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Sacraments of Sacraments of Initiation Initiation January 6, 2009

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Page 1: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Sacraments of Sacraments of InitiationInitiation

January 6, 2009

Page 2: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

What is a Sacrament?What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by

Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions. (#1113)with the required dispositions. (#1113)

Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life:the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.natural life and the stages of the spiritual life. (#1210(#1210))

Page 3: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Signs and SymbolsSigns and Symbols A sacramental celebration is woven from signs A sacramental celebration is woven from signs

and symbols. Their meaning is rooted in the work and symbols. Their meaning is rooted in the work of creation and in human culture, specified by the of creation and in human culture, specified by the events of the Old Covenant and fully revealed in events of the Old Covenant and fully revealed in the person and work of Christ. (#1145) the person and work of Christ. (#1145)

The liturgy of the Church presupposes, integrates The liturgy of the Church presupposes, integrates and sanctifies elements from creation and human and sanctifies elements from creation and human culture, conferring on them the dignity of signs of culture, conferring on them the dignity of signs of grace, of the new creation in Jesus Christ. (#1149) grace, of the new creation in Jesus Christ. (#1149)

Signs of the covenant. The Chosen People Signs of the covenant. The Chosen People received from God distinctive signs and symbols received from God distinctive signs and symbols that marked its liturgical life. (#1150)that marked its liturgical life. (#1150)

Page 4: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Signs and SymbolsSigns and Symbols These are … signs of the covenant, symbols of God's These are … signs of the covenant, symbols of God's

mighty deeds for his people. Among these liturgical signs mighty deeds for his people. Among these liturgical signs from the Old Covenant are circumcision, anointing and from the Old Covenant are circumcision, anointing and consecration of kings and priests, laying on of hands, consecration of kings and priests, laying on of hands, sacrifices, and above all the Passover. The Church sees in sacrifices, and above all the Passover. The Church sees in these signs a prefiguring of the sacraments of the New these signs a prefiguring of the sacraments of the New Covenant. (#1150)Covenant. (#1150)

Signs taken up by Christ. In his preaching the Lord Jesus Signs taken up by Christ. In his preaching the Lord Jesus often makes use of the signs of creation to make known often makes use of the signs of creation to make known the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.1717 He performs He performs healings and illustrates his preaching with physical signs or healings and illustrates his preaching with physical signs or symbolic gestures. He gives new meaning to the deeds symbolic gestures. He gives new meaning to the deeds and signs of the Old Covenant, above all to the Exodus and and signs of the Old Covenant, above all to the Exodus and the Passover,the Passover, for he himself is the meaning of all these for he himself is the meaning of all these signs. (#1151)signs. (#1151)

Page 5: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Sacraments of InitiationSacraments of Initiation The Sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, The Sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism,

Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life. "The sharing in foundations of every Christian life. "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity.” (#1212) (Intro to RCIA – [Divinae charity.” (#1212) (Intro to RCIA – [Divinae consortium naturae])consortium naturae])

Page 6: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Sacraments of InitiationSacraments of Initiation baptizeinbaptizein: (Greek) for “plunged into”: (Greek) for “plunged into” metanoiametanoia: (Greek) for “turning around”: (Greek) for “turning around” Baptism was seen as a conversion/turning Baptism was seen as a conversion/turning

from life of the flesh to life in the Spiritfrom life of the flesh to life in the Spirit ““Plunging into” the life, death and Plunging into” the life, death and

resurrection of Jesus Christresurrection of Jesus Christ Celebrate this conversion process through Celebrate this conversion process through

ritual ceremonies/actions within the ritual ceremonies/actions within the ChurchChurch

Sacraments of Initiation are invitation to a Sacraments of Initiation are invitation to a life-long process of conversionlife-long process of conversion

Page 7: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

The Early ChurchThe Early Church First Christians were those who had either First Christians were those who had either

known Jesus or were hearing about him known Jesus or were hearing about him from those who knew him personallyfrom those who knew him personally

We know from the Gospels and the Acts We know from the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles the Jesus sent his disciples of the Apostles the Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, teach and baptizeout to preach, teach and baptize

Baptism of John the Baptist, the same that Baptism of John the Baptist, the same that Jesus himself experiencedJesus himself experienced

Through baptism that you became a Through baptism that you became a follower of Jesus – a Christianfollower of Jesus – a Christian

Page 8: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

The Early ChurchThe Early Church In the early Church, adults and children In the early Church, adults and children

were all baptized; hear in the Acts that were all baptized; hear in the Acts that whole households were baptizedwhole households were baptized

From the earliest times, baptism was first From the earliest times, baptism was first and foremost for the forgiveness of sinsand foremost for the forgiveness of sins

Involved a personal commitment, Involved a personal commitment, metanoia, turning around, life-changemetanoia, turning around, life-change

This new start of life involved the This new start of life involved the presence of Jesus; the newly baptized presence of Jesus; the newly baptized sharing in Christ’s passion, death and sharing in Christ’s passion, death and resurrectionresurrection

Page 9: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Sacrament of ConfirmationSacrament of Confirmation Early Church, the ordinary ministry of all Early Church, the ordinary ministry of all

sacraments was the bishop; direct sacraments was the bishop; direct connection with the Apostlesconnection with the Apostles

By 4By 4thth C, with the growth and spread of the C, with the growth and spread of the Church, priests began to baptize and Church, priests began to baptize and preside at the Eucharistpreside at the Eucharist

So, anointing after baptism (confirming) So, anointing after baptism (confirming) reserved for the bishop; originally may reserved for the bishop; originally may have been separated by weeks or months, have been separated by weeks or months, but soon became months or yearsbut soon became months or years True in the Western rite, not Eastern RitesTrue in the Western rite, not Eastern Rites

Page 10: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Sacrament of ConfirmationSacrament of Confirmation Interestingly, the Eucharist was still Interestingly, the Eucharist was still

given to all newly baptized, even infants given to all newly baptized, even infants (either the bread or the wine, or both)(either the bread or the wine, or both) Still true today in Eastern RitesStill true today in Eastern Rites

So, by 4So, by 4thth C, in Western Rite, the original C, in Western Rite, the original order of Sacraments of Initiation, order of Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, had changed to Baptism, Eucharist and had changed to Baptism, Eucharist and ConfirmationConfirmation True with the exception of the Easter Vigil True with the exception of the Easter Vigil

celebrated by the bishop celebrated by the bishop

Page 11: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

The Middle AgesThe Middle Ages Time passed and theology evolvedTime passed and theology evolved Dark Ages: Catholic theology and ritual were Dark Ages: Catholic theology and ritual were

confined primarily to monasteries in the Westconfined primarily to monasteries in the West Great Schism (Great Schism (10541054 ADAD) between East and West) between East and West All of these events impacted theology All of these events impacted theology

surrounding Sacraments of Initiationsurrounding Sacraments of Initiation By 12By 12thth C, for example, Church stopped C, for example, Church stopped

offering Eucharistic bread to infants because offering Eucharistic bread to infants because might “spit up”, then when cup was withdrawn might “spit up”, then when cup was withdrawn for everyone, children now excludedfor everyone, children now excluded

Page 12: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

The Middle AgesThe Middle Ages So, by 13So, by 13thth C, First Holy Communion C, First Holy Communion

would happen after a period of would happen after a period of education, usually around the age of 14 education, usually around the age of 14 or 15or 15

However, baptized children probably had However, baptized children probably had already been brought to the bishop already been brought to the bishop cathedral for confirmation before First cathedral for confirmation before First Holy CommunityHoly Community

Original order of Baptism, Confirmation Original order of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist was again restored and Eucharist was again restored

Page 13: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Pre-Vatican CouncilPre-Vatican Council Pope Pius X (1906) allowed children to make Pope Pius X (1906) allowed children to make

First Holy Communion as young as age 6-7First Holy Communion as young as age 6-7 Now, order disrupted again; Baptism, Now, order disrupted again; Baptism,

Eucharist and ConfirmationEucharist and Confirmation Theology developed around Confirmation as Theology developed around Confirmation as

a “stand alone” sacrament of strengtheninga “stand alone” sacrament of strengthening Kiss of peace became a slap on the cheek; Kiss of peace became a slap on the cheek;

those being confirmed with “soldiers for those being confirmed with “soldiers for Christ”Christ”

Page 14: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Contemporary PracticeContemporary Practice Vatican Council II (1962-1965) opened the Vatican Council II (1962-1965) opened the

Catholic Church to the modern age and Catholic Church to the modern age and new thinking and schools of theologynew thinking and schools of theology

One call from the bishops of the world One call from the bishops of the world was to reinstate the catechumenate; time was to reinstate the catechumenate; time of preparation for adults preparing to of preparation for adults preparing to come into the Churchcome into the Church

By 1972 promulgated by Rome; 1988 By 1972 promulgated by Rome; 1988 became mandatory for all dioceses in the became mandatory for all dioceses in the USAUSA

Page 15: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Duality of PracticeDuality of Practice For infants/young children, still have the practice For infants/young children, still have the practice

of Baptism for infants, first Eucharist in 2of Baptism for infants, first Eucharist in 2ndnd grade, grade, and Confirmation in high schooland Confirmation in high school

Catechesis:Catechesis: Parents are required to complete preparation classes Parents are required to complete preparation classes

for Baptismfor Baptism Child and parents complete classes before First Holy Child and parents complete classes before First Holy

CommunityCommunity Child/young adult completes two year program of Child/young adult completes two year program of

preparation for Sacrament of Confirmationpreparation for Sacrament of Confirmation Parish priest is ministry for Baptism and Parish priest is ministry for Baptism and

Eucharist; Bishop or delegate for ConfirmationEucharist; Bishop or delegate for Confirmation

Page 16: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Duality of PracticeDuality of Practice For adults, Rite of Christian Initiation of For adults, Rite of Christian Initiation of

Adults (RCIA)Adults (RCIA) Catechesis:Catechesis:

Extensive period of preparation; usually Extensive period of preparation; usually accompanied by a sponsoraccompanied by a sponsor

At the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday), candidate At the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday), candidate receives Sacraments of Initiation in original receives Sacraments of Initiation in original orderorder

Parish priest is ministry for all of the Parish priest is ministry for all of the sacraments; using Sacred Chrism blessed sacraments; using Sacred Chrism blessed by the bishopby the bishop

Page 17: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Sacraments of Initiation Sacraments of Initiation TodayToday

The sacraments are efficacious signs of The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. (#1113)proper to each sacrament. (#1113)

Page 18: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Sacraments of Initiation Sacraments of Initiation TodayToday

Whenever possible, Sacraments of Initiation Whenever possible, Sacraments of Initiation should take place within the celebration of should take place within the celebration of the Eucharist; greatest of the Sacramentsthe Eucharist; greatest of the Sacraments

Liturgy of the Word is always celebratedLiturgy of the Word is always celebrated Baptism (for infants)Baptism (for infants)

Anointing: Oil of Catechumens (on the chest)Anointing: Oil of Catechumens (on the chest) Bless the Water and Make Profession of FaithBless the Water and Make Profession of Faith Baptism: either pouring water or immersionBaptism: either pouring water or immersion Anointing: Sacred Chrism (on the head)Anointing: Sacred Chrism (on the head) Clothing with White GarmentClothing with White Garment Lighting Baptismal Candle from Easter CandleLighting Baptismal Candle from Easter Candle

Page 19: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Sacraments of Initiation Sacraments of Initiation TodayToday

Eucharist:Eucharist: Liturgy of the WordLiturgy of the Word Liturgy of the EucharistLiturgy of the Eucharist Special involvement of the children in the Special involvement of the children in the

liturgyliturgy Confirmation (for young adults)Confirmation (for young adults)

Celebrated by the Bishop (or designee)Celebrated by the Bishop (or designee) Invocation of the Holy SpiritInvocation of the Holy Spirit Taking of a NameTaking of a Name Anointing with Sacred ChrismAnointing with Sacred Chrism Sign of PeaceSign of Peace

Page 20: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

RCIA TodayRCIA Today Begin as Candidates seeking membership in Begin as Candidates seeking membership in

the Christian community of faiththe Christian community of faith Welcome through a formal ritual and anointing Welcome through a formal ritual and anointing

to the Catechumenate; now Catechumens; to the Catechumenate; now Catechumens; time of final preparation for initiation into the time of final preparation for initiation into the Church; finally become Elect with scrutiniesChurch; finally become Elect with scrutinies

Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday)Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday) Profession of FaithProfession of Faith Baptism RiteBaptism Rite ConfirmationConfirmation Participation in the EucharistParticipation in the Eucharist

Page 21: Sacraments of Initiation January 6, 2009. What is a Sacrament? The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the

Closing ThoughtClosing Thought Gospels tell of that Jesus missioned His Gospels tell of that Jesus missioned His

disciples to go out, preach the Good News disciples to go out, preach the Good News of salvation; to baptize in the name of the of salvation; to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy SpiritFather, Son and Holy Spirit

Ritual process of Christian initiation is the Ritual process of Christian initiation is the beginning of a journey that concludes only beginning of a journey that concludes only with the vision of God. In other words, with the vision of God. In other words, one is initiated into a way of life, a living one is initiated into a way of life, a living out of the implications of baptism. Such a out of the implications of baptism. Such a journey is not concluded until each journey is not concluded until each Christian meets the Lord.Christian meets the Lord.