Catholics/Catholicisim

Advertisement

Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 4/16/2011


Question
QUESTION: When the Veil dividing the Holy of Holies, wherein dwelt the mercy seat, to which only the high priest once a year supplied the sacrifical blood for the atonement of the Israelites for the year, was rent in two from the top to the  bottom, when Jesus was sacrificed on calvarys cross, what did that signify?

Thanks

ANSWER: I would say that it signified the perfection and fulfillment of the True Sacrifice in Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God.  It could further be said that it was a signal on earth that Christ had entered into the consummation of the Perfect Heavenly Liturgy where He continues to be High Priest and Savior for us.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I was thinking it was more a signal for the believer to be able to enter into the holy place, where in the Old Testament, it was only the high priest that could enter behind the veil.... BUT now, all believers have that ability, since the veil that separated has been removed. As the scripture states..as we also sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

KJV: Hebrews Chapter 10

[19]
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

[20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

[21] And having an high priest over the house of God;

[22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an sin conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Not H2O but the pure water of His Word! Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

What do  you think?

Amen.

Answer
Christ is the High Priest.  He entered beyond the veil as Priest.  We enter into eternal life through, with, and in Him; but we are not ordained ministerial Priests merely by virtue of our Baptism.  The Sacrament of Holy Orders that Christ instituted among His Apostles and their successors are the ordained ministerial Priests, and they are Priest by their participation in Christ's ministerial Priesthood as High Priest.  Even the people of God in the Old Testament were declared a Holy Nation of Priests; but not each and every Jew was a ministerial, ordained Priest.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

Catholics

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.