The First Session

Fr Paul Henry opened our journey to Emmaus, last night, with an orientation talk, as an overview of what we will be discussing. He made some really great points that we will want to remember.

Originally, the Mass was known as "The Breaking of the Bread"
Mary was present and heard the words of consecration, that her Son gave us, repeated by Peter or John.
"This is my Body...." Imagine what she must have felt!

The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of the Christian life.
Here is part 1 of the Encyclical by our Holy Father  Pope John Paul II :

ENCYCLICAL LETTER
ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIAOF HIS HOLINESS
POPE JOHN PAUL IITO THE BISHOPS
PRIESTS AND DEACONS
MEN AND WOMEN
IN THE CONSECRATED LIFE
AND ALL THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON THE EUCHARIST
IN ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION

1. The Church draws her life from the Eucharist. This truth does not simply express a daily experience of faith, but recapitulates the heart of the mystery of the Church. In a variety of ways she joyfully experiences the constant fulfilment of the promise: “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20), but in the Holy Eucharist, through the changing of bread and wine into the body and blood of the Lord, she rejoices in this presence with unique intensity. Ever since Pentecost, when the Church, the People of the New Covenant, began her pilgrim journey towards her heavenly homeland, the Divine Sacrament has continued to mark the passing of her days, filling them with confident hope.

The Second Vatican Council rightly proclaimed that the Eucharistic sacrifice is “the source and summit of the Christian life”.¹ “For the most holy Eucharist contains the Church's entire spiritual wealth: Christ himself, our passover and living bread. Through his own flesh, now made living and life-giving by the Holy Spirit, he offers life to men”.² Consequently the gaze of the Church is constantly turned to her Lord, present in the Sacrament of the Altar, in which she discovers the full manifestation of his boundless love.

Father also discussed the roles of bishop, priest and deacon.
The Bishop is directly in line with the Apostles, he is the chief liturgist, and teacher of his diocese.
The priest serves in the person of Christ, and the deacon serves as a permanent member of the clergy.

The Journey to Emmaus really began at the Last Supper, when Jesus instituted the Eucharist.
"He broke the Bread, and gave it to them...." The Apostles would have recognized this, only three days later, when he broke bread with them and they "knew Him".

A Sacrament is a sign that points to a deeper reality. Christ is the ultimate Sacrament, and the Church is the physical sign of His presence.

By the 4th century the Roman Rite of the Mass was established in it's current form.
The Bible was codified for the Mass. The cannon was established in order to be used for the Mass, and the books that were chosen were chosen for their importance in the Cannon of the Church. All the writings that are included were finished by the year 100.
The four Gospels were made equal to the Old Testament.
The Mass was said first in Greek, then in Latin, and after the Second Vatican council was approved in English. English is the "new Latin" so the translation must be authentic, hence the upcoming changes.

The Word is proclaimed from the Pulpit.
The Old Testament, including the Psalms, the Gospel, and the Homily are the Liturgy of the Word.

When we proclaim the Mystery of Faith, the priest begins by looking at the Host and speaking to Him.
Then we respond to Him as well. These proclamations should be in the second person, as we speak to Christ.

Some of the roles of the people during the Mass....

Ushers....










Cantors...

Servers or Acolytes (who are installed as ordinary ministers)....

Lectors....

Father also talked about the garb of those at the altar.

The Alb-  A tunic which is what the Apostles would have worn. It is white, to represent Baptism. It reminds us that we have one foot in the 1st century, and one in the present.

The Stole- Which the Deacon wears diagonally and the priest wears across the neck. The stole reminds us of the Jewish prayer shawl and the Roman stola.

The Deacon wears a Dalmatic, which is like an apron, representing service.

The Chasuble is like a poncho. The apostles wore these when they went out to preach. The word means "Little House" and they were sometimes used as tents when they had to sleep outside.

One very interesting item is the Bishop's "Mitre", which means "hinge" and is shaped like one, bringing together the Old and the New Testaments.

There are many more interesting things that we will explore as we go along on this journey.
What a wonderful gift we have been given in the Mass!!