Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan

Saint Ildephonsus Parish

Guiguinto, Bulacan
Part I: Liturgy
 Liturgy
o Greek: λειτουργία (Public Worship) – Worship offered by the Church to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
 The three (3) Hierarchical Ministers in the Liturgy
o Diaconoi (Deacon)
o Presbyteroi (Priest)
o Pontificoi (Bishop or Overseer) / Pontiff or Pontifex (Latin) / Episcopos (Greek)
*Explain their differences, such as, but not limited to their role in our Church, vestments, name prefix (e.g. Rev.,
Rev. Fr., Rev. Msgr., Most Rev., His Eminence, His Holiness), etc.
 Define Sacraments
o Visible sign instituted by Christ to give us Sanctifying Grace.
 7 Sacraments of the Church according to three groupings of Catechism of the Catholic Church
o Sacraments of Christian Initiation
1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Holy Eucharist
o Sacraments of Healing
4. Reconciliation
5. Anointing of the Sick
o Sacraments of Services and Commitments
6. Matrimony
7. Holy Orders *Explain each Sacrament, what does it mean, who can accept each Sacrament, etc.
2. Since Jesus Christ died for the salvation of all, there are two (2) types of baptism outside the Roman Catholic Church
o Baptism of Blood – All those who did not received baptism that died for the faith.
o Baptism of Desire – All those who, without even knowing Christ and Church, but still (under the impulse of
Grace) sincerely seek God and strive to do His will.
 Define Sacramentals
o Visible signs, prayers, places and objects instituted by Church to help us to be holy.
 4 types of Sacramentals
o Objects
o Actions
o Places
o Blessings *Explain and give examples of each, show them real examples.
 Define Sacrilege
o A grave sin of disrespecting Sacred Things, Objects, Places, etc.
 Blasphemy
o Verbal sacrilege.
 What is your role in the Ministry at the Altar? (As an Altar Server)
o To serve, assist the Priest at Holy Mass and other Sacraments.
 Define Holy Mass
o The highest form of Praise and Thanks Giving.
o The highest form of Prayer.
o 2 major parts of Holy Mass (Liturgy of the Word & Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist)

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 Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Guiguinto, Bulacan
 Types of Holy Mass
o Low Mass – Mass in which the Priest does not chant the parts that the Rubrics assigned to him.
o Solemn High Mass – Celebrated by Priest, requiring most of the parts of Mass to be sung, and use of incense.
o Solemn Pontifical Mass (Pontifical High Mass) – A Solemn High Mass celebrated by a Bishop using certain
prescribed ceremonies.
o Papal Mass – Pope’s Solemn Mass.
 Holy Tradition – Taken from the Latin word Trado, Tradere means to hand over or to deliver.
 Holy Bible
o From Latin word Biblia (Biblia Sacra) means “Holy Books”
o Written Holy Tradition
o The current Holy Bible’s books (New Testament) were selected by the Holy Catholic Church with guidance of
the Holy Spirit and inline based on our Holy Tradition, books that doesn’t aligned with the Holy Tradition were
disregarded.
o Consists of 73 books, 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.
o Translated and corrected by St. Jerome into Latin, Hebrew, and Greek.
 Canon Law – It is a body of laws and regulation made by Ecclesiastical Leadership (Church Leadership) for the
government of Church and its members.
 Catacombs – An underground cemetery where the Masses of early Christianity was held.
 Types of Bows
o Head Bow
o Body Bow
o Genuflect
 Amen (Hebrew) means – So be it
 Hosanna (Hebrew) means – Save us
 Eucharist (Greek) means – Thanks giving or gratitude
 Christ (Greek) / Messiah (Hebrew) – Anointed one
 Jesus – God saves
 Emmanuel – God is with us
 Aramaic – Jesus and His disciples’ local language. The common language of Judea in the first century AD, most likely a
Galilean dialect distinguishable from that of Jerusalem. The towns of Nazareth and Capernaum in Galilee, where Jesus
spent most of his time, were Aramaic-speaking communities.
 The Holy Rosary – The word Rosary means "Crown of Roses". It is considered a perfect prayer because within it, lays
the awesome story of our salvation. With the Rosary in fact we meditate the mysteries of joy, of sorrow and the glory
of Jesus and Mary.
 Scapular – From Latin Scapulae meaning "shoulders".
o Monastic Scapular – Part of the garments of some religious orders like Monks and Nuns.
o Devotional Scapular – A brown yarn-like necklace connecting the rectangles with image of Blessed Virgin Mary.
 Apostles Creed (Symbolum Apostolicum) – Sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian
belief, a creed or "symbol". The Apostles' Creed was based on Christian theological understanding of the Canonical
gospels, the letters of the New Testament and to a lesser extent the Old Testament.
 Our Father (Pater Noster) – Also known as, Lord’s Prayer. A prayer that Jesus Himself teaches us. Matthew 6:9-13
 Hail Mary (Ave Maria) – A prayer for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ.
 Glory be to the Father (Gloria Patri) – Is a doxology, a short hymn of praise to God.
*Give each of them a copy of prayers above, English, Tagalog, and Latin.

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 Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Guiguinto, Bulacan
Part II: The Sacred Building of the Liturgy – THE CHURCH
 THE CHURCH
o Sub Parish – Sub division of a Parish such as chapels.
o Quasi Parish – It is on the way to becoming a Parish. Where a Parish Priest has been named to pastor a
defined community, but circumstances do not permit it to be formally erected as a Parish, the congregation is
recognized as a Quasi-Parish.
o Parish – A parish is a stable community of the faithful within a Particular Church, whose pastoral care has been
entrusted to a Parish Priest (Latin: Pastor), under the authority of the Diocesan Bishop.
o Cathedral – It is the chief church of the Diocese, the Bishop’s church.
o Basilica – Fundamentally a Basilica is an architectural term for a certain style of building with a large, high-
ceilinged hall with three long aisles. There are over 1600 minor basilicas around the world, 527 in Italy alone.
 Minor Basilica (Basilica Minore) – A church that has unusual historical significance, or is especially
sacred because of the presence of a relic or relics.
 Major Basilica (Basilica Majore) – It is the title given to the four highest-ranking Roman Catholic
churches: Arch Basilica of St. John Lateran, St. Peter's Basilica, Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls,
and Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
o Shrine – Traditionally a Shrine is a church that attracts pilgrims because it possesses an important relic or a
wonderworking sacred image. By canon law, however, such an official designation must come from the local
bishop. (The place where a saint was born or died, the site of a miracle or an apparition, these are all shrines)
 ALTAR (Main Altar or High Altar)
o The most sacred table in the center of the Church where we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, and symbolize Christ
self-offering of Himself to the cross.
 TABERNACLE
o This is where the Most Holy Body of our Lord Jesus Christ is kept in the Sanctuary.
 LECTERN
o This is where the Word of God is being read and proclaimed in the Mass.
 SANCTUARY
o This is the central flat form where the Altar is located.
 RETABLO (REREDOS /rer-ə-ˌdäs also ˈrir-ə-ˌdäs or ˈrir-ˌdäs/)
o This is where the Holy Images in the center of the Church are located behind the Altar.
 NAVE
o The main part of the church where the congregation (the faithful who come to worship) sit.
 AISLES
o The way in the center of the Church leading to the altar
 3 KINDS OF IMAGERY IN THE CHURCH
o Icons (paintings)
o Images (rebulto)
o Stained Glass
 BAPTISTRY (BAPTISTERY)
o Place where the Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated.
 SACRISTY
o A place in Church where Holy Vestments and Blessed Sacrament Vessels are kept.

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 Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Guiguinto, Bulacan
 AMBRY
o A small cabinet for Holy Oils.
 TWO (2) HOLY OILS
o Chrism – used in Baptism, Holy Orders, and in Confirmation
o Infirmorum – used in anointing of the sick
 ORDO
o A booklet which means “Liturgical Orders” that tells about the celebration of the Mass for a particular day,
and the color to be used.
 PORTA SANCTA (HOLY DOOR)
o Main door of the Church, located at the opposite end of the Main Altar.
 FAÇADE
o Outer sides surface of the Church.
 BELL TOWER
o It is a tower that contains one or more huge bells.
 PULPIT
o At the front of the nave, where the priest preaches (these talks are called “sermons”) on early times when
microphones are not yet invented.
 DOME
o A hollow upper half of a sphere located above the Altar.
 TRANSEPT (RIGHT WING and LEFT WING)
o A transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform.
 HOLY WATER STOUP
o It is a vessel containing holy water generally placed near the entrance of a church. Symbolizes holy water of
the Jordan River.
 PATIO
o From Spanish word Patio means courtyard. It is an outdoor space of the Church.
 CONFESSIONAL
o It is a small, enclosed booth used for the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance.
 GROTTO
o Devotional natural or artificial cave where statue of Blessed Virgin Mary is placed.
 STATIONS OF THE CROSS (WAY OF THE CROSS)
o It is a series of artistic representations, very often sculptural, depicting Christ carrying the Cross to his
crucifixion in the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus before he died.
 THE 4 EVANGELIST
o St. Luke – Symbol: Winged Ox
 Jesus became a sacrifice for all of us, dying in the cross for us.
o St. Matthew – Symbol: Winged Man
 Jesus became true man as St. Matthew tells us on his Gospel.
o St. Mark – Symbol: Winged Lion
 Jesus is the King (The Lion of Judah. The Lion of Judah is the symbol of the Israelite tribe of Judah. Judah,
the fourth son of Jacob, is said to be the tribe's founder.)
o St. John – Symbol: Eagle
 Jesus is the Highest, He is God.

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 Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Guiguinto, Bulacan
Part III: SACRED OBJECTS
 CATHEDRA
o Throne of the Bishop which the name “Cathedral” is named.
 PRESIDENTIAL CHAIR
o The seat of the Priest in the Sanctuary.
 PEWS
o The Seats of the faithful.
 SERYALES
o The collective name of the pairs of Processional Torch and Processional Crucifix.
 TWO (2) KINDS OF SACRING BELLS
o Single Bell
o Chime Bell
 MATRACA (CROTALUM)
o Wooden clapper used in place of sacring bells during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
 REPOSITORY TABERNACLE
o Wooden tabernacle used during Maundy Thursday for Visita Iglesia.
 LAMP BESIDE THE TABERNACLE
o It means Christ’s presence.
 PROCESSIONAL CANDLES
o Candle holder used by altar servers during Holy Mass.
 PROCESSIONAL CROSS (CRUCIFIX)
o Crucifix used by altar servers when going and leaving the Altar in Holy Mass, also used in procession
outside the Church.
 SACRO MADERO
o From Spanish word which mean Sacred Wood. A large crucifix commonly in the center of retablo/reredos.
 CREDENCE TABLE
o Small table beside Sanctuary where chalice, ciborium, and cruets are temporarily place during Holy Mass.
 OFFERTORY TABLE
o Small table near Porta Sancta (Holy Door) where offers in Holy Mass such as candles, flowers, gifts, bread
and wine are located.
 PALL
o A hard square material covered with linen (cloth) used to cover Chalice
 COMMUNION PLATE
o Plate with handle which is used during communion to catch falling small pieces of Blessed Sacrament.
 THE 3 CLOTHS
o Finger Towel
 Used in drying the Priest’s hands after washing using ewer and basin.
o Purificator
 Used in drying and cleaning Chalice and Ciborium.
o Corporal
 From the Latin word ‘Corpus’ means ‘body’, represents the linen used to cover Corpus Christi
(Body of Christ) when Jesus died on the cross and was buried. It is used by spreading in the altar
and placing Blessed Sacrament on top, to catch the falling Body of Christ.

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 Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Guiguinto, Bulacan
SACRED CONTAINER
 Holy Water Vessel
o Aspersory – It is a container (pail) for holding Holy Water.
o Aspergillum – It is a stick-shaped with holes in it to dip into the Aspersory and catch the Holy Water.
 Thurible – A thurible is the incense burner used at Mass, contains burning coals.
 Boat – The boat is where the frankincense is stored until it is placed in the thurible in Mass.
 Cruets – Sacred vessels for wine and water before consecration.
 Ewer and Basin (Pitcher and Bowl) – Used for washing hands of the Priest.
LITURGICAL BOOKS
 Evangelarium (Gospel Book) – Book of the Gospel (Ang Mabuting Balita, Ebanghelyo) of the life and teachings of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the only book carried in the procession in the beginning of Holy Mass.
 Lectionary – The book of the Word of God, read by lectors in the lectern.
 Sacramentary – English translation of Roman Missal, the book for the Priest celebrant, containing all and only the
words spoken (or sung) by him.
 Ordo – A booklet which means “Liturgical Orders” that tells about the celebration of the Mass for a particular day, and
the color to be used.
 Collectio Rituum – A book used for celebrating Sacraments and different blessings.
 Missal – A missal is a prayer book that contains all of the readings and prayers for all of the Masses throughout the
liturgical year.
 Missalette – a shortened form (usually monthly) of a Missal published periodically for parishioners use.
 Rubrics – means red ink. It is an instruction for a Priest explaining what he had to do during a liturgical service.
BLESSED SACRAMENT VESSELS
 Blessed Sacrament – Means “The Most Sacred Body of Christ”
 Ciborium – Container of Blessed Sacrament with cap for distribution during the communion of the faithful.
 Chalice – The Holy Cup of the Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 Paten – The consecrated gold or silver plate on which the Sacred Host is laid on top of Chalice.
 Pyx – A small container, used to carry the Blessed Sacrament to bring it to the sick and homebound.
 Monstrance (Ostensorium) – It is the vessel used to display the consecrated Eucharistic host, during Eucharistic
adoration or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
 Lunette – A crescent shape where the Blessed Sacrament is enclosed therein when exposed in Ostensorium.
VESTMENTS USED FOR EXPOSITION AND PROCESSION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
 Pluvial – (Latin: pluviale ‘rain coat’ or cappa) The cope is a liturgical vestment, more precisely a long mantle or cloak,
open in front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp.
 Humeral Veil – Rectangular linen worn over the Priest’s shoulder to hold the Ostensorium during Eucharistic
procession and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
 Canopy – Large rectangular cloth with poles (like a tent) carried by four or six ministers to cover the Blessed
Sacrament during Eucharistic Procession.
VESTMENTS OF THE HOLY ORDERS
 Alb – White garment or vestment that symbolizes purity.
 Stole – A liturgical vestment worn around the neck and the two ends hang down parallel to each other in front.
Symbolizes authority.
 Chasuble – It is the outermost liturgical vestment worn by Clergy (Priest or Bishop) for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Symbolizes charity.

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 Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Guiguinto, Bulacan
 Dalmatic – It is a long wide-sleeved garment which is sometimes used by Deacons in Mass and other services.
Although infrequent, it may also be worn by bishops above the alb and below the chasuble.
 Zucchetto – It is a small, hemispherical, form-fitting ecclesiastical skullcap worn by Bishops, Cardinals and Pope.
 Miter – Two pointed headdress symbolizes the unity of the Old and New Testaments.
 Crosier (Pastoral Staff) – Carried by Bishops, Cardinals and Pope that symbolizes that they are Shepherds.
 Episcopal Ring or Ecclesiastical Ring – Ring of Bishops and Cardinals, symbolizes commitment to serve to Christ alone.
 Pectoral Cross – Cross worn by Pontiff over the chest near the heart.
 Pallium – It is an ecclesiastical vestment of Metropolitan Archbishops and the Pope, worn outside chasuble, above the
center stole. A Metropolitan Archbishop may wear his pallium as a mark of his jurisdiction not only in his own
archdiocese but anywhere in his Ecclesiastical province whenever he celebrates Mass (Canon 437, Code of Canon Law, 1983).
 Tiara – Three-crown headdress of the Pope, symbolizes his authority.
 Fisherman’s Ring – The Papal ring. A symbolism derived from the tradition that the Apostles are “fishermen”. It is also
used to seal official documents signed by the Pope.
SACRAMENTOLOGY
 Paschal Mystery of Jesus
o Comprise of His Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Glorification (God’s final removal of sins from the life of
the saints, KALIGTASAN)
o Center of the Christian Faith, because God’s saving plan was accomplished once for all by the redemption
death of His Son Jesus Christ.
 Matter and Form – The two constituting elements of Sacraments.
*Ministers of Confirmation – Bishops
*Ministers of Holy Eucharist – Priest, Bishops, Cardinals
*Ministers of Matrimony – Couple
*Ministers of Holy Orders – Bishops
 Effects of Baptism
o Becoming children of God.
o Washing away original sin.
o Becoming member of the One True Church founded by Jesus Christ.
 Transubstantiation – The miracle of changing of ‘substance’ of the bread and wine into the REAL BODY AND BLOOD
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
 Epiclesis – Part of Eucharistic Prayer by which the priest invokes the Holy Spirit to change (Transubstantiation) Bread
and Wine into real Body and Blood of Christ
 SINS – Act of violating God’s will.
o Original Sin – State of man’s sinfulness transmitted to us from Adam and Eve, washed away by baptism.
o Venial Sin – Venial means ‘Forgivable’, a kind of sin which was committed unintentionally and shallow.
o Mortal Sin – Mortal means ‘Death’, a kind of grave sin which was committed intentionally.
*Temptation is not a sin, unless you do.
 Indulgence – It is the remission of temporal punishment due to sins which was already forgiven.
o Partial Indulgence
o Plenary Indulgence
 Sanctifying Grace – The Grace which we are receiving in the Sacraments which makes us holy.
 Infallibility – Authority of the Pope, union with college of Bishops (Roman Pontiff) especially when joined together in
an Ecumenical Council, proclaim by a definitive act of a doctrine pertaining to faith and morals.

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 Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Guiguinto, Bulacan
Part IV: THE LITURGUCAL YEAR
 Table of Precedence of Liturgical Days:
o Sundays – “The Lord’s Day”. Considered as the primordial feast day.
o Solemnities – Highest ranking Feast Days; Paschal Triduum, Nativity, Epiphany, Ascension, Pentecost, All Saints
Day, Corpus Christi, and other celebrations of events of Blessed Virgin Mary, and in our Lord’s life on earth.
o Feasts – Feasts are the next rank down. They consist of the celebration of certain saints like the feast of the
Archangels or most of the Apostles, and our Patron Saints.
o Memorials – Lower ranked Feast day in honor of a Saint.
 Obligatory Memorials
 Optional Memorials
o Ferial Days – Mass during ordinary weekdays which no special feast or vigil is celebrated.
 LITURGICAL YEAR – Catholic Church sets aside certain days and seasons of a year to recall and celebrate various
events in the life of Christ.

 ADVENT (Violet) – Advent (from the Latin word adventus, which means "arrival" or "coming") is the first season of the
liturgical year. It begins four Sundays before Christmas, the Sunday falling on or nearest to November 30, and ends on
Christmas Eve, December 24.
 CHRISTMAS (White) – The Christmas season immediately follows Advent. Begin with Christmas Eve on the evening of
December 24 and continue until the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, next Sunday after Epiphany (January 6).
 LENT (Violet) – Lent is a major penitential season of preparation for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends in
Black Saturday (six Sundays in the season are not included), lasts for forty (40) days.
 EASTER (White) – It is celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. The date of Easter varies from year to year, according to a
lunar-calendar dating system.
 ORDINARY TIME (Green) – Ordinary Time refers to all of those parts of the Catholic Church's liturgical year that aren't
included in the major seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter). Ordinary Time is celebrated in two segments:
from the Monday following the Baptism of Our Lord up to Ash Wednesday; and from Pentecost Monday to the First
Sunday of Advent. This makes it the largest season of the Liturgical Year.
 LITURGICAL COLORS
o Green – Color of Hope and Growth
o White – Light, Innocence, Purity, Triumph, and Glory
o Red – Blood, Fire, and Martyrdom
o Violet – Penance, Humility, and Sorrow
o Rose – Rejoice or Joy
o Gold – Joy, Purity, can replace White commonly in Solemnities of our Lord.
o Blue – Color associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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 Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Guiguinto, Bulacan
DECEMBER
 Advent – The first four (4) Sundays (weeks) of December.
 Immaculate Conception – Solemnity of BVM on December 8, dogma of the Catholic Church that Mary conceive in the
womb and was kept free from original sin.
 Gaudete – Third (3rd) Sunday of Advent, Latin word means rejoice.
 Simbang Gabi – In Philippines, it begins on December 16 and ends in December 24, symbolizes the 9 months
pregnancy of Blessed Virgin Mary.
JANUARY
 Theotokos – Solemnity in January 1, means Mary the ‘Mother of God’
 Holy Family – Feast in the 1st Sunday after Christmas - Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
 Epiphany – Feast in the 2nd Sunday after Christmas - manifestation of child Jesus to three wise men.
 Baptism of the Lord – Feast in the 3rd Sunday after Christmas, official end of Christmas season.
 Santo Niño – In Philippines, it is the Feast on 4th Sunday after Christmas.
 Saint Ildephonsus of Toledo – Feast of our Patron Saint, January 23.
FEBRUARY
 Presentation of Jesus in the Temple – Feast occurs on February 2, 40 days after Christmas. Also this date, we
celebrates the Feast of Purification of the Virgin, and Candelaria (Candle Mass).
 Our lady of Lourdes – a title of the BVM on February 11, as she showed herself to St. Bernadette Soubirous in Grotto
in Lourdes France. Also celebrates the Feast day ‘World Day of Sick’ which was instituted by Blessed John Paul II on the
commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes.
FEBRUARY – March
 Ash Wednesday – It is the first day of Lent. Occurring 46 days before Easter, it is a moveable Feast that can fall as early
as February 4 and as late as March 10.
 Lent – Season of penance (repentance of sin), prayers, fasting, and abstinence.
 Annunciation of the Lord – Occurs every March 25.
MARCH – APRIL
 Laetare – Fourth (4th) Sunday of Lent, Latin word means joyful.
 Palm Sunday – 6th Sunday of Lent (Sunday before Easter), commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
 In Maundy Thursday, we celebrate the Lord’s institution of two (2) Sacraments, Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders. Also
Mass of Chrism takes place in the morning, Infirmorum are also blessed at this Mass.
 Easter Triduum – Also referred to as the Paschal Triduum. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday are
called Easter Triduum. It recalls the passion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, as portrayed in the Gospel.
 Easter Vigil – Also referred to as Paschal Vigil. First official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, it is held in the
hours of darkness on Holy Saturday, where the fire was being blessed.
APRIL – JUNE
 Easter Season – Season of the Church celebration of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 Ascension Sunday – 7th Sunday after Easter. Solemnity of our Lord’s ascending to Heaven, after 40 days of staying with
His disciples.
 Pentecost – 8th Sunday after Easter. Official end of Easter Season.
 Most Holy Trinity – 9th Sunday after Easter.
 Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Christ) – 10th Sunday after Easter.
 Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Friday after Corpus Christi.
 Immaculate Heart of Mary – Saturday after Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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 Altar Servers’ Lesson Plan
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Guiguinto, Bulacan
JUNE – JULY
 Ordinary Time is composed of 34 Sundays.
AUGUST
 Transfiguration of the Lord – August 6.
 Assumption of Mary – August 15.
 Queenship of Mary – Coronation of Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. August 22.
SEPTEMBER
 Nativity of Mary – Birth date of Blessed Virgin Mary, September 8.
OCTOBER – NOVEMBER
 Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary – October 7.
 Saint Luke the Evangelist – Patron Saint of painters, artists, writers, physicians, surgeon, and students. October 18.
 All Saints Day – Solemnity occurs every November 1. Commemoration of our beloved departed in the Heaven.
 All Souls Day –Feast occurs every November 2. Commemoration of our beloved departed in the Purgatory.
 Christ the King – Solemnity at the 34th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the official end of Liturgical Year.

HAGIOLOGY
 Saint – Persons who acknowledge for having an exceptional degree of holiness and already in Heaven with God, and
always intercedes for us.
 Stages of Canonization in the Catholic Church
o Servant of God – It is the title given to a deceased person of the Catholic Church whose life and works are
being investigated in consideration for official recognition by the Pope and the Catholic Church as a Saint.
o Venerable – The first proclamation of a person’s life is worthy of great deal of respect.
o Beatification – It is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven
and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name.
o Canonization – The act by which the Catholic Church declares a deceased person to be a Saint, after some
proven miracles.
 Dulia – Respect and honor we give to a Saint.
 Hyperdulia – A higher respect and honor to Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.
 Latria – Supreme worship and adoration to God, directed only to the Holy Trinity.
*Latria is sacrificial in character, and offered only to God. Catholic Church offers other degrees of reverence to the
Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Saints; these non-sacrificial types of veneration are called hyperdulia and dulia,
respectively. In English, dulia is also called veneration. Hyperdulia is essentially a heightened degree of dulia provided
only to the Blessed Virgin.
SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST
Saint Luke was a Greek-Syrian pagan converted by the ‘Apostle of the Gentiles’, St. Paul, who became his faithful
friend who never leaves him. He was born in Antioch, Syria and had two (2) professions, Doctor and Painter. He
accompanied Saint Paul in his three (3) missionary journeys, until the martyrdom of Saint Paul in Rome, where he was
beheaded under the command of tyrant Emperor Nero, who also burned the whole City of Rome and blamed it to
Christians. Saint Peter then after was also received his martyrdom after being crucified upside-down in Rome.
After the martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Saint Luke travels to Egypt, Macedonia, and at the end, to
Boeotia in Greece, where he accepts his martyrdom by hanging on an olive tree at the age of 84. His death was his
triumph, because death of a Saint was their birth date in Heaven, his Feast is celebrated every 18th of October.

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SAINT ILDEPHONSUS OF TOLEDO
Saint Ildephonsus was born to a prominent family in Toledo, Spain. He was educated by his two (2) saintly uncles,
Saint Isidore of Seville and Saint Eugene, who later became Bishop of Toledo. He decided to be a monk, disobeying his
family’s plans for his clerical career, where eventually he became the Abbot because of his remarkable holiness.
After the death of Archbishop of Toledo, his uncle Eugene III, Saint Ildephonsus was elected his successor as
Bishop of Toledo. As an Archbishop, he became a very loving father, attending to the needs of people especially the poor.
He strongly defended the heresy of Helvidius, that Mary had another child and not a virgin.
Ildephonsus reportedly experienced a vision on 18 December. As Bishop Ildephonsus and the congregation sang
Marian hymns, light surrounds the church, which caused most worshippers to flee. The Bishop, however, remained with a
few deacons. They saw Mary descend and sit on the Episcopal throne. She praised Ildephonsus for his devotion, and
vested him with a special chasuble from her Son's treasury, which she instructed the Bishop to only wear during Marian
festivals.
THE ONE TRUE CHURCH – ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
 Catholic – From the Greek word “KAT’ HOLOS” (Romans 1:8)
*He pistis humon KATAngeletai en HOLO to kosmo*
He pistis humon Your faith Ang pananampalataya ninyo
Katangeletai is proclaimed throughout ay ipinahahayag sa lahat ng dako
En holo to cosmo in the whole of the world sa buong daigdig
– The word Catholic is formed from the abbreviation of the whole verse which simply combine the preposition
‘KATA’ (throughout) and the adjective ‘HOLOS’ (whole) to describe the Roman Faith as “Proclaimed throughout
the whole world.”
 Jesus Christ – Founded the Roman Catholic Church. –Matthew 16:18
 Saint Peter – The first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. –Matthew 16:18
 Pope Francis I – 264th Pope since Saint Peter.
 Vatican Hill (in Rome) – Place where Saint Peter was crucified upside-down, also where his tomb was located, under
St. Peter’s Basilica, the center of Christianity in the world.
 Orthodox Christianity – The first Major Division of the Early Christianity (Catholic Church), divided into two, Oriental
Orthodoxy and Eastern Orthodoxy (sooner united again with the Catholic Church and now also called Orthodox
Catholic Church)
 Martin Luther – Was a German monk and former Catholic priest, founder of Protestantism.
*Explain further, who is Martin Luther, what’s his connection with Indulgence and self-interpretation of the Bible*
 The four marks of ONE TRUE CHURCH founded by our Lord Jesus Christ
o One – There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and
in all. –Ephesians 4:5-6
o Holy – It doesn’t mean that the members of the Church are free from sin or cannot sin. Our Church is holy
because it is Christ’s Church, and we have communion of Saints (Holy) which were already in Heaven.
o Catholic – Catholic means ‘Universal’ as Jesus told his Apostles to baptized the whole world in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. –Matthew 28:18-20
o Apostolic – We are Apostolic, we have unbroken line of Shepherds as St. Peter as our first Pope. Our teachings
and Holy Tradition are from the Apostles who are the first Catholics, the early Christians.
 Magisterium – Authority that lays down what is the authentic teaching of the Church.
 Dogma – it is considered to be both divine and Catholic faith.
 Canon Law – Rules and regulation of the Church

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 The Three Phases Of The Church
o Militant Church – Those who are still alive in this world, battling against sin and from death (eternal flame).
o Suffering Church – Those who are already departed and presently in the Purgatory.
o Triumphant Church – Comprising those who are already in heaven, the Saints.
 Major Branches Within Christianity
*See separate illustration (bigger) of below image*

o Council of Ephesus, AD 431 – This council condemned the teachings that Virgin Mary maybe called
‘Christotokos’ (Birth Giver of Christ) not ‘Theotokos’ (Birth Giver of God)
o Council of Chalcedon, AD 451 – The council marked a significant turning point in the Christological debates
that led to the separation of the church of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century.
 Christology – Study in Christian Theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of
Jesus Christ as recorded in the canonical Gospels and the New Testament.
o Great Schism, 11th Century – Resulted from a variety of political, cultural and theological factors which
emerged over centuries.
o Reformation, 16th Century – Protestant reformation by Martin Luther.
THE HOLY BIBLE
 Exegesis – The study of the correct interpretation of the Bible.
 Major Division of the Bible
o Old Testament
o New Testament
 Saint Jerome – The greatest translator of the Bible, he also corrected the Latin language version of the New
Testament. He translated and corrected the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and Latin.
 Pentateuch – Also known as Five Books of Moses. The first five books of the Bible, comprising Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
 Genesis – Book that tells about creation, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
 Exodus – Book that tells about Moses and great escape of Israelites from slavery of Egypt.
 Psalms – Book of songs of King David.
 Passover – Greatest feast of the Jews, commemoration of their freedom from slavery in Egypt.
 Deuterocanonical – The 7 books which were eliminated by the Protestants from the Bible.
o Tobit
o Judith
o Wisdom
o Sirach
o Baruch
o 1 Maccabees *They also eliminated Esther 10:24-16:24 and Daniel 3:24-90
o 2 Maccabees

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Guiguinto, Bulacan
SYMBOLISM AND MONOGRAMS IN THE CHURCH
Agnus Dei Chi-Roh Pelican

IHS INRI
IESVS HOMINVM SALVATOR IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDÆORVM
Jesus Savior of all Men Jesus the Nazarene, King of Jews

MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY

Joyful Mystery (Monday and Saturday) Sorrowful Mystery (Tuesday and Friday)
1. The Annunciation 1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Visitation 2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Nativity 3. The Crowning of Thorns
4. The Presentation in the Temple 4. Carrying the Cross
5. The Finding in the Temple 5. The Crucifixion

Luminous Mystery (Thursday) Glorious Mystery (Wednesday and Sunday)

1. The Baptism of the Lord 1. The Resurrection
2. The Manifestation at the Wedding at Cana 2. The Ascension
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God 3. The Descend of the Holy Spirit
4. The Transfiguration 4. The Assumption
5. The Institution of the Holy Eucharist 5. The Coronation of Blessed Virgin Mary

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