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The Sacraments of

Initiation

Presented By: Jim Woods

"In Baptism the sign of the Cross makes kings of all who are reborn in Christ, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit consecrates them as priests. So, apart from the particular obligations of our ministry, any Christian who has the gifts of rational and of spiritual understanding knows he is a member of a kingly race and shares in the priestly office. For what could be more Royal than a soul which by subjecting itself to God becomes ruler of its own body? Or what more priestly when it consecrates a pure conscience to God and offers on the altar of its heart the spotless sacrifice of its devotion?" (St. Leo the Great, Sermon 4 (from Nov.10, Office of Readings, Roman Breviary.)

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Presentation Three

Presented by: Jim Woods

Confirmation:STRENGTHENING

BY THE SPIRIT

What is Confirmation?

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."

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Spreading the Spirit

The Institution of Confirmation

"But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving his spirit in our hearts as a first instalment."(2 Cor. 1:21-22).

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"Christ instituted this sacrament, not by showing it but by promising it, according to the text "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you."(Jn. 16:7)" (Summa Theologiae iii.72.1).

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The Matter and Form

The Effects of Confirmation

This sacrament imparts to the recipient an increase in sanctifying grace, and this encourages us all to be perfect Christians

"like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ ... But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of the darkness into his marvellous light."(1 Peter 2: 5&9)

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Prayers of the Faithful

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Confirmation:Strengthening by the

Spirit

Session II

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God’s Word

Listen

Speak

Act

"more strictly obliged to spread the faith by word and deed.“ (Lumen Gentium, Par.III)

The Rites and Gifts of Confirmation

"I sign you with the sign of the Cross and confirm you with the Chrism of salvation in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."

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"The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, His delight will be in the fear of the Lord (Piety).“ (Is. 11:2-3)

The Charisms

."We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness." (Rom. 12:6-8).

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Next Presentation

EUCHARIST:SHARING CHRIST’S

LOVE

Presented by: Jim Woods