Which phrases accurately describe the popular devotion to relics in medieval Europe?-a source of revenue for churches and monasteries-one way that monastic practices influenced popular …
The holiest of relics were those associated with _____ and his _____. Because of the belief in the resurrection of Christ and the bodily assumption of the Virgin into heaven, physical relics of …
In the 13th century, even the great medieval philosopher and saint, Thomas Aquinas, produced a threefold defence of the cult of relics. He argued that, firstly, the relic acts as a physical …
You need to put yourself in the medieval mind and you may realise that a religious carrier at the time was considered as the best, the “purest” thing you could do. And I think that in a society …
The medieval vision of women and understanding of gender relations are heavily shaped by religious teachings. Christian theologists saw women as inferior to men and dangerous creatures. The mainstream justification comes from Eve and her bad behaviour.
The medieval vision of women and understanding of gender relations are heavily shaped by religious teachings. Christian theologists saw women as inferior to men and dangerous creatures. The mainstream justification comes from Eve and her bad behaviour.
Marriage of the Medieval Age served a very different purpose to what it does today. Often an alliance of sorts, marriage between two families would often act as a peacemaker. The bride to-be thus became a puppet, played by both families to achieve their own ends.
Marriage of the Medieval Age served a very different purpose to what it does today. Often an alliance of sorts, marriage between two families would often act as a peacemaker. The bride to-be thus became a puppet, played by both families to achieve their own ends.
Unlike the sacraments themselves, popular devotions cannot be traced directly back to the ministry of Jesus and the practice of the Apostles. Most developed gradually over the years and even centuries as people sought ways of living out their faith. The origins of the more ancient devotions are often rather obscure. Some devotions, such as the rosary and scapulars, have come down to us as adaptations of the practices of religious orders. A few, such as devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Miraculous Medal, are considered to have their origin in a private revelation, that is, some vision or message given to one of the faithful.
The honor we give to God alone is properly called adoration , the highest honor we can give. The honor we give to Mary and the saints is called veneration. Proper veneration of the saints does not interfere with the worship due to God, but rather fosters it. "Our communion with those in heaven, provided that it is understood in the fuller light of faith according to its genuine nature, in no way weakens, but conversely, more thoroughly enriches the latreutic 34 worship we give to God the Father, through Christ, in the Spirit." 35 With this understanding, we see that proper veneration of Mary does not detract from worship of God. Even as the Mother of the Savior, Mary has a place that is in every way subordinate to and dependent upon that of her Son, who is the one mediator between God and humanity. The maternal role that Mary fulfills toward us as Mother of the Church "in no wise obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows His power." 36
All rights reserved. As the Second Vatican Council pointed out so clearly, the life of the Church centers on the liturgy, the official public worship of God by the Church as the Body of Christ. The liturgy includes, above all, the Eucharist and the other six sacraments, but also other actions of the Church such as the daily prayer of the Liturgy ...
Pope John Paul II pointed out that popular piety provides important guidance to the Church for carrying out the task of inculturation. 23 Understanding the popular piety of a particular people helps the Church to understand their particular spiritual needs and gifts.
The Church distinguishes between public Revelation, which God has given to the Church as a whole and to which all the faithful are bound, and private revelations, which God has given to a particular individual or group and which place no obligation on the rest of the Church.
40 This is the Revelation that was given to the entire Church and that must be received in faith by all the People of God.
Many popular devotions have a public and social character. They are a constant reminder of the social dimension of the Gospel. God has created us as social beings by our very nature. We always live in a relationship of interdependence with others and always have a responsibility to work for the common good of our society. Furthermore, as this interdependence is not limited to those near to us but extends to all of humanity around the globe, our responsibility to promote the common good likewise extends to all of humanity. Pope John Paul II calls us to exercise the virtue of solidarity, which "is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all ." 52
The veneration of relics is not just restricted to Catholicism but Hindus and Buddhists also indulge in it. In January 2015 the Pope visited Sri Lanka. During his stay, he attended a Buddhist temple where he was shown relics of two disciples of the Buddha.
Does the Bible validate relics? Catholic apologists argue that some well-known Scripture texts support the veneration of relics. The first is from the Old Testament. The other examples are from the New Testament. The first is concerned with Elisha’s dead body. In 2 Kings 13:20-21) we read, ‘and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet’. In other words a dead man’s body is been carried to his burial. The Jews did not bury their dead in the ground but in caves or tombs. The pall-bearers are frightened and cast the man into the grave of God’s prophet. Elisha had been dead a while. However as soon as the body of the man touches Elisha’s body, the man is raised to life. Is this a scriptural proof for relic veneration? According to Catholic apologists it is. However, notice there were no prayers said near the body. This was not a religious ceremony. There was no intent on the part of the men carrying the body for their dead friend to be resurrected.
On Sunday November 23rd 2013, the bones of St Peter were presented to the world for the first time at a public Mass. According to the Catholic Herald it was ‘wonderful and almost unbelievable . . . a man from Argentina has reintroduced us to his predecessor, a Galilean fisherman born millennia ago’. Eight bone fragments, each two to three centimetres long, were nestled in an open bronze reliquary displayed to the side of the altar. However in spite of the Pope’s devotion these bone relics are not officially confirmed by the Catholic Church as being of the Apostle Peter.
While the metaphorical bucket of cold water may not be a distinctively British phenomenon, it certainly seems to be an outlook that many here have perfected, and doubtless others besides. Some cultures and societies seem easily enthused. In some places you could give people the chance to go out and hit themselves with wet sticks ]