{"id":191,"date":"2009-10-12T09:26:08","date_gmt":"2009-10-12T15:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/?p=191"},"modified":"2010-03-21T20:22:47","modified_gmt":"2010-03-22T02:22:47","slug":"the-rubrics-cube","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/catholic\/the-rubrics-cube\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rubrics Cube"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RubricsRubrics ((What is a rubric? Rubrics are instructions and rules (laws really) that are inserted into the Breviary and Missal to guide bishops, priests or deacons in the Eucharistic liturgy, the administration of sacraments and sacramentals, and the preaching of the Word of God. Literally rubrica means red earth, specifically it is that red earth which ancient carpenters used to mark cut lines on wood. Similarly, in order to distinguish instructions from the formulae of prayers they were (and still are) written in red. These written instructions grew out of verbal instructions sometimes the red words are general instructions, sometimes they are specific but they always explain the use of the text. This lead to the common phrase, \u201cread the red if you would understand the black.\u201d)) and the GIRM present just two choices; follow them or don\u2019t follow them. So why is it that excuses about following (or not following) the guidelines for sacraments are as confusing as solving that similar sounding 70\u2019s classic 3D puzzle Rubik\u2019s Cube? On the one hand excessive attention to the rules detracts from the meaning of the liturgical words and purpose. On the other hand licensciously ignoring them leads away from virtue, truth and beauty. Asking ourselves what side we should be on gives us cause to wonder what side is Jesus on? Some see Jesus as the liberator. When the Pharisees tested Him, He rebuked them for shutting up the way to heaven (Matthew 23:13<\/span>) and told us to do as they say but not as they do (Matthew 23:3<\/span>). When they accused Him of breaking the Sabbath He explained that the Sabbath is made for man not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28<\/span>). From these passages it would seem that Jesus is on the side of bending rules and yet Jesus set the record straight on divorce, saying that since the beginning it was not so and that whatever God has put together no man should undo (Mark 10:2-12<\/span>). Jesus also chose to be baptized though theologically He had no need for it. When John protested Jesus said, \u201cAllow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,\u201d (Matthew 3:13-17<\/span>). So others see Jesus as demonstrating strict adherence to the rules. Passages like these that seemingly oppose or favor an attitude toward or away from law have been misappropriated by liberals and conservatives alike in order to paint an image of Jesus that fits their agenda. If you\u2019ve ever been caught in a discussion or argument about the rigidity of rules in the Mass then you may have found yourself unwittingly forced onto one side or the other\u2026 and that\u2019s where the problem is. Insisting on following the rules is liable to get you labeled as a Pharisee but twisting the rules puts you in the camp of non-conformist or anarchist. Neither extreme is desirable or correct.<\/p>\n

So the problem is not so much with our answer as it is with the question \u201cwhich side are you on?\u201d The question incites division where there should be unity. In a sense it asks us to choose either the rigidity of Old Testament ways or the fluidity of New Testament revelation. But we should not settle for the loss of either. Both are crowns, both are graces and like Saint Maximilian Kolbe ((Maximilian Kolbe had a vision as a child in which Mary showed him a pair of crowns; one white and one red. The white crown represented perseverance through purity and the red represented martyrdom. When Mary asked which he wanted, Maximilian answered, \u201cboth\u201d. Indeed he remained pure and became a priest and then later in a Nazi prison gave up his life by taking the place of another condemned to stave to death. After days of starvation and thirst which he filed with song and prayer, he was killed by injection with carbonic acid. His faith and heroism up to the point of death are well documented.)) we should choose both crowns. In similar fashion, the wedding feast at Cana shows us that the old wine is good and the new wine is exceedingly good. The old wine was not discarded because it was sour; rather it was heartily consumed because it was good. If the old wine is the Old Covenant and the new wine is the New Covenant then both covenants are good but the second is made extraordinary by grace and by succeeding the first. So let us rephrase the question to ask how we can embrace both the letter and the spirit of the law, which will never contradict each other. That is what Jesus did. He taught that both law and right practice are requirements for the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-20<\/span>). When we have a heart for obeying the law, then we do what is required not out of obligation or misguided over-scrupulosity, but rather out of a sincere desire to do what is right. <\/p>\n

Time and time again Jesus explained how the law is to be fulfilled. He taught persistence and humility in prayer, healing on the Sabbath, forgiveness of sins, love toward enemies, and sanctity of marriage, all as the right fulfillment of law. Many times the example Jesus gives elevates our understanding from law to sacrament and thus moves from good to extraordinary. One such instance is the Bread of Life discourse (John 6:30-68<\/span>) which relates to the Holy Eucharist. In the Bread of Life discourse Jesus started with the Levitical understanding of Manna, the bread that fell from the heavens and which the Israelites ate in the desert, and exalted it to truly divine heights saying, \u201cI am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world\u201d (John 6:51-52<\/span>). Then at the Last Supper Jesus used these words, \u201cthis is my body\u201d and \u201cthis is my blood of the covenant\u201d (Matthew 26:26-28<\/span>, Mark 14:22-24<\/span>, Luke 22:19-20<\/span>, & 1 Corinthians 11:23-26<\/span>). This is the formula ((What is Formula[e]? A formula is a precise statement or formulation of a principle. There are philosophical, ritual, and theological formulas. For our purposes here we are concerned with ritual formulas which prescribe the administration of sacraments and sacramentals. For instance baptism requires the use of water and the words \u201cI baptize you in the name of the father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit\u201d)) of consecration in our Latin Rite Liturgy of the Eucharist even to this day and it is the second grace that John writes about in the first chapter of his gospel,\u201d From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace\u201d (John 1:16<\/span>). John\u2019s meaning is clear, he is saying that the law and the prophets (the Old Testament) are grace to man, and that the good news (the New Testament) is a grace on top of that, a grace from the fullness of God. So this is how I choose to see rules like the GIRM and rubrics, those red letter words added to the formula of Mass to guide and instruct proper form. I choose not to see them as an intrusive burden but an added blessing. To be sure, they are not greater or more exulted words than the formulae, but they are important to understand the formulae. So I choose to see them like grace multiplying grace.<\/p>\n

Resources:
\nModern Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon, S.J. 1999 Inter Mirifica
\nhttp:\/\/www.newadvent.org\/cathen\/13216a.htm<\/a>
\nlicatholic.org<\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div>Matthew 23:13<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
13<\/span>But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men, for you yourselves do not enter in; and those that are going in, you suffer not to enter.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>Matthew 23:3<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
3<\/span>All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>Mark 2:23-28<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
23<\/span>And it came to pass again, as the Lord walked through the corn fields on the sabbath, that his disciples began to go forward, and to pluck the ears of corn.<\/div>
24<\/span>And the Pharisees said to him: Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?<\/div>
25<\/span>And he said to them: Have you never read what David did when he had need, and was hungry himself, and they that were with him?<\/div>
26<\/span>How he went into the house of God, under Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the loaves of proposition, which was not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave to them who were with him?<\/div>
27<\/span>And he said to them: The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.<\/div>
28<\/span>Therefore the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath also.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>Mark 10:2-12<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
2<\/span>And the Pharisees coming to him asked him: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.<\/div>
3<\/span>But he answering, saith to them: What did Moses command you?<\/div>
4<\/span>Who said: Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce, and to put her away.<\/div>
5<\/span>To whom Jesus answering, said: Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you that precept.<\/div>
6<\/span>But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.<\/div>
7<\/span>For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother; and shall cleave to his wife.<\/div>
8<\/span>And they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh.<\/div>
9<\/span>What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.<\/div>
10<\/span>And in the house again his disciples asked him concerning the same thing.<\/div>
11<\/span>And he saith to them: Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another, committeth adultery against her.<\/div>
12<\/span>And if the wife shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>Matthew 3:13-17<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
13<\/span>Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him.<\/div>
14<\/span>But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?<\/div>
15<\/span>And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice. Then he suffered him.<\/div>
16<\/span>And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.<\/div>
17<\/span>And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>Matthew 5:17-20<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
17<\/span>Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.<\/div>
18<\/span>For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.<\/div>
19<\/span>He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.<\/div>
20<\/span>For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>John 6:30-68<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
30<\/span>They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew, that we may see, and may believe thee? What dost thou work?<\/div>
31<\/span>Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.<\/div>
32<\/span>Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.<\/div>
33<\/span>For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.<\/div>
34<\/span>They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread.<\/div>
35<\/span>And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.<\/div>
36<\/span>But I said unto you, that you also have seen me, and you believe not.<\/div>
37<\/span>All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out.<\/div>
38<\/span>Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.<\/div>
39<\/span>Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day.<\/div>
40<\/span>And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have life everlasting, and I will raise him up in the last day.<\/div>
41<\/span>The Jews therefore murmured at him, because he had said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven.<\/div>
42<\/span>And they said: Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then saith he, I came down from heaven?<\/div>
43<\/span>Jesus therefore answered, and said to them: Murmur not among yourselves.<\/div>
44<\/span>No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him; and I will raise him up in the last day.<\/div>
45<\/span>It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned, cometh to me.<\/div>
46<\/span>Not that any man hath seen the Father; but he who is of God, he hath seen the Father.<\/div>
47<\/span>Amen, amen I say unto you: He that believeth in me, hath everlasting life.<\/div>
48<\/span>I am the bread of life.<\/div>
49<\/span>Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead.<\/div>
50<\/span>This is the bread which cometh down from heaven; that if any man eat of it, he may not die.<\/div>
51<\/span>I am the living bread which came down from heaven.<\/div>
52<\/span>If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world.<\/div>
53<\/span>The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?<\/div>
54<\/span>Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.<\/div>
55<\/span>He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.<\/div>
56<\/span>For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed.<\/div>
57<\/span>He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him.<\/div>
58<\/span>As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me.<\/div>
59<\/span>This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that eateth this bread, shall live for ever.<\/div>
60<\/span>These things he said, teaching in the synagogue, in Capharnaum.<\/div>
61<\/span>Many therefore of his disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard, and who can hear it?<\/div>
62<\/span>But Jesus, knowing in himself, that his disciples murmured at this, said to them: Doth this scandalize you?<\/div>
63<\/span>If then you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?<\/div>
64<\/span>It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and life.<\/div>
65<\/span>But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that did not believe, and who he was, that would betray him.<\/div>
66<\/span>And he said: Therefore did I say to you, that no man can come to me, unless it be given him by my Father.<\/div>
67<\/span>After this many of his disciples went back; and walked no more with him.<\/div>
68<\/span>Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away?<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>John 6:51-52<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
51<\/span>I am the living bread which came down from heaven.<\/div>
52<\/span>If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>Matthew 26:26-28<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
26<\/span>And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body.<\/div>
27<\/span>And taking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this.<\/div>
28<\/span>For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>Mark 14:22-24<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
22<\/span>And whilst they were eating, Jesus took bread; and blessing, broke, and gave to them, and said: Take ye. This is my body.<\/div>
23<\/span>And having taken the chalice, giving thanks, he gave it to them. And they all drank of it.<\/div>
24<\/span>And he said to them: This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>Luke 22:19-20<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
19<\/span>And taking bread, he gave thanks, and brake; and gave to them, saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me.<\/div>
20<\/span>In like manner the chalice also, after he had supped, saying: This is the chalice, the new testament in my blood, which shall be shed for you.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>1 Corinthians 11:23-26<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
23<\/span>For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.<\/div>
24<\/span>And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of me.<\/div>
25<\/span>In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me.<\/div>
26<\/span>For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>John 1:16<\/span>
View in: NAB<\/a> Vulg<\/a> Greek<\/a><\/span><\/div>
16<\/span>And of his fulness we all have received, and grace for grace.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"<\/a>

Rubrics ((What is a rubric? Rubrics are instructions and rules (laws really) that are inserted into the Breviary and Missal to guide bishops, priests or deacons in the Eucharistic liturgy, the administration of sacraments and sacramentals, and the preaching of the Word of God. Literally rubrica means red earth, specifically it is that red earth … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[55,35,36,33,34],"class_list":["post-191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-catholic","tag-catholic","tag-girm","tag-jesus","tag-rubrics","tag-rules"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=191"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":698,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191\/revisions\/698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicbookwriter.com\/goldenarrow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}