The Catholic church in particular emulates many old covenant practices of temple worship.
Hi Lizbeth,
How refreshing to have someone recognize that the Catholic (and Orthdox) liturgies have their roots in the temple worship in Jerusalem rather than accuse them of being pagan in origin.
The Sacraments have been celebrated from the begining and are found in every community the apostles founded. You will find them in the NT and the writings of the early church fathers.
Indeed the blood and water that flows from Jesus side on the cross, represent the 2 greatest sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist, as the Church is taken from Jesus side, just as Eve was taken from Adam's side while he slept..
Special buildings made for the community to gather and celebrate the Sacred Mysteries, of course do not appear until it was actually legal for the community to publicly gather, but in places like the catacombs in Rome and elsewhere, you will find paintings and icons and symbols where the community did gather in secret...
Consecrated buildings are not required to celebrate the Sacraments, but are a natural outgrowth of offering our best to glorify and worship God.
Consider that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, is it not fitting to celebrate in buildings built to glorify Him?
So to, liturgical vestments find their roots in the vestments of the temple priests and levites dedicated to the worship and glory of the God whom we serve, and serve a function as do statues, icons, paintings and indeed building layouts to remind us of and bring to mind the events of Jesus' life and of heavenly things.
In every community established by the apostles you will find the whole life of the Church centered on the celebration of the sacraments. That which is believed by all, everwhere (the very definition of catholic) is certainly that which we received from the apostles..
Pax et Bonum