Vatican II liturgy restoration ensured faithful would experience an encounter with Blessed Trinity Last month, in recognition of the Year of Faith, I introduced the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium). I began by looking at the constitution’s description of the liturgy in order to understand …
Understanding the sacraments: Christ is always present
The Second Vatican Council and the liturgy The Year of Faith, which began on Oct. 11, 2011, and concludes on Nov. 24, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council as well as the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. …
Understanding the sacraments: Mystical rites
A catechesis of the sacrament of holy orders in which Christ authorizes, empowers ministers of grace Baptism, Eucharist and confirmation are the sacraments of initiation through which we receive new life in Christ. Penance and anointing of the sick are sacraments of healing through which we are restored to spiritual …
Understanding the sacraments: ‘A great mystery’
A mystagogical catechesis of the sacrament of marriage and the sacrament’s effect on our lives Marriage is intimately woven into the plan of salvation as revealed in the Old and New Testaments. “Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and …
St. Luke Guild schedules end of life care seminar, cancer discussion
Health care professionals in the Diocese of Knoxville looking for guidance in providing appropriate end of life care for patients can benefit from a seminar being given this month by the St. Luke Guild of East Tennessee. The seminar, called “Death and Dying: Principles of End of Life Care for …
Understanding the sacraments: ‘Heal the sick’: a mystagogical catechesis
Healing was an important part of Jesus’ earthly ministry; the apostolic Church continues this ministry Healing was an important aspect of Jesus’ earthly ministry—“his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that ‘God has visited his people’ and that the Kingdom of God is close at …
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Understanding the sacraments: Confirmation: a mystagogical catechesis
The baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church with the sacrament of Confirmation Liturgical catechesis has one purpose: “to initiate people into the mystery of Christ (It is ‘mystagogy’) by proceeding from the visible to the invisible, from the sign to the thing signified, from the ‘sacraments’ to the …
Mystagogical catechesis: baptism
‘Baptism incorporates us into Christ and forms us into God’s people’ By Father Randy Stice In Sacrament of Charity, Pope Benedict reminds us that Christian formation centers “on a vital and convincing encounter with Christ” that “gains depth through catechesis and finds its source and summit in the celebration of …
Morning has broken at Camp Greenville
God’s presence can be felt when least expected, especially for seventh-graders rising early for a sunrise Mass. Camp Greenville, a YMCA-sponsored camp facility for youth and families in the northwestern part of South Carolina, is home this week to seventh-grade students from Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Knoxville. The annual …
From sign to mystery–mystagogical catechesis
Pastors’ commitment to efforts in leading faithful into the mystery of the sacred liturgy emphasized by Father Randy Stice In its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Second Vatican Council put special emphasis on “full, conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations” by all the faithful (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14). “In …
Diocese’s Year of Faith begins with speaker series on Vatican II
The Year of Faith has started in earnest in parishes across the diocese as the faithful seek a closer relationship with God. Sacred Heart Cathedral launched its Year of Faith celebration Oct. 17 with the first in a series of discussions on the Second Vatican Council and its important documents …
Understanding the sacraments: Instituted by Christ
The mysteries of Christ’s life are the foundations of what he would dispense in the sacraments The Church has always taught that the sacraments were instituted by Christ himself. She is convinced that this truth is rooted in the Word of God and the tradition, as the Catechism affirms: “Adhering …
