Another Look
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Sacraments Draw UsInto the Mystery of God
• God comes to us in sacraments
• Sacrament=visible and efficacious sign of invisible grace
• Sacraments allow to perceive and experience God’s grace
Sacraments Draw UsInto the Mystery of God
• Jesus is the primordial sacrament
• Church is the primary sacrament of Christ
• Sacraments allow us to participate in the Paschal Mystery
Liturgy and the Paschal Mystery• Liturgy is source and summit of the entire
Christian life
• When we share in Christ’s mission we participate in the world as God wants it to be
• Liturgy=“public work”—we participate in the liturgy for the good of the community
Liturgy and the Paschal Mystery
• Through earthly sacramental liturgy we participate in the eternal liturgy of heaven
• Rites of the Church provide a structure for worship—in keeping with faith that Jesus handed down to apostles
• Liturgical year—salvation history unfolds
Liturgy and the Paschal Mystery
• Easter is main pillar of liturgical year
• Christmas is second pillar of liturgical year
• Sunday is main pillar of Christian week
Baptism
• Jesus came to destroy suffering and death and create pathway to God
• In Baptism we follow Jesus in suffering and death to be united with God
• We unite ourselves with Christ’s actions
• Sealed with sign of eternal life
Baptism
• Baptism gives us new identity
• We are invited into mystery of life as God intended it to be
Confirmation
• Confirmation completes Baptism
• Laying on of hands by bishop, anointed with chrism
• Receive gift of Holy Spirit—identity and relationships changed forever
• Indelible spiritual mark
Confirmation
• Sacrament for all baptized, age of reason
• Binds us more closely to the Church
• Commits us to prayer and action
Eucharist
• The center of Christian life
• Our heart and soul
• Draws us into the great events of salvation history
• Jesus is present in many ways in the celebration of the Eucharist
Eucharist
• Seen as sacrifice since earliest days of Christianity
• Constantly helps the Church become more loving
• Sends us into the world to be the Body of Christ for the world
Penance
• God makes it possible for us to recognize and turn away from sin
• reconcile=to flow together again
• Turn our lives around to flow again with God
• Affects the fundamental orientation of our entire lives
Penance
• Purpose is to help us become more faithful
• Restores our relationship with God and the Church
• Two equally essential elements:– Acts of the person who undergoes conversion– Intervention of the Church
Penance
• When person is forgiven, obstacles to complete union with God and others are removed
• We make peace with God, neighbor, ourselves, and all creation
Anointing of the Sick
• Jesus is with us through suffering
• Jesus made suffering redemptive
• Sacrament allows us to unite our suffering with the suffering of Christ
• Sacrament for all who are seriously ill
• God’s healing power given to the world
Holy Orders
• Ministerial priesthood at service of common priesthood
• Christ continues to lead and build up his Church
• Three degrees—bishops, priests, and deacons
Holy Orders
• Essential rite—laying on of hands by bishop with prayer of consecration
• Confers indelible spiritual character
• Reveals mystery of the Kingdom
Matrimony
• God created men and women to be one
• Jesus raised marriage to a sacrament
• Marriage covenant is sign of Jesus’ covenant with the Church
• Marriage established for good of husband and wife, and for procreation and education of children
Matrimony
• Spouses are ministers of the sacrament
• Church does not permit divorce and remarriage
• When married couples surrender to the grace of the sacrament, the light and love of Christ shines through
Sacraments are the answer to our deepest longings
• Sacraments give us a way of understanding—puts many questions to rest
• God gives us the love, life, joy, purpose, and success we long for through the sacraments
• Sacraments draw us into the mystery of God—gives our lives purpose
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