Page:Completecatechis00deharich.djvu/343

 '''5. But must we not adore God in spirit and in truth? (John iv. 24.) '''

By all means; and therefore the Church wishes that we should not merely assist at the Ceremonies, but also understand their meaning, and accompany them with prayer and pious sentiments.

'''6. Has, then, every Religious Ceremony a meaning? '''

Yes; all things which the Church makes use of for celebrating the Divine Service have a mystical signification, and are intended to excite our souls to lively sentiments of devotion.

For the Ceremonies of Baptism, see pages 254 and 255; of Confirmation, pages 257 to 259; of the Mass, pages 267 to 271; of the Blessing of water, salt, oil, etc., see pages 323, 324, etc.

'''7. But are there not also Religious Ceremonies and Practices which are useless and superfluous? '''

No; that which the holy infallible Church ordains, approves, or practises, cannot but be useful and profitable to us, because she is always guided by the Holy Ghost.

'''8. What is, then, the use of 'Incense'? '''

Incense is an emblem of reverence and of prayer which should ascend to Heaven as a sweet odor before God (Ps. cxi. 2).

'''9. What do the 'Lighted Candles' signify? '''

They signify Faith which enlightens, Hope which soars above this world, and Charity which inflames; and they recall also to our mind those times of persecution when the Christians celebrated the Divine Service in Catacombs or subterranean caverns.

'''10. What do the Candles blessed on the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary especially call to our mind? '''

The words of Simeon, that Jesus is ' a Light to the revelation of the Gentiles.' 1 and that we also are to walk as 'children of the Light' (Luke ii. 32; Ephes. v. 8).