Ritual as a Gateway to Faith

A recent essay here at Catholic Stand focused on the importance of art as a “gateway” to the soul. I heartily concur.

The author, Evangeline Lothian, cited three great paintings that bring “Sacred Scripture and Catholic Tradition to life; they place the audience in the scene and immerse him in the reality of the story.”

I’m pretty unsophisticated when it comes to the fine arts. I’ve never studied art, music or architecture. However, I do know what impresses me and gets my attention when I see or hear it.

For example, the paintings of Caravaggio and Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” help me to visualize the various narratives presented during holy week. At Christmas time, the music of Handel’s “Messiah” stirs a feeling of awe and appreciation for the incarnation.

The majesty of the great cathedrals such as Chartres, Notre Dame and St. Peters portray a sense of transcendence. Michelangelo’s “Pieta” and “Christ Carrying the Cross” offer three dimensional pictures of our Lord.

All these examples provide my human feelings with a sense of the sacred that is good for my soul.

A gateway for what?

The definition of a “gateway” is an entrance through a wall, fence, etc. From a faith perspective it can be viewed as “opening a door” for belief.

There are several aspects that can relate to these notions. First is that of getting one’s attention. A gateway can cause one to stop, look, and listen. In turn, it can be seen as an invitation to “come in.”  It can cause one to raise questions and seek answers to what lays beyond that “gateway’.

A school, library, or a single book, such as the Bible, can serve as a “gateway” to knowledge and understanding. It can encourage one to think and ponder.

A gateway can also be a vehicle for establishing and maintaining habits. For example, the gymnasium serves as a “gateway’ to sustain personal exercise on a regular basis.

Rituals as gateways

In thinking about other “faith” gateways the role of rituals emerge. Rituals help to sustain a routine. People often complain about following a routine of rituals. However, rituals help to keep us on course for whatever endeavor we are undertaking.

It can be something as simple as how we brush our teeth to something more complex, like how we conduct a sport practice or prepare for a game. In those sport examples, rituals affect how we put our socks on to how we conduct a warm-up.

Rituals also play a key part our Judeo-Christian heritage. Old Testament examples in Leviticus 1:5-13 and 5:11-12 describe sacrifice rituals that the Israelites were to perform. In the New Testament, Christ’s institution of the Eucharist in Mark 14:22-24, Matthew 26:26-28, Luke 22:19-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 detail the rituals associated with its practice.

Within the Catholic Church there are a multitude of rituals. Common examples are making the sign of the cross, kneeling in prayer and before a crucifix. Saying the rosery, as a formal prayer, is both tactile as well as verbal.  It serves as a ritual to focus us on different aspects of the life of Jesus.

Many Catholic rituals are classified as rites. Rites refer to the prescribed and ceremonial rituals that are implemented within worship and religious practice. They encompass a wide range of activities, from the celebration of the Mass to the sacraments, and serve different purposes within the community of faith.

Rites can also refer to traditional liturgical expressions or families within the universal Church. The Catechism (1203) lists seven: Latin, Byzantine, Alexandrian, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, and Chaldean.

The ritual effect

As mentioned, rituals can help us to stay on course. They give us a sense of order in our lives, and in these chaotic times that order is sorely needed. Whether ritual or rite, they are steeped in symbolism with the design to connect us with the divine.

Every day, the union of the physical and the spiritual occurs in the form of the Mass. The Church utilizes physical rituals to draw us into a gateway to the spiritual. The bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ through ritual. There are also the verbal rituals that occur in the mass in our responses and prayers.

From a religious perspective I believe rituals do provide an entryway to faith. They provide a concrete physical experience reflective of what we believe. They can keep us in touch with what we believe, especially in those times of unconcern or doubt. They also can be regarded as a humbling experience.

Finally, when we gather for worship rituals, we create an atmosphere that fosters fellowship and mutual support. Engaging in common rituals can strengthen a sense of community and unity.

The Church teaches that we are all part of the Body of Christ. Common rituals, whether performed as a group or individually, demonstrate and reinforce the unity of that one body.