A Holy People, a Holy A Holy People, a Holy PlacePlace

This Chapter explores the meaning This Chapter explores the meaning of the mystery of the Church. of the mystery of the Church. •The Church is the people, the The Church is the people, the worshiping assembly gathered to worshiping assembly gathered to give praise to God. give praise to God. •The Church is also the building, the The Church is also the building, the place where the People of God place where the People of God gather.gather.

Saint Frances of AssisiSaint Frances of Assisi• In 1206, after his conversion, Saint In 1206, after his conversion, Saint

Francis of Assisi was just beginning Francis of Assisi was just beginning his new life as a servant of God. his new life as a servant of God. While kneeling in prayer, Frances While kneeling in prayer, Frances looked up at a crucifix that hung looked up at a crucifix that hung above the altar and heard Christ above the altar and heard Christ speaking, “Francis, go and restore speaking, “Francis, go and restore my house, which, as you see, is my house, which, as you see, is going to ruin.” going to ruin.”

• An old abandoned church in San An old abandoned church in San Damiano.Damiano.

The Worshiping The Worshiping AssemblyAssembly

• PresiderPresider or celebrant-leads the assembly or celebrant-leads the assembly in worship.in worship.

• Ministers of the WordMinisters of the Word – proclaims the – proclaims the scriptures, the Word of God, to the scriptures, the Word of God, to the community.community.

• Ministers of Music/Leader of SongMinisters of Music/Leader of Song – adds – adds to the prayer of the community through to the prayer of the community through leading the assembly in song and music.leading the assembly in song and music.

• Ministers of the AltarMinisters of the Altar – altar boys and – altar boys and girls, assist the priest on the altar.girls, assist the priest on the altar.

• Ministers of the EucharistMinisters of the Eucharist – assists the – assists the priest in the distribution of the Eucharistpriest in the distribution of the Eucharist

The Place of Worship and The Place of Worship and PrayerPrayer

AltarAltar• The central part of the The central part of the

church. It is around the church. It is around the altar that the faithful altar that the faithful gather as the Body of gather as the Body of Christ to celebrate the Christ to celebrate the Eucharist and to share the Eucharist and to share the “Bread of Life.”“Bread of Life.”

• The altar is also a symbol The altar is also a symbol of Christ’s presence. For of Christ’s presence. For this reason the priest this reason the priest kisses the altar at the kisses the altar at the beginning of the Eucharist.beginning of the Eucharist.

AmboAmbo• The place where the Word The place where the Word

of God is proclaimed.of God is proclaimed.• Images representing the Images representing the

four evangelists are four evangelists are sometimes part of the sometimes part of the design of the the ambo:design of the the ambo:

a)a) An eagle for JohnAn eagle for John

b)b) An ox fro LukeAn ox fro Luke

c)c) A lion for MarkA lion for Mark

d)d) An angel for MatthewAn angel for Matthew

Presider’s ChairPresider’s Chair

• Stands as a symbol of the Stands as a symbol of the priest’s office of presiding priest’s office of presiding over the assembly and of over the assembly and of leading worship.leading worship.

• It is usually located in a It is usually located in a place in the sanctuary place in the sanctuary where the presider can where the presider can have the best have the best communication with communication with everyone gathered for everyone gathered for prayerprayer

BaptistryBaptistry

• The place where infants, The place where infants, children, and adults are children, and adults are baptized.baptized.

• It is here that the It is here that the baptismal font is located.baptismal font is located.

• The baptistry often has The baptistry often has symbols built into it that symbols built into it that remind us of the meaning remind us of the meaning of the sacrament of of the sacrament of BaptismBaptism

TabernacleTabernacle• It is the tabernacle where the It is the tabernacle where the

Blessed Sacrament, or Blessed Sacrament, or consecrated bread (hosts) is consecrated bread (hosts) is stored for those who are sick stored for those who are sick and for the prayer and and for the prayer and devotion of the people.devotion of the people.

• People show their respect for People show their respect for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Real Presence of Jesus in the tabernacle by the tabernacle by genuflecting, or bowing, in genuflecting, or bowing, in front of it.front of it.

Tabernacle LightTabernacle Light

• Also known as the Also known as the sanctuary lamp.sanctuary lamp.

• This is a sign that Jesus is This is a sign that Jesus is truly present in the truly present in the tabernacle in the form of tabernacle in the form of the eucharistic bread.the eucharistic bread.

Ambry (Holy, or Sacred Ambry (Holy, or Sacred Oils)Oils)• These include:These include:

a)a) The oil of catechumens – The oil of catechumens – which is used with those which is used with those preparing for the sacrament preparing for the sacrament of Baptism.of Baptism.

b)b) The oil of the sick – which is The oil of the sick – which is used in the sacrament of the used in the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.Anointing of the Sick.

c)c) The sacred chrism – used to The sacred chrism – used to consecrate a person in the consecrate a person in the sacrament of Baptism, sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy OrdersConfirmation, and Holy Orders

Chapel of Chapel of ReconciliationReconciliation

• Place where people go Place where people go to celebrate God’s love to celebrate God’s love and forgiveness in the and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance.Sacrament of Penance.

• The room usually has The room usually has two chairs not separated two chairs not separated by a screen, and a by a screen, and a kneeler and a chair kneeler and a chair separated by a screen.separated by a screen.