CHORUS
The priest says this is my body, this is my blood,
When it's time for communion.
And Jesus said, "This is my body. This is my blood,"
And that's holy communion.
The last supper was the first Holy Communion.
At Liturgy, we celebrate Holy Communion.
Jesus said Remember Him in Holy Communion.
Jesus takes bread and wine and makes Holy Communion.
CHORUS
Every child of God should take their first Holy Communion.
Go to Liturgy and celebrate Holy Communion.
If you want to honor Christ, partake in Holy Communion.
If you want eternal life, you will receive Holy Communion.
CHORUS
Chords: I, IV, iii, ii
Jesus is the Son of God.
That's why we call Jesus, Lord!
Peter and the Apostles,
They all called Jesus, Lord.
In the Divine Liturgy,
We call on Jesus the Lord.
Lord have mercy!
Lord have mercy!
Who are the saints
Saints are baptized people
Saints love Jesus Christ
We should be like the saints
Who are the saints
Saints are holy people
Saints love everyone
We should be like the saints
Peter was the first Pope
Nicholas gave gifts
Mary was a nun
Theodora was a queen
Who are the saints
Saints are Godβs family
Saints are nice everyone
We should be like the saints
Chords: C Cmaj7 Em Emb13 Fmaj7sus2 Fmaj7/#11sus2 G56 G56sus4
When we make a mistake x2
We should ask for forgiveness x2
And God will forgive us x2
Because Jesus loves us x2
Jesus wants us to forgive x8
When somebody else hurts us x2
They should ask for forgiveness x2
And we should forgive them x2
Because we should love them x2
Jesus wants us to forgive x16
Verse Chords: A G A G
Hook Chords: Em F#
Jesus taught us
To love one another
God made all of us
So love one another
Jesus taught us
Be kind to each other
God made all of us
So love one another
Love one another
God loves us all
Love one another
God loves us all
Jesus taught us
To help one another
God made all of us
So pray for one another
Jesus taught us
Speak nice to each other
God made all of us
So share with each other
Love one another
God loves us all
Love one another
God loves us all
Chords: Fmaj7 Em Dmadd9 C
Jesus taught us
That God's our father
Jesus taught us
That were God's children
Jesus taught us
That god cares for us
Jesus taught us
That god love us all
Jesus taught us
That God's our father
Jesus taught us
That were God's children
Jesus taught us
That god cares for us
Jesus taught us
That god love everyone
CHORUS
The priest says this is my body, this is my blood,
When it's time for communion.
And Jesus said, "This is my body. This is my blood,"
And that's holy communion.
The last supper was the first Holy Communion.
At Liturgy, we celebrate Holy Communion.
Jesus said Remember Him in Holy Communion.
Jesus takes bread and wine and makes Holy Communion.
CHORUS
Every child of God should take their first Holy Communion.
Go to Liturgy and celebrate Holy Communion.
If you want to honor Christ, partake in Holy Communion.
If you want eternal life, you will receive Holy Communion.
CHORUS
Chords: I, IV, iii, ii
Jesus is the Son of God.
That's why we call Jesus, Lord!
Peter and the Apostles,
They all called Jesus, Lord.
In the Divine Liturgy,
We call on Jesus the Lord.
Lord have mercy!
Lord have mercy!
Who are the saints
Saints are baptized people
Saints love Jesus Christ
We should be like the saints
Who are the saints
Saints are holy people
Saints love everyone
We should be like the saints
Peter was the first Pope
Nicholas gave gifts
Mary was a nun
Theodora was a queen
Who are the saints
Saints are Godβs family
Saints are nice everyone
We should be like the saints
Chords: C Cmaj7 Em Emb13 Fmaj7sus2 Fmaj7/#11sus2 G56 G56sus4
When we make a mistake x2
We should ask for forgiveness x2
And God will forgive us x2
Because Jesus loves us x2
Jesus wants us to forgive x8
When somebody else hurts us x2
They should ask for forgiveness x2
And we should forgive them x2
Because we should love them x2
Jesus wants us to forgive x16
Verse Chords: A G A G
Hook Chords: Em F#
Jesus taught us
To love one another
God made all of us
So love one another
Jesus taught us
Be kind to each other
God made all of us
So love one another
Love one another
God loves us all
Love one another
God loves us all
Jesus taught us
To help one another
God made all of us
So pray for one another
Jesus taught us
Speak nice to each other
God made all of us
So share with each other
Love one another
God loves us all
Love one another
God loves us all
Chords: Fmaj7 Em Dmadd9 C
Jesus taught us
That God's our father
Jesus taught us
That were God's children
Jesus taught us
That god cares for us
Jesus taught us
That god love us all
Jesus taught us
That God's our father
Jesus taught us
That were God's children
Jesus taught us
That god cares for us
Jesus taught us
That god love everyone
Where does the word βByzantineβ come from?
Why: The city was βnaturally called Byzantionβ after Byzas, its founder.
Byzantium was renamed ____, after Emperor Constantine.
Answer: Constantinople
Why: Constantine made it his capital, and the city took his name: Constantinople.
βByzantineβ is a way of praying that many different peoples share.
Why: True! Greeks, Slavs, Arabs and others pray the Byzantine liturgy, which spread from Constantinople.
What did Byzantine Catholics keep?
Why: They kept their Byzantine way of praying and stayed in communion with the Church of Rome.
Byzantine Catholics and Orthodox Christians pray the same Byzantine liturgy.
Why: True! The difference is unity with the Pope. The Catechism says our communion βlacks little to attain the fullnessβ (CCC 838).
Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul...what do these 3 names have in common? Well, these are all names of one city, and the word Byzantine comes from this city. Not only that, but Byzantine Rite Catholics get their traditions from here too. Letβs explore more with this lesson. Iβm your host, Shalone Cason, and letβs begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
A city named for Byzas
A long time ago, a leader named Byzas founded a city, and it took his name.
βByzas, after whom the city was naturally called Byzantionβ (Catholic Encyclopedia, βConstantinopleβ)
Byzantion, or Byzantium, was a Greek city on a narrow strait where Europe meets Asia. It was the city of Byzas. So when we say βByzantine,β we mean βfrom Byzantium.β
Constantineβs new capital
Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor, chose Byzantium for his new capital.
βthe solemn inauguration of the new city did not occur until 11 May, 330β (Catholic Encyclopedia, βConstantinopleβ)
Constantine gave the city a new name: Constantinople, which means the city of Constantine! It was also called a βNew Rome.β Its great church was Hagia Sophia, which means Holy Wisdom. So Byzantium became Constantinople.
A way of praying that spread
The way Constantinople prayed spread far beyond the city. The Byzantine Rite was...
βby far the most widely spread in the world.β (Catholic Encyclopedia, βThe Rite of Constantinopleβ)
This means that this way of praying spread all over. Missionaries carried the Gospel from Constantinople to many peoples, like the Slavs in Kyiv. Greeks, Slavs, Arabs, and others all prayed this same way. So βByzantineβ means a way of praying!
Still with the Pope
A Byzantine catechism tells how the Church of Kyiv stayed close to the Church of Rome. Kyiv
βremained in communion with the Church of Romeβ (Christ β Our Pascha 307)
Over the years, Rome and Constantinople drifted apart. But the Church of Kyiv kept its Byzantine prayers and stayed united with Rome. Byzantine Catholics get their history and traditions from Constantinople and Kyiv.
Close to the Orthodox
The Catechism says Catholics and the Orthodox are very close. The Orthodox community...
βlacks little to attain the fullnessβ (Catechism 838)
This means that it wouldnβt take much for our churches, Catholic and Orthodox, to reunite. Thatβs because Orthodox Christians pray the same Byzantine liturgy, with the same icons and feasts. The difference is unity with the Pope. Even though we are so close, it will be hard for everyone to agree, soWe pray that one day weβll all be together again!
So what does Byzantine mean? It was the name of a city that became Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire. It also became the name of the way people from that city prayed, and even though Orthodox and eastern catholics both share the Byzantine tradition, only the Eastern Catholics are in full communion with the Pope. Thanks for learning with us, and until next time, stay holy my friend
Every pixel drawing in this video is drawn by hand by Shalone Cason.
Written and narrated by Shalone Cason, who chose the topic, selected the points, and reviewed every line. Researched and drafted with AI assistance (Claude) from the sources above. Every quotation is checked word for word against its source.
βIt was in ____ that the disciples were first called Christians.β
Answer: Antioch
Why: Acts 11:26. Christians got their name in the city of Antioch.
Byzantine worship grew from the way Christians prayed in Antioch.
Why: True! The Catholic Encyclopedia says it βis derived from that of Antioch.β
What do Byzantine Catholics and Roman Catholics share?
Why: We share one faith and the same seven sacraments. We just pray in different ways (CCC 1202).
The Catholic Church is only the Roman, or Latin, Church.
Why: False! The Catholic Church is a family of Churches, Eastern and Western (Christ β Our Pascha 285).
Who are all the Catholic Churches united with?
Why: All the Catholic Churches are united with the Pope, βthe successor of the apostle Peterβ (Christ β Our Pascha 291).
Some Catholics pray with icons and receive communion with a spoon, but why do they do this, and who are they? Well, letβs get a quick introduction to Byzantine Rite Catholics with this lesson. Iβm your host, Shalone Cason, and as always, weβll begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
It started in Antioch
Long ago, Jesusβs followers spread the Good News to a big city called Antioch.
βit was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.β (Acts 11:26)
Thatβs where Christians got their name! Saint Peter and Saint Paul both lived there for a while, and the way Antioch prayed is where our story begins.
Its prayers came from Antioch
An old Catholic encyclopedia tells us where Byzantine worship comes from.
βIt is derived from that of Antioch.β (Catholic Encyclopedia, βThe Rite of Constantinopleβ)
It grew from the way Antioch prayed, then grew up in a great city called Constantinople. Its old name was Byzantium, and thatβs where the word Byzantine comes from!
One faith, many ways to pray
The Catechism tells us why Catholics pray in different ways.
βChurches of the same geographical and cultural area came to celebrate the mystery of Christ through particular expressions characterized by the cultureβ (Catechism 1202)
Byzantine and Roman Catholics believe the same things and share the same seven sacraments. We just pray differently: Byzantine churches are full of icons, and the whole Liturgy is sung!
A big Church family
A Byzantine catechism tells us how the Catholic Church is put together.
βIt is in these, and formed out of them, that the one and unique Catholic Church exists.β (Christ β Our Pascha 285)
The Catholic Church is a big family of Churches, each with its own bishops. The Latin Church is the biggest. The Ruthenian, Ukrainian and Melkite Churches are Byzantine. Together, theyβre one Church!
Together with the Pope
What makes all these Churches Catholic? The same catechism tells us.
βThe first among self-governing Churches is the Church of Rome, because its presider is the Pope of Rome, the successor of the apostle Peter.β (Christ β Our Pascha 291)
The Pope takes Saint Peterβs place, and all these Churches are united with him. So Byzantine and Roman Catholics can receive Communion in each otherβs churches!
And thatβs the Byzantine Rite in a nutshell. Itβs a form of prayer started in Antioch, and it is one of the many ways that Catholics can pray while still being one church in communion with the Pope! Thanks for learning with me, and until next time, stay holy, my friend.
Every pixel drawing in this video is drawn by hand by Shalone Cason.
Written and narrated by Shalone Cason, who chose the topic, selected the points, and reviewed every line. Researched and drafted with AI assistance (Claude) from the sources above. Every quotation is checked word for word against its source.
CHORUS
The priest says this is my body, this is my blood,
When it's time for communion.
And Jesus said, "This is my body. This is my blood,"
And that's holy communion.
The last supper was the first Holy Communion.
At Liturgy, we celebrate Holy Communion.
Jesus said Remember Him in Holy Communion.
Jesus takes bread and wine and makes Holy Communion.
CHORUS
Every child of God should take their first Holy Communion.
Go to Liturgy and celebrate Holy Communion.
If you want to honor Christ, partake in Holy Communion.
If you want eternal life, you will receive Holy Communion.
CHORUS
What did we achieve in 2025?
We have not collected any donations at this time. However, we need your assistance to break even on hosting and computer equipment. It is our goal to make full 3D animated videos for each new song and lesson we create in 2026. The computing power required for these videos is very expensive. We will not be using AI to create these videos; therefore, it is very time-consuming as well.
And may God bless you and your family!
Sincerely,
Shalone Cason
Chords: I, IV, iii, ii
Jesus is the Son of God.
That's why we call Jesus, Lord!
Peter and the Apostles,
They all called Jesus, Lord.
In the Divine Liturgy,
We call on Jesus the Lord.
Lord have mercy!
Lord have mercy!
