As a Protestant turned Catholic - I absolutely LOVE the Good Friday services, especially the Veneration of the Cross. It was especially meaningful when I was going through chemo and my hands were swelling and very painful on the weeks I took chemo; Jesus knew what I was feeling - His own hands had been pierced and were raw and painful.
Catholics do understand that as believers in Christ we are all one Christian community, BUT it's the understanding of communion, Eucharist (thanksgiving), that we disagree on - in the Catholic understanding, John 6 is literal - this *IS* My Body; this *IS* My blood - it is NOT a symbol or representation.
Jesus made Peter His instrument on earth, building His Church on him. He gave him the faculties to bind and loose sin and to call down the power of the Holy Spirit to confect the Sacrament of turning the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus - as evidenced in Eucharistic miracles that have been scientifically tested and proven (see Lanciano). See also the Road to Emmaus story: Jesus blessed and broke the bread and vanished from their sight! Why? Because He was IN the bread and the wine and no longer needed to be there in physical form with them. Easter Blessings, Traci!
Lynn, I read this but then forgot to respond. I'm so sorry! Just getting back from my first Tenebrae service. I'll be forever sad that the churches of my youth have gotten so far away from tradition, from worship with the five senses. It was beautiful.
So glad you enjoyed the service! I love experiencing new things like that. You're lucky to have good childhood church memories, even if they moved too far away from tradition that you loved - and miss. The church of my childhood (local non-denominational) had nothing "special". And the Baptist church I joined as an adult was pretty much the same, except that we had a huge Christmas concert, baptisms and communion - and no Church services even on Christmas Day unless it fell on a Sunday. So, needing "something", I started going to Christmas Eve and day services with a Catholic cousin-in law for a few years and I fell in love with the traditions, the "smells and bells". Traditions bind the generations and fill the soul. (no worries about not responding; I didn't expect an answer) Easter Blessings!
As a Protestant turned Catholic - I absolutely LOVE the Good Friday services, especially the Veneration of the Cross. It was especially meaningful when I was going through chemo and my hands were swelling and very painful on the weeks I took chemo; Jesus knew what I was feeling - His own hands had been pierced and were raw and painful.
Catholics do understand that as believers in Christ we are all one Christian community, BUT it's the understanding of communion, Eucharist (thanksgiving), that we disagree on - in the Catholic understanding, John 6 is literal - this *IS* My Body; this *IS* My blood - it is NOT a symbol or representation.
Jesus made Peter His instrument on earth, building His Church on him. He gave him the faculties to bind and loose sin and to call down the power of the Holy Spirit to confect the Sacrament of turning the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus - as evidenced in Eucharistic miracles that have been scientifically tested and proven (see Lanciano). See also the Road to Emmaus story: Jesus blessed and broke the bread and vanished from their sight! Why? Because He was IN the bread and the wine and no longer needed to be there in physical form with them. Easter Blessings, Traci!
Lynn, I read this but then forgot to respond. I'm so sorry! Just getting back from my first Tenebrae service. I'll be forever sad that the churches of my youth have gotten so far away from tradition, from worship with the five senses. It was beautiful.
So glad you enjoyed the service! I love experiencing new things like that. You're lucky to have good childhood church memories, even if they moved too far away from tradition that you loved - and miss. The church of my childhood (local non-denominational) had nothing "special". And the Baptist church I joined as an adult was pretty much the same, except that we had a huge Christmas concert, baptisms and communion - and no Church services even on Christmas Day unless it fell on a Sunday. So, needing "something", I started going to Christmas Eve and day services with a Catholic cousin-in law for a few years and I fell in love with the traditions, the "smells and bells". Traditions bind the generations and fill the soul. (no worries about not responding; I didn't expect an answer) Easter Blessings!