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Bern and all . . .
The Bible is not only a Liturgical book . . . It is meant to be proclaimed in a Liturgical setting. At the same time, it is also meant to be studied and, while it is not a Catechism or book of Systematic Theology, the foundation and principles of Catholic doctrines are found in it, either explicitly or implicitly.
As far as Holy Week, it's based on the Lunar Calendar that Jews of the time based their feasts on so it is meant to roughly coincide with Passover. Now, we don't use the same calender as the Jews or even the Orthodox Church does to determine when Passover was so we don't always match up but it really doesn't matter.
As to Christmas being on December 25th you have to follow a sequence of events.
Zachariah, John the Baptist's Father saw a vision of the Angel Gabriel (announcing the birth of John) in the Holy of Holies. He was High Priest at the time . . . but the High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies one day a year . . . on the Day of Atonement — called Yom Kipper.
That usually falls on Around September 25th so assuming Zachariah went home that day and did what was necessary so that his wife Elizabeth could conceive, John the Baptist would have been born roughly nine (9) months later . . . around June 25th, which is when we celebrate the feast of John the Baptist.
Now let's address the Feast of the Annunciation, when Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced the conception of Jesus. After Mary conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit, she went to see Elizabeth and stayed with her for three months until John was born. Three months before John was born is March 25th. Assuming Mary conceived exactly when she said to Gabriel, Let it be done to me according to your word then Jesus was conceived on March 25th. Now add nine (9) months to that date and you arrival at December 25th.
This addresses the why about how the approximate dates coincide with the Biblical passages they refer to.
Now let's address kneeling before images. The Ten Commandments prohibit the worship of graven images . . . like statues or paintings. Catholics do not worship graven images. Catholics worship God alone . . . Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- When the Queen of England knights someone, the man being knighted kneels before her.
- When a man asks a woman to marry him, he usual kneels on one knee.
These are acts of reverence but not worship.
Catholic worship is the only true and possible worship. It is the one and only worship of the Father by the Son by His once and forever Sacrifice at Calvary. That same Sacrifice is ever present to Eternity before God. In fact, Revelation says the Jesus was the Lamb that was "slain before the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8) And that one sacrifice is made present at the Liturgy or Mass where Catholics and Orthodox enter into and unite ourselves with Christ, Our Lord.
When we pray in any prayer posture in front of a statue, we are normally asking for the intercession of a Saint. That is not worship. The stature or painting is a point of contact for our faith. That's all.
Now as to the text from 1 Corinthians. Every man will face a particular judgement at his death including those who are alive at the time of Christ's return but there is a principle in that verse that teaches purification after death.
The doctrine of Purgatory is very simple and brief. Purgatory is a place or condition in which the soul experiences purification. This purification involves suffering and is best compared to a healing pain. In some models, people have used the term temporal punishment but, even in that model, it's rehabilitation, not wrath. It is the love of God, transforming us and cleansing us.
The Church also teaches that we can pray for the souls in that condition, as they can pray for us but while time has been used to describe Purgatory, there is no official teaching about it. It could last an instance but again, we are talking about an eternal mystery. God and the soul are outside of time so, if on earth, the person is praying for the soul of someone already fully purified, it is still effective, because God makes it so — just like He makes Calvary present to us at the Mass. The point is that God finishes perfecting us, so that we can experience the perfect joy of His Love and Presence. There are many, many texts that imply this throughout the Old and New Testament.
I hope this helps. If you need further help, let me know.
John DiMascio
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