SACRAMENTS
Sacraments are tangible (involves our senses) encounters (meeting in which Jesus
communicates with us personally) with the risen Jesus. Sacraments really make
present what they signify. Ultimately, all seven sacraments owe their existence to
Jesus. In Gospel times, Jesus acted through his physical actions of his historical body.
Today, Jesus acts through the sacramental actions of his mystical body. There are three
types of sacraments: Initiation, Commitment and Healing.
BAPTISM
Is a sacrament of initiation. It is the welcoming of the new person into the faith
community. Baptism can be described as a tangible encounter with the risen Jesus in
which he unites us to himself, makes us participants in his death and makes us adopted
children of God.
In its simplest form, there are two central or essential actions in Baptism.
1.
2.
Is the immersion in water or the pouring of water. (Water is poured three
times)
Are the words; “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit.”
Immersion into water is not necessary for baptism, however, it better symbolizes the
meaning of Baptism which is dying and rising with Jesus. This action makes Baptism a
Death - Birth agent.
death: old world of sin
flood
birth: new world of grace
death: old life of slavery
Red Sea
birth: new life of grace
Water
death: old life of sin
Jordan
birth: new life of repentance
death: dying with Jesus
Baptism
birth: rising with Jesus
Baptism is the way by which Jesus shares with us the new life he won by the saving act
of his death and resurrection.
Can be received only once in a lifetime.
EUCHARIST
Eucharist - Is a sacrament of initiation, which Jesus originated at the Last Supper.
Eucharist is a sacrificial meal “This is my body which is given up for you.”
“This is my blood which has been shed for you.”
Eucharist is a memorial meal “Do this in memory of me.”
Eucharist is a covenant meal. - “This cup is God’s new covenant sealed with my
blood.”
 Eucharist may be received once a day, every day.
 When receiving the Eucharist, one must abstain from food and drink for one hour
receiving the sacrament.
The Last Supper corresponds to the three main parts of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Eucharistic Liturgy
Preparation Rite
Eucharistic Prayer Rite
Communion Rite
Last Supper
Jesus took the bread
Jesus blessed the bread
Jesus broke and gave the bread
The two main feasts around which the Liturgical year are based are Christmas and
Easter.
RECONCILIATION
The sacrament of Reconciliation is a Sacrament of Healing.
Many people today, try to deny that they sin.
There are two types of sin, mortal and venial. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we
are obliged to confess all mortal sins according to kind and number. Venial sins need
not be confessed, but it is advisable to do so. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions
must exist.
1.
It must be a grave matter.
2.
sufficient reflection
3.
full consent of the will
Grave matter - what we do is objectively grave. For example, we kill somebody or
commit adultery.
Sufficient reflection - means that we are fully aware of the grave evil we are about to
do, but go ahead and do it anyway.
Full consent of the will - means that we freely decide to act. We are not under any
compulsion or pressure that destroys our free will.
We are obliged to try to avoid occasions that usually lead us into sin.
We are obliged to do whatever penance the priest gives us.
We must make reasonable effort to repair whatever damage our sins may have caused
another.
This sacrament is likened to the parable of the Prodigal Son.
As the son does so do we:
 review our sins
 repent our sins
 confess our sins
 make up for our sins
As the father does, the priest also:
 welcomes us home
 forgives us
 restores us
 celebrates with us
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation. Confirmation can be described as a tangible
encounter with the risen Jesus in which we are sealed with the fullness of the Gift of the
Holy Spirit and are called and empowered to witness to Jesus and to continue his work.
The three central actions of Confirmation are
1.
Laying on of hands.
2.
Anointing the baptized person’s forehead.
3.
Saying “Be sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit”.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit are; Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge,
Piety and Fear of the Lord or Wonder and Awe.
This sacrament was instigated by Jesus when he appeared to his apostles after his
resurrection and the tongues of flames appeared on their heads. Today we celebrate
this occasion on the Feast of Pentecost. This sacrament calls us to witness to Jesus
and to continue his work. Jesus became present among us in a new way on Pentecost.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Anointing of the sick is a sacrament of healing. It may be celebrated anywhere,
however, an ideal place is during the celebration of the Mass.
Anointing of the Sick should be celebrated with people who:
 are seriously ill
 are seriously weakened by advanced age
 are scheduled for serious or life-threatening surgery
 take a turn for the worse or develop a new sickness, (pneumonia) even
though they have received the sacrament a few days before
Essential actions of Anointing of the sick are:
1.
praying over person
2.
laying on of hands
3.
anointing person’s forehead and hands with oil
The laying on of hands may be done by the priest and all others present.
The sacrament may be performed even if the person is in a coma , in a confused state
or under sedation.
A Baptized person may receive this sacrament even is he/she is not Catholic.
This sacrament may be repeated as often as necessary.
A person who is conscious and can speak will receive the following sacraments in the
following order. Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick and Eucharist.
MARRIAGE
Marriage is an “event of grace” in which God joins a man and a woman so intimately
that “the two will become one” (Mark 10:8)
Marriage is a covenant. It is a pledge to be faithful to one another forever: in good times
and in bad times, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse. It is built on a
commitment to love and serve the other. The purpose of marriage is
 unitive
- love-giving and forgiving
 procreative - life-giving and life-nourishing
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Married love is the only love relationship that Jesus raised to a sacrament.
Most marriages go through a four phase cycle which are attraction,
integration, conflict and maturation.
The Church tolerates a married couple to divorce or separate without
remarriage, for serious reasons. It permits remarriage only if one spouse
dies or if an annulment is granted.
An annulment is not the breakup of a true marriage, it is a determination,
by the Marriage Tribunal of the Church that one or both parties were
unable to enter into a covenant at the time of the marriage.
Faking consent in a marriage ceremony is grounds for an annulment.
Hiding a serious defect ( for example, convictions of child molestation) is
grounds for an annulment.
If a Catholic divorces and remarries, without an annulment, the first
marriage is the only one recognized.
Most diocese require a six month marriage preparation period for
marriage.
Interfaith marriages are allowed, but the other partner must respect the
commitment of the Catholic partner sharing his/her faith with the children.
Recent issues of Certificates of Baptism, First Communion and
Confirmation are required as part of the Catholic’s marriage preparation.
If a person divorces and remarries without an annulment, they are
excommunicated. This means that they can go to Mass, but can not
receive the sacraments. They are not in communion with the church.
Marriage preparation include:
 interview with a priest or deacon
 presentation or recent certificates of Baptism, First Communion and
Confirmation
 personal and liturgical preparation
HOLY ORDERS
Ministry means service. Christian ministry means to imitate Jesus who said that he had
come “to serve”. Jesus authorized the Apostles to teach in his name. Ordained ministry
takes on three forms. Our English words come from these Greek words.
 Episcopate
- Bishops
 Presbyterate
- Priests
 Diaconate
- Deacons
 The two essential actions are imposing of hands and the prayer of
consecration.
 The Pope is the Father of Fathers. As the Bishop of Rome, he is the
successor of Peter.
 The title cardinal is usually given to a priest who has distinguished himself
in his service to God’s people. Bishops continue the work of the Apostles.
 Priests assist Bishops. Like Bishops, priests remain celibate. Celibacy
means to remain unmarried. Celibacy serves the functional purpose of
freeing the priest for greater service to his flock.
 Deacons are ordained lay persons who are married or single. They may
preach, baptize, marry and conduct funerals. They cannot confirm, hear
confessions, anoint the sick or consecrate the Eucharist.
The two kinds of priests are diocesan and religious. Diocesan are under the bishop and
work for the diocese and the religious belong to a religious community, such as the
Jesuits, Benedictines, Augustinians, Dominicans, and Franciscans and are under the
authority of the superior. Some Religious priests are monastic and lead a life of prayer,
while others belong to a teaching order or an order that does missionary work.
Saint Peter occupied a special leadership role among the twelve Apostles.
Infallibility: When the pope, as head of the college of bishops, teaches infallibility, when
by virtue of his office as supreme pastor and teacher of the faithful, he proclaims, by a
definitive act, a doctrine relating to faith and morals to be infallible.