Catholic Essentials

The Sacraments of Christ

 Sign, Symbol, Sacrament
 St. Thomas  We are born: Baptism
Aquinas taught  We grow: Confirmation
that human  We are fed: Eucharist
development is  We are healed:
marked by seven Penance
stages which  We recover: Anointing
parallel the seven of the Sick
sacraments.  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
God’s 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 God’s 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
Christ’s Paschal Mystery here and
now. We do this in liturgy.
 All the sacraments are liturgy – the
work of the people…none 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
 The Sacrament of
Baptism is the first
Sacrament of Christian
Initiation.
 This Sacrament is the
basis of the entire
Christian life.
 We become members
of Christ and of the
Church and sharers in
her mission.
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 re-
born in Christ’s life…infant
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 Lord’s 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 child’s 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:
bishops, priests, or
deacons
 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 Christ’s mission of justice and
peace.
Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism
Confirmation

 Confirmation is a
Catholic Sacrament
that deepens and
strengthens baptismal
gifts.
 It is one of the three
Sacraments of
Christian Initiation.
 It is most often
associated with the
Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
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: “Be sealed with
the gift of the Holy Spirit."
 Designated minister:
Bishop or in well-defined
circumstances, a priest
can be the extraordinary
minister (if granted by the
bishop)
 Effects of Confirmation
 An increase and deepening of
baptismal grace.
 Roots us more deeply in the divine
filiation, which makes us cry,
“Abba, Father.”
 Unites us more firmly to Christ.

 Increases in us the gifts of the

Holy Spirit.
 Effects of Confirmation
 Renders our bond with the Church
more perfect.
 Gives us a special strength of the
Holy Spirit to spread and defend
the faith by word and action as
true witnesses of Christ, to confess
the name of Christ, and never to
be ashamed of the Cross.
Eucharist
 The Eucharist is the
culminating Sacrament of
Christian Initiation.
 The Eucharist, or
Communion, is both a
sacrifice and a meal. We
believe in the Real
Presence of Jesus. As we
receive Christ’s Body and
Blood, we are also
nourished spiritually and
brought closer to God.
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 the Eucharist
 Proper matter: Wheat Bread
and Grape Wine

 Correct words or form: On

which the blessing of the Holy
Spirit is invoked and the
priest pronounces the words
of consecration spoken by
Jesus during the Last Supper:
“This is my body which will be
given up for you… This is the
cup of my blood…”

 Designated minister: Only

bishops and priests
 Parts of the Eucharistic Liturgy
 Introductory Rites  Liturgy of the
 Sign of the Cross Eucharist
 Penitential Rite  Preparation of the Altar
 Gloria  Presentation of the
 Opening Prayer Gifts
 Liturgy of the Word  Eucharistic Prayer
 First Reading  Great Amen
 Psalm Response  Communion Rite
 Second Reading  Our Father

 Gospel  Lamb of God

 Homily  Reception of Holy

 Creed Communion
 General Intercessions  Prayer after
Communion
 Concluding Rite
 Effects of the Eucharist
 Increases the communicant’s
union with Jesus.
 Wipes away venial sins.

 Preserves us against mortal sins.

 Strengthens the unity of the

Mystical Body of Christ, the
Church.
 Commits us to the poor.