Christian festivals
AO1 For a Christian, a festival is a time for celebration marked by special event or occasion. In Christianity there is a calendar which is made up by seasons, in which Christian festivals take place. In each season there are a number of cycles. There are two main cycles in the Christian calendar. One of them is the Christmas-cycle. The other cycle is the Easter-cycle which is made up of Lent, Holy Week, Easter and Pentecost. In the Catholic Church the Easter cycle usually falls between March 22 and April 25. In the Easter cycle we have Lent and Holy Week. Tridium is a big celebration in Holy week which starts with Maundy Thursday and ends with Easter Sunday. Lent Lent is the period of 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Lent involves fasting and penitence, both in preparation for Easter and as a way of spiritually "joining" Jesus with the fasting and meditation he did for 40 days in the wilderness. The fasting rules in the Roman Catholic Church are not strict. For Eastern Orthodox Christians today the rules of fasting are strict: just one meal a day, in the evening, and no meat, fish, eggs, or butter is permitted. Palm Sunday Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, is the first day of Holy Week which ends with Easter the following Sunday. It commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem prior to be crucified a few days later. Actual ceremonies typically include
Lourdes and Lough Derg are two examples of Christian pilgrimages
Pilgrimage coursework Ao1 The word pilgrimage means a journey to a sacred place or shrine. Pilgrimages can take place all over the world and in all religions. Each religion having a different ways they show their faith. Lourdes and Lough Derg are two examples of Christian pilgrimages I am choosing to focus on. Lourdes is in France and is one of the most famous places of pilgrimage for Christians. It is entirely devoted to Mary. Mary appeared to St. Bernadette eighteen times in the grotto. A shrine has been made for Our Lady and a statue stands where she appeared to St. Bernadette. Millions of people visit Lourdes each year to pray for the Sanctuary of Our Lady. Lourdes is more for thanking, asking, praying and fun. The masses are large with songs and is like a celebration. The shrine is associated with healing spiritually and physically. Before Mary came to Bernadette there was no spring. Mary told Bernadette to drink the water and a spring was there from then onwards. People claim miracles have happened there. They have been analysed and there is no explanation for them. Many people go to Lourdes seeking healing and the holy spirit. They have masses in front of the cave where Mary appeared. There is a statue where they pray in front of. Candles are lit for own intentions and for others they are called votive candles. The lighting of the candles is held in a procession
Honesty ia always the best policy? Discuss
Honesty Is The Best Policy By Lewis Jolly Honesty is the best policy, but is it? Telling the truth can hurt peoples feelings and your relationship so why is it the best policy? Being honest has many benefits. In the Bible, it states many times that 'honest people are blessed' Psalm 112 surly this means that is you tell the truth it will come back to you in other ways. Another example of this point is in Psalm 112 'when a man is honest he will receive love and kindness' when the bible talks about honesty most of the time it talks about a reward, or a gift for telling the truth but is this always true? For example; if a friend brought me a gift from when he went on holiday and he had spent a lot of money on it, and I didn't like it what should I do? Should I tell him and be rewarded in another way or lie about it and tell him I like it? 'The wishes of the wicked will come to nothing' (Psalm 112: 10) so if the wicked is telling me to lie and spare my friends feelings why is that so wicked? I believe that I would like to be told if I got a friend a present and they didn't like it so I could return it. But I would feel as if I have wasted my time, also If the gift is from abroad I wouldn't be able to return it so not only would it be a waste of time it would also be a waste of money. I believe that being honest in this case is just being selfish. If you abide by the quotes from
Explain the term "Parable"?
a. i) Explain the term "Parable"? The term "Parable" originates from "Parabole," which is a Greek word and means a comparison or comparing any two things. A parable is actually a kind of comparison and so the word was very appropriate. All parables are an easy to understand story which has an important meaning. A very common definition of a parable is that it is an earthly story wit a heavenly meaning. It is stressed that a parable has only one main point and is left for the listeners to decide what it is. It usually relates to an aspect of real life but Jesus used to teach religious morals and rules. Jesus used parables to their full effect and so this was why they were so useful. Parables come in three forms. The easiest one of them is the picture saying type. This is very much like a proverb. A common example of this is the saying which is endlessly recited "Jesus is the light of the world." In this one Jesus is compared to light and that he is the one who lights up the path to God and his Kingdom so we can see our way to the end clearly. As you can see it is a very short comparison but gets the point through in an effective way. The second kind of parable is similar to a picture saying in that it has one basic meaning which is hidden but is expressed with a much more detailed approach. This is done to make it easier for the audience to work out the meaning of the
Christians and Persecution.
Christians and Persecution The first persecution of Christians was made by the Roman Emperor Nero. He was born in 36 AD, to the parents Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger. Nero led a perverted and corrupted childhood. He was a glutton, homosexual, murderer and considered insane by many. He was extremely jealous of anyone suspected of rebellion and he retaliated in persecution, suppression and murder. Nero murdered many people, including his wife, girlfriend. He had his mother killed because she posed as a threat to him. In July 64AD, two thirds of Rome burnt down. It was rumoured that Nero was behind the fire that destroyed Rome and he had planned in detail to build a plush palace, The Golden House. Nero had to find some scapegoats in which the blamed could be placed. Nero chose the new secret religious sect of the Christians as his scapegoats and punished them severely. Nero took pleasure in the Christians persecutions and even offered many of them upon stakes to be burned to death as torches for his parties. Many of them were hunted down and tortured; some were sown into skins of animals and fed to starving dogs while the mobs cheered. The persecution of Christians by Nero revealed the growing resentment the people had towards the early church. Christianity was a new religion and did not appear to be very threatening, this is why the Christians where used
I think the teaching of discipleship affects the life of Christians today in many ways.
Lydia Carroll R.E. Question 2 I think the teaching of discipleship affects the life of Christians today in many ways. The modern world, is a difficult place to be a disciple. There are so many distractions in the world today, that people find it difficult to devote much of their time to religion. Wealth is an important part of today's society. The wealth that we gain from jobs etc, is necessary to support not only ourselves; but also our families. From a modern-day parent's point of view, it is simply essential. Not only do children nowadays have to be clothed, fed and watered, but they must also keep up with the latest trends. Be it expensive designer clothes, or mobile phones; most children of today's generation, consider these luxury items as 'necessities.' But the message, as it was in Jesus' time, is to take what you need and give the rest to the needy, not to be greedy and take more than you should. Therefore, in the Catholic Church in particular, saving your money for your future investment and lifestyle would be seen as wrong. This is similar to the story of the rich young man, (Mark 10: 17-25) who says to Jesus, that ever since he was a young boy, he has obeyed all of Jesus' examples and commandments. He asks him, therefore, how can he get into heaven, to which Jesus replies, "Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you
Discuss the Nature and Purpose of the Signs in John's Gospel.
Gabriela Belmar-Valencia 13CA 24th September 2003 Discuss the Nature and Purpose of the Signs in John's Gospel The word used by John for signs was "semeia" as opposed to "dunamis" used in the Synoptic Gospels. "Semeia" literally means signpost, meaning that signs point towards a spiritual truth. The signs are heavily laden with symbolism and serve John's Gospel almost as the parables do in the Synoptic Gospels. For example the changing of water into wine at the Wedding at Cana is symbolic of Jesus transforming the inadequacy of Judaism into Christianity. The Wedding Ceremony itself is symbolic, as Israel is often depicted as being an unfaithful bride which Jesus as the true bridegroom, has come to claim. Barrett backs up this point maintaining that signs are marks or signals. The signs in John's Gospel are characterised by being especially spectacular. For example feeding a crowd of five thousand people from five loaves and two fish and still having twelve baskets to spare is fairly impressive. Hunter explains that this is because signs are tokens of the Messianic Age. The signs are intended to reveal the glory of God through Jesus. The scholar Marianne Thompson supports this defining a sign as being "a manifestation, through the person of Jesus, of God's work in the world." The signs are also spectacular as they reveal the glory and
Lent - christian holidays
Lent is the period coming up to the Christian holy day of Easter. Lent is approximately 40 days which leads up to Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter Sunday. Lent roughly starts near the end of winter and ends near the beginning of spring. Lent is the preparation for holy week. These 40 days are marked by fasting, both from food and festivities. Nowadays it is said that people give up something they enjoy doing the most and give up their time to join charitable organizations. Lent is a season of sorrowful reflection. Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of lent. Lent is a season of grief which ends with great celebrations of Easter. In the ancient times fasting during Lent was much severe than it is today. Meat, fish, eggs and milk products were strictly forbidden, and only one meal was taken each day. Today, fasting is more relaxed but some foods are still forbidden. In the Catholic Church fasting is only allowed for people over seventeen and younger than sixty. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday a person can eat one full meal but may eat two smaller meals to keep up their strengths. The two smaller meals have to be the sum of a meal smaller than a full one. This fasting during Lent is a way for Christians to identify with Jesus in his suffering. There are several holy days within Lent. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The main symbol of that day is ash,
Disciples are called on a vocation to serve God. To fulfil this vocation, disciples of Jesus are expected to sacrifice their lives and lifestyles to become one with Jesus and follow in his footsteps.
A1 Coursework The word vocation means to call. Discipleship means followers of Jesus. Disciples are called on a vocation to serve God. To fulfil this vocation, disciples of Jesus are expected to sacrifice their lives and lifestyles to become one with Jesus and follow in his footsteps. The main task of becoming a disciple is to learn the teachings of Jesus and to preach them to non-believers. Christians are the disciples of Jesus today and then carry out certain duties for Jesus in everyday life. Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me' (Mk 8:34). Lay people are members of the church who are not ordained but are baptised; this makes them full members of the Catholic Church. Lay people play a role which is to show and teach people about Christ, they act as a witness. There are also different kinds of religious congregations, for instance, lay contemplative members. Lay contemplative members are committed to prayer and private work; they believe in the power of prayer separate from the rest of the world. Another example of a religious congregation is apostolic. This means that the members who fall under this category are dedicated to public prayer and work. This involves passing the message on by showing certain actions- for example: teaching or caring for the sick. The term
Caedmon’s Hymn
Caedmon's Hymn # 2. Bede was born in AD 673 at the monastery. There is no record of his family, except that Benedict Biscop, the founder of the monastery, was entrusted to care for Bede at the age of 7, and then he went to Ceolfrith. Bede went on to spent the rest of his life living in the monastery. He was named deacon at the age of 19 and priest at 30. Outside of his time in choir, he worked as scholar and teacher; he once said, "It has always been my delight to learn or to teach or to write". And he explains that "I have made it my business, for my own benefit and that of my brothers, to make brief extracts from the works of the venerable fathers on the holy scriptures, or to add notes of my own to clarify their sense and interpretation". His writings started the idea of dating this era from the incarnation of Christ. He was raised within the walls of a Christian environment therefore his writing were all about Christian stories or happenings, such as Caedmons hymn, in which an angel visits Caedmon and he is given the gift of song so that he can spread the word of God through song. He wrote so that people could learn about Christ and all that he did, things like sacrificing himself and all of his teachings. His writings on books of the Bible were widely promoted and widely circulated. He also wrote about nature. He knew that the earth was a sphere and had a sense of many