The Madison Catholic Herald -- October 16, 2003 Edition -- Spirituality



		Spirituality

		October 16, 2003 Edition

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• Faith Alive
• This week's readings

• Pope's Prayer Intentions

In a Nutshell

Every Christian age imprinted its experience of God on the buildings where people worshiped. Yet every age celebrated the same liturgy.

Following the basic design principle that form follows function, the actions carried out in churches influenced their shape.

But function sometimes also has followed form, with the shape of the space for worship enabling certain actions to be carried out there.

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Food for Thought
		The word "church" in the English language can be a little confusing. It can serve as part of a name, as in "Catholic Church." Or it can refer to a building where believers worship and conduct other activities, as in "the church on the corner of 5th and Vermont." Again, the Greek root for "church" refers to a gathering of people. Many today are at pains to make clear that the church is a people. St. Paul told the Christians in Corinth that they were "God's building" (1 Cor 3:9). So "church" in the English language refers to a place, or an institution, or a body of believers. But to know what it is as a place or an institution, you need to know something about the people who inhabit it -- what they're all about and why they gather there. Whatever "church" means, it does have a cornerstone. The cornerstone is Christ. full story

Where People Worshiped in the Early Church

By Father Lawrence E. Mick

Catholic News Service

It was a major project when one parish recently remodeled its church building. A new entry was created with a covered drive outside and an immersion baptismal font inside. A room that had been a meeting room is the new gathering area. The worship space itself was redone, exposing wood flooring and replacing pews with chairs.

The amazing thing is that most of this work was done by parish volunteers working late hours one night a week for several years. The parish saved lots of money this way, and it meant that the people developed great pride in their church building because so much of themselves went into it.

full story

"Going to Church" in Ancient Times

By Msgr. James P. Moroney

Catholic News Service

Where do we worship? For Catholics today the answer is obvious: We go to church. But through the ages this church has looked and felt as different as the peoples who gathered within its walls.

Jesus gathered his disciples in the Upper Room of an ordinary house for the Eucharist's first celebration. It was in that Upper Room that the apostles huddled in fear and where Jesus first appeared to them, and where the Holy Spirit descended, strengthening them to spread the Gospel.

full story

Step Inside an Early Church Assembly at Troas

By Father Eugene LaVerdiere, SSS

Catholic News Service

The very early Christian communities assembled for worship in the urban houses of their wealthier members and in apartments of the poor. They assembled for the Lord's Supper or breaking of the bread.

Only in the latter half of the second century did Christians begin to take over a house, modifying and adapting it architecturally to meet the needs of the community and its assembly.

full story

	Faith in the Marketplace
		This Week's Discussion Point: Have you ever made a pilgrimage -- a religious pilgrimage or one to a place of personal interest to you? What was important about this for you?
		Selected Response From Readers:

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This week's readings

Week of October 19 - October 25

Sunday, October 19, 2003
Reading I: Is 53:10-11
Reading II: Heb 4:14-16
Gospel: Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

Monday, October 20, 2003
Reading I: Rom 4:20-25
Gospel: Lk 12:13-21

Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Reading I: Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21
Gospel: Lk 12:35-38

Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Reading I: Rom 6:12-18
Gospel: Lk 12:39-48

Thursday, October 23, 2003
Reading I: Rom 6:19-23
Gospel: Lk 12:49-53

Friday, October 24, 2003
Reading I: Rom 7:18-25a
Gospel: Lk 12:54-59

Saturday, October 25, 2003
Reading I: Rom 8:1-11
Gospel: Lk 13:1-9

Pope's Prayer Intentions

October General Intention

To follow Christ with enthusiasm: That young people may follow Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and bear witness to him in all the situations of their lives.

October Mission Intention

Pastors rich in wisdom and holiness: That God provide His Church with holy pastors to defend the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

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