Reasons for Maintaining Continuity

To ensure survival of the tradition

To ensure beliefs are responsive to society and historical circumstances

To ensure focus of the tradition remains the same

To remain unique

Internal and External Factors that can promote Action

Internal Factors: Events Situations, Ideas, and Individuals within the tradition.

External Factors: Events Situations, Ideas, and Individuals outside the tradition and beyond the traditions control.

Ways of Maintaining Continuity

Reaffirmation: means to take a proposition or idea previously held to be true and represent such that it is true again. Retains an existing belief with its current meaning and its current expression.
Reinterpretation: is clarifying or explaining in a new way its ideas. Affirms an essential belief but arrives at a new understanding and possibly different expression. It is not a rejection of the initial belief.
Reformulation: To reformulate a belief is to make adjustments to it, but not alter the belief. This occurs as a part of reaffirmation of a belief, however the beliefs do not change, they are simply strengthened.
Application

The Eucharist:

Last Supper/Passover - St Paul’s Letters:

Religious Beliefs

The Passover formed the basis of our belief in the Eucharist
Belief in the Word of God proclaiming the scripture
He is God in human flesh speaking to us
Christ was present when the apostles gathered in his name
They broke the bread and ate it

Reasons for Maintaining Beliefs

They maintained their beliefs in memory of Jesus
Ostracised from the Jewish community
To celebrate the risen Christ in their midst
“For as often as you eat the bread and drink the cup you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Reaffirmation, Reinterpretation, Reformulation

Jesus is present during the first Eucharist
Breaking of the bread to symbolise Jesus instead of passover

It became independent of a meal

Jesus is present in the community during the Eucharist

Jesus is present in the words during the Eucharist

Unites us with God

The Letters of Paul, written between year 40 and the year 60 speak of the tradition of the celebration of the Eucharist originating in the words and actions of the last supper.

In the years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the early Jewish Christian community gathered together on the first day of each week to ‘break bread’ in memory of him

Perfect act of self-giving love

8 Aspects

Eucharist (Ritual)
The Last Supper (Religious Experience)
Life, death and resurrection of Jesus (Belief)
Story of the Last Supper (Myth)

Bread and Wine (Symbols)

Internal and External Factors

Internal Factor:

Movement from sacred “meal” to sacrificial or symbolic “meal” representing the real presence of Christ.

Ways of Maintaining Continuity

Sharing in the Paschal meal
When we are receiving the Eucharist, we are receiving his sacred elements.\
He becomes our substance and we become his body.
The early people followed Jesus words “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” Matt 18:20

Strengths and Weaknesses of Maintenance

Peter doubts Jesus after his death (Weakness)
The Pentecost gave the disciples a stronger sense of belief which entitled them to preach (Strength)
4 different views on Jesus’ life are written (Strength)
The New Testament was written about Jesus (Strength)
Reaffirming the key beliefs of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection
The Passover was seen by Jews as Jesus being the ‘lamb of God’ by overcoming death through resurrection
Eucharistic liturgy is the summit and source of the life of the whole church
A new pact between God and his people
The events of his death and resurrection are replayed or made present here and now
The body of Christ in the world
Jesus Christ is really present under visible appearances of bread and wine

References

Mark 14: 22 “Take it; this is my body.”
Mark 14: 22-26 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,”
John 6: 24-35 “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”
I Corinthians 10: 16-17 “And is this not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ”
I Corinthians 11: 23-26 “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

St Paul’s Letters - Council of Nicea

Religious Beliefs

- After receiving the body of Christ, you respond with “Amen” meaning yes, it is true.

- Eucharist became more sacrificial

- Stressed Christ’s divine being

- When we eat the body and blood of Christ we become Christ present in the world- St Augustine 150 AD

Reasons for Maintaining Beliefs

- “For when two or more gather in my name I am in the midst of them” Matthew 18:20

- Building upon beliefs

Reaffirmation, Reformulation, Reinterpretation

- At the Eucharistic Liturgy, they added prayers, singing and chanting.

- Adopted prayers of recognised quality by more eloquent leaders such as Hippolytus

- 313 AD The Emperor Constantine:

- Latin became common language

- Use of large buildings rather than homes

- Latin mass in Rome was standard for western church

- Meal symbolism faded and sacrificial meaning was emphasised

- St Paul stressed that Christians were united through baptism

8 Aspects

- Symbols

- Rituals

- Religious experience

Sacred Texts

Internal and External Factors

- Emperors toleration lead to rapid spread in Roman empire (External)

- Council of Nicea (Internal)

Ways of Maintaing Continuity

- Read and reflect on writings of first generation leaders

- By responding “Amen” when receiving the Eucharist

- After readings, the bishop or priest would offer a long prayer of praise and thanksgiving

- Reflected on writing’s of first generation leaders.

- Basilica's were built

- Prayer of praise and thanksgiving

- Relation between Eucharist and aspect of life

Strengths and Weaknesses of maintenance

- Mass in Latin caused people to lose sense of mass

- People coming together gives a great sense of belonging

References

- “For as often as you eat the bread and drink the cup you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

- “Be a member of Christ’s body” St Augustine, Sermons No.272

“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.”1 Cor 10:16-17

4th - 8th Centuries

Religious Beliefs

- Emphasis on adoring the lord

- Mass is taking part in a sacrifice

Reasons for Maintaining Beliefs

- Real prescience of Christ in the Eucharist

Reaffirmation, Reinterpretation, Reformulation

- Receiving the Eucharist is to unite each of us to God

- Mass is not just a meal

8 Aspects

- The connection between people and the body of Christ was no longer prominent

- Fourth Lateran council past the law that required to receive communion at least once a year

Internal and External Factors

- The connection between people and the body of Christ was no longer prominent

- Fourth Lateran council past the law that required to receive communion at least once a year

Ways of Maintaining Continuity

- Much more than a sacrifice of praise

- Feast of Corpus Christi

- 40 Hours devotion

- Common language was Latin.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Maintenance

- People of the time lost faith and stopped having the Eucharist

- Stress on word of God

- The participation of the faithful was always strong

References

- The Church 3: The work of our redemption is carried out

4th Lateran Council (1215)

Religious Beliefs

- Desire to unite the empire

- Have a positive influence on the development of the liturgy

Reasons for Maintaining Beliefs

- Uniting Christians to the Eucharist

Reaffirmation, Reinterpretation, Reformulation

The Roman way of life was spreading across Europe

- One confession at Easter for all sins

- Faithful no longer took part in mass except indirectly

- Mass was taken to the country and more and more started to come because it was easier

- Transubstantiation (The bread and wine turning into something sacred)

8 Aspects

- Rituals of the Mass

- Chanting ritual

Internal and External Factors

- Theologians debated the real existence of Christ

- Roman formulation was imposed on Gaul then Spain

Ways of Maintaining Continuity

- Fourth Lateran council: made law that required to receive communion at least once a year

- The bread was substituted for the host

- Feast of corpus Christi

- 40 hours devotion

- Development of the chant

- Fear of sin developed

Strengths and Weaknesses of Maintenance

- The new buildings meant that the faithful were more passive

References

- “Under the consecrated species of the bread and wine, Christ Himself, living and glorious is present in a true, real and substantial manner.” CCC n.1413

- Constitution 1 Confession of faith

- Constitution 2 Defend against the book of Jaochim

- Constitution 3 Dealing with heretics

Council of Trent (1545)

Religious Beliefs

- Under the physical image of the bread and wine there is a real presence of Jesus

- Eucharist is both a mystery of faith and a mystery of light

- Jesus is present in the Eucharist

- Respect for the sacrament of the Eucharist

Reasons for Maintaining Beliefs

- In Jesus name

- To remember what Jesus died for

- To celebrate the body of Christ

- Unity of God

- Community

- To keep the Church pure

- Defend against attacks from reformers

Reaffirmation, Reinterpretation, Reformulation

- The council fathers reaffirmed the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

- Brought Uniformity to the official

- Frequent Reception of the Eucharist was encouraged

- Small round wafer used for bread

- Reaffirmed real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist

- Uniformity to the official ritual

- Children after a certain age could receive the Eucharist

8 Aspects

- Ritual: Eucharist is celebrated on the altar of the world

Internal and External Factors

- Pope St Pius X, permitted children to receive holy communion

- Pope St Pius V, Published the Roman missal

- Attacks from Reformers

Ways of Maintaining Continuity

- Faithful encouraged to be more frequent in attending Mass.

- Some abuses against the Church

- Defended Catholic beliefs that were attacked by the Reformers

- Defended the Mass as a sacrifice

Strengths and Weaknesses of Maintenance

- Communion became very rare

- The church used the missal for the next 400 years

- The Eucharist builds the church and the church builds the Eucharist

- Able to come together and stay strong

- A gap was forming between the clergy and the faithful

References

- Trent 22: The manner alone of offering being different

- Jesus is really and truly present in the Eucharist

Vatican II:

Religious Beliefs:

As often as the sacrifice of the cross in which Christ our Passover was sacrificed, is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried on, and, in the sacrament of the Eucharistic bread, the unity of all believers who form one body in Christ (LUMEN GENTIUM)
In the sacrament of the Eucharistic bread, the unity of all believers who form one body in Christ (8) is both expressed and brought about.

Reasons for Maintaining Beliefs:

Taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice, which is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life (Lumen Gentium)

Reaffirmation, Reinterpretation, Reformulation

Just as the life of the Church is strengthened through more frequent celebration of the Eucharistic mystery, similar we may hope for a new stimulus for the life of the Spirit from a growing reverence for the word of God, which "lasts forever" (DEI VERBUM)
The renewal in the Eucharist of the covenant between the Lord and man (SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM)

8 Aspects:

Ritual: They exercise their sacred function especially in the Eucharistic worship or the celebration of the Mass (Lumen Gentium)
Ritual: especially in the same Eucharist, in a single prayer, at one altar

Internal and External Factors:

Custom of reciting the rosary during mass was encouraged
Others tried constantly to restore a fairer participation in the liturgy

Ways of Maintaining Continuity:

He makes present the Eucharistic sacrifice, and offers it to God in the name of all the people. (LUMEN GENTIUM)

Strengths and Weaknesses of Maintenance:

Priest does not interact with the church-goers
Pope Pius X restored frequent communion

The Eucharist Today

Religious Beliefs

Eucharist became the source and climax of the life of the church

Reasons for Maintaining Beliefs

Each Christian had to be associated with the prayer of Christ in the world

Eucharist has truly recovered its central place in the life of the community

Reaffirmation, Reinterpretation, Reformulation

Reading of the word of God considerably increased

Shift in vocabulary

8 Aspects

Ritual: Eucharist received at every mass

Internal and External Factors

The Sunday is divided up into a three year cycle

Homily has regained its rightful place in the liturgy of the word

Ways of Maintaining Continuity

The whole church is invited to celebrate with the priest

Strengths and Weaknesses of Maintenance

Regaining faith
Global acceptance
The Priest faces the community which gives a greater involvement

References

Deut 8:3 Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word it proceeds from the mouth of God

	Created by Winbaj08 about 11 years ago

VCE Religion and Society (Maintaining Continuity of Religious Beliefs) Note on U3AOS2, created by Winbaj08 on 01/09/2013.