THE SACRAMENTSOF INITIATION

WE HOPE: CELEBRATING THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY

OBJECTIVES To learn the meaning of the sacraments and the role of the liturgy

To understand the history and evolution of the sacraments of initiation

To learn of the process for reception of the sacraments

To uncover the understanding of the role that the sacraments provide in our daily living

Our participation in God’s Work

THE LITURGY

Means “public work” or “people’s work”

Is the action of the whole Christ

Baptism gives share in Christ’s priesthood

Holy Orders empowers some to serve as celebrants

Through Holy Spirit, Jesus makes his saving action present to us, esp. in the Eucharist

THE BLESSED TRINITY

God- we bless, praise, adore, worship God

Acknowledge gift of Salvation

Jesus- head of the Church- present in priest and Eucharistic food and Scripture

Holy Spirit- prepares worshipping community

Invites us to meet Jesus in the Eucharist and the Paschal Mystery

Source of our unity in Christ

The Sacraments are• The principal liturgical actions

• Efficacious symbols- an effective sign that causes what it points to

• what they represent

• Ordinary Symbol- Stop- points to but does not cause

• Baptism points to and causes a spiritual rebirth

• Jesus points to God’s love; he IS God’s love

• Jesus’ incarnation is the primary sacrament of our salvation

• Jesus instituted the seven sacraments- special powers that flow from his Body, the Church

Sacraments are signs:God reaches out to us through these spiritual realities that we express and perceive

the communication of the saving effects of the Paschal Mystery

Creation- like fire and water- Baptism

Ordinary life- the Eucharist

Anointing and laying on of hands (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick

Passover rituals (especially related to the Eucharist

from Christ himself of physical signs (Anointing) and ordinary words (parables) to proclaim the Kingdom of God

Sacraments are EffectiveChrist himself works through the sacraments

Power comes from God in the Holy Spirit

Not by one’s personal power

Convey grace- all convey sanctifying grace- God’s free and undeserved favor and help; participation in God’s own life; makes us temples of the Holy Spirit

Convey sacramental grace- each sacrament has its own particular grace

Sacramental character- this “seal” is only received in three sacraments- Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders because each is only received once because we are configured to Christ through them

Proper DispositionDISPOSITION

Needs faith

Willingness to freely receive

Received worthily

Must be prepared to receive and understand- “by the Church”

Help the Church because they are received “for the Church”

Reveal the mystery of the Blessed Trinity

EFFICACIOUS

There is an effect because of disposition

There are seven sacraments

Must be prepared to receive

No price- gifts of God

Freely given; freely received

List them

Let’s learn a little more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV-Cwo_L3Ok

About the SacramentsWhat are they?What do they mean for us?What are the categories?

BAPTISMTHE FIRST SACRAMENT OF INITIATION

BAPTISM St. Augustine defined a sacrament as “a visible sign of an invisible reality, a visible sign of invisible grace”

Three sacraments of initiation:

Baptism: brings new life in Christ- God

Confirmation: Strengthens the new life- Holy Spirit

Eucharist: nourishes Catholics- Jesus

All sacraments give us life in Christ and bestow the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can be Christ for others

HistoryEarly Church: RCIA

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Catechumen- an unbaptized person who is preparing to receive of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation

Illegal for first three centuries

RCIAHISTORY

Persecution

Legal Religion- 313 AD

Official Religion- 426AD

First 300 years- Bishop

As numbers increased- Priest

Confirmation- confirmed Baptism

PROCESS 2-3 year process of instruction

Sponsors helped to prepare

Pre-catechumenate- period of investigation

Catechumenate- period of preparation

Three year period- prayer, fasting, self-denial

Coincides with the Paschal period

Lent- period of final preparation

Easter Vigil- initiation into Church

PREPARATION AND BEYOND Bishop main celebrant

Anointed with oil

Neophytes- Those newly received into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

Receive a candle- to remind them of new vocation to be light of Christ

Vatican Council II restored RCIA

Mystagogy- is a time of catechesis that takes place from Easter to Pentecost