LESSON 5: PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD

Note:  As a creature of God, you are bound to pray to Him, not only as an
individual, but also as a member of society.  The chief form of public
worship in the Catholic Church is the Mass, which is explained in this
lesson.  A fuller explanation will be given in Lesson 23
(http://www.olrl.org/Lessons/Lesson23.shtml).

1. What happens at Mass?
    The priest changes bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus
Christ and offers them to God the Father.

2. Who said the first Mass?
    Jesus Christ, right after the Last Supper on the night before He died,
nearly 2,000 years ago.

"And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke:
and gave to His disciples, and said:  Take ye, and eat.  This is My Body.
And taking the chalice, He gave thanks, and gave to them, saying:  Drink ye
all of this.  For this is My Blood."   (Matthew 26:26-28)

3. How could Jesus change bread and wine into His Body and Blood?
    Because He is God.

4. Did Jesus give this power to anyone?
    Yes, to His twelve Apostles.

"Do this for a commemoration of Me."    (Luke 22:19)

5. Did Jesus want His Apostles to hand down this power to others?
    Yes, because He wanted all men of all times to have the Holy Sacrifice
and to eat His Body and drink His Blood.

"Except you eateth the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His Blood, you
shall not have life in you."    (John 6:54)

6. How did the Apostles hand down this power?
    By making other men priests and bishops.

7. Who has this power today?
    The priests and bishops of the Catholic Church.

8. At what part of the Mass does the priest change bread and wine into the
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ?
    At the Consecration, about the middle of Mass, when he says "This is My
Body." "This is the chalice of My Blood..."

PRACTICAL POINTS

1. The Mass is said in Latin because Latin is the official language of the
Catholic Church and was the official and universal language in many parts of
the world 2,000 years ago; also, because it is a language that does not
change (it is not spoken anymore).  (Ed. note:  This way, no matter where
you travel, the Mass will always be the same and you will recognize it and
the language; see "Why in Latin" by Fr. Michael Muller -
http://www.olrl.org/new_mass/whylatin.shtml).
2. The clothes worn by the priest at Mass, called vestments, are a special
priestly type of clothing that has a relationship to the vestments worn by
the priests of the Old Testament.  These vestments are symbolic of the
unchangeableness of the Church.
3. One cannot lay down set rules about how to pray at Mass because the Mass
may be followed word-for-word, as in the missal, or in spirit, according to
what is going on in the various parts of the Mass, or by practicing one's
private devotion.
4. The difference between High Mass and Low Mass is that at High Mass the
priest sings some of the Mass prayers; whereas, at Low Mass he does not
sing.
5. Catholics must attend Mass every Sunday and on the six Holy Days of
Obligation.  To miss Mass on these days is a mortal sin.
6. Other forms of public worship are Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament,
Novenas and Lenten services.


LESSON 6: ANGELS AND DEVILS

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne,
and the living creatures, and the ancients;  and the number of them was
thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:  The Lamb that was slain
is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and
honor, and glory, and benediction."   (Apocalypse 5:11-12)

1. What is an angel?
    An angel is a spirit, that is, a creature who does not have a body.

2. Is an angel a real person?
    Yes, because an angel has a mind and a will.

3. How do you know there are angels?
    The Bible mentions angels about three hundred times.

4. Why did God create the angels?
    To serve Him in Heaven, to act as His messengers to man, and to act as
guardians over human beings.

5. Does everyone have a guardian angel?
    Yes, God appoints an angel to watch over every human being.

"See that you despise not one of these little ones:  For I say to you, that
their angels in Heaven always see the face of My Father Who is in Heaven."
(Matthew 18:10)

6. What does your guardian angel do for you?
    Your angel prays for you, protects you from evil and inspires you to do
good.

"Behold I will send My angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy
journey, and bring thee into the place that I have prepared.  Take notice of
him, and hear his voice."    (Exodus 23:20-21)

7. Did all the Angels obey God?
    No, some of them, led by Lucifer, or Satan, disobeyed God and were sent
immediately into Hell.  These are the fallen angels or devils.

"And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with
the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels.  And they prevailed not,
neither was their place found any more in heaven."   (They were sent to
Hell)    (Apocalypse 12:7-8)

8. Is there really a devil?
    Yes, the Bible often speaks of the devil as a real person.

"And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the
devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world."    (Apocalypse 12:9)
(In Protestant Bibles, this book (Apocalypse) is called Revelation)

9. How does the devil act towards human beings?
    The devil tempts people to commit sin.

"Watch out, because the devil goes about seeking whom he may devour.  You
must resist him, being strong in Faith and knowing that he persecutes
everyone else in the world, too."    (1 Peter 5:8-9)

10. How can you fight the devil?
    The best weapons against the devil are prayer (especially calling on
Jesus and Mary), holy water, blessed medals, scapulars and other blessed
objects.

"Put you on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
deceits of the devil.  For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but
against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this
darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places."    (Ephesians
6:11-12)

PRACTICAL POINTS
1. Your guardian angel is a real person, who is always with you to help and
protect you.  Pray to him often and thank him for his help.  Your guardian
angel is an indication of how much God loves and cares for you.
2. The devil has succeeded in getting a large number of people to think that
he is not real.  His is a real person and is a real danger to you personally
(read "The Reality of Hell" - http://www.olrl.org/doctrine/came_back.shtml).
3. Not all of your temptations come from the devil.  Others come from your
own flesh ("concupiscence") and from the world about you -- traditionally
stated, "from the world, the flesh, and the devil."