THE BIBLE AND THE LITURGY BY JEAN DANIELOU, S.J.

CHAPTER ONE : THE PREPARATION

Make a short summary of the contents! (Chapter One: The Preparation)

Preface

The book “The Bible and the Liturgy” is born from Jean Danielou concern that few books that give concern about the nature of the Sacraments, the which is "peace signs". The subject has become very important to remember that the Sacraments are efficacious signs. Without understanding the symbolic aspect of this sacrament of Christian worship becomes less meaningful, because people do not understand the symbols used in the celebration of the Sacrament. Pastorally, this book is very useful as an ingredient of catechesis for the faithful so that the faithful can celebrate the sacrament more consciously. This awareness can arise when they understand that the symbols in the celebration of the sacrament really has meaning and history so rich.

Danielou basing this study on the teaching of the first Christian Centuries. Therefore, many interpret Daniel Christian symbols from the perspective of the Fathers of the Church. Taking the point of view of the church fathers, Danielou are not concerned with the personal theology of the Fathers; but rather the value of the works of the church fathers, because in them the work that we can meet with the apostolic tradition they have seen directly because they lived at the time that is closer to the apostles. In addition, Danielou also uses Biblical Symbolism, as supporting his studies, as he believes that the Biblical Symbolism is the primitive foundation that can deliver the true significance of the Sacraments in their original institution.

Summary

In this book discusses in depth Danielou symbols contained in the Sacraments of Initiation, namely Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. In the first chapter of this book, Danielou discusses Baptism, especially on stage that must be passed by someone until they receive the grace of baptism. Specifically, this chapter discusses the intensive training received by the candidate for baptism, which began 40 days before Easter (Lent).

Briefly, some of the stages that had to pass very quick and its meaning is as follows:

1. Rite Inspection (examination)

This rite led by a bishop. Investigators catechumens attend this celebration was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Baptist them. In this rite the bishop asked the feasibility of the moral life sympathizers to their neighbors or their sponsors. They were asked if they have had a life that leads to the kindness shown to not get drunk, do not lie, and respect their parents? All these rites conducted by investigators with wearing a tunic and barefoot to describe the condition of those who are still in bondage of Satan.

2. Rite of Admission

After the examination, if they are not feasible, the bishop will ask her out and back in again after they've left the old way of life that is full of sin. However, if they are feasible, then the bishop will record the name of the investigator, and they will be included in a group of the photizomenoi (Reviews those who are coming into the light). This recording illustrates that their names now also been recorded in heaven.

3. The candidate must come to the Baptist church every day

Once registered, candidates come to church every day at The First Hour (Prime). On that occasion, they are every day to have two celebrations, namely:

a. Exorcism:

The rite of exorcism is done every day by the clerics to the candidate for baptism can with some variety of ways. Rite underscores the importance of the struggle with Satan in the Baptismal Rites. The rites of exorcism itself for its precise purpose to free the soul little by little from the power that Satan has exercised over sympathizers.

b. Catechesis:

After the rite of exorcism, every day they sit together to listen to the teaching of the bishop, who explained the contents of the scriptures from Genesis, both the literal meaning and spiritual significance. At week five in the process, they receive the Symbol are then explained the meaning phrase by phrase. This process ends on the Sunday before Easter, with Redditio Symboli (the recitation of the Creed).

4. Rite Renunciation of Satan and adherence to Christ:

Both of these rites is the final rite in preparation for Baptism and undertaken when the Easter Vigil. This rite performed with various symbols so powerful meaning, such as the turning of the west, holding out hands, underscoring a commitment to reject Satan, and then turned my head toward the east meaningful an option to enter into communion with God.

 

What are the Fathers of the Church or the ecclesiastical authors referenced Daniélou in this chapter? What are the main passages of the Old and New Testaments commented from them?

In this study, Danielou makes the Church Fathers as his point of view, therefore, of course, the writings and opinions of the fathers of the coloring descriptions and explanations. In this paper Danielou take the opinion of some of the Fathers of the Church, namely:

1. Theodore of Mopsuestia (on Catechetical Homilies, Exorcism of Cilicium)

2. Cyril of Jerusalem (on Mystagogic Catecheses)

3. Hippolytus of Rome (on Apostolic Tradition)

4. Augustine of Hippo (on The Catechumenate)

5. Gregory of Nyssa

6. Athanasius (on Life of St. Antony)

7. Basil The Great (on Treatise on the Holy Spirit)

8. Q.S.F. Tertullianus (on De Corona, De Spectaculis, Apologeticus)

9. Ambrose of Milan (on De Mysteriis)

10. Origene (on Exhortation to Martyrdom)

No passage of Scripture, both the Old and New Covenant, who commented specifically by the Church Fathers on this chapter because in this chapter they are more commenting about the stages through which the candidates for baptism and interpret these rites as typological (which will be described in the next question).

Explain briefly the typological relationship between the Old and New Testament (events, characters, institutions ...) established by these authors in their Mystagogy on signs liturgical.

Typology means that events, characters, or statements in the Old Testament are seen as prefiguring types or superseded by antitypes, events or aspects of Christ or his revelation Described in the New Testament. The typology that appears in this chapter only one which is as follows:

Typology: The temptation of Adam – The Temptation of Christ - The trial of the candidate

	Old Testament	New Testament	The Preparation of Baptism
Event	the temptation	the temptation	the temptation
Character	Adam	Christ (New Adam)	The Candidate
Place	Paradise à Eden (full of beast)	Desert à ruling the wild and served by angels (Mark I, 13)	A participation in the temptation of Christ

This parallelism of the scene in Paradise and that of Baptism, with that from the life of Christ in between, will Appear all through the course of the baptismal a catechesis. Gospel reading about the story of this trial was read on the Sunday of Lent (Sunday of enrollment) and in the light of this is the gospel really really want to give strength to the candidate for baptism to be resilient in a period of preparation for 40 days as Christ also fasted in the wilderness.

Describe the aspects of the chapter that seem most interesting, or that you liked more!

"Do not think that it consists of ordinary sermons. These are good, but if we neglect them today, we can still listen to them tomorrow. But the teaching that is to follow on the Baptism of rebirth,--if you neglect it now, when can you find it again? This is the time for planting the trees. If you neglect to spade and dig the earth, when can you plant properly a tree that has been badly planted? The catechesis is a building. If we neglect to dig its foundations, if we leave holes and the building is shaky, of what use will be any further work?" ( XXXIII, 352, A-B).

Read an excerpt from St. Cyril made me realize the importance of a process of preparation for baptism. This quote made me reflect back on how my efforts in preparing the candidate for baptism in Indonesia, particularly in my diocese. In Indonesia, according to the bishops conference in Indonesia, each catechumen should at least prepare for baptism for one year. However, in practice, Often I and the priests, others tempted to give a discount on the faithful to shorten the period of preparation for baptism, just for reasons trivial and very pragmatic (eg compares with followers of the religion of Islam or Protestant who does not take time long to be followers of the faith, the demand of the candidate for baptism who already have a close relationship with the priest itself, etc.). As a result, many of the faithful who do not have Christian faith rooted and Sturdy foundation Because The process is Often instant. Therefore, by reading this chapter I returned compelled to seek a baptism preparation process is really really serious, structured (such as St. Cyril who has had a series of homilies that will be used to teach the candidates for baptism) and deep, so that the faithful truly be aware of the depth of the mystery of baptism they will receive.