 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
CourseworkHelp
:Roman Catholic Cathedral
The Roman Catholic cathedral we visited in the centre of Liverpool was finished shortly after World War 2. The Roman Catholic Church is an example of Liturgical worship. The cathedral was very large and in the shape of a circle representing eternal life, and life after death. The circle shape is used in marriage as the ring shows the couple will be joined in harmony forever. The cathedral is so large it can be seen all around Liverpool city with its spectacular shape.
When we entered the cathedral we noticed how beautiful it was. The Sanctuary in which the altar is situated is a place where only ministers or members of the hierarchy may enter. The focal point was the high altar, (a table with a sacred name) which was situated in the centre of the circular structure. The large white altar shows purity of Christ made from marble. The altar being situated in the middle so every person in the church can watch the ceremony and the transubstantiation. The Transubstantiation is when the priest turns the bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood. Christians get their transubstantiation beliefs from bible teachings, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” This was Jesus statement at the Last Supper with his apostles. An altar cover situated above the altar contains lights to draw attention to the altar, the focal point of the cathedral. This particular altar cover was in the form of a crown of thorns representing Christ the King. This shows the death of Jesus on the cross and how he died for the people. A large crucifix is on the altar, which also shows that Jesus gave up his life for his people. The crucifix shows Jesus on the cross with a crown of thorns placed on his head. The Cathedra or the Bishop’s chair emphasises how important the hierarchy is to Christians. The chair is a large and beautiful golden chair situated in the middle to show the Bishop is next to God. The hierarchy is found in the 1st Corinthians in as Jesus explains, “God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers then workers of miracles.” This quote is showing a pope is closer to God than a bishop and a bishop is closer to God than a priest, hence the Christian Hierarchy. The Lectern situated to the side of the altar is where the reading of the bible takes place by a minister or bishop. This is a large stand with a microphone on it raised above the ground. The reading from the bible shows the importance of Jesus’ words and teachings. Roman Catholics follow the examples Jesus set and apply them in their everyday life. The Bishops seat or cathedra is a special seat left for the bishop on special occasions. The beliefs come from the liturgy of the world and the hierarchy, “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The authority comes from St. Peter’s teachings from the Bible. The organ, which is one of the largest functions in the church along with the choir seats, emphasises how important music is in the Roman Catholic Church. There are many small chapels situated around the main part of the church perhaps one of the most important chapels is the Blessed Sacrament. It is here where the Tabernacle lies, a place where any bread, which has been blessed, is placed after a service to be kept for the sick when a minister is called out for a blessing before death or to help the sick. The beliefs come from the transubstantiation and the authority of “This is my body, take this in memory of me.” This shows how Jesus blessed the bread and wine to turn it into his body and blood which is carried out today in the service. The baptistery situated outside the main part of the church is used for infant baptism as a sacrament, the beliefs that infant baptism started around the 4th century. The authority comes from Jesus’ baptism that can be found in the Creeds in the Bible, “Confessing their sins, they where baptised by him in the River Jordan.” This shows how the Christians washed away their sins and started a new life with Christ. Like in the church today as the baby is washed from evil in the font and welcomed into the church.
The service for a Roman Catholic Church contains a hierarchy usually a priest or sometimes a bishop may take part in the ceremony. Roman Catholic services have a set structure and the main ceremony takes place on a Sunday. People gather together in the pews and wait for the ceremony to begin. The priest may start the service with a short prayer and continue with communion. Transubstantiation is a part of Christian beliefs and takes place on the altar, as the priest is the closest member to God. The priest blesses the bread and wine to make it Gods body and blood. Christian beliefs, teachings, and authority all come from the Bible, as it is an essential part of Christian life.
If you still can't find any of the coursework that you are looking for, click here to look at over 30,000 GCSE, A-Level and University Level essays on Coursework.Info.