CHAPTER 2

Chapter 2
What
Happens in
the
Sacraments
 Divine
Current
Union
with the
Blessed “The event of
Trinity
the Cross and
Misery and Joy
Resurrection
abides and
Life draws
everything
Participation
in the
toward life”
Sacraments (CCC, 1085)
Faith
Celebrating Redemption
Paraclete: Another name for the Holy Spirit that
means “advocate,” “defender,” or “consoler.”

Christ Acts Through the Sacraments

Apostolic Succession
"[W]hat you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to
faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim 2:2)

Christ Acts through the Sacraments

 How Christ Is Present in the Liturgy
• in persona Christi capitis,
in the person of Christ,
Head
• in Scripture
• when the Church gathers
and prays and sings in his
name
• in the Eucharistic species

Christ Acts Through the Sacraments

 How the Holy Spirit Is Present in the Liturgy
• in the epiclesis or “invocation prayer”
(the intercessory prayer the priest
makes at Mass in which he asks the
Father to send the Spirit so that the gifts
of bread and wine can become the Body
and Blood of Christ)
• in helping you and other participants
see Christ in one another and to gather
into one Body of Christ.
• as the “living memory” of the Church,
helping you to understand the words of
the liturgy, including the inspired Word
of Scripture.
Christ Acts Through the Sacraments
 Liturgy of the Word

The part of the Mass that includes the “writings of the

prophets” (the Old Testament reading and psalm), the
“memoirs of the Apostles” (the New Testament epistles and
the Gospel), the homily, the Profession of Faith, and the
intercessions for the world.
Christ Acts Through the Sacraments
Sacraments of Christ
• The mysteries of Christ’s life are the
foundations of what he would
henceforth dispense in the
sacraments.
• Christ is present in all of the
sacraments
• Christ instituted each sacrament
while on earth
• Each sacrament is rooted in the
Paschal Mystery
Introducing the Seven Sacraments
 ministerial priesthood. As a
representative of Christ, the
ordained man is enabled to
serve the common priesthood
Common by building up and guiding the
Priesthood Church.
common priesthood The
priesthood of the faithful. Christ
has made the Church a
“kingdom of priests” who share
in his priesthood through the
Ministerial Priesthood Sacraments of Baptism and
Confirmation.
Introducing the Seven Sacraments
 Sacramental
Character
An indelible spiritual mark that is the
permanent effect of the Sacraments of
Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.
The mark is a permanent configuration
to Jesus Christ and a special standing in
the Church. Because of their permanent
effect, the reception of the Sacraments
of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy
Orders is never repeated.

Introducing the Seven Sacraments

Liturgical Year Advent - four weeks of preparation before the celebration of
Jesus' birth

Christmas - recalling the Nativity of Jesus Christ and his

manifestation to the peoples of the world

Lent - a six-week period of penance before Easter

Sacred Paschal Triduum - the holiest "Three Days" of the

Church's year, where the Christian people recall the suffering,
death, and resurrection of Jesus

Easter - 50 days of joyful celebration of the Lord's resurrection

from the dead and his sending forth of the Holy Spirit

Ordinary Time - divided into two sections (one span of 4-8 weeks after Christmas Time and
another lasting about six months after Easter Time), wherein the faithful consider the fullness of
Jesus' teachings and works among his people
Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy
 Eastern Catholic
Churches:
• are in communion with the Roman
Catholic Church
• are faithful to apostolic tradition
• are united under the bishop of Rome
• celebrate and pass on the sacraments
received by the bishops
• adhere to their own liturgical
traditions and customs
• celebrate in their own language

Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy

Advent • Advent celebrates the
anticipation of the second
coming of Christ.
• During Advent, the Church
remembers the centuries
of people who waited
with faith and hope that
God’s promise to send a
Savior would one day be
fulfilled.

Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy

 • The season begins at the Christmas Vigil and
ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
• The Nativity of our Lord God and Savior, Jesus
Christ is celebrated on December 25.
• The season includes the Feast of the Holy Family
and Feast of the Epiphany.

Christmas Season

Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy

Lent • In Lent, the baptized are called to
renew their baptismal commitment as
others prepare to be baptized through
the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults, a period of learning and
discernment for individuals who have
declared their desire to become
Catholics.

Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy

Catechumens

Unbaptized persons who are preparing for

full initiation into the Church through the
Sacraments of Christian Initiation by engaging
in formal study, prayer, and spiritual
reflection.

Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy

 Easter Triduum
• One single liturgy that begins at the Holy Thursday
liturgy and ends at the Easter Vigil: Holy Thursday to
Good Friday to Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday

Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy

Easter Season
Easter Vigil: Celebrates Jesus’
Resurrection to new life
Mystogia: The period when those
newly baptized are immersed in the
Paschal Mystery
Ascension of Jesus: 40 days after
Easter
Pentecost: celebrates the gifts of the
Holy Spirit and recognizes the apostolic
mission of the Church to proclaim the
Gospel

Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy

 Ordinary Time

• The time between Christmas

Season and Lent and the time
between Pentecost and Advent
• Holy days of obligation: The
several days in the Church Year
when all Catholics are obliged
to participate in Mass.
• A season that teaches us how
to follow Jesus in the regular,
ordinary occurrences of life. Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy
 Marian Feasts

• Solemnity of Mary (January 1)

• Feast of the Assumption (August 15)
• Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Sanctoral Cycle
• The feasts of saints found throughout the year on the
Church’s liturgical calendar.

Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy

• http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/
• http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-
year/lent/index.cfm