forms of expression + ways of life

• catholic symbols (fish)

  • in greek: ichtus
  • acronym for: jesus christ son of god saviour
  • used in early christianity so believers could identify eachother while evading persecution
• catholic symbols (dove)

  • symbol of peace
  • symbol of holy spirit
• fish sowa: "i will make fishers of you men"
• dove sowa:"a dove bought hope of renewed life"
• catholic symbols (chi rho)

  • chi: X, rho: Y, represent jesus christ
  • marks start of roman empire conversion to christanity through constaines victory
• chi rho sowa: costantine wore the symbol on his shield
• catholic symbols (alpha and omega)

  • first and last letters of greek alphabet
  • represents eternity of christ as part of the trinity
  • found on the paschal candle and alter
• alpha and omega sowa:"i am the alpha and the omega the first and last the beginning and the end"
• artwork: cross and the crib

  • change in path, trees and path become more barren mirrors decent into death
  • shows hoe jesus was born and died with nothing
  • 3 crosses, 3 people, 3 sections: reflective of trinity
• protestants view on artwork:

  • believe it goes against commandment 2 "thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images"
  • destroyed art during the reformation (iconoclasm)
• parable of the talents

  • we all have a duty to use our talents to glorify god
  • master = god, palace = heaven servants = us
  • "arising from the talent given by the creator"
• artwork IS important because:

  • use talents to glorify god, we have the ability and duty to do so
  • art transcends ability and culture, it is universal, form of ecumenicism
• artwork is NOT important because:

  • protestants view artwork as blasphemous
  • god is to complex, has the potential to be miss leading, we can only say what god isnt(viva negativa) (st thomas aquinas)
• sculptures and statues, council of trent conditions:

  • must be approved by bishop
  • should not excite lustful impulses
  • can not depict profane objects/ideas
• we can show devotion to statues by:

  • praying before them
  • lighting candles
  • touching + kissing them
  • kneeling before them
• uses of sculptures:

  • 3D, bring gospel to life (e.g venerdation of the cross on good friday)
  • focal point (e.g crucifix above alter)
  • more universal, less ambiguous
• jesus christ the homeless:

  • space next to statue invites you to act out gospel values
  • inspires you to do good (LINK: dei verbum, word of god is a living person)
  • jesus was born and died with nothing
  • link to parable of the sheep and goat: whatever you do for others you do for god
• scared vessels:

  • holds body and blood of christ
  • chalice: contains wine
  • paten: stores big host
  • ciborium: stores smaller host
  • used during the eucharist "the source and summit of christain life"
• sacrophagi:

  • tomb/coffin of famous catholic icons
  • used as objects of devotion
  • pray to them: they can interceed for us
• hunger cloths:

  • used to cover alter
  • covered in images/ stories from bible
  • helps illterate people understand the bible
  • links to catholic nature of church: reaching out to less fortunate
• "scared objects are vital for worship"

  FOR:

  • provide focal point
  • can be universally understood, transcend language and culture
  • reminder of the eucharist "do this in memory of me"
• "sacred objects are vital for worship"

  • not all churches can afford objects
  • some may prefer private prayer
  • evangelical protestants would be against as they believe word of god is all thats needed
  • quakers dont take the scrament of the eucharist
• passion plays:

  • how have they changed: now said in vernacular, music was added
  • preformed in public, forces ecumenicism + evangelism
  • they relate to the paschal mystery
  • non catholics become involved (engineers, set designers)
  • they help visualise bible stories + spread word of god
  • protestants banned them during the reformation because they viewed them as idolatry
• mystery plays:

  • performed by guilds or professional theatre companies
  • performed in church grounds or cathedral towns (york)
  • presented in tableaux form
  • they are lifelike, spread ecumenicism and evangelism
  • depict mysteries of faith(virgin birth, miricles)
  • banned: 1210 by pope innocent II, 1534 during reformation by protestants
• drama sowa: "god gradually reveals himself to the world like an unfolding covenant drama which engages the human heart"
• hymns:

  • sung to enhance parts of mass e.g after communion
  • written to praise and adore god
  • song chosen based on weekly theme
• contempory worship songs:

  • modern songs, developed since 1950s
  • appeals to younger generations
  • emotive
  • invites involvement
• psalms:

  • sacred songs
  • 150 sung over course of year
  • second reading in mass is a responsorial psalm
• music sowa:

  "he who sings prays twice"

  "make melody to the lord with all your heart"

  parable of talents: voice is god given gift
• shape of church:

  round:

  • represents eternity

  cruciform

  • represents sacrifice of jesus death

  octagonal

  • reflects start bringing light into world
• valuted cellings:

  • reminder of eternal life/salvation
  • represents heaven
• built to face east:

  • faces direction sun rises
  • symbolic of resurrection
• external design features sowa:"a house of prayer in which the eucharist is celebrated"
• altar:

  • where mass is offered
  • focal point in church
  • priest acts 'in persona christi'
  • in old churches altars were used to sacrifice lambs, jesus sacrificed himself "jesus lamb of god"
• crucifix:

  • visual reminder of jesus suffering and death
  • reminder jesus died to save us from sin
• crucifix sowa:" sacrifice of jesus offers catholics redemption"
• baptidmal front:

  • reminder of how sins are forgiven
  • contains holy water
  • used during scarament of baptism (however quakers take none)
• tabernacle:

  • where body and blood of jesus is kept
  • caholics believe jesus is present
  • "this is a box... where the consecrated host is kept"
• opposition to music: orthodox only use plainchats, it has been prohibited for the laity to sing during mass since 364. they do not use instruments during mass (would oppose contempory worship)
• plain chants:

  • chanting or singing with no instruments