A couple of our Religious Education students had some questions for me. This week’s are from Beau Merriman.
Question: Why do you light candles at the beginning of Mass?
It seems strange to use candles at Mass, doesn’t it? After all, we have electricity and lights that do a better job of lighting everything up. They might have needed them a long time ago for light, but not anymore.
Of course, we don’t use candles to provide light to see as we do with light bulbs and lamps. The candles are what we call a symbol: they show something more important. They are a reminder to us that the Light of Christ is in the world. When we see a lit candle in church, whether the red one by the tabernacle or the ones on the altar, it’s a reminder to us that Jesus is here. During Mass, we light candles to remind ourselves that Jesus is coming to us.
Question: Why do you read stories to us?
As Mass, a number of stories from the Bible are read. One from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from the Gospel. These stories are telling the stories of Jesus and His work to bring all people to Him.
When I read from one of the Gospels, I’m telling the story of what Jesus himself did and said. The Gospel reading is especially important to remind us of what Jesus wants us to do as His followers. He taught so that we might know Him and follow Him, so we listen to Him that might do what He asks us to do. I read the Gospel out loud so that I might explain what it means for us today.
Question: Why do you put your fingers together when you pray?
During Mass, there’s a certain point in which I pick up the bread, which we call the host, and repeat Jesus’ words, “This is my body.” The same happens with the wine when I say, “This is my blood.” From that point on, that is no longer bread and wine but Jesus Himself.
Just like bread you might have for a sandwich, this bread can leave crumbs. If any crumbs come off after I say those words, they are Jesus as well, so I don’t want them to fall on the floor or something like that. There could be crumbs on my fingertips where I held the host, so I keep my fingers together to hold them until I can brush them off into my chalice, which also contains Jesus.
