MEETING JESUS MEETING JESUS IN THE IN THE

SACRAMENTSSACRAMENTS

CHAPTER 2CHAPTER 2

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SACRAMENTSSACRAMENTS

Celebrating our RedemptionCelebrating our Redemption

RedemptionRedemption: “to recover ownership by paying a sum; : “to recover ownership by paying a sum; to set free or ransom”to set free or ransom”

Redemption is the action of Redemption is the action of Jesus Christ whereby he paid Jesus Christ whereby he paid the price of his own death on the price of his own death on the cross to save us from sinthe cross to save us from sin

In the liturgy (the work of the people) we In the liturgy (the work of the people) we actually actually participate participate in the events of the Paschal Mystery—the in the events of the Paschal Mystery—the power of the Holy Spirit makes these events (which power of the Holy Spirit makes these events (which

happened only once historically) present and real for us.happened only once historically) present and real for us.

The liturgy is the way Christ The liturgy is the way Christ communicates the fruits of the communicates the fruits of the

Paschal Mystery, our Redemption, Paschal Mystery, our Redemption, until he comes again.until he comes again.

Christ Acts Through the Christ Acts Through the SacramentsSacraments

Pentecost forever Pentecost forever changed the changed the

Apostles.Apostles.

After the Holy Spirit After the Holy Spirit came to them, they came to them, they became enlivened, became enlivened, rejuvenated, and rejuvenated, and

filled with courage.filled with courage.

Christ Acts Through the Christ Acts Through the SacramentsSacraments

The Apostles entrusted The Apostles entrusted others to carry on their others to carry on their

work of teaching, baptizing, work of teaching, baptizing, serving, and building up the serving, and building up the

Church.Church.

Through an unbroken chain Through an unbroken chain of this apostolic of this apostolic

succession, today’s Church succession, today’s Church can trace a continuous line can trace a continuous line

of leadership back to the of leadership back to the days of the Apostles.days of the Apostles.

God the Father: God the Father: Source and Goal Source and Goal

of the Liturgyof the Liturgy

God the Father is the God the Father is the source of the source of the

blessings—divine blessings—divine life-giving actions life-giving actions that are both word that are both word

and gift—we receive and gift—we receive from the liturgy.from the liturgy.

God acts first—we God acts first—we act in response by act in response by giving him worship giving him worship and accepting his and accepting his Word as the truth.Word as the truth.

The Work of Christ The Work of Christ in the Liturgyin the Liturgy

Christ acts through the Christ acts through the sacraments to sacraments to

communicate his grace communicate his grace and is always present in and is always present in

the Church:the Church:

In the minister of the In the minister of the sacrament.sacrament.

In the Word, since it is In the Word, since it is Christ who speaks when Christ who speaks when the Scriptures are read at the Scriptures are read at

the liturgy.the liturgy.When the Church prays When the Church prays

and sings and is gathered and sings and is gathered in his name.in his name.

In the Eucharistic species, In the Eucharistic species, his own Body and Blood.his own Body and Blood.

The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit Prepares Us to Meet Prepares Us to Meet Christ in the LiturgyChrist in the Liturgy

The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit prepares us for Christprepares us for Christ

He enables the He enables the Church to understand Church to understand the Old Testament as the Old Testament as

the preparation for the the preparation for the New.New.

He prepares us to He prepares us to encounter Jesus in the encounter Jesus in the

liturgy.liturgy.He serves as “living He serves as “living

memory” of the memory” of the Church—Church—anamnesis.anamnesis.

Introducing the Seven Introducing the Seven SacramentsSacraments

The Church’s entire liturgical life revolves around The Church’s entire liturgical life revolves around the Sacrifice of the Eucharist and the other the Sacrifice of the Eucharist and the other

sacramentssacraments

BaptismBaptismConfirmationConfirmation

EucharistEucharistPenance and ReconciliationPenance and Reconciliation

Anointing of the SickAnointing of the SickHoly OrdersHoly OrdersMatrimonyMatrimony

Introducing the Seven Introducing the Seven SacramentsSacraments

Christ instituted each of the Christ instituted each of the sacraments while he was on sacraments while he was on earth.earth.

Each sacrament is rooted in Each sacrament is rooted in and based upon the Paschal and based upon the Paschal Mystery.Mystery.

Christ gave the Church Christ gave the Church authority to determine which authority to determine which rituals would be sacraments rituals would be sacraments and what the rituals and what the rituals themselves would consist themselves would consist of.of.

The Sacraments The Sacraments of Faithof Faith

The mission of the The mission of the Church to evangelize—Church to evangelize—to bring the Good News to bring the Good News

of Jesus Christ to of Jesus Christ to others—was always a others—was always a

sacramental one.sacramental one.

The faith of the ChurchThe faith of the Church—saying “yes”—comes —saying “yes”—comes before the faith of the before the faith of the

believer.believer.

““Lex orandi, lex Lex orandi, lex credendi”credendi”

Graces of the SacramentsGraces of the Sacraments

The sacraments confer the The sacraments confer the grace they signify—grace they signify—ex opereex opere operatooperato, “by the very action , “by the very action being performed.”being performed.”

The fruits of the sacrament The fruits of the sacrament depend on the disposition of depend on the disposition of the one who receives them.the one who receives them.

Marana thaMarana tha: “O Lord, come”: “O Lord, come”

Union with the Trinity, which Union with the Trinity, which we will only experience fully we will only experience fully after death, begins to live in after death, begins to live in us now through the us now through the sacraments.sacraments.

Celebrating the Celebrating the Church’s LiturgyChurch’s Liturgy

We “celebrate” the sacraments because We “celebrate” the sacraments because they are acts of divine worship.they are acts of divine worship.

Sacraments are celebrations that are Sacraments are celebrations that are “woven from signs and symbols.”“woven from signs and symbols.”

Who Celebrates Who Celebrates

the Liturgy?the Liturgy?

THE LITURGY IS THE LITURGY IS AN ACTION OF AN ACTION OF THE “WHOLE THE “WHOLE

CHRIST”—HEAD CHRIST”—HEAD AND BODYAND BODY

IT IS THE WHOLE IT IS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY

UNITED WITH ITS UNITED WITH ITS HEAD THAT HEAD THAT

CELEBRATESCELEBRATES

How Is the Liturgy How Is the Liturgy Celebrated?Celebrated?

Signs and SymbolsSigns and Symbols

Words, actions, and objects that Words, actions, and objects that express the meaning of each sacramentexpress the meaning of each sacrament

FORMFORM MATTER MATTER

How Is the Liturgy How Is the Liturgy Celebrated?Celebrated?

People saying and People saying and doing the same thing doing the same thing at the same time is a at the same time is a

sign of unity.sign of unity.

Word of God, especially in Word of God, especially in the Liturgy of the Wordthe Liturgy of the WordLiturgical singing and Liturgical singing and

musicmusicSacred images, or iconsSacred images, or icons

Liturgical TraditionsLiturgical Traditions

The mystery of Christ The mystery of Christ is so rich that it is is so rich that it is

celebrated by several celebrated by several liturgical traditionsliturgical traditions

Certain elements of Certain elements of the liturgy are the liturgy are adapted to the adapted to the

cultures of diverse cultures of diverse peoplespeoples

Earthly Signs Earthly Signs Used by JesusUsed by Jesus

WATERWATER

BREADBREAD

OILOIL

HUMAN TOUCHHUMAN TOUCH

When Is the Liturgy When Is the Liturgy Celebrated?Celebrated?

The liturgy is structured around Sunday—the The liturgy is structured around Sunday—the first day of the week.first day of the week.

Catholics are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on Catholics are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on Sundays and other holy days of obligation.Sundays and other holy days of obligation.

When we celebrate the liturgy, we are brought When we celebrate the liturgy, we are brought into the presence of the Paschal Mystery.into the presence of the Paschal Mystery.

Preparing for the Preparing for the Incarnation of Incarnation of Jesus ChristJesus Christ

The Incarnation is marked The Incarnation is marked during Advent and Christmas.during Advent and Christmas.

Advent: “coming”Advent: “coming”

We remember the centuries of We remember the centuries of people who waited with faith people who waited with faith and hope that God’s promise and hope that God’s promise to send a Savior would one to send a Savior would one

day be fulfilled.day be fulfilled.

We celebrate our own We celebrate our own anticipation of the Second anticipation of the Second

Coming of Christ at the end of Coming of Christ at the end of time.time.

Christmas on December 25—Christmas on December 25—Jesus is the true Son of God Jesus is the true Son of God

and Light of the Worldand Light of the World

Focusing on the Focusing on the Paschal MysteryPaschal Mystery

The Paschal Mystery is The Paschal Mystery is marked during Lent and Eastermarked during Lent and Easter

Lent: “springtime”Lent: “springtime”

Easter Triduum: most sacred Easter Triduum: most sacred days of the Church Year—Holy days of the Church Year—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy

SaturdaySaturday

Easter: “passover”Easter: “passover”

During the season of Easter, During the season of Easter, the Church reads accounts of the Church reads accounts of the Resurrection appearances the Resurrection appearances

of Christof Christ

Celebrates the Ascension and Celebrates the Ascension and ends with Pentecostends with Pentecost

Marking Marking Ordinary TimeOrdinary Time

Ordinal: “numbered”Ordinal: “numbered”

The liturgical periods The liturgical periods between Easter and between Easter and

Advent, and Christmas Advent, and Christmas and Lentand Lent

The purpose is to The purpose is to teach Christians how teach Christians how

to follow Jesus in to follow Jesus in everyday, ordinary lifeeveryday, ordinary life

MaryMary

The Church Year also The Church Year also includes the feasts of includes the feasts of

Mary—the perfect Mary—the perfect model of Christian model of Christian

discipleshipdiscipleship

““Advocate”Advocate”

““Helper”Helper”

““Benefactress”Benefactress”

““Mediatrix”Mediatrix”

The Sanctoral The Sanctoral CycleCycle

The feasts of saints The feasts of saints found throughout the found throughout the year on the Church’s year on the Church’s

liturgical calendarliturgical calendar

They “have suffered They “have suffered and have been and have been

glorified with Christ”glorified with Christ”

Liturgy of the HoursLiturgy of the HoursThe public prayer of the Church that makes The public prayer of the Church that makes holy the entire course of the day and night; holy the entire course of the day and night;

also called the Divine Officealso called the Divine Office

The Church at PrayerThe Church at Prayer

What is prayer?What is prayer?““the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or

the requesting of good things from God”the requesting of good things from God”

Prayer is founded on Prayer is founded on humilityhumility and comes from the and comes from the heartheart, our , our “hidden center . . . the place of decision . . . the place of truth . . . “hidden center . . . the place of decision . . . the place of truth . . .

the place of encounter . . . the place of covenant”the place of encounter . . . the place of covenant”

Vocal PrayerVocal Prayer

MeditationMeditation

Contemplative PrayerContemplative Prayer

Where Is the Where Is the Liturgy Liturgy

Celebrated?Celebrated?

Churches have an eschatologicalChurches have an eschatological—“last things”—significance—“last things”—significance

Jesus is not limited to one Jesus is not limited to one place—the whole earth is place—the whole earth is

consecrated to Jesusconsecrated to Jesus

However, Catholics However, Catholics construct buildings for construct buildings for

divine worship—divine worship—churcheschurches

In churches, you will most likely In churches, you will most likely find:find:

Altar tableAltar table

TabernacleTabernacle

Chair—“cathedra”Chair—“cathedra”

AmboAmbo

AumbryAumbry

BaptisteryBaptistery

Reconciliation roomReconciliation room

St. Katharine DrexelSt. Katharine Drexel

Founder of the Sisters of Founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacramentthe Blessed Sacrament

Her true mission: to Her true mission: to evangelize Native evangelize Native

Americans and African Americans and African Americans into the Catholic Americans into the Catholic Church for the Salvation of Church for the Salvation of

their soulstheir souls

““My sweetest joy is to be in My sweetest joy is to be in the presence of Jesus in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.”the Blessed Sacrament.”