THE SACRAMENTS

SESSION 4: SACRAMENTS OF SERVICE

WELCOME!

Welcome!

How can we help people respond to their vocations—particularly if God calls them to priesthood or to marriage?

Session Schedule

Opening PrayerPaired ActivityTheme #1: Holy OrdersStanding Activity Theme #2: MarriageSmall Group ActivityClosing Prayer

Opening Prayer:“We are Called”

Refrain:We are called to act with justice.We are called to love tenderly.We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God.

Prayer for All Vocations

Heavenly Father, source of all life,We praise you for your abundant blessings.

You sow your seed freely and generously among us.You nourish, protect, sustain, and strengthen us on

our faith journey.

By our Baptism you call us by name and commission us to sow your Word….

Prayer for All Vocations

We join our hearts and voices in prayer that you enrich your Church with people who embrace the call to holiness and service.

Bless each of us as we respond to your call.May we encourage and support one another in

discerning and living out our Christian vocation.

Help us to foster a culture of vocation in which your seed will bear much fruit.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, with your blessing now and forever. Amen!

Paired Activity: A Vocation of Service

Discuss examples of great priests who’ve touched your life.

List the qualities, characteristics or virtues that they embody.

How have they answered their call, and how can theirexample help others to do so?

Talk # 1: Holy Orders,at the Service of Communion

Christ: the “anointed one,” the one High Priest

All the baptized share in Christ’s priesthood

The ministerial priesthood shares in Christ’s priesthood in a special way through Holy Orders

Holy Orders:Bishop, Priest, Deacon

Three degrees or “orders” to the gift of sacred power, at service of Christ

Christ is the perfect mediator between God and his people

Bishops and priests serve the Church in the person of Christ, the Head of his Body

“The ordained ministers exercise their service for the People of God by teaching (munus docendi), divine worship (munus liturgicum), and pastoral governance (munus regendi)” (CCC, n. 1592).

Steps and Rite of Ordination

1. Gathering2. Calling of the Candidates3. Presentation and Inquiry 4. Acceptance5. Examination of the Candidate6. Promise of Obedience7. Prayer for the Candidates8. Chanting of the Litany 9. Laying on of Hands10.The one priesthood of Christ11.Vesting the New Priest12.Anointing of the Hands13.Presentation of the Gifts14.Liturgy of the Eucharist15.Communion

"The essential rite of the sacrament of Holy Orders for all three degrees consists in the bishop’s imposition of hands on the head of the ordinand and in the bishop’s specific consecratory prayer asking God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts proper to the ministry to which the candidate is being ordained."

(CCC, n. 1573)

Rite of Ordination

Scripture Acts 6:5-6; 13:3; 14:23; 20:28; Jn 20:21-23; 1 Tim 3:1; 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6; Tit 1:5; Phil 1:1

Form Bishop’s Consecratory Prayer (CCC, nn. 1538; 1573)

Matter Laying on of Hands by the Bishop(CCC, n. 1538)

Effect Indelible Character; Configuration Christ as prophet, priest, and king (CCC, nn. 1581-89)

Who may be ordained?

Christ chose the Twelve Apostlesas the foundation of the ministerial priesthood

The Church cannot change essential aspects of Christ’s Sacraments

Priesthood is sacramental: signs represent what they signify; priests act in persona Christi

Priests are “icons” of Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church

The Spirituality of the Priest

Seeking Christ, and inviting others to follow him and to live in communion with him.

Being nourished by the Word of God, and responding with faith.

Laying down one’s life, at the service of the Church…

Fishers of Men

Standing Activity: Marriage made in Heaven

With a small group, discuss the Church’s vision of marriage. Brainstorm essential “talking points” and consider using symbols to summarize your responses to the following questions:

What are some film or TV examples of true love in marriage?

What advice would you give a young couple today?

Who are couples you know that reflect this vision?

God is the Author of Marriage

Marriage is written into bothCreation and Scripture

Christ confirms the sacrednessand indissolubility of marriage

Love of husband and wife reflects the love of Christ and the Church

“The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures and spiritual attitudes.” (CCC, no. 1603)

Matrimonial Covenant& Liturgical Celebration

“Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church…”

Christ raises this covenantal relationship to the dignity of a Sacrament.

Spouses are ministers of Christ’s grace and express their free consent before the Church.

Dual Purposes of Marriage:Union of the Couple & Procreation of Children

Scripture Gen 1:27-28; 2:18-25; Mt 19:3-12; Jn 2:1-11; Eph 5:25-32

Form Exchange of Consent; Consummation (CCC, nn. 1625-1628; 1640)

Matter The Spouses Themselves

Effect The Marriage Bond (“One Flesh”)and Marital Grace

(CCC, nn. 1638-1642)

Strengthening Marriage

Family as a “domestic church”:

“The Christian home is the place where the children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family is rightly called ‘the domestic church,’ a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity.” (CCC, n. 1666)

Spouses’ total gift of love--Sacramentally united with Christ’s love.

Made for Life: www.uniqueforareason.org

Small Group Activity:The Family as “Domestic Church”

+++++++++++++++++++++Which themes from the video did you find most compelling?

What phrases and/or images from the video helped express idea of the family being the “domestic church”?

How can we help people reclaim a sacramental understanding of marriage?

www.marriageuniqueforareason.orgwww.couragerc.net

www.foryourmarriage.org

www.ilcatholic.org

How can we help people respond to their vocations—particularly if God calls them to priesthood or to marriage?

Follow-up Reflection and Resources

www.dioceseofjoliet.org/layformation/

2) Recommended follow-up: US/CCA, ch. 20: “Holy Orders”

US/CCA, ch. 21:“Sacrament of Marriage”

For questions on Same-sex Unions:www.couragerc.net

4) Session Course Lists & Powerpoints are available at:

3) For Catechists & Catholic School Teachers:

“Record of Formation,” includingrequired reflection & documentation

1) Session Evaluation & Feedback

“Christ has no body…”+St. Teresa of Avila

Christ has no body but yours,No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looksCompassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the

world.Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he lookscompassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Glory be to the Father…