Maria Hall looks at the most important rituals and gestures in our liturgies. From incense and blessings to making the sign of the cross, each action deepens our faith and worship.
Our liturgies are rich in rituals, movements and gesture. But how conscious are we of their intrinsic meaning and of how they help us to deepen our faith and worship? In this section Maria Hall looks at the most important rituals and gestures in our liturgies.
Amen and Alleluia have been recited by saints and sinners throughout the centuries. These two phrases have accompanied words of hope, joy, sorrow, and praise, expressed countless times by Christians, reminding us that we should trust the Lord - he is with us always.
Of all the signs and symbols we use in prayer, the Sign of the Cross is the most common. It permeates through the Mass, the Sacraments and our personal devotions. This universally understood sign sums up our Catholic identity.
A closer look at the act of blessing reveals deeper meanings and gives us the opportunity to think of blessings and being blessed in a richer way.
Silence is an integral part of the liturgy along with words, postures, gestures, symbols and music. It serves various functions but is never accidental. Through silence comes the sacred.
Incense is an integral part of Catholic ritual. It is used to bless and sanctify, to symbolise our prayers rising to God, and to make tangible God’s presence amongst us.
Our most beautiful liturgical celebrations are multi-sensory. They create a sense of wonder and awe, majesty and beauty. The power of the sacred can transform us whenever we open the door to its glory.
What are we really doing when we stand, sit, kneel, process and venerate the Cross in Holy Week? What do these postures and gestures mean and how do they bring us closer to God?
Every church building is a gathering place for worship, a resting place, a place of encounter with God. The church is home to sacramental activity and Christ’s redeeming work that takes place there in the liturgy, makes it sacred.
