Curious About your Easter Traditions

[missingMN]

Hello All,

I am a relatively new lurker who has enjoyed this particular forum immensely. Hence I am here to ask for some help. I started attending a Bible Study group about a month ago and want to become more involved. So i decided to volunteer to lead the hr long group two weeks from now. The subject will be on the origin of various religious acts performed by the faithful during Lent and Easter. For example, why do people only eat fish and no meat? The goal being to root out which acts are based on Scripture and which were started by various religious denominations. We have some Christians in our group that are a bit wary of the traditional denominations and they were intrigued by these religious acts. Does anyone know a good place to start looking?

Thanks in advance,
brian

 

[Paul S]

We don't have to eat fish on Fridays - the rule is no meat, but fish is not meat, so it is often eaten when meat cannot be.

The origin of fasting is in the Bible - Jesus tells us to do it. Abstinence from meat developed because meat used to be a luxury, which only the upper class could afford on a regular basis. Fish was easy to catch, but meat required either hunting (and the upper classes owned the land) or slaughtering one of your animals (and the poor didn't have that many to start with).

Also, not everything has to be in the Bible for it to be good. Nowhere in the Bible does it say this. The Bible does say that everything in it is profitable, but it doesn't say only what is in it is profitable.

Many practices do come from other religions, including the Christmas tree and the Easter egg. When the people in an area were converted to Christianity, telling them to give up all their former religious practices (especially all the holidays) wouldn't have gone over too well. Instead, the practice stayed, but it was directed at the one true God instead of towards other gods.

The Easter egg may have originally been a pagan fertility symbol, but it can just as easily symbolise the new life of the Resurrection, and that's what it means today.

 

[Veritas]

Welcome to OBOB! I don't know; I'm a little wary of the premise for your "studies". It seems to me to attack or belittle other people's faith practices. Any explanation we give you as to why we do such and such will only serve to give you and the other's ammunition for accusing us of being "unbiblical". For one thing, you need to understand that the Protestant belief in the "bible alone" aka sola scriptura is not even found in the bible itself. Therefore, Catholics, Orthodox and a few other's, do not subscribe that everything in Christian faith and practice is found in a book. Yes, we believe that the bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God (we actually formulated this doctrine long before the "Reformation") But the bible never says that it and it alone is the sole and final rule of faith. We of the ancient traditions accept Sacred Tradition and in the case of Catholics, the teaching authority of the Church known as the Magisterium. Christ gave us a Church with authority, not a book. Have you ever wondered why Christ Himself never wrote anything? He never even told anyone to write anything down as a Testament. It was in fact, the Catholic Church that gave us the bible. Did you know that? And the books it contains were not even determined by the Church to be inspired and therefore Sacred Scripture until 397 AD....nearly 4 centuries after Christ's death and resurrection.

 

[D'Ann]

Welcome to OBOB! I don't know; I'm a little wary of the premise for your "studies". It seems to me to attack or belittle other people's faith practices. Any explanation we give you as to why we do such and such will only serve to give you and the other's ammunition for accusing us of being "unbiblical". For one thing, you need to understand that the Protestant belief in the "bible alone" aka sola scriptura is not even found in the bible itself. Therefore, Catholics, Orthodox and a few other's, do not subscribe that everything in Christian faith and practice is found in a book. Yes, we believe that the bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God (we actually formulated this doctrine long before the "Reformation") But the bible never says that it and it alone is the sole and final rule of faith. We of the ancient traditions accept Sacred Tradition and in the case of Catholics, the teaching authority of the Church known as the Magisterium. Christ gave us a Church with authority, not a book. Have you ever wondered why Christ Himself never wrote anything? He never even told anyone to write anything down as a Testament. It was in fact, the Catholic Church that gave us the bible. Did you know that? And the books it contains were not even determined by the Church to be inspired and therefore Sacred Scripture until 397 AD....nearly 4 centuries after Christ's death and resurrection.

Thanks for this information. It was great.

God's Peace,

D'Ann

 

[missingMN]

Well if you are strong in your beliefs you shouldn't be wary right? The fact is that I am in a non denominational Bible study and I was questioned as to why Lutherans do special services for Lent. This evolved into the question of why various denominations do various acts during certain times of the year. I appreciate the info I have gotten so far. Remember, the reformation confirms the believe in the Catholic Church as founded so you are somewhat preaching to the choir. Writing things down was just a natural way of recording the spoken word in my humble opinion. And God did tell us to speak his word every day right?

Joshua 1:8: "Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

Well anyway, thanks for the info so far.

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

I was looking over Missings profile and found that he is new to Christianity. He hasn't even decided on a Church yet. Being new, the many dynamics of different denominations can be very overwhelming.

Lets try to give him a good overview of the rich Catholic tradition surrounding Easter. He is at the beginning of a long and wonderful journey.

Hi Missing

I will be back tonight or in the morning with a description of Lent, and some of the other Catholic Practices.

I don't know where you are, but it is 3:20 am where I am.

Will see you soon.

Therese

 

[missingMN]

Maybe I should clarify my past a bit. I was raised Lutheran but made the concious and stupid decision to turn from God's word about 15 years ago. I asked God for forgiveness about one month ago and was blessed to receive his grace and forgiveness. I most identify with Lutheran ideology, specifically the Book of Concord and the subsequent Apology. I am by no means an expert but am trying to learn the various differences between the denominations so i can what fits best for me. That is why I took the task (somewhat overwhelming) of leading a Bible study on this topic. For now I do seem to identify with Lutheran ideology the most but am not going to get stuck on these differences between denominations. However, I find the history of these differences fascinating.

cheers,
brian

 

[Paul S]

I am by no means an expert but am trying to learn the various differences between the denominations so i can what fits best for me.

It's good that you've come back to Christianity after being away. However, should you be searching for what best fits you, or for what God teaches as the Truth, even if His Truth makes you a bit uncomfortable?

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

Lent is a 40 day period before Easter. This signifies the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert.

Matt.4:1-2

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry.(RSV)



Mark 1:12-13

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.(RSV)



Luke 4:1-2



1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit 2 for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry.(RSV)

The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday. Ashes are a symbol of repentance. At Mass on that day the priest marks our foreheads with a cross of ashes, he says “Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you shall return”. This reminds us that without our repentance, and Christ’s mercy we do not have eternal life. (RSV)

Matt 11:20-21



20 Then he began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Chora'zin! woe to you, Beth-sa'ida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.(RSV)





Luke 10:13

13 "Woe to you, Chora'zin! woe to you, Beth-sa'ida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.(RSV)

I will be back soon with the rest.

Therese

 

[BAChristian]

Abstinence from meat developed because meat used to be a luxury, which only the upper class could afford on a regular basis. Fish was easy to catch, but meat required either hunting (and the upper classes owned the land) or slaughtering one of your animals (and the poor didn't have that many to start with).

Also...as I've noted in bold, you allude to what I was going to say, and that's, one of the major reasons meat was chosen, was because cattle, for example, would mate during the season. So in order to keep as many cattle as possible, people would not want to slaughter these animals so they could, in turn, procreate.

 

[Paul S]

You also had to feed these animals, and most people barely had enough food for themselves, so only the upper classes could keep herds of animals.

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

Hmm. The purpose of the Lenten fast is to make a sacrifice for God. This sounds like it would only have been a sacrifice for the wealthy. Any thoughts?

 

[Paul S]

These days, giving up meat is a sacrifice for all. I think back when the distinction was real, the life of the poor was a sacrifice the whole year.

 

[Glynnw]

Welcome to OBOB. I started here about one year ago, and have since converted from Baptist to Catholic and I have learned so much. If you are real interested in learning about the Catholic Church, then RCIA is where to start. This is classes teaching you all about the Catholic Church and is taught at any Catholic Church, yet most of them start in September and are completed at Easter. This is just a thought.

In Christ Name, GlynnW

 

[missingMN]

It's good that you've come back to Christianity after being away. However, should you be searching for what best fits you, or for what God teaches as the Truth, even if His Truth makes you a bit uncomfortable?

Yes that is the most important point. And so far, Lutheranism has been the Truth for me. Mostly because it does not look outside Scripture. The reason this is good for me is because I have so much to learn in the Scripture. Once I am a bit more mature in my walk with our Lord I will pray to Him to help me understand sources outside Scripture.

regards,
Brian

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

Missing, I'm back

(second installment)

The tradition of lent is observed by fasting, and abstaining from meat. Catholics fast throughout Lent, and Abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all of the Fridays of Lent. Abstinence from meat refers to “flesh meat” the Latin word in the canons is “carne” this includes mammals, and foul. To fast generally means that in a day we eat 1 normal meal, and 2 mini meals, the 2 mini meals combined cannot equal more than the 1 normal meal.



Recently, the Church has allowed, and some have chosen to make some different type of sacrifice during lent, and also during the non-Lenten Fridays. This is very common in the United States, however, all are required to Abstain on the prescribed days.



Fasting can be done in many ways, the Traditions of the Catholic Church come from long standing practice. The purpose is to make a sacrifice for God, to be in control of our earthly bodies, and therefore become closer to God, it is a form of discipline. After all following Christ requires discipline, and fasting is a way of becoming more disciplined for that purpose.



Here are some scripture quotes which talk about Fasting. We are told by Jesus to fast, and how to fast. Fasting is clearly mentioned in scripture as being pleasing to God.

Matt. 6:16-18 - in fact, Jesus even gives instructions on how to fast. Jesus says, "Do not look dismal like the hypocrites, but look clean and refreshed."

Matt. 6:16-1816 "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Acts 13:2-3; 14:23 - the apostles engaged in prayer and fasting in connection with ordaining leaders of the Church. Prayer and fasting have always been the practice of the Church.

Acts 13:2-32 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts14:23 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.

Fasting is a sacrifice that we make during lent, it is coupled with the theme of repentance. The Lenten season is a solemn one, the Mass, and all that we do have a solemn tone during this time.

 

[Paul S]

Yes that is the most important point. And so far, Lutheranism has been the Truth for me. Mostly because it does not look outside Scripture. The reason this is good for me is because I have so much to learn in the Scripture. Once I am a bit more mature in my walk with our Lord I will pray to Him to help me understand sources outside Scripture.

But the Bible itself tells us we need a teacher. Remember the eunuch in Acts who was reading the Bible, and the apostle Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading? He replied, "How can I, unless I have someone to teach me?"

May the Holy Ghost guide you on your path back to Him.

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

On to the Holy Triduum.

Lent ends with the celebration of the last supper on Holy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter). On the evening of Holy Thursday Mass is celebrated, this begins the Holy Triduum (Latin for “three days”) the Triduum continues until Sunday morning (Easter).


The first Liturgy of the Triduum is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This Mass takes place on the evening of Holy Thursday, and it is a celebration of the first Eucharist.


Eucharist (from the Greek eucharista, “thanksgiving”) is the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, in which He becomes present under the forms of bread and wine offering himself in sacrifice and giving himself to us as spiritual food.


Christ’s sacrifice is present in the Eucharist, this doesn’t mean that Christ is sacrificed over and over again, but that his one sacrifice becomes present to us. God is not bound by time and space, therefore Christ’s one sacrifice becomes present to us during the Eucharist in the same way that it was present to the Apostles at the Last Supper. Just as the Apostles did at the Last Supper we receive as food Jesus Christ under the form of bread and wine. Bread and wine are transformed by the Holy Spirit during the Eucharistic prayer. Jesus clearly speaks of this in scripture.

John 6 (This entire chapter shows Jesus speaking about his Body and Blood)


48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"


53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

Matt. 26:26 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

also Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19

1 Cor. 11:23-27

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.

At the end of the Holy Thursday liturgy the Body of Christ which is usually reserved in a tabernacle in the Church is removed to a tabernacle in another building, it is not stored in the Church, and there is no more consecration until Easter. Communion on Good Friday is given from the bread which was consecrated the night before.

 

[Paul S]

At the end of the Holy Thursday liturgy the Body of Christ which is usually reserved in a tabernacle in the Church is removed to a tabernacle in another building, it is not stored in the Church, and there is no more consecration until Easter. Communion on Good Friday is given from the bread which was consecrated the night before.

Last year at my parish, following Mass on Maundy Thursday Mass, the Eucharist was removed to a tabernacle on one of the side altars, then removed from the church on the morning of Good Friday.

It's a very empty feeling once He has been removed from the church.

 

[gtsecc]

I think it is helpful to understand that there are many Holy Traditions, and one of the greatest of these traditions is Scripture. Just like Lenten practices, Scripture comes from Tradition. It is a Tradition. To ask which Traditions come from Scripture is an absurd question. The real question is “which Scripture comes from Holy Tradition?” Fortunately, we do not have to answer this for ourselves because the Church Fathers have already done this for us.