Questions and Answers

1064. Why is the Father source and goal of the Liturgy? (CCC 1078) The Father is:
1. source of the Liturgy, because He is the origin of all liturgical blessings
2. goal of the Liturgy, because all liturgical blessings are directed toward Him.
1065. How does the Liturgy respond to the blessings received from the Father? (CCC 1083) The Liturgy responds to the blessings received from the Father:
1. by blessing the Father for His gift
2. by presenting to the Father the offering of His own gifts.
1066. How is Christ’s work in the Liturgy performed? (CCC 1084) Christ’s work in the Liturgy is performed through the sacraments.
The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ, by which divine life is dispensed to us (CCC 1131).
1067. What event does Christ principally make present in the Liturgy? (CCC 1085) Christ principally makes present in the Liturgy His own death and Resurrection.
1068. How is Christ present in the earthly Liturgy? (CCC 1088) Christ is present in the earthly Liturgy:
1. above all in the Eucharistic species
2. in the person of His minister
3. in the Word proclaimed
4. in the Church gathered together in His name.
1069. What is the dual role of the Holy Spirit in the Liturgy? (CCC 1091) The dual role of the Holy Spirit in the Liturgy is as:
1. teacher of the faithful
2. artisan of the sacraments.
1070. How does the Liturgy become the common work of the Spirit and the Church? (CCC 1091) The Liturgy becomes the common work of the Spirit and the Church through the cooperation which the Holy Spirit brings about in us, when He encounters our response of faith which He has aroused.
1071. How does the Holy Spirit act in the sacramental dispensation? (CCC 1092) The Holy Spirit acts in the sacramental dispensation by:
1. preparing the faithful for the encounter with Christ
2. making Christ manifest to the faithful
3. making Christ’s mystery present here and now
4. uniting the faithful to Christ.
Sacramental dispensation or sacramental economy is the communication of the fruits of Christ’s death and Resurrection through the sacraments.
1072. How did the Holy Spirit prepare Christ’s Church in the Old Testament? (CCC 1093) The Holy Spirit prepared Christ’s Church in the Old Testament by means of:
1. the history of the people of Israel
2. the Old Covenant.
1073. Why did the Church retain certain elements of the worship of the OT? (CCC 1093) The Church retained certain elements of the worship of the Old Testament, because the Church was prepared in the history of the Old Covenant.
1074. Which elements of the worship of the Old Covenant did the Church retain? (CCC 1093) The elements of the worship of the Old Covenant that the Church retained are:
1. the fulfilled sacrifice
2. reading of the Old Testament
3. praying the Psalms
4. recalling Old Testament events and realities.
1075. What name is given to catechesis that unveils the harmony between the OT and the NT? (CCC 1094) The name given to catechesis that unveils the harmony between the Old Testament and the New Testament is typological catechesis.
It is called “typological”, because it reveals Christ on the basis of the “figures” (types) which announce Him in the OT.
1076. When is the typological reading of the OT especially present in the Liturgy? (CCC 1095) The typological reading of the Old Testament is especially present in the Liturgy during Advent and Lent.
1077. Why must the faithful prepare themselves to encounter Christ in the Liturgy? (CCC 1098) The faithful must prepare themselves to encounter Christ in the Liturgy, because such a preparation is a precondition for the reception of the graces conferred both during the liturgical celebration itself and afterwards.
1078. Whose work is the preparation of hearts before the liturgical celebrations? (CCC 1098) The preparation of hearts before the liturgical celebrations is the joint work of the Holy Spirit and of the faithful, especially of the ministers.
1079. How does the Holy Spirit prepare the faithful to encounter Christ? (CCC 1098) The Holy Spirit prepares the faithful to encounter Christ by awakening in them:
1. faith,
2. conversion of heart and
3. adherence to the Father’s will.
1080. Who is the Church’s living memory? (CCC 1099) The Holy Spirit is the Church’s living memory.
1081. What is the liturgical role of the Spirit in the understanding of God’s Word? (CCC 1101) The liturgical role of the Spirit in the understanding of God’s Word is to give a spiritual understanding of it to its readers and hearers.
1082. What is anámnesis? (CCC 1103) Anámnesis is the liturgical remembrance of the salvific works of God.
1083. How is the Holy Spirit active in the Liturgy of the Word? (CCC 1103) The Holy Spirit is active in the Liturgy of the Word by reminding us of all that Christ has done for us.
1084. Why is the Liturgy not merely the remembrance of the Pascal Mysteries? (CCC 1104) The Liturgy is not merely the remembrance of the Pascal mysteries, because it does not only remember them but also makes them present.
The Pascal Mysteries are the death and Resurrection of Christ.
1085. In what part of Mass does the priest beg the Father to send the Holy Spirit? (CCC 1105) In the epiclesis the priest begs the Father to send the Holy Spirit.
Epíclesis is Greek and means literally “invocation upon”.
1086. Where is the place of the anamnesis and epiclesis in the sacramental celebration? (CCC 1106) The place of the anamensis and epiclesis is at the heart of each sacramental celebration.
Anamnesis is the liturgical remembrance of the salvific works of God. Epíclesis is the invocation of the Holy Spirit.
1087. Why is the Church the great ‘sacrament’ of divine communion? (CCC 1108) The Church is the great ‘sacrament’ of divine communion, because:
1. the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of communion, abides indefectibly in the Church
2. the Church gathers God’s scattered children together.
The Church is called a ‘sacrament’ in an analogical sense.
1088. What is the double fruit of the Holy Spirit in the Liturgy? (CCC 1108) The double fruit of the Holy Spirit in the Liturgy is:
1. communion with the Holy Trinity
2. fraternal communion among the faithful.