Marriage Of Christ And His Church example essay topic

AO 1-What is meant by the term, "rite of passage"? Choose one Christian denomination. Describe the main rites of passage in that denomination. I am going to describe the Roman Catholic churches main rites of passage. There are four important rites, they are; baptism, confirmation, marriage and funerals. A rite is a religious ceremony.

If the rite marks a certain stage of someone's life it is called a rite of passage. Christians believe god gives them powers to do his will, this is called god's grace. The first rite I will describe is baptism. When a person is baptised it is believed that it is their welcome into the Christian church. Holy water is either put onto the person's forehead or they are totally covered in water. This is a rite of passage because it is believed to be a very special as god is accepting them into the church.

Infant baptisms in the Roman Catholic church take place during mass so the whole congregation of the church can welcome the child into the Christian faith. The priest takes the service. Three promises must be made but as the child is too young to say them parents or godparents say them on the child's behalf. The promises are: . To turn to Christ. To repent sin.

To renounce evil They also agree to raise the child in a Christian house and faith and say that they believe in the Trinity. The sign of a cross is made on the child's forehead by the priest while he says; "I sign you with the cross, the sign of Christ. Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified". As the priest says the child's name and; "I baptist you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit", he pours water onto the child's forehead. A lighted candle is usually given to the parents as a sign and reminder that the child is now in the light of god, and not the darkness of sin.

After this ceremony the child is part of the Christian family. The child is anointed with oil called chrism, it is to show the child has important work to do in god's service. Also a white garment is worn to show the light of Christ. The water is a sign of purifying the child.

The second of the rites is confirmation. It is when someone confirms their belief in god and Christ and when someone who has been baptised is old enough to make the promises made for them at their baptism themselves. They are: . To turn to Christ. To repent sin. To renounce evil bishop asks whether they believe in god, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

He will then lay his hands on the person's head and says"; (persons name), be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit", while he is making the sign of the cross with his right thumb. This sign is made using chrism on the person's forehead. Then the bishop and the person shake hands and the bishop will say; "peace be with you" and the person replies; "and also with you". More than one person can be confirmed at one time. The bishop asks these questions and the candidate's reply together: "Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against god?" I reject them " Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?" I renounce them " Do you repent of the sins that separate us from god and neighbour?" I repent of them " Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?" I turn to Christ " Do you submit to Christ as lord?" I submit to Christ " Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?" I come to Christ " The bishop then says: "Almighty and ever-living God, you have given these your servants new birth in baptism by water and the spirit, and have forgiven them all their sins. Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them; the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and inward strength; the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and let their delight be in the fear of the lord.

Amen". The bishop the prays, "Defend O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your holy spirit more and more until they come to your ever-lasting kingdom. Amen". The third rite of passage is marriage. This is when a man and a woman have a legal union and bond together, they live and often have children together. To Christians it is important to get married in a church, as they think, this will make sure god blesses the marriage.

They also think because god first established marriage, couples should stay faithful to each other for life. The priest begins the ceremony by telling the couple that marriage is important, a serious and special step in their lives and a gift from god. He then says; "it is gods purpose that as husband and wife give themselves to each other in love throughout their lives, they shall be united in that love as Christ is united with his church. Marriage is given, that the husband and wife may comfort and help each other, living faithfully together in need and in plenty, in sorrow and in joy.

It is given that with delight and tenderness, they may know each other in love, and through the joy of their bodily union, may strengthen the unions of their hearts and lives. It is given, that they may have children and be blessed in caring for them, and bringing them up in accordance with gods will, to his praise and glory". The wedding guests are then asked to pray, and then to say if they know of any reason why the couple should not get married. The bride and groom are then asked in turn: " (Person's name), will you take (the other person) to be your husband / wife?

Will you love him / her, comfort him / her, honour him / her and protect him / her and forsaking all others, be faithful to him / her as long as you both shall live?" The bride and groom then agree by saying: "I, (persons name) take you (other persons name), to be my wife / husband; to have and to hold; from this day forward; for better; for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to gods holy law; and this is my solemn vow". A ring is then placed on both of the couple's fourth finger on their left hand. This symbolizes that it is a binding relationship, for life. As the ring is placed on the finger the couple say: "I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With all of my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of god the father, son and holy spirit". The priest then says: "I therefore proclaim they are husband and wife.

That which god has joined together, let not man divide". After this, the couple's first act of married life is to take communion together so that their marriage is blessed by god. Prayers are said during the ceremony, one of them is: "Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church. Look with love upon this woman, your daughter, now joined to her husband by marriage. She asks your blessing. Give her the grace of peace and love.

May she always follow the example of the holy women whose praises are sung at the scriptures. May her husband put his trust in her and recognise that she is equal and the heir with him to the life of grace. May he always honour her and love her as Christ loves his bride the Church. Father, keep them always true to your commandments.

Keep them faithful in marriage and let them be living examples of Christian life. Give them the strength, which comes from the gospel so that they may be witnesses of Christ to others. (Bless them with children and help them to be good parents. May they live to see their children's children.) And after a happy old age grant them fullness of life with the saints in the kingdom of heaven. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen".

The fourth and final rite I will describe is a funeral. This is the burial or cremation ceremony for the deceased. Heaven, hell and life after death are all believed in by Christians. Many people believe heaven to be in the clouds with big pearly gates but Christians don't agree as to what it really looks like.

However they agree that bad people got to hell and good people go to heaven to be with god. At the start of the ceremony, as the coffin is taken to the front of the church, the priest says: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die". This is to show the belief in life after death. A hymn is sung, a prayer and bible reading are read, they will all be about the Christian hope of life after death.

A brief talk or eulogy will be read which talks about the deceased's good points and why they will be missed. Prayers of hope and comfort are then said for the deceased's family, to hope that they won't grieve too much. The ceremony ends with a hymn, maybe a favourite of the deceased's, and a blessing for the deceased's soul and for his / her friends and family. Then the coffin is either taken to the crematorium or the cemetery. As Christians believe in life after death, the ceremony ends in hope not sadness. The priest says, "We entrust our brother to god's merciful keeping and we now commit his body to the ground.

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our lord Jesus Christ, who died, was buried and rose again for us. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen". In the hymns during the service, god is asked to forgive any sins the deceased has committed in life and he is thanked for the life of the deceased. The following psalm is often read: "The lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the quiet waters, he restores my soul.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me". This ceremony takes place a few days after the death of the person. There are no rules in the bible to say whether you should get cremated or buried, you can decide on that.