[Greek] λατρεύω (latreuō), [Latin] servire, [Latin] deservire, [Latin] adorare, [Latin] obsequium, [French] implorer, [French] adresser: to worship, to serve, to worship idols (idolatry), to offer, to minister (to God), to do service, to render religious homage, to serve in religious duties, to pay homage, to render service; 21 scriptures
The Traditional Latin Mass: focusing on the sacrifice of Jesus
Background information:
Secular/Greek Hellenism: This term means to serve.
- Serving may involves slavery, serving freely, and serving with an expectation of a reward.
- A servant may work in the service of a king. Any such obedience may lead to punishment or death.
- A servant may work in the service at a temple. This hired servant is called a latreia.
- Helpers (acolytes) were also employed to assist in worship at the temple.
- It was considered a great honor in serving the state in some compacity.
- Serving the state may include: a civil servant, soldier, and govt. official (politician).
- Outsiders, farmers, and rustic villagers, not interested in serving the state, were subtly looked down upon by the city dwellers.
The temple at Delphi.
Greek Hellenism: This term means to work for hire, to be subject to, to be enslaved, to be devoted to, to obey, to render service, to be devoted to the gods.
Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 3.1.36: “Tell me how much would you pay to get your wife back? I would give my life to keep her from slavery.”
Xenophon’ Agesilaus 7.2: “The greatest service he rendered to his fatherland was that he was clearly a devoted servant of the laws.”
Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus 105: “I seem to lowly, enslaved as I am to woes the sorest of earth.”
Old Testament: This term mean to serve, to work, to be a slaved (indentured), and to help others.
New Testament: This term means to worship and to serve.
Scripture:
Mt.4:10: “Jesus said to Satan, ‘It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve.'” (The Holy Spirit led Jesus to be tempted by the devil. Satan sought to test and make a bargain with Jesus. The devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in return for His worship of him.)
Acts 7:42: “Then God turned and handed them [Israelites] over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the books of the prophets.” (God abandoned the Israelites to their own desires: idol worship. The host of heaven refers to the earthly and worldly realm [Amos 5:26: carrying away the gods that you have made for yourselves])
Acts 24:14: “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I [Paul] worship the God of our ancestors and I believe everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.” (Paul ties together Jesus with God of the Old Testament. Jesus comes to fulfill the promise of the Old Testament.)
Rom.1:25: “The idolators exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshipped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever.”
- God’s wrath is evoked upon every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth.
- There exists a close association of idolatry and immorality.
- God’s wrath goes into action at each present moment in human history
- Idolators become vain in their reasoning. Their senseless minds become darkened.
- Idolators claim to be wise but become fools and exchange the glory of God to other images.
Heb.8:5: “They worship in a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle.” (Jesus is the high priest and minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle. Jesus offers Himself as a sacrifice. Jesus’ ministry in the heavenly sanctuary is that of a superior covenant.)
Heb.10:2: “Otherwise, would not the sacrifices have ceased to be offered, since the worshippers, once cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?” (If the Old Testament sacrifices has actually effected forgiveness of sin, there would be no need for their constant repetition. Jesus offers Himself in a perfect singular sacrifice for all for the forgiveness of sins.)
Conclusion:
Idol, idolatry, adore, adoration, serve, servant, deserve, implore, address, obsequient
The king’s place: the acolyte bows down to the king saying, “Yes, your Majesty. It will done.”
Temple grounds: the acolyte assists in worshiping services at the Delphi Oracle.
City government: the acolyte is a civil servant.
Mass: acolytes assist in carrying books, gifts, chalices, and crosses
Eucharistic adoration: this involves worshipping before Jesus in the tabernacle.
Letter of Cornelius, Bishop of Rome to Fabius of Antioch (251 A.D.):
“Yet he (Novatian) was not unaware–how could he be?–that in it there are 46 presbyters, 7 deacons, 7 subdeacons, 42 acolytes”
Update: Many of us all are often tempted with fame, celebrity, money, “likes”, wealth, busyness, distractions, temptations, and sin by this world.
Perhaps we may never really know all the times that celebrities and stars who have actually “sold their souls” to the devil for their fame and fortune in the world.
It may also be part of God’s providence that He may abandon those unfaithful people willingly fall away from God. God may allow this for a greater purpose (Ex: Pharoah).
The Modernists’ and Synodalists’ “hard-hearted” efforts to squelch Tradition and the TLM are on full display. In response to this, there continues an organic Holy Spirit-inspired counter-movement toward Tradition and reverence. God does work in mysterious ways.
Protestants are also seeking to find deeper meaning in their faith. Protestants are looking deep in Church history and are becoming Catholic. Protestants are tying the historical Church to Catholicism.
Many of us are already acting like “little pagans” bowing our heads down to our electronic devices. There is actually a medical condition called “tech neck” (neck and shoulder strain and tightness).
Satan does not necessarily need to possess us. All he needs to do is to make us forget about God.
Synodality (lived experiences) is become elevated as an idol. Jesus’ divine Church is now be remade in the image of man and his lived experiences. Lived experiences are being elevated over Church teachings, Jesus’ statements, doctrine, sin, and scripture.
Immorality follows idolatry: paying lip service to Church teachings against homosexuality and sin. Rather than stating Church teachings, the LGBTQ “outreach” continues to expand. The Vatican continues to appoint pro-LGBTQ cardinals and theologians questioning Church teachings.
Catholic Mass: the Eucharist in the Mass is the re-presentation of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice at Calvary.
Catholic Mass: the priest acts (in persona Christi) changes the bread and wine (calling upon the Holy Spirit) into the Body and Blood of Christ.