the feast of the body of Christ, to the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Although several reasons prompted this change, the primary ones focus on the fullness of the sacramental reality.

Christ is fully present in the bread and wine which are transformed by the power of the Spirit into the body and blood of Christ. While the term "body" was seen as adequate, the fuller sacramental reality is better expressed by "body and blood." The emphasis on the "blood" of Christ was highlighted by the availability of the cup for all communicants, something previously restricted only to priests. This availability provided the opportunity to explore the rich meaning of Christ's blood for our faith lives.

Blood has always been linked to life and to union with others, especially blood relatives. Drinking from the cup symbolizes Christian willingness to share Christ's sacrifice. Sharing the cup represents our commitment to be united as one family. In Mark 10:38, Jesus asks his disciples, "Can you drink the cup that I drink?" By drinking from the cup, we respond yes to Jesus, committing ourselves to love and serve others. As you partake of the body and blood of Christ, reflect on the commitment you are making to be of service to God's people.



2.2. During this Year of St. Paul, what important lesson can we learn about Christian living from Paul's encounter with the risen Christ?
On June 28, 2008, the vigil feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, Pope Benedict XVI declared a Year of St. Paul, to honor the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Paul. This year, on June 29, we bring to a close this Year of St. Paul. Pope Benedict challenged all Christians to use this year to delve deeper into the riches that Paul gives the disciples of Christ.

The foundation of Paul's person and mission derives from his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. That deep and personal encounter changed Paul's life forever. Paul's response to that encounter and call continues to impact all Christians to this day. Paul, a Jew, accepted Christ Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah who through his passion, death and resurrection made God accessible to all humanity, Jew and Gentile alike. Paul's call to evangelize Gentiles was to make God known through Christ to the whole world. In Christ, Paul declares that we are created anew, reconciled, justified and intimately bonded to God. That bonding unites us as a human family, in which divisions and boundaries cease to exist.

Through Christ, God invites us once again to enter into that deep, intimate and personal relationship for which God created us. Paul challenges us to respond freely and totally.

©2008 Liturgical Publications Inc. New Berlin, WI 53151



3. General

3.1. Who are the catechumens we hear so much about in church?
Trying to figuring out who‘s who is a common human activity. At weddings, funerals, family and class reunions we like to know who we are sharing our time with and what relationship they have—or don‘t have—to us. So it is with the church that gath-ers on Sunday for Mass. Many of the faces are as familiar as our own, but as with any healthy group, new faces are to be expected and welcomed. Some may be visitors, some may be fellow Catholics who have recently moved into the neighborhood, and some may be responding to a faint or fiery call to find out more about Christ and his church. The church opens its arms to these seekers with the wisdom and rituals of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (commonly called the RCIA). People who are seeking to learn more about the Catholic faith and its mission fall into two main groups: catechumens and candidates. (Catechumen is a strange word. It comes from a Greek word mean-ing ―to resound.‖ The words catechist and catechism are related to it.) A catechumen is someone who has never been baptized; he or she may be an adult, a teenager or a young child. The journey to the waters of baptism normally takes place over the course of a year. After an initial period of inquiry into the the Catholic faith, those ready to do so publicly declare their intent to join the church and are accepted into the ―order of catechumens.‖ Then, with the help of catechists, sponsors and the entire community of believers, the catechumens begin to share in the life of the community and do what Christians do: read the scriptures, gather on Sundays with other believers and bear witness to the message of Jesus in word and deed. Often the catechumens are dismissed on Sundays after the homily to continue reflecting on the day‘s scriptures. The liturgical year plays an intimate part in their introduction to the Christian way of life. Lent is a period of intensified preparation, beginning with a ritual when the catechumens are chosen (―elected‖) for initiation. Now they are called ―the elect.‖ At the Easter Vigil, the elect are baptized, confirmed and welcomed to the Lord‘s table for the first time. The Easter Vigil marks a high point in their journey—in much the same way that a wedding day is a high point in a couple‘s relationship—but, of course, the adventure has just begun. Copyright © 1997 Archdiocese of Chicago by Kathy Luty



Copyright (c) 2009 St. Margaret of York Church