Sacramental Life

Celebrating the Sacraments

Two forms of life

The natural life of our body which is animated by our soul. – This life begins at the moment that we were

conceived in our mother’s womb.

The supernatural life. – This is the life that our souls must possess when

our body dies.

Unless our souls are supernaturally alive with the grace of God, our faith tells us we shall die the first death--of the body; but also the second death of the soul.

Another name for the second death is eternal death. – This means eternal separation from God.

The sacraments which Christ instituted are the divinely ordained means –

– for obtaining supernatural life, – for growing in the supernatural life, and– for restoring the supernatural life

if it has been lost by mortal sin.

What are the Sacraments?

A sacrament is a visible sign instituted by Christ which effectively communicates the grace it signifies.

Matter and Form

Each of the seven sacraments is something visible or sensibly perceptible.

– The water poured in Baptism, – The oil used in Confirmation, – The bread and wine for the Eucharist,

– along with the words pronounced and the ritual seen, are all perceptible to the senses.

Sacraments are --

Signs which signify.– They manifest something beyond the visible ritual performed.

– Thus water signifies washing, – Oil signifies strengthening or healing, – Eating and drinking signify being nourished.

The external sign signifies some internal change taking place in the human spirit.

– This change is in the supernatural order, including some area or aspect of divine grace.

Sacraments actually produce the grace which they signify.

They are instruments in the hands of Christ who, through them, confers the graces proper to each sacrament.

Baptism– water, real and natural – “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of

the Son and of the Holy Spirit”– Priest– the remission of all sin, original sin and actual,

and of all penalties incurred through this guilt.

Confirmation– anointing the forehead of the baptized with sacred chrism – “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”.– Bishop– Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; to root us more

deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.

Eucharist

Bread and Wine "This is my body which will be given up for you. . . . This is the

cup of my blood. . . ." Validly, ordained priest Increases the communicant's union with the Lord, forgives his

venial sins, and preserves him from grave sins. – Since receiving this sacrament strengthens the bonds of charity

between the communicant and Christ, it also reinforces the unity of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ.

The Eucharist is also offered in reparation for the sins of the living and the dead and to obtain spiritual or temporal benefits from God.

Reconcilitation The acts of penitence, which are divided into three parts

– repentance, – confession or disclosure of sins to the priest, and – the intention to make reparation and do works of reparation.

The absolution of the Priest: “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

Priest Reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;

– reconciliation with the Church; – remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;– remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from

sin; – peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation; – an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.

Anointing of the Sick Oil blessed by the Bishop the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person.

– “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit”

– “May the Lord who frees you from sin, save you and raise you up”. Priest

Uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church;

– the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;

– the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;

– the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;

– the preparation for passing over to eternal life.

Ordination

Laying on of hands followed by a solemn prayer of consecration asking God to grant the ordinand the graces of the Holy Spirit required for his ministry.

Bishop Benefit, growth in grace, to the end that

whosoever is ordained may be a worthy minister.

Matrimony

Marriage is based on the consent of the contracting parties, i.e., the husband and wife.

The sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life.

How necessary are the sacraments?

They are necessary for salvation.

– even if not all are necessary for each individual.

How then can we receive the grace of salvation UNLESS we celebrate the sacraments?

Why then, did He choose to dispense His grace through the sacraments?

So that the mysterious effects of His infinite power should be made intelligible by means of certain signs that are evident to our senses.

Celebrating the Sacraments

The sacraments are a continuation of Christ’s work of redemption.

– They are the link between His Passion on Calvary and our present needs on earth.

– They are the channels by which His saving merits are now conveyed to a sinful world.

The sacraments provide a marvelous bond of visible unity among the members of Christ’s Church.

By means of the sacraments we make a public profession of our faith, and others witness to what we profess to believe.

The sacraments afford us a constant check on our pride.

– They encourage us to the practice of humility, by making us submit to material things as a condition for obtaining the graces that we need for the spiritual life.

Quantity

What the number says is what the author wanted to convey.