The Sacraments

“Sacramentum” a sign of the sacred

The Seven Sacraments are divided into three groupings:

• The sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)

• The sacraments of healing (Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick)

• The sacraments of commitment (Holy Orders, Matrimony)

• Baptism is the door to the Holy Spirit and to the other sacraments.

• By Baptism, the believer is: - freed from sin,

- reborn as God's child, - made a member of Christ and of the Church, - given a share in the Church's mission.

Various Names (1214-1216)

• Baptism means to plunge or immerse. This plunging into water symbolizes the believer's burial with Christ, followed by his rising up as a "new creature" (2 Cor 5:17).

• "The washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (another name for Baptism) refers to the birth by water and the Spirit which is needed to "enter the kingdom of God" (Jn 3:5).

• "This bath is called enlightenment because those instructed ‘are enlightened in their understanding'" (St. Justin).

Fulfilled in Jesus

• Jesus was baptized by John and, after his Resurrection, he commanded the apostles to "make disciples of all nations" and to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19-20).

Infant Baptism (1250-1252)• Children need the new birth of Baptism to be freed from

darkness and brought into God's family. • Infant Baptism shows God's total gratuitousness, the

Church (and parents) would deny the children a priceless gift if they were not baptized shortly after birth.

• Infant Baptism has certainly been practiced since the second century and quite possibly from the very beginning of the Church since Scripture speaks of "households" being baptized (See Acts 16:15, 33; 18:8; 1 Cor 1:16)

Who Can Baptize? (1256)

• The ordinary ministers are the bishop, the priest, and in the Latin Church, the deacon.

• If necessity, anyone (even someone not baptized) can baptize. They must have the intention to will what the Church does when she baptizes and use the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The Church sees this possibility for others to baptize because Baptism is necessary for salvation.

Necessity of Baptism

The Only Door We Know

• Jesus clearly told the apostles to baptize their disciples (Mt 28:19). "Whoever believes and is baptized, will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mk 16:16).

The Graces of Baptism

Two Main Effects (1262)1. Purification from sins 2. New birth in the Holy Spirit. Peter promised

his hearers (on Pentecost) that by Baptism they would receive "forgiveness for your sins" and "the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Duties of Baptized (1269-1270)

• Serve others in the Church• Obey Church leaders. • They have a right to the sacraments,

to the nourishment of God's Word, and to all the Church's spiritual helps. • Participate in the Church's

missionary activity.

Completes Baptism (1285)

• Confirmation is necessary to complete the baptismal grace. "By Confirmation, the baptized are more bound to the Church, enriched by a special strength of the Spirit, and more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith" (Second Vatican Council).

Chrism• oil (chrism) was added to signify the Spirit's

anointing. • The word "Christian" means "anointed" (deriving

from the title "Christ" meaning "the Anointed One").

• The word "Confirmation" suggests a ratification of Baptism.

• The bishop consecrating the chrism on Holy Thursday is, in a sense, part of the sacrament.

Six Effects (1302-1303)

Confirmation:• Increases and deepens baptismal grace• Causes us to cry out "Abba, Father"• Unites us more firmly to Christ• Increases the Spirit's gifts• Bonds us more to the Church• Strengthens us to proclaim our faith boldly

In danger of death, any priest can confirm. The Church wants none of her children, even the youngest, to die without this sacrament.

Penance/ Reconciliation

“But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has Committed will be remembered against him.

Ezekiel 18:21-22

Acts of Penitent

Three Acts (1450)• The sinner must be: - contrite of heart

- confess with their lips, - make fruitful satisfaction

PENANCE SIN ABSOLUTION Priest - Forgiveness of sins - Reconciliation with

… I absolve you Godfrom all your sins - Revival of all meritsin the name of the - Healing Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

Source and Summit of Church Life

Instituting the Eucharist (1337)"do this in memory of me" (Lk 22:19),

Two Parts (1346-1347)Two great parts of liturgical structure:

- Liturgy of the Word

- Liturgy of the Eucharist

Liturgy of the Word (readings, homily, and

intercessions)

Liturgy of the Eucharist (presentation of the gifts, consecration, and

communion)

Ten Names (1328-1332)

• Eucharist - As an action of thanksgiving which recalls the Jewish blessings that proclaim God's mighty works.

• Lord's Supper - As a memorial of the Last Supper which anticipates the heavenly wedding feast of the Lamb.

• Breaking of the Bread - the two disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:31). After Pentecost, the disciples "devoted themselves... to the breaking of the bread" (the earliest Christian term for Eucharist) (Acts 2:42).

• Eucharistic Assembly - As the sacrament should be celebrated communally.

• Memorial - As a recollection of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection.

• Holy Sacrifice - In making present the sacrifice of the cross.

• Holy and Divine Liturgy - In Eucharist, the Church's liturgy finds its most intense expression.• The Most Blessed Sacrament - This

name is also given to the reserved Eucharistic species because the Eucharist is the Sacrament of sacraments.

• Holy Communion - Highlights our union with Christ.

• Holy Mass - The liturgy concludes with a sending forth (Mission).

Sacrament of Holy Orders

The Bishop

To Raise up the Sick (1499)By this sacred anointing, the Church asks the glorified Lord to raise up and save the sick person. The person is asked to help the Church by their union with Christ's sufferings and death (Second Vatican Council).

Jesus' Love for the Sick (1503-1505)

• Christ has the power to forgive and to heal, as when he forgave the paralytic his sins and healed him (Mk 2:5-12). Jesus identified with the sick. "I was sick and you visited me" (Mt 25:36). Following Jesus, Christians make tireless efforts in their preferential care of the poor.

Sacraments of Healing (1509-1510)

• Through Christ's life-giving presence in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist, the Church strives to carry out the Lord's command "Heal the sick" (Mt 10:8).

Healing as a Sacrament (1511-1513)

• The Roman Rite requires that this sacrament be given to the seriously ill by anointing the forehead and hands with blessed oil while saying, "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.”

Ministers of the Sacrament (1516)

• Only bishops and priests can administer the sacrament. Pastors should instruct the faithful of the sacraments' importance. These should encourage the sick to call the priest. The whole parish should surround the sick with prayer and attention.

Three Effects - Peace, Healing and Forgiveness (1520)

• The person receives peace and strength against temptations and discouragement in their illness. The sacrament's power should lead the person to a healing of soul and the body if God wills. Also, "If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (Jas 5:15, Council of Trent).