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Sacraments of Initiation TH 248E Semester 2, 2013

Sacraments of Initiation TH 248E Semester 2, 2013

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Sacraments of InitiationTH 248E

Semester 2, 2013

Creation

• See ccc glossary• The act of the one eternal God by which He

gave a beginning to all that exists outside of Himself.

• It is all of the created universe, the totality of what exists.

The Sacramental Principle

• The Sacramental Principle is about the use of the ordinary things (i.e. water, art, music) to invoke the senses and connect us physically to the graces of the Sacrament.

• The principle of the spiritual significance of visible deeds and things (Evelyn Underhill)

• Some signs come from created things (light, water, fire, bread, wine, oil)

• Some come from social life (washing, anointing, breaking of bread)

• Some come from the history of salvation in the Old Covenant (the Passover rites, the sacrifices, the laying on of hands, the consecrations).

The Sacramental Principle

• These signs were taken by Christ and are made bearers of his saving and sanctifying action.

• Some of them are normative and unchangeable.

The Sacramental Principle

Sacramental Principle• The Body and the spirit form one human being• The Human Spirit transcends the material

world• The spirit is expressed through the body• Symbols are important part of human

expression• Understanding signs and symbols

The Sacramental Principle

• Any symbol , even in ordinary life, that suggest or allows us to intuit an awareness of the mysterious depth of goodness, love, compassion and presence that we call God can be a sacramental. (Thomas P Rausch)

• Ordinary life?• Old Testament? • Circumcision, Passover, Sacrifices

Jesus, the Sacrament of God

• Jesus is the Symbol of God. • Jesus is THE Sacrament. • He is the Sacrament of God. • He points us to the reality of God. • He presents a picture of God for us.

The Church as a Sacrament• The Church is a sacrament as it is in and through

her that Christ is present in the world.• It is the way by which people can enter into the

fullness of unity with Christ and come to know God.

• The whole end of the Church is to show us Christ, to lead to him, to communicate his grace

• The Church exists for this reason.• In this way the Church is seen as a sacrament:

making God visible

You, a sacrament?

What is Liturgy?

• A Public work or service done on behalf of the people.

• In Sacred Liturgy Christ , the High Priest, continues the work of our redemption through the Church’s celebration of the paschal Mystery by which he accomplished our salvation

• (CCC Glossary)

Sacramentals?

• Sacred signs that bear a certain resemblance to the Sacraments.

• They are sacred signs instituted by the Church.• They prepare men to receive the fruit of the

sacraments.• They sanctify different circumstances of life.• Blessings hold a special place among

Sacramentals.

The The MysterionMysterion

What is a sacrament of the Church?

• Understanding the sacramental Principle:• Christ, as the Sacrament of the Father• Church, as sacrament of Christ• Sacraments: are ecclesial (church) realities.

– They show God’s power and love– They are encounter points with God

Mysterion• A great reality that we will never understand

completely.• Discuss

Biblical references for sacramentsFoundation Institution Practice

Baptism Mk 1:9-12/par. Mt 28:19 Acts 2:38-41

Confirmation Acts 2:1-4 Cf. Jn 16:7 Acts 8:14-17

Eucharist Mk 14:22-25/par.

1 Cor 11:23-25.26

Acts 2:42-46

Penance Mt 9:1-8 Jn 20:21-23 Mt 18:18

Anointing Mk 6:13 Cf. Lk 9:1 James 5:14-15

Orders Cf. Heb 5 Mt 18:18; Lk 22:19

2 Tim 1:6

Marriage Cf Jn 15:34-35 Mt 19:3-6 Ef 5:22-27

(Not necessarily exhaustive)(Not necessarily exhaustive)

God’s Plan of Salvation

Or,The Economy of Salvation

Or, The Sacramental Dispensation

The 7 Sacraments

The Church, as the Body of Christ continues to heal, to raise up, to bless and to forgive. But it is Christ who is present in the person of the priest or other minister.

Baptism

Penance

Confirmation

Anointing of the Sick

Holy OrdersMarriage

EUCHARIST

Sacramental Celebrations

• “Paschal mystery” is the expression we use for the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, and for our participation in Christ through baptism and death.

• Sacramental celebrations manifest the Paschal Mystery in the Age of the Church

Definition

• CCC 774 • The seven sacraments are the signs and

instruments by which the Holy Spirit spreads the grace of Christ … throughout the Church which is his Body.

• The Church both contains and communicates the invisible grace she signifies.

Definition of a Sacrament

• 11311131 The sacraments are The sacraments are efficaciousefficacious signssigns of of gracegrace, , instituted by Christinstituted by Christ and and entrusted to entrusted to the Churchthe Church, by which divine life is , by which divine life is dispenseddispensed to us. The to us. The visible ritesvisible rites by which the by which the sacraments are celebrated sacraments are celebrated signify and make signify and make presentpresent the graces the graces properproper to each sacrament. to each sacrament. They They bear fruit bear fruit in those who in those who receivereceive them them with the with the required dispositionsrequired dispositions. .

Liturgical Elements

• Rite:

• Symbolic action constructed of words and gestures

• with a pre-formed structure and

• institutionalized by a traditional character

• that favors common participation and repetition.

• The sacraments are grounded in Christ and His The sacraments are grounded in Christ and His Paschal Mystery.Paschal Mystery.

• The supernatural effects assist us to The supernatural effects assist us to accomplish the mission which is unique to accomplish the mission which is unique to each individual.each individual.

Initiated into what?

• First we are born into divine lifeFirst we are born into divine life• Then strengthened in divine lifeThen strengthened in divine life• Then nourished in Then nourished in divine lifedivine life

And….And….

• Formed into theFormed into the• People of God, People of God, • the Churchthe Church