Catholicism – Page 217 – Restless Pilgrim

The third chapter of Dr. Barber’s book he discusses the relationship between the Book of Revelation and the Catholic Liturgy. It is a brief review of the the material covered in another excellent book by Dr. Hahn’s book, The Lamb’s Supper.

Familiar Imagery & Structure

Dr. Barber begins by noting that no other apocalyptic book of antiquity relies quite so heavily on liturgical imagery as the Book of Revelation. In John’s book we find many things extremely familiar to a Catholic who attends Mass: Sunday worship, priests, vestments, incense, chalices, angels, saints etc.

In fact, the book of Revelation has profoundly impacted Christian liturgy and architecture throughout the centuries. For example, the celebrant’s chair is symbolic of the throne of God, and the surrounding chairs like those of the “elders” (Revelation 4:4).

This final book of the Bible is even divided into three parts which each have parallels with the sequence of the Catholic liturgy:

1. Penitential Rite
The early section of Revelation concerns seven letters which call the Church to repentance.

2. Liturgy of the Word
Later, a book is opened which brings about judgement.

3. Liturgy of the Eucharist
The book ends with the Church being united to Christ in the supper of the Lamb.

But why use liturgical imagery? Revelation uses liturgical imagery because the Eucharistic celebration is the way the Lord comes to His Church. Dr. Barber points out that the Greek word “parousia” which is used to refer to the Lord’s “coming” actually has the primary meaning of “presence”. Upon hearing this fact, every Catholic immediately thinks of the Eucharist and Jesus’ real presence in the Sacrament.

“Every Eucharist is Parousia, the Lord’s coming” – Cardinal Ratzinger

Catholicism

Awesome Roughhousing

June 20, 2013 pilgrim One comment

Here’s another gem from The Art of Manliness…

While I was back in England I was playing with my Godson and his brother on the trampoline and it naturally descended into roughhousing. I got an elbow in the face and fat lip, but it was a small price to pay for helping with the levels of awesome 🙂

The article Awesome Roughhousing first appeared on RestlessPilgrim.net

Catholicism

Coming Soon: Was Jesus wrong?

June 19, 2013 pilgrim 5 comments

In Revelation, Jesus says that He is “…coming soon” (Revelation 22:20). However, it is now 2,000 years later and we haven’t yet had the Second Coming. Dr Barber, in the second chapter of his book, addresses the obvious question: “Was Jesus wrong?”.

How soon is soon?

Some exegetes solve this problem of Jesus’ absence by pointing to St. Peter’s second epistle:

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day – 2 Peter 3:8

These exegetes make the argument that Jesus is indeed coming “soon”, but our version of “soon” is not the same as His.

time

Catholicism

Roman Catholics Say The Darndest Things: Part 2

June 18, 2013 pilgrim 14 comments

A few days ago I began responding to the common reactions I hear when a Roman-Rite Catholic visits an Eastern-Rite parish for the first time. Last time I covered numbers 1-10 and today I’m going to finish the list with numbers 11-20 for “Roman Catholics Say The Dardnest Things”:

11. “What are the circles on sticks being carried around?”
These are called “rapidia” (or “flabella”). They are carried by altar servers in the Gospel procession and again when the bread and wine are brought to the altar. On them are pictures of angels. Symbolically, they remind us that our earthly liturgy touches Heaven.