Campbell - Ritual and Catholicism
This course devotes a considerable amount of time to the discussion and deliberation of ritual practices, especially in regards to the meaning(s) behind them. Aboriginal peoples in the film we watched in class showed the cameramen sacred places where rituals were performed, along with the fire-burning ritual to clear out the grasslands during the season's end. In The Ritual Process, Turner describes an African tribe's ritual of cleansing a woman who has done something wrong. My American Religion's class discussed the rituals of Native Americans earlier this semester, especially pertaining to the significance of songs, dance, and chanting within these practices. In modern times, many different religions and theologies prioritize rituals just as primal peoples did. In Judaism, the Sabbath is followed with specific dietary restrictions and meal preparation processes, along with certain prayers and rules following that should be followed for the entirety of the ritual (i.e. not participating in laborious activity). Muslims emphasize the conduction of Hajj, or the ritualistic pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives. This journey expresses an Islamic follower's devotion to Allah and commitment to their faith with several days of praying, performing religious rites, and practicing certain customs.
Clearly, religious rituals are an integral part of many religions. In my personal experience, rituals have served as a common and essential element of the Roman Catholic faith, of which I was a part of for several years. Having attended Catholic school and participated in catechism throughout my life, I have a deep understanding of not only the technicalities of Catholic rituals but also their profound meanings to Catholic practitioners. Rituals surround not only the important holidays and seasons of the Catholic faith, but the daily lives and actions of Catholic followers as well. By integrating these ideological practices into both everyday life and significant events, Catholics are conditioned from early on within their faith that the sacred is both transcendental and yet should be recognized and exercised each day. For instance, at my house growing up, my mom installed holy water vessels next to all doors leaving the house so that whenever anyone entered they could bless themselves. It was also a tradition in our family to attend the midnight Mass ceremony on Christmas Eve as a way to start off the Christmas celebrations. These are just some examples of the outward rituals that Catholics may partake in.
However, there are many rituals which are more intimate and definitive of the spirituality behind Catholicism. One major ritualistic practice that is integral to Catholic Mass is the Act of Communion, in which Catholics believe they are receiving the body and blood of Christ. Through the process of transubstantiation, the sacrifice that Jesus made to cleanse the world of sin is commemorated according to the events which occurred during the Last Supper in the Book of Luke. The priest, acting as a middle-ground between the divinity and the congregation, performs the sacrament of the Eucharist (the Holy Communion) by repeating a verse in Luke and, after the toll of bells, the transubstantiation has occurred. The bread wafers and wine have now turned into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Many Protestant denominations believe that this is more of a symbolic process; Catholics, on the other hand, truly believe that the wafers and wine which they are receiving are the actual body and blood of Christ.
As bizarre as this ritual may seem, it holds a lot of meaning within the Catholic community. In order to receive Communion, for example, one must be free of sin (by having recently attended Confession) and should also be receiving Communion on an empty stomach. These precautions are taken to prevent the contamination of the Lord when the Eucharist is received. Furthermore, the habitualness of receiving Communion in the Catholic faith - whereas most other Christian branches only celebrate it once a month or so - reinforces the notion that one should always act in accordance with the image of Christ because he is always within you. Of course, many other Christians may take the idea of transubstantiation to seem rather cannibalistic, but the Catholic parishioners are hardly concerned with the notion of "eating flesh and drinking blood." Instead, Catholics focus on the meaning behind receiving the body and blood of Christ, which is that the divinity, once a transcendental element, is now an intimate part of themselves and allows them to reflect on their attitudes and behaviors to adjust them in accordance with Christ.
Rituals come in many different forms, each depicted through their host cultural with an assortment of meanings. From primal spirituality to contemporary Christianity, rituals play a role in faiths across the globe, proving that the human relationship with the sacred is not only resilient within but also vital to these religions. Even as time moves forward, societies change, and religions reform, these rituals remain a central part in the practice and theology of these structures. What is it about rituals that make them so intimate and so long-lasting? I believe the answer is different for everyone.
Clearly, religious rituals are an integral part of many religions. In my personal experience, rituals have served as a common and essential element of the Roman Catholic faith, of which I was a part of for several years. Having attended Catholic school and participated in catechism throughout my life, I have a deep understanding of not only the technicalities of Catholic rituals but also their profound meanings to Catholic practitioners. Rituals surround not only the important holidays and seasons of the Catholic faith, but the daily lives and actions of Catholic followers as well. By integrating these ideological practices into both everyday life and significant events, Catholics are conditioned from early on within their faith that the sacred is both transcendental and yet should be recognized and exercised each day. For instance, at my house growing up, my mom installed holy water vessels next to all doors leaving the house so that whenever anyone entered they could bless themselves. It was also a tradition in our family to attend the midnight Mass ceremony on Christmas Eve as a way to start off the Christmas celebrations. These are just some examples of the outward rituals that Catholics may partake in.
However, there are many rituals which are more intimate and definitive of the spirituality behind Catholicism. One major ritualistic practice that is integral to Catholic Mass is the Act of Communion, in which Catholics believe they are receiving the body and blood of Christ. Through the process of transubstantiation, the sacrifice that Jesus made to cleanse the world of sin is commemorated according to the events which occurred during the Last Supper in the Book of Luke. The priest, acting as a middle-ground between the divinity and the congregation, performs the sacrament of the Eucharist (the Holy Communion) by repeating a verse in Luke and, after the toll of bells, the transubstantiation has occurred. The bread wafers and wine have now turned into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Many Protestant denominations believe that this is more of a symbolic process; Catholics, on the other hand, truly believe that the wafers and wine which they are receiving are the actual body and blood of Christ.
As bizarre as this ritual may seem, it holds a lot of meaning within the Catholic community. In order to receive Communion, for example, one must be free of sin (by having recently attended Confession) and should also be receiving Communion on an empty stomach. These precautions are taken to prevent the contamination of the Lord when the Eucharist is received. Furthermore, the habitualness of receiving Communion in the Catholic faith - whereas most other Christian branches only celebrate it once a month or so - reinforces the notion that one should always act in accordance with the image of Christ because he is always within you. Of course, many other Christians may take the idea of transubstantiation to seem rather cannibalistic, but the Catholic parishioners are hardly concerned with the notion of "eating flesh and drinking blood." Instead, Catholics focus on the meaning behind receiving the body and blood of Christ, which is that the divinity, once a transcendental element, is now an intimate part of themselves and allows them to reflect on their attitudes and behaviors to adjust them in accordance with Christ.
Rituals come in many different forms, each depicted through their host cultural with an assortment of meanings. From primal spirituality to contemporary Christianity, rituals play a role in faiths across the globe, proving that the human relationship with the sacred is not only resilient within but also vital to these religions. Even as time moves forward, societies change, and religions reform, these rituals remain a central part in the practice and theology of these structures. What is it about rituals that make them so intimate and so long-lasting? I believe the answer is different for everyone.
Comments
Post a Comment