Catholic Essentials

Chapter 5

The Sacraments of Christ

Sign, Symbol, Sacrament

St. Thomas
Aquinas taught
that human
development is
marked by seven
stages which
parallel the seven
sacraments.

We are born: Baptism

We grow: Confirmation
We are fed: Eucharist
We are healed:
Penance
We recover: Anointing
of the Sick
We need and form
family: Matrimony
We need and respond
to leaders: Holy Orders

Signs and Symbols

Three definitions of Sacrament

St. Paul sacramentum = mysterion

Gods hidden plan to fulfill all things in
Christ.
St. Augustine stressed sign and symbol
(something concrete that points to
something else.)
St. Thomas Aquinas added that
sacraments are efficacious signs or
symbols of grace. They effect, cause, and
are what they signify.

Sacraments ARE what they symbolize

To be a sacrament, a sign or symbol must

do the following:

Lead us to God
Come from God
Be an action of God

The best example

of a sacrament is
Jesus Christ himself.

The Primordial Sacrament

Jesus is the
starting point of all
sacraments.
Jesus is the perfect
sign of Gods great
love for us.
The fundamental
nature of a
sacrament is
revealed in Jesus.

Liturgy (the Work of the People)

The first and most important work

of the Church is to make present
Christs Paschal Mystery here and
now. We do this in liturgy.
All the sacraments are liturgy the
work of the peoplenone are
private affairs.
Every sacrament is a community
affair an affair of the Church.

Jesus is really present in Eucharist

Jesus is present in the priest, the minister

of the sacrament.
Jesus is present when the Holy Scriptures
are read.
Jesus is present in the community
assembled
Jesus is really present in the consecrated
species of bread and wine.

The Church as Sacrament

The Church is a
mystery.

The Church is
beloved of Christ.

The Church is an
efficacious symbol.

Council of Florence

Proper matter the prescribed

materials.

Correct words or form the

prescribed words and gestures.

Designated minister the

prescribed minister.

The Seven Sacraments

The Sacraments of Initiation

Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist.

The Sacraments of Healing

Reconciliation (Penance), Anointing of
the Sick.

The Sacraments at the Service

of Communion Matrimony,
Holy Orders.

Sacraments of Initiation

Baptism brings new

life in Christ.

Confirmation
strengthens our new
life with the gifts of
the Holy Spirit.

Eucharist nourishes
us with the Body and
Blood of Christ.

Baptism Rites

Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults
(RCIA) - A process for
adults culminating in the
celebration of all three
sacraments of initiation at
the Easter Vigil.

Rite of Baptism of
Children - People did not
want their children to wait
until adulthood to be reborn in Christs lifeinfant
baptism became prevalent.

Four Steps of RCIA

Evangelization a person hears the word of

God and responds to it. It is followed by a rite
of acceptance
Catechumenate over the course of a year,
catechumens study the faith in special parish
classes, are mentored by a sponsor, do
service, and participate in the Liturgy of the
Word at Mass. On the first Sunday of Lent,
candidates are enrolled in the Book of the
Elect by the bishop.

Four Steps of RCIA

Purification and Enlightenment During Lent,

catechumens scrutinize their lives and do
penance. They receive the Lords Prayer and the
Creed on which to center their lives. At the end of
this period they receive the three sacraments of
initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass.
Mystagogia The newly baptized neophytes
continue to meet with one another after Easter
until Pentecost, gradually taking their place in the
Church.

Cradle Catholics

Most Catholics are initiated into the

Church as infants through the Rite of
Baptism of Children.
The childs parents and godparents
speak in the name of the child.
Catechesis takes place after baptism.
Formation is gradual as the child grows
The other sacraments of initiation are
received at a later time.

The Essential Rite of Baptism

Proper matter: Water

Correct words or
form: Triple pouring of
or immersion in water
with the words, I
baptize you in the
name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit.

Designated minister:
bishop, priest, or
deacon

Effects of Baptism

Washes away original sin and any

other sins and the punishment due.
Makes us children of God and temples
of the Holy Spirit.
Welcomes us as members of the
Church, the Body of Christ.
Marks us forever as sharers in the
common priesthood of all believers,
and in Christs mission of justice and
peace.

Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism

Requirements for Reception of the

Sacrament of Confirmation

Be prepared to
profess the faith.
Be in the state of
grace.
Intend to receive
the sacrament.
Be prepared to
witness to Jesus
Christ.

The Essential Rite of Confirmation

Proper matter: Chrism

Correct words or
form: Laying on of
hands and anointing
with chrism on the
forehead with the
words: "(Name), be
sealed with the gift of
the Holy Spirit."
Designated minister:
Bishop

Development of the Eucharist

Christ instituted the Eucharist during a Passover meal held at

the Last Supper as a memorial of his Death and Resurrection.
At the Council of Trent (1545 1563) the doctrine of
transubstantiation was defined and the Roman Missal was
published by Pope Pius V.

The Essential Rite of Eucharist

Proper matter: unleavened bread and

wine
Correct words or form: Changing bread
and wine into the Body and Blood of
Christ by the words: "Take this, all of you,
and eat it: this is my body which will be
given up for you . . . Take this, all of you,
and drink from it: this is the cup of my
blood of the new and everlasting
covenant. It will be shed for you and for
all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this
in memory of me.
Designated minister: Bishop or priest

Parts of the Eucharistic Liturgy

Introductory Rites

Sign of the Cross

Penitential Rite
Gloria
Opening Prayer

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Psalm Response
Second Reading
Gospel
Homily
Creed
General Intercessions

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Preparation of the Altar

Presentation of the Gifts
Eucharistic Prayer
Great Amen
Communion Rite

Our Father
Lamb of God
Reception of Holy
Communion
Prayer after
Communion

Concluding Rite

Sacraments of Healing

Anointing of the Sick

Penance / Reconciliation

Our new life in Christ can be weakened by

suffering, illness, death, and the effects of sin.

Penance Reconciliation - Confession

Penance renews,
restores, and strengthens
our relationship with God
and the community after
it has been damaged by
sin.
Penance shows that
Gods love is without
limits

Healing and Forgiveness

Essential Elements of Penance

The acts of the person

who undergoes conversion

The intervention of the

Church

Contrition
Confession
Satisfaction

Absolution from the priest

All Catholics are required to go to

confession at least once per year to
confess serious sins

God Alone Forgives Sin

Christian life is marked by

lifelong conversion

Even though forgiveness is

expressed through the
Church and this
Sacrament, God alone
forgives sin

Anointing of the Sick

The sacrament
encourages those who
are sick to overcome
the alienation caused
by illness

Jesus continues to bring

healing through the
prayers of the Church,
and through the
sacraments, especially
the Eucharist and the
Anointing of the Sick

History of Anointing of the Sick

In the Middle Ages the sacrament was

administered only to the dying and was
called Extreme Unction the Last
Anointing.
Viaticum is the final reception of the
Eucharist.
Since Vatican II, this sacrament is
celebrated for those suffering from
serious illness, for the elderly, for those
facing major surgery -- and for the dying.

Essential Elements of
Anointing of the Sick

The priest or bishop

lays his hands on the sick person

prays for the person in the faith of the Church

anoints the forehead and hands of the sick
person with oil previously blessed by a bishop

Sacraments at the
Service of Communion

These
sacraments
are directed
toward the
salvation of
others, not
toward those
receiving the
sacraments.

Matrimony

Holy Orders

Holy Orders

The ministerial priesthood

Sacramental ordination consecrates
certain baptized men to one of
three degrees of a sacred order:
Episcopate

bishops
Presbyterate priests
Diaconate deacons

Essential Rite of Holy Orders

A call by God to serve

the Church in a very
special way.
Essential rite includes:
the laying on of hands
by the bishop
accompanied by a
special prayer of
consecration.
An indelible spiritual
character is conferred
on the ordained man.

Matrimony

Marriage is a
sacred covenant
--that is an
agreement
between the
husband and wife,
and between the
couple and God.

Matrimony

From the time of creation, marriage has

been an institution established by God,
not by man.
Sacramental marriage was modeled on
the relationship between Christ and the
Church
The goodness of Marriage includes:
The

procreation of children.
The chastity of the spouses and their
fidelity to each other.
The indissoluble union of marriage.

The Essential Rite of Matrimony

The essential element of Matrimony is

the mutual consent to marry.
The words of consent must be freely
given.
Catholics must marry in the presence
of a priest or a deacon, and in the
presence of two witnesses.
The spouses themselves are the
ministers of the sacrament.

Matrimony

The family is called

the domestic
Church. The family is
a living witness and
testimony of eternal,
unbreakable, and
boundless love that
the couple (and their
children) give to one
another and to the
world.

The Seven Sacraments

The sacraments celebrate Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the
Life.
The sacraments are a way for us to live life to the fullest.
The sacraments are the way to allow Jesus to touch our lives.