The previous post asked: “What impact would the reforms of Vatican II have on the placement of the tabernacle in Catholic Churches – especially the ones being designed and built in the years following Vatican II? Today’s post offers an answer to that question. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Lectionary Cycle B. The temple narrative in John consists of two parts: Jesus’ actions in the Temple (vv. 14–17):
14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. 15 He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, 16 and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” 17 His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
It is a bit of an understatement to say there is a lot going on in the account of the Transfiguration. There are tons of things to dig into and so uncover a wealth of meaning: Father, Son and Holy Spirit together on the mountain top; Moses and Elijah representing the Law and Prophets; Peter wanting to build some tents right then and there; and of course, “And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white.” What is the meaning of this transfiguration? In short, it is the revealing to the disciples of the true nature of Jesus – truly man and truly God. Continue reading
The first norms governing tabernacles were only promulgated in the Middle Ages. While monastic communities internally developed some norms and practices, there were no uniform customs regarding where tabernacles were to be located in churches. The Church had been operating for more than 1200 years. Continue reading
The Church has always been conscious of the respectful care of consecrated Eucharist and in providing for a place where the Eucharist can be kept at the conclusion of Mass. This place is now commonly known as the Tabernacle. The Latin word is tabernaculum, a hut or tent and conveys the idea of a structure at which or in which to dwell or to rest. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. The scholar Pheme Perkins (632) provides a good final reflection for our Sunday gospel:
Despite providing the most dramatic evidence of Jesus’ relationship to God of any epiphany scene in the Gospel, the transfiguration cannot override the necessity of Jesus’ suffering and death. It does sharpen the paradox of the cross. Although God spared Moses and Elijah from the normal processes of death, not only does God’s own beloved Son die, but also his death is at the hands of his enemies. Even the affirmations of exaltation and entry into the glory of his Father (8:38) cannot nullify the scandal of the cross. God’s command to heed the word of Jesus gives his teaching the authority of divine revelation. Continue reading
This series does not undertake to explain the Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist; that is perhaps for another time, although the Catechism is an excellent place to begin your own research (para. 1373 is a good starting point). Our starting point will be in the reservation of the Eucharist. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Continue reading
The gospel for today is often a central part of any discussion about the role of Peter as appointed leader of the early church leading into the successors of Peter as the Pope of the modern Catholic Church. A modern evangelical scholar, nominally part of a religious perspective that would deny any particular role assigned to Peter, offers that his peers have to twist Scripture out of shape to reach that conclusion. Their arguments are molded to fit their predetermined end. This scholar holds that clearly Peter was assigned leadership. However, he would argue that there is nothing in these verses to point beyond Peter’s leadership of that group of Apostles. He argues that Catholic apologists argue to their own predetermined ends. Continue reading
One of the benefits of Latin being the official language of the Catholic Church is that it is a “dead” language. In other words, a language no longer in use in the world outside of Church and academia; a language no longer subject to the evolution of usage in the world. For example, “peruse” technically means to examine in a thorough or careful way, but in everyday use it is used and understood to mean to “glance over a document.” The word has evolved to mean something very different. Words in Latin have meant the same thing for centuries. Over the centuries the Church’s use of certain words form a lexicon of language – something quite true in the lexicon of the Eucharist. Continue reading
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