12. Overview of the Sacraments

IN THE WEEK AHEAD

Read

UNITED STATES CATECHISM Chapter 14: Celebration of the Paschal Mystery

of Christ

In your Bible:

Luke 24:13-49 (Emmaus)

Ephesians 1:3-6

John 6:32; 20:21-23

1 Peter 3:21

Our Questions

Why is the Catholic Church so wound up with rigamarole, abracadabra, hocus pocus? All I do when I go to a Catholic Church is sit, kneel, stand! All this ritual leaves me confused!

Glossary

Initiation = the three sacraments that bring us into full membership in Christ’s church.

Matter = the outward sign or external thing that makes up the sacrament.

Form = the essential formula of words and prayer that each sacrament has.

Sacramentals = holy things or actions which the church uses to obtain for us from God through its intercession spiritual and temporal favors.

Checking on what I understand

There is a set of fun and stimulating quizzes that will confirm what you know and challenge what you do not yet know. Go to St. Edward Church website < www.saintedwardshelton.org> and click on “Becoming Catholic”. Choose lesson twelve and do do the self-correcting on-line <Quiz 14>

Praying Like a Catholic

Gestures are little prayers in action. Striking your breast at the “Lord have mercy” is a plea for forgiveness. Before hearing the Gospel the Catholic traces a cross on his forehead, lips, and heart. A bow at the name of Jesus is a sign of reverence. A genuflection before the tabernacle is adoration of God who is present.

Getting Personal

A heart to heart talk with your sponsor or small group

When have you felt particularly close to God? Can you describe the sounds, sights, aromas, or other experiences you were feeling in this sacramental moment?

Going Deeper

Video –

Tron (1982) The movie "Tron," which came out sometime in the 80s, is the story of the Incarnation. A man has created a computer game; in it, characters ask one another, "Do you believe in the User?" The warriors in the program are trying to resist an evil being, but they're losing because REAL evil enters the being and he begins to take over computers in the real world. The "User," watches the game in anguish, saying, "Don't give up guys! You're the best program in the world! I wrote you." Finally, he realizes there's only one remedy: so he becomes one of the characters in the game, in order to overthrow evil.

Music –

Open My Eyes, Lord

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Additional Reading–

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH #1076-1209

What Are Sacraments? by Joseph Martos

SUPPLEMENTARY

The meaning of the seven sacraments

1. In a broad sense, a sacrament can be any person, event, or thing when we experience God in a way, event or action that reveals God to us. This encounter changes the human experiences and helps to celebrate what has already happened.

2 Understanding of the Sacraments is the experience of God's presence and care daily. It is lived before they are celebrated. We celebrate what has already happened. And the signs become ritualistic liturgically when sacraments are received.

3 Some Old Testament sacramental events that touched the lives of the people were the dove returning to the ark with olive branch, the flood, the miracles, the parting of the Red Sea and of course creation itself.

4 The exodus provided many sacramental experiences as the Israelites saw water flow from the rock, bread from the heavens and perceived that God was really concerned about their welfare.

5. So our salvation story was told and retold many times but it was done in the symbols and actions of the Passover ritual and meal.

6. Sacraments were not named or thought up by Jesus but they were instituted by Him. His actions & basic beliefs are reflected in the sacraments. His values and teachings are present. For what we celebrate as Sacraments today, Jesus lived and gave meaning to 2000 years ago. For Jesus is the primary sacrament and it is from Him that all other sacraments come.

7 The apostles and early Christians told and retold the story of Jesus: for they lived that story just as they had seen Jesus do by going into the waters of Baptism, broke & shared bread as a symbol of God's love, laid hands on each other, healed and forgave each other. For them Jesus was the Sacrament of God and they in turn became the sacrament for others.

8. Sacraments were born in the early church and much later they they were defined and named.

9.Grace is a gift of God's love and presence into which we grow and cannot be measured. It is a relationship that develops gradually and is always a response to God's already present love. It is always free, ever present and changes us if we are ready to accept. If we continue to live and celebrate the sacraments this effect will never end.

Baptism: This sacrament begins our Christian life. Baptism marks us as one who has been saved by Jesus Christ and sanctified with the Spirit of God. "Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ... were buried with him, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life" (Rom 6:3,4).

Through the sign of the baptismal waters, the recipient and the Church community experience death and new life in Christ.

Confirmation: This sacrament is the full initiation into the Church community. Confirmation empowers us to serve the Kingdom of God boldly, for we are told "As Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came down on them and they began to speak in tongues and to utter prophecies . . . Thus did the Word of the Lord continue to spread with influence and power" (Acts 19:6,20).

Therefore, through the signs of laying on of hands and sealing with oil Confirmation, the community "passes on" the gifts received in the Spirit.

Eucharist: Also called Holy Communion, this sacrament unites us directly with Jesus. Through union with him, and with one another, we are truly joined as a community. We know this, because the gospel tells us, "Then, taking the bread. . . he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body to be given for you. Do this as a remembrance of me.'" We know he did the same with the wine (Lk 22:19,20).

In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine. Taking this form enables us to form a real union with him.

Reconciliation: Also called Penance or Confession. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the formal celebration of a sinner's repentance and God's immediate forgiveness. Scripture tells us that Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven. . . Your faith has been your salvation. Now go in peace" (Lk 7:48,50).

Jesus proclaimed the Good News of forgiveness for sins. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we experience that forgiveness and are reconciled once again with God, with Church and with ourselves.

Anointing of the Sick: This sacrament, which is the liturgical prayer for ill Church members was formerly called Extreme Unction. "Is there anyone sick among you? He should ask for the presbyter of the church. . This prayer uttered in faith will reclaim the one who is ill, and the Lord will restore him to health. If he has committed any sins, forgiveness will be his" (Jas. 5:14,15).

The signs of holy oil and laying on of hands used in administering this sacrament express our faith in God's power over sickness and the meaning of suffering in the life of the community.

Holy Orders: Members of the community are chosen and anointed in this sacrament to serve the Church as deacons, priests and bishops. Beginning with Our Lord, the Church required leadership, which was called forth in prayer and signs. For we are told, "Then he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. . .'" (Jn 20:22).

Marriage: Marriage is the rite by which the matrimonial union becomes a sign of God's love and union with his people. "Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the Church" (Eph. 5:25). Through this sacrament, Christians are able to see a sign of the depth and permanence of God's love. In addition, couples learn the holiness the Lord intended to be part of the marital union.