Trinity

„ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, (…) , the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

(John 1; 1, 14)

As some maybe know, the Christian Church believes in the Trinity, the triune God, which means, God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

God, the Father, created our world and mankind, he is ruling over us.

Jesus, the Son, the human God, came down on earth, to preach the word of God. He had the appearance of a human being, but possessed divine gifts like healing of the sick, reading thoughts, forgiveness of the sins and reviving the dead. You can see from this, that God also is in Jesus, the Son.

“The angel answered; The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

(Luke 1; 35)

But what is the Holy Ghost? He is nothing visible or something we can imagine as a person and therefore difficult to conceive.

It could be described in this way: The Father is the love, the Son the truth and the Holy Ghost the strength. God sends him down to us and if we afford him to enter, he will help us to understand God’s word, to hold God’s word and to feel Him in all His beauty.

It is the Holy Ghost, when we think, God has spoken to us.

Consequently you only can feel the Holy Ghost, if you also believe in God.

Symbolical often he is pictured as a white dove, because in common it is an allegory for peacefulness and gentleness.

For a better understanding how the Holy Ghost takes effect in us, his seven gifts are depicted in the following.

The Spirit of Wisdom: We receive the gift, to realize how to act and when we have to take up to a task.

The Spirit of Understanding: Through this gift we understand the word of God and realize His goodwill in all that befalls us.

The Spirit of Counsel: The Holy Ghost helps us to help others pleasing us for an advice.

The Spirit of Fortitude: By this gift we can stick to God, also before faithless people.

The Spirit of Knowledge: With the help of this gift we have pleasure in learning and in passing on our knowledge.

The Spirit of Piety: It is given to us to love our neighbour, to pray for him and to trust in God.

The Spirit of Fear: Through this gift we learn to dignify God’s work and to consider it as good.

Summarizing it can be said: To the one who verily believes in God the luck will be given. He believes in Jesus, through whom we can revive, through whom all our sins are forgiven and in the Holy Ghost, through whom we feel the love of God and understand His doing.

 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

(2 Corinthians 3; 17)

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Holy Water

The Holy Water is understood as a blessing sign of the church. By speaking a benediction the priest withdraws the former function from the water. Through the Blessing always emphasizes the good will of God.

Holy Water is used at baptisms, consecration of buildings, places and objects and for Christians it is accepted as a symbol for reminiscence of their bond with God, their friendship with Jesus Christ.

But why do we use water?

Water is the origin of life, surviving is impossible without it, it cleans and refreshes. Water can be a mighty force of nature and threat life but also rescue it.

All these meanings can be reduced back to Jesus Christ and God.

God has created us and through his dying Jesus Christ has given us a new life, saved mankind from all sin, washed us clean and pure.

This the baptism shall symbolize. By diving into the Holy Water we die in Jesus and with Him we rise again, released from blame. It is the beginning of a new life – a life with Christ a example, as Gods child in His community.

 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

( Luke 3, 21-22 )

 All Christians remind themselves at this bond after entering the church by taking some Holy Water out of the basin near the entrance and cross themselves.

Besides all beneficial Jesus brings us he can also represents a threat for all the bad in this world. On Judgement Day, when Jesus will come down on earth, he will fight the evil till it is wiped out, like water fights the fire.

John the Baptist: "After me comes he who is mightier than I ,(…) I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

( Mark 1, 7-8 )

 On Easter, the highest feast in Christianity, water for the whole year is consecrated by a priest.

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The Choir

First of all it is important to know the basic construction of a catholic church, because many things we find there are involved in the mess. They may be visible but the entire meaning will be revealed only if you know the biblical and historical context.

After entering the church often you’re overwhelmed from the mighty sculptures, the cross, awe is seizing you. Many older houses of God built in times, when church possessed great power, are created especially magnificent. The heritage of former times is kept carefully and the gorgeous architecture can be admired to date.

However the many gold and bronze should not distract from true sense but to testify worship and should also be used for it.

The things, who are especially involved in the mess and Christian life we want to explain in the following.

Near the entry you find a basin filled with holy water. Out of it you take a little water and cross yourself while speaking silently: “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.” By doing this the Christians remember their baptism.

Furthermore the font is located in the entrance area, for which is built an own chapel in some cases. The person to be baptized first of all is put up into His community as a child of God by dunking into the holy water before it enters the church room.

In some churches the font can be erected in the chancel, in others there is none. Here the baptism is executed with a baptism pan.

The most significant in a church is the chancel. Mainly it is directed to the east, to Jerusalem and by that to Jesus Christ – the rising sun. The arched ceiling represents a symbol of heaven, because from here the Holy Ghost is coming, which is sent on the gifts ( bread and vine ) during the Eucharist.

The window pictures in the chancel often tell stories of Jesus’ life, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or her crowning.

These are the two most adored persons in catholic religion and for that reason they are shown here in the chancel – the place of worship. As well they remind us of the sacrifices Jesus and Mary made for mankind.

But the most remarkable reminding us of this is the cross. It is not only the sign by which the Christians are recognized worldwide. It also visualizes the sufferings of Jesus, but hope for forgiveness and resurrection as well and shows us the love Jesus Christ devoted to mankind, to God, the Father, and shall encourage to follow his example.

What else do we see in houses of God? The most important things and its explanations you find listed in the following.

The altar on the one hand is a following on the table of the last supper where Jesus gathered his disciples around him and celebrated Eucharist for the first time. He handed them bread and vine as a symbol of his body and blood, which Jesus sacrificed for us. The eucharistic gifts are prepared on the altar, which means the bread and vine are changed into the body and blood of Christ by sending the Holy Ghost on it.

On the other hand the of stone hewn altar reminds of the Golgotha-Rock, where Jesus was executed.

The altar is consecrated by a bishop. Relics ( for example bones ) of a saint are worked into its inside, which hallows the altar itself. This saint is patron of the respective church at the same time. Some houses of God are erected on a saint’s grave like the St. Peters Cathedral in Rome, which is built on the grave of Peter, the first priest and apostle of Jesus.

The tabernacle is the most important in the chancel. The word, deduced from Latin, means hut or tent, which shall be reminiscent of the revelation tent of the bible, where the script panels of Moses lied saved.

As though the tabernacle is called the house/ temple of Yahweh (Jesus), for here the eucharistic bread, Christ’s body, is kept and so it’s designated as the “Holy of Holies”.

Besides the tabernacle the eternal light is located – a red shining candle. As the name already reveals this light is always burning. It shows that Jesus is present, that he is there for us. Only at the time from Good Friday to Easter Eve the candle becomes extinct, the tabernacle is cleared as well. These are the days when Jesus descended into hell, therefore he wasn’t present. At the day of his resurrection the candle is lightened again.

The Ambo, the table of word – from here the reading, the Gospel and the intercessions are red. As well the priest holds the homily at the ambo. Frequently symbols are worked into the lectern. Like for instance a crook, which represents Jesus as the Shepherd and the priest, who continues his mission. Being shepherd means leadership, tender loving care.

Another symbol can be the fishing net, which is modelled on Jesus’ words directed at his disciples, saying: “I will make you fishers of men.”

If and which symbols are used depends on the architect of the church.

The paschal candle is lightened every year at Eater and stands on the altar’s right. In the Easter Eve a fire is burning in front of the church, where the candle of one meter in length is ignited by the priest. Afterwards he carries it into the still completely dark church. During the walk he stops three times calling: “Lumen Christi!” ( Christ, the light ) and the community answers “Deo gratias!” (Thanks to the Lord ). The light, illuminating the room, symbolizes Jesus, who is our light, our hope and who leads us out of darkness.

On the paschal candle the year and the signs alpha and omega are written. Alpha and Omega, the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet, suggest that Jesus is the beginning and the end, The “A and O”.

The candle burns during the Holy Mess, baptisms and marriages. At it the baptism – and wedding candles are lightened.

Something that is significant in the catholic church as well is the confessional, a wooden bipartite cabin located near the church entrance. The name goes back to times when the priest sat on a chair the penitent kneeling next to him on the floor. Later the form was changed and continued existing till today. The confessional consists of  two closed cabins or is half opened, whereat the penitent stays visible.

In modern churches you can also find a confessing room, where only a kind of wall with a lattice window separate the priest from the penitent. Besides this form of confessing a confessing talk is offered, whereat you sit facing the priest like in normal conversation.

The walk from the main portal to the altar summary can be understood as the a way of a Christian life – a path from baptism, on which God is praised and worshiped, to resurrection, to rising up to heaven.