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It's just Catholic, not Roman Catholic. Roman is an epithet first commonly used in England after the protestant revolt to describe the Catholic Church. It is never used by the official Catholic Church.

This was once a very simple question to answer, however, since Vatican II, a wave of novelty has rippled through the Church affecting everything, even ecclesiastical architecture. This is no surprise since the architecture of a Church is a reflection of the faith and so when novelties enter the faith, they are reflected in art, music and architecture.

Some features that remain in all Catholic churches:

A Sanctuary

The sanctuary is typically at the center or front of a church. It is distinguished by an altar, usually on an elevation to the rest of the church, though some modern designs wish the people to be on the same level or even slightly above the altar, via a sloping floor. The theological implications of this reversal are on purpose.

A Choir Loft or Accommodation

Typically, especially in pre-Vatican II churches, there is a choir loft or reserved pew section for a choir or schola or organist at the back of the church. A schola was an all male choir that sung the Gregorian chant propers and common of the Mass and sometimes would be in cassock and surplice and stand in the center aisle of the church. Organs were typically in the loft and attended by an organist; the massive organ pipes are often visibly running up the walls. In modern churches, where emphasis is put on participation in liturgical singing and responses, the choir is usually situated at the front, beside the sanctuary, so that the congregation can see them and even watch them play their instruments which now include most anything from guitar to drums, tamberines to flutes, etc. Such instruments were once forbidden in churches.

A Vestibule

Upon first entering a church, there is a lobby section that might have a bookstore, coat room, statues, etc. This is called a vestibule. In older churches, there is an ambiance of the sacred to help elevate the mind before entering the church proper. This is accomplished by a vaulting ceiling, usually with a broad painting on it or featuring a coffered ceiling. Often there is rich and elaborate decoration; there are devotional statues and candles, paintings, stained glass, stalls for holy cards and books and perhaps even a bookstore. Modern churches resemble more of a reception hall atmosphere and have very sparse decor. Sometimes, if the church is very small or poorly designed, there may be a baptismal font in the vestibule. Although no longer stipulated in the modern rite of baptism, baptisms used to begin outside of the church, in a baptistry or vestibule since the child symbolically was not yet ready to enter the church until undergoing pre-baptismal rites that included an exorcism and anointing with holy oils. The priest would then place his stole upon the child, symbolizing the cross, and then all would enter the church to complete the baptism.

A Sacristy

A sacristy contains all the implements, books and vestments for liturgical ceremonies, a sort of antechamber where priests prepare for Mass. Typically there is a tabernacle and an altar in the sacristy against one wall, usually the one that is opposite to the church sanctuary. There are shallow drawers and cabinets for vestments and holy vessels. Supplies such as hosts, candles, incense, etc., are all stored in the sacristy as well. There is a sink called a sacrarium which is used to wash the priests hands and any blessed water; the pipe to this sink goes directly into the earth as is prescribed for the disposing of holy things. Holy oils and other sacred vessels are stored in the sacristy either in the tabernacle there or in a separate vault.

A Cross

A Catholic church must have a cross on it, usually in a prominent place such as atop a steeple or bell tower. The cross is made out of stone or wood.

The Stations of the Cross

Inside a typical church along the walls are the fourteen (fifteen in modern churches) Stations of the Cross, a penitential devotion that invites the faithful to meditate upon the last hours of Christ from His trial to His burial (or resurrection, if allowing for the 15th station that has been added). These are usually carved from wood or painted though they are represented in a variety of mediums. If entering a church from the vestibule, the Stations begin at the front on the left side of the sanctuary and run along the wall to the back and then skip across the aisle and resume along the right wall back to the sanctuary. Usually each wall has seven stations.

Stained Glass

A staple of Catholic architecture, windows are specifically designed to accommodate large panes of stained glass that usually depict a saint or holy event. The rose window, so common to cathedrals and basilicas is a massive circular disc in the back of the church above the vestibule and loft. Smaller churches may just have an intricate stained glass window in this place since rose windows are rare and expensive. Modern stained glass is usually a mishmash of color and formless shapes, which is frankly rather pitiful when compared to the quality, art and color of stained glass of pre-Vatican II times. The glass was meant to show forth the saints through light, a metaphor for Christ illuminating them and their virtues and example and thus the affect was to raise the mind to God, whereas modern stained glass with its abstract shattered shapes just distorts and tints light.

A Pulpit

If entering from the vestibule, a pulpit can usually be seen at the front of the church, left of the sanctuary. It is from here that the priest gives his sermon. In older churches, the pulpit is often of wood or stone with elaborate carvings or statues around it. The pulpit has a short flight of stairs so that the priest is on an elevated level to the congregation to better allow his voice to project. To further aid his voice there may be a wooden disc or board suspended above him or even projecting out of the pulpit itself over him - this is a sounding board which helps bounce sound back towards the congregation. Many modern churches do not bother constructing a pulpit and instead usually have a lectern - a wooden reading stand - or just a microphone stand. Some priests prefer to preach solely via the microphone clipped to their vestments, thus allowing them to walk down the aisles, among the congregation, as they preach.

Things that are traditionally part of church architecture but have been repressed since Vatican II (Note, in any church built before Vatican II, these things can still be seen if the diocesan bishop or parish pastor has not deliberately had them removed or destroyed):

A Communion Rail

Typically made from the same material as the altar or church itself - meaning marble, stone or wood - a Communion rail was built into the floor and was the demarcation between the sanctuary and the congregation. Communion rails are no longer used for two reasons: Communicants used to kneel to receive Holy Communion and so leaned on the railing. Communion is now often received standing, except in the most traditional parishes, and so the railing is redundant. Secondly, Vatican II wished the faithful to participate more in the liturgy and modern theology wishes to emphasize the priesthood of the people. To this effect, the demarcation between the priest and the people, sanctuary and congregation, was removed.

The Raredos

Altars used to be against the front wall of the church sanctuary - save in cathedrals and other massive churches where the altar was centered - as the priest celebrated Mass facing the tabernacle with his back to the people. The raredos was the elaborate front piece that surrounded the tabernacle and spread the length and breadth of the wall. Raredos were usually made out of the same material as the altar and had columns and pillars with platforms for statues. Altars have since been moved out from the wall and the tabernacles taken off them since the priest now celebrates mass facing the people and it is considered important that he has direct contact with them visually. Front walls in modern churches are often just white washed or feature some abstract mosaic or painting.

The Baldicino

In cathedrals and basilicas, where altars were centered and not against the wall, instead of a raredos you would see a baldicino. The baldicino was an immense covering which sat on four pillars over the altar. It was often done in the most resplendent decoration and materials. Modern cathedrals and basilicas, such as that in LA, do not have baldicinos.

Side Altars

Besides the main altar at the front, any church bigger than one with an exceptionally small congregation had side altars, small niches along the church walls that had other altars where a priest could say mass or the faithful kneel to pray their devotions. There could be as many side altars as the church could structurally accommodate; massive cathedrals and monasteries typically had dozens. Each side altar was dedicated to a particular saint or mystery of Our Lord and had its own raredos and tabernacle, though usually these tabernacles where not functional as the Blessed Sacrament was reserved in only one tabernacle, the main one on the altar or Blessed Sacrament chapel. Side altars are now rarely constructed if at all because most parishes, because of the shortage of priests, do not have more than one or two priests that may need to say mass. Further, the new theology makes mass a social event almost requiring a congregation and so side altars, where a priest would say a private mass, are no longer used.

The Crypt

Typically, if a church had a basement, it was reserved for the repose of the dead either above the floor in stone sarcophagi or in the floor itself or in horizontal compartments sealed in the walls. Usually holy personages, rich or famous personages provided they died as faithful Catholics or clergy were buried in such places.

Overall Shape and Organization

Modern churches are notorious for their architectural ugliness. This may seem a very subjective judgment, but truly, modern church architecture has utterly departed from its sacred symbolism. Large churches, such as cathedrals, used to be constructed in the shape of a cross, so that if you were to look down at them they would actually look like a cross. The length of the church - where the main aisle ran down - was called the nave. The crossbar that intersected the nave was called the transept. The point where the nave and transept intersected was called the crossing and usually here was found the sanctuary. In larger churches, like cathedrals, there used to be a dome, such as St. Peter's in Rome, and the outer area in the church around this dome was called the ambulatory and was ringed with side altars. For such massive churches there were needed flying buttresses, these are the huge pillars outside of a church that look as if spider legs jutting out from the body. They are needed to offset the weight so that the walls do not cave in. Churches used to always have depictions of the faith on their walls, either in running paintings or carvings, so that even the most simple soul could absorb the catechism just by looking around the building. Modern churches are remarkably bare of iconography.

Some modern churches, at least in the 1960s and 70s attempted to incorporate the Catholic Faith into their architectural designs with mixed results, although they were formidable attempts. Then things just got silly and then downright insulting. Most modern churches are barren, resembling assembly halls more than anything else and stripped of the decor and symbolism that churches were typically replete with in centuries past. In a huge twist of irony, modern church design is so eccentric and strange that it can be identified by it; often people look at a building and conclude it is a church because it could not possibly be anything else due to its unique malformation. There are two reasons for this architectural dissolution. One is that the modern Church is not concerned with appearances, since the emphasis is on the people, not on the exteriors hence distraction and any form of barrier or separation is avoided. Secondly, modern churches are designed with an eye on being current, trying to reach the world by adapting to modern fringe design and the tastes of the times.

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11y ago
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15y ago

There are too many layouts and quite obviously the all serve the same purpose... The altar can be in the middle of the church as well as at the head etc... I am trying to find the bloody names for all these different useless constructions... In German they all seem to have different names but I cannot find a singlee translation...

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9y ago
Catholic AnswerThe characteristics of the Catholic church: It is One, Holy, Apostolic, and Catholic.

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The major characteristics which distinguish the Catholic Church in particular relate to the sacrifice of the Mass and the pope.

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11y ago

Roman is an epithet first commonly used in England after the protestant revolt to describe the Catholic Church. It is never used by the Catholic Church.

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Catholicism is the greatest religion in the world nowadays. It is the only

one who respects the other religions and who believes in resurrection.

It is the only one who has an amazing God and who has the greatest priest ever!!

One of the most important qualities is that it is a Universal Church. That is what the word Catholic means in its original Greek form. This is a global Church under one head, the Holy Father. It's Liturgical Calendar is the same for the entire Church and it's main rite is the Mass, which is celebrated the same all over the world.

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Catholic AnswerTo add to the above answer, which is excellent, the "marks" of the Catholic Church are contained in the Creed which we recite every Sunday, "I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church". The "marks" could be considered the characteristics of the Church, it is One, and will remain One until the end of time. Jesus, Himself, said that we would be One. We would be holy, as the Church is His Mystical Body, and, at the same time, His Bride. We would be Catholic, which means universal, and we would be Apostolic, ruled by the Vicar of Christ, whose first Vicar, Peter, He appointed Himself, and the Bishops in union with him the successors of the Apostles. Please note that the Catholic Church was established by Our Blessed Lord, It is the only Church thus established, the only One that has existed for two thousand years, and the only one guided by the Holy Spirit. It is NOT a denomination.

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AnswerOne (of scores of) characteristics of Roman Catholicism is that it is perhaps among the most incarnational of the Christian denominations. The word incarnational is derived from the Latin in (meaning "in") + carne, (meaning "the flesh" or "the body"), and in Catholic theology it refers to the Son of God having been made flesh and coming to dwell among us. It also refers to the Catholic belief in Christ's presence in the Holy Eucharist - Jesus being present literally "in the flesh", in tabernacles in churches everywhere throughout the world. This "fleshliness" in part explains the Catholic desire for and comfort with lots of signs and symbols, pictures and images, arts, music, sumptuous altar fabrics, magnificent church buildings, lavishly decorated windows, transporting music. All of these lovely things we use in worship are in homage - ultimately - to our Savior and our King - Jesus Christ immediately present with us. Right here. Right now.
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10y ago
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On the surface, Catholic worship is much the same as in other Christian denominations. Catholics worship God and worship Jesus, and The Bible is the holy scripture. However, there are differences of ritual that make Catholicism not only a more complex faith, but less a faith that simply worships God.

Protestants pray to God for what they hope for, or perhaps to Jesus, expecting that if their requests are reasonable they will be heard and God will make a just choice. Catholics tend to fear this, since if they pray to God they only get one chance. St Bernard declared, "If you fear the Father, there is Christ the Mediator. If you fear him, there is the Mother, pure humanity. She will listen to you. The son will listen to her, the Father to him."

Praying to saints for intercession gives them more chances. Some saints are concerned with specific issues, such as health, travel, occupations and so on. They can be more relied on to take the trouble of interceding on your behalf if you choose the right saint, but if you get no response you can always choose a different saint, leaving an appropriate offering in each case. It could be said that saints are becoming increasingly important adjuncts to Catholic worship, as evidenced by the recent proliferation of new saints.

The Catholic Church places its own teachings, propagated by the pope, on an equal with the Bible as a guide to worship and theological fact. An important change came about with the First Vatican Council in 1870, documented in Pastor Aeternalis, when it declared the pope to be infallible when speaking ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals. Although papal infallibility is rarely used, this declaration underpins faith in the Holy Father as the leader of the Church.

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Catholic AnswerYou are asking a really difficult question, as the word "worship" as used in English covers a multitude of things in the Christian religion. Worship as given to God is called Latria in Latin. Latria is the adoration of God which, itself comprises many things, principally adoration, prayer, and sacrifice. Worship given to creatures, such as saints, angels, etc. is called dulia (this is the way the word is used in England when a magistrate is addressed as "Your Worship", and is venerationwhich may include honoring them for their sanctity (their closeness to God), asking for their intercession with God and imitated in their love and service of God. The different forms and definitions contained by the English word "worship" may be found in The Catechism of the Catholic Church in the index - there are quite a lot of references there. Hyperdulia is the worship given solely to the Blessed Virgin as the highest and most perfect of all God's creatures. Please note that Latria can only be given to God, it would be blasphemous to give Latria to a creature. Dulia and Hyperdulia are the veneration and respect due to creatures that are united to God and doing His Will.

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Worship. Acknowledgment of another's worth, dignity, or superior position. In religion, worship is given either to God, and then it is adoration, or to the angels and saints, and it is called veneration. Divine worship actually includes three principal acts, namely adoration (or the recognition of God's infinite perfection), prayer or the asking for divine help, and sacrifice or the offering of something precious to God. Worship as veneration also has three principal forms, whereby the angels and saints are honored for their sanctity, asked to intercede before the divine Majesty, and imitated in their love and service of God.

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Dulia. The reverence and homage paid to saints and angels on account of their supernatural excellence and union with God. To be distinguished from the adoration of God (latria) and the special honour paid to Mary (hyperdulia). Dulia is from the Greek word for servants (of God).

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Hyperdulia. The special homage paid to Mary on account of her supreme dignity as Mother of God, and her consequent unique holiness and nearness to God. It recognizes that she is a creature, and so it differs from latria; but a creature holier and nobler than any angel or saint, and therefore worthy of a greater reverence than the dulia paid to them. It implies a loving reverence for God's mother and ours, and a confidence in her power and benevolence.

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

347 Creation was fashioned with a view to the Sabbath and therefore for the worship and adoration of God. Worship is inscribed in the order of creation. (Cf. Gen 1:14) As the Rule of St. Benedict says, nothing should take precedence over "the Work of God," that is solemn worship. (St. Benedict, Regula43, 3: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina {Paris: 1841-1855} 66, 675-676) This indicates the right order of human concerns.

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In part three of the Catechism: Life in Christ: it covers the worship due to God, when covering the First Commandment:

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208 Jesus summed up man's duties toward God in this saying: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Mt 22:37; cf. Lk 10:27: ". . . .and with all your strength.") This immediately echoes the solemn call: "Hear, O Israel: the

Lord our God is one Lord." (Deut 6:4)

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2135 "You shall worship the Lord your God" (Mt4:10). Adoring God, praying to Him, offering Him the worship that belongs to Him, fulfilling the promises and vows made to Him are acts of the virtue of religion which fall under obedience to the first commandment.

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13y ago
Roman Catholic Answer

There are few absolute requirements for a Catholic Church. An altar would be its most prominent feature. No matter how small, it would require a sanctuary (which would contain the altar) and a nave where the people would worship. In a parish church there would have to be a baptismal font and confessional. There are numerous other things that are more or less normal. There must be a Crucifix near the altar for Mass to be celebrated there. There are usually holy water fonts by the entrances, a sacristy or a place for the priest to vest. As the church gets bigger it gets a whole lot more complicated. A small chapel would usually have the things mentioned.

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14y ago

Do you want to know the key features of the building or the religion?

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14y ago

the confession box,the altar, the sacraments.

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Q: What are the major features of Catholic worship?
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