SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION
Someone preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation is a catechumen.
Baptism:
Read Gospel accounts (Jesus’ baptism appears near the beginning of all four Gospels)
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Jesus' baptism is one of only two stories (besides the Last Supper, death and resurrection) that
appear in all four Gospels (the multiplication of the loaves being the other)
In John the Baptist's time, baptism was done purely as a means of repentance, a way of people
starting over in a very dramatic and symbolic fashion. In baptism, a person's old life and old
ways symbolically died (by drowning) and a new life came out of the water.
◦ The water of baptism also contains the symbolism of washing away sins.
In Jesus' case, obviously, He had never sinned so there was no need for repentance. John the
Baptist, knowing this, objects to baptizing Jesus, saying Jesus should baptize him, and that John
was not even worthy to unstrap Jesus' sandals. The one major change after Jesus' baptism is that
He begins His public ministry, preaching, healing, performing miracles, etc.
When Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove and the Father speaks from
heaven, saying “Behold, this is My son, of whom I am pleased.” In that scene, all three
members of the Blessed Trinity are present. In Christian tradition, people are baptized “in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
In the Catholic Church, the normal minister of baptism is a priest, deacon, or bishop. Anyone,
however, can baptize in an emergency, and baptisms in other Christian churches (Orthodox or
Protestant) are considered valid by the Catholic Church. Baptism is a sacrament that cannot be
repeated.
Although other signs are used (candles, baptism garment, holy oils) water is the one necessary
symbol for baptism.
◦ The necessary part of any sacrament is the essential rite.
In the early church, the commitment to become Christian was taken very seriously, since the
choice could result in imprisonment or death. Since Jesus said that everyone needed to be
baptized, people worried about those who were preparing to receive baptism and martyred
during that time. So Catholics also began to speak, besides of a baptism of water, of a baptism
of fire.
Since other people have never heard of Jesus, or were raised in families of a different religion,
theologians also began to speak of a “baptism of desire.” Since God=goodness and truth,
anyone who sincerely seeks goodness and truth, even without knowing the identity of God, are
a part of God's family by virtue of a baptism of desire.
Adults who have not received the sacraments of initiation (some or all three) may receive them
through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). These people prepare for a few years and
receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil (a mass held the night before Easter).
Eucharist:
Read Eucharist passages in Luke 22, multiplication of loaves in Jn. 6
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Jesus told us that whenever we meet, we should do this in imitation of Him.
The central act of the Catholic faith, shared with the community, is the Eucharistic celebration
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at Mass.
The Eucharist brings Jesus into our midst and helps us to live the Paschal Mystery.
Only a priest or bishop can consecrate the Eucharist.
Catholics believe that the bread and wine, while retaining their physical properties (taste, smell,
feel, wine could intoxicate, etc.), the substance of the bread and wine change into the body and
blood of Jesus. This is called transubstantiation.
Various Protestant churches have different understandings of this, although the difference is not
as great as once thought.
◦ Lutherans believe Jesus is in and with the bread and wine.
◦ Methodists believe in real presence, but leave the details to mystery.
◦ Reformed and Presbyterian churches believe in a spiritual but not a physical presence.
◦ Anglicans believe in real presence, but have a broad range of interpretations of this.
◦ Some, such as Baptists and other Evangelicals, believe in no real presence, but a mere
symbolic representation.
◦ Eucharist means “thanksgiving”
Eucharist, also known as communion, is supposed to be a sign that we are a community, that we
eat together (as you would do w/ family, your closest friends). We should try to get to know our
fellow parishioners.
Eating the Eucharist with people is also a sign that we consider them like friends or family, and
would not think less of them even if society would tell us to (i.e. for racial, ethnic, financial, or
any such reasons)
Confirmation:
 In the sacrament of Confirmation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, as the apostles were on
the feast of Pentecost.
 We receive the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit: p. 58
◦ Wisdom – the knowledge and ability to recognize and follow God's will in our lives
◦ Understanding – the ability to love others as Jesus calls us to
◦ Counsel (aka right judgment) – ability to make good choices
◦ Fortitude (courage) – strength to give witness to our faith in Jesus Christ
◦ Knowledge – ability to learn more about God and his plan, leading us to wisdom and
understanding
◦ Piety (reverence) – love and respect for all that God has created
◦ Fear of the Lord (wonder and awe) – recognition that God's presence and love fills all
creation
 This sacrament continues the grace begun at Baptism and strengthens us to be Christ's
witnesses.
 Bishop anoints each candidate w/ holy oil (chrism), by laying his hand on the head of the
candidate and making a Sign of the Cross, saying “(Name), be sealed with the Gift of the Holy
Spirit.” “Amen.”
 Like Baptism, this sacrament cannot be repeated.
SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
Reconciliation
Jn. 20:21-23; Mt. 16:19
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Sin is a thought, word, deed, or omission against God's law that harms us and our relationship
with God and others.
Serious sins that turn us completely from God are called mortal sins.
◦ For a sin to be mortal, (1) it must involve serious matter), (2) the person must know it is
mortally sinful, and (3) the person must freely choose and fully consent to do it.
Less serious sins are venial sins.
The sacrament of Penance involves 4 things:
◦ Contrition: genuine sorrow for our sins and a firm purpose not to sin again.
◦ Confession of sins: penitent speaks with the priest, telling him the sins he/she has
committed and taking responsibility for them. This reconciles us to God and the Church.
The priest cannot tell anyone what he hears in this sacrament; this is called the seal of
confession.
◦ Penance: we do something to show we are sorry for the sin, often in the form of prayers or
good deeds.
◦ Absolution: the priest, in the person of Christ and through the power of the Spirit, absolves
the sins.
Jesus often forgave sins, including the paralyzed man, the woman caught in adultery, the
woman who washed his feet with her tears, and even those who nailed Him to the cross.
When we pray the Our Father, we ask that our sins be forgiven as we forgive those who
trespass against us. In other words, we are only forgiven if and to the extent that we forgive.
Anointing of the Sick
James 5
 This sacrament is given to those who are sick, elderly, or awaiting surgery.
 We pray, in this sacrament, that the person is
o Forgiven of their sins
o Comforted as they may leave this world
o Healed, although this does not always happen
 The person is anointed with oil, as the title suggests, and they receive the Eucharist, if possible.
 Like penance, this sacrament can be repeated as needed.
SACRAMENTS OF VOCATION/SERVICE TO COMMUNION
Holy Orders
John 13:1-20
 Jesus washes the feet of the apostles and tells them that they must do likewise.
 We learn from this that the priesthood is supposed to be about service to others, not power,
authority, or any other such incentive.
 There are three types of holy orders, which ordain men to be a deacon, priest, or bishop.
 There are two types of deacons, permanent deacons (who are often married and will never be
ordained to anything besides the deaconate) and transitional deacons (who will be ordained to
the priesthood about a year after becoming a deacon)
 Priests can be diocesan priests (who are part of a diocese, answer to a bishop, and take vows of
chastity and obedience) or order priests (who are part of an order, such as Franciscans,
Dominicans, Benedictans, etc., who also take a vow of poverty – in addition to chastity and
obedience – and can be sent anywhere in the world as missionaries)
Matrimony
Mt. 19:1-9
 Marriage had existed long before Jesus, but he changed the understanding of it. When the
Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, which was allowed under Mosaic law, Jesus referred to the
creation story, which is before Moses, where it is said that in marriage the “two become one
flesh”, explaining that “what God has joined, no man should separate.” He finishes by saying
that “whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is not legal) and marries another commits
adultery.”
 In the Catholic Church, divorce and remarriage is not allowed. A person whose marriage ends
may only marry again if their spouse dies or if they receive an annulment, which says there
was an impediment to the couple truly making a marriage commitment at the time of the
marriage.
o Often, an annulment is granted based on psychological immaturity. An addiction, mental
illness, and abusiveness, are other reasons annulments are granted.
 Marriage is a sacrament of service. The couple should be in it to make each other happy, not
themselves.
 A wedding is meant to be a religious, community event. This sacrament is the foundation for the
Christian family, the domestic Church. Families have the responsibility to be little communities
of God’s love and prayer, to teach and practice Christian virtues and serve those in need.
 Finally, as such, those who are married must be open to having children.