Introduction
“Liturgy” does sound like a foreign word to some of us, and, in one sense, it is. It comes from the Greek leitourgia, which is a combination of two other words: people (laos) and work (ergon). Literally, a liturgy is a “work of the people,” or perhaps more helpfully, a “public service.” Therefore, at its most basic, “liturgy” refers to the order of a corporate worship service. There are things that makes Christian liturgy beautiful. These are Liturgical colours, liturgical symbols or objects, liturgical vestments and many more. In this lesson, I am going to help you appreciate what liturgical colours are, and also some symbols or objects of liturgy. Are you ready…….
PARAMENTS AND LITURGUCAL COLOURS
PARAMENTS are liturgical hanging that adorn the altar, as well as the cloth hanging from the pulpit, lectern and other parts of a church Chancel. Along with vestments -- stoles and other pieces of traditional clergy apparel -- the Paraments are changed with the church calendar, and have specific colours, called Liturgical colours and symbols to highlight various seasons and Christian festival days. Lets us therefore consider the following liturgical colours and its meaning
What are liturgical colours?
Liturgical colours within Christian liturgy signify different seasons and times of year. Each season has its own mood, meaning and type of prayer. Each colour has its own meaning and feeling, and can be seen worn or hung throughout the church during specific times of year. The primary colours in the liturgical calendar are red, white, gold, violet, green, and black.
GREEN
Green is a sign of life in nature and as such it represents growth, life and hope. Green is the colour worn most often during liturgies in Ordinary Time. It symbolises the graces that draw people into the life of God. Most of the Church's year is Ordinary Time.
Red symbolises both blood and Holy Spiritfire. It is the colour that is used on Passion (Palm) Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, as Methodists, Red is used during celebration such as commissioning and ordination of clergy and sometimes Confirmation. It is also the colour that has traditionally been associated with martyrs those who have shed their blood for their faith.
WHITE
White (or gold), since it is a festive, joyful colour, is used during the Christmas and Easter seasons, and on major feast days, such as, on the celebrations of the Lord other than of his Passion, , and All Saints who were not martyrs, and on the Solemnities of All Saints. Because white also symbolises the Resurrection, it is used during Easter Sunday
PURPLE
Purple (or violet) symbolises repentance and penance. Vestments of purple or violet are used during the seasons of Advent and Lent.The colour reminds us of the violet flower that bows its head and is a symbol of humility. Lent is the season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a quiet season of reflection. The colour of Advent is more of a rose-purple, like the sky just before sunrise. This is the time of year when the Church waits in joyful hope to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Since purple stands for hope, as Methodists we believe in the hope of resurrection, so Purple or violet is used during funerals.
LITURGICAL OBJECT
Liturgical object are the things we see and use during church service. They are also the sacred vessels used in liturgical celebrations to hold the consecrated Body and Blood of Christ. The sacred vessels are to be treated with special care and reverence. Let’s consider some of them.
Chalice
The vessel which holds the wine that becomes the Precious Blood of Christ.
The Paten
The golden “plate” that holds the bread that becomes the Sacred Body of Christ.
The Pyx
The pyx is a small, closing golden vessel that is used to bring the Blessed Sacrament to those who cannot come to the church.
Prie-Dieu
A Prie-dieu Is a type of prayer desk primarily intended for private devotional use, but may also be found in Churches. It is a small ornamental wooden desk furnished with a thin, sloping shelf for books or hands and a kneeler. Sometimes instead of a sloping shelf, a padded arm rest will be provided.
Lectern/Ambo
A stand with a sloping top to hold a Bible or a book or a notes from which the readings are proclaimed
Pulpit
A raised enclosed platform in a church or chapel from which the preacher delivers a sermon
Baptismal Font
A baptismal font is a vessel that holds water for baptisms. Baptism is usually a pivotal part of welcoming a person into a Christian church.
Pews
A long bench with a back placed in rows in the main part of some churches to seat the congregation
Presider’s Chair
The chair on which the CLERGY sits during church service
ALTAR
The sacred table on which the sacrifice of the Holy Communion is offered to God; the table from which the faithful receive the Blessed Sacrament
LITURGICAL /PRIESTLY VESTMENTS
Black cassocks with STOLE
CASSOCK Alb
The Alb is a full- length white garment worn by the priest and deacon
Stole
The stole is a long strip of fabric worn around the neck. It matches the color of the day. Priests wear the stole around the neck and over the breast. Deacons wear the stole diagonally from the left shoulder to the right side.
Cinture/GirdleThe cincture is worn around the alb if it does not fit closely to the body.
Chasuble
The chasuble is worn by the priest over his other vestments. It symbolizes the yoke of Christ and of the priesthood this is mostly worn by the Roman Catholic priest
A Clerical Shirt/collar
The Clerical shirt is traditionally black or another colour appropriate to a person’s ministry or rank, such as purple for Anglican and Methodist Bishop. The white part you see in the clerical shirt is called Collar. It serves as a reimnider to both the wearer and the community of the Sacred nature of the clergy’s calling. The collar represent the spiritual authority vested in the clergy, their commitment to serving God and their congregations, and their role as intermediaries between the Divine and the human realm.
Preaching/ Pulpit Gown
The Geneva gown also called a pulpit gown, pulpit robe or preaching robe/gown, is an ecclesiastical garment customarily worn by ordained ministers in the Christian churches that arose out of the historic protestant Reformation
Preaching Band
Bands are a form of formal neckwear, worn by some clergy and lawyers, and with some forms of academic dress. Those worn by clergy are often called preaching bands, preaching tabs or Geneva bands; those worn by lawyers are called barristers bands or more usually Ireland and Canada tabs.
PONTIFICAL VESTMENTS
Pontifical vestements, also known as Episcopal vestments or pontificals are the liturgical vestments worn by bishops. Below are some examples:
Zucchetto/Skull cap
The Zucchetto is a small, hemispherical, form-fitting ecclesiastical skullcap worn by clerics of various catholic churches, and by the higher clergy of in Anglicanism and Methodism
Pontifical /Bishop’s Ring
This ring is worn by bishops on the third finger of the right hand signifying
that the bishop is wedded or married to the church
Mitre
The Mitre symbolizes the Tongue of fire that descended on the heads of the apostles at Pentecost. The bishops wear the mitre on high Christian festivals and always during the singing of the Te Deum and the Gloria at Mass. The mitre is mostly worn by the Roman Catholic and Anglican Bishops
Crozier/Shepherd Staff
A crozier is a hooked staff carried by a bishop as a symbol of pastoral office
A Methodist Bishop holding the Crozier as a symbol of his Pastoral office
Pectoral Cross
The pectoral cross symbolizes that the person wearing it is a member of the clergy or that the wearer is a member of a senior clergy or senior clergy
LITURGICAL GESTURES
Standing:
Standing shows a special level of respect and readiness, e.g., during the Gospel reading. It is also the normal posture when singing or when praying in common.
Genuflection:
A genuflection is made by bending the right knee to the ground. It is given to the Blessed Sacrament when entering or leaving the church or when passing in front of the tabernacle. In addition, a genuflection is customarily made when acknowledging the Incarnation or the death of Christ. Genuflection is mostly associated with the Anglican and the Roman Catholic churches
Sitting:
Sitting signifies attentiveness, especially to the readings from Sacred Scripture or during the preparation of the altar.
Kneeling:
Kneeling signifies adoration of God and humility before him. It is the proper posture for the congregation during the Eucharistic Prayer, and after the Agnus Dei before the reception of Holy Communion.
Striking the breast:
Done during the Confiteor, acknowledging our sinfulness
Conclusion
Liturgical objects demonstrate the solemnity of the mystery we celebrate in each Eucharist. They honor the majesty of God and help us to understand the mystery, despite the weakness of our senses.
As beings of body and soul, we need outward and visible signs to remind us of the invisible greatness of the divine mysteries. Liturgical objects are a clear reflection of this. The Church, in its wisdom, transfigures and spiritualizes material things to elevate us towards the invisible, the divine, and the eternal.
The Church instructs that liturgical objects be treated with respect, protected, and maintained with care. Their dignity comes not only from their practical function but from the divine Person to whom they are consecrated. Let us meditate on the profound symbolism and care with which the Church watches over all that comes into contact with the Eucharist.