Semiotics and Catholic ritual language: a comparative study

Abstract

Semiotics stands as a branch of linguistic studies, leaning on the issues of language, communication, manifested not only in words but in images and symbols. Religion itself is a deeply symbolic manifestation. In this study, we take the Roman Catholic rite of Mass with its adjacent symbology, and submiss its some semiotic questions, demonstrating that the ritual reading is best effected in that the receiver (faithful) is immersed in the web of meanings proposed by religion, It is giving meaning to contemplating, allowing it an authentic understanding, and hence participation.