Introduction to the Sacraments

Rev. Paul R. FisherPastor, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Harrisburg

Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer

SACRAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #1

The Word was made fleshand made his dwelling among us

and we have seen his glory

The Sacraments are a privileged way in which nature is taken up by God to become a means of mediating supernatural life. …Water, oil, fire and colors are taken up in all their symbolic power and incorporated in our act of praise.

The Lord, in the culmination of the mystery of the Incarnation, chose to reach our intimate depths through a fragment of matter.

Pope Francis – Laudato Si

WHAT YOU SEEIS

WHAT YOU GET

SACRAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #2

What the SacramentsARE NOT!

•Magic•Re-enactments•Representations•Rites of Passage•Empty Ritual

What the SacramentsARE!

• Epiclesis• Anamnesis

• Re-presentations• Rites of Passover• Efficacious signs

PERSONALENCOUNTERS WITH THE RISEN CHRIST

You will see the Son of Mancoming on the clouds of heaven

in great power and majesty

EXPERIENCE IN THIS WORLD THE REALITIES OF THE NEXTEschatologicalApocalyptic

After all you have diedand your life

is hidden now with Christin God

SACRAMENT:The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament.

WHAT YOU SEEIS

WHAT YOU GET

SACRAMENT:• SACRED SIGN

• INSTITUTED BY CHRIST• ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH• WHICH ALWAYS GIVES GRACE

SACRED SIGNPerceptible to the senses

SacramentumMysterion

INSTITUTED BY CHRIST Participation in his Person

In his Public MinistryAnamnesis

Actions of the Risen Lord

ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCHFor their celebrationFor their regulationFor their tradition

WHICH ALWAYSGIVE GRACE

Ex Opere Operato(by the work worked)

GRACE NOT ALWAYS RECEIVEDEx Opere Operantis(by the work of the worker)

THESEVEN

SACRAMENTS

SEVEN IN SCRIPTURE• שבעHebrew = seven or oath = “sacramentum”• Creation extended over seven days• For seven days he shall consecrate you (Lev 8:33)• In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall observe the Passover, a feast of seven days (Ez:45:21)• And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. (Mt 13: 36-37)• one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loosen its seven seals.” (Rev. 5:5) = mysterion

•Seven days of the New Creation•Seven days of priestly consecration •Seven days of the Paschal feast•Seven baskets containing fragments from Christ’s public ministry•Seven seals opened one by one which reveal heavenly mysteries

The “Seven” Sacraments

Now there were setthere six stone water jars,

according to the manner of purification of the Jews.

Sacraments of InitiationBaptism

ConfirmationCommunion

Sacraments of MissionMatrimonyHoly Orders

Sacraments of HealingPenanceAnointing

SACRAMENT:• SACRED SIGN

• INSTITUTED BY CHRIST• ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH• WHICH ALWAYS GIVES GRACE

A SIGNis that which conveys something else to the mind, besides the species which it

impresses on the senses(St. Augustine)

SACRAMENTAL SIGNSARE ACTIVE

(ACTIONS)

•Baptism -Immersing•Confirmation - Laying on of Hands•Communion - Taking, Blessing,

Dividing, Consuming•Penance - Confessing and Absolving

•Anointing - Anointing•Matrimony - Giving and Receiving•Holy Orders - Preaching, Ruling,

Sanctifying

THE SACRAMENTAL SIGN•MATTER•FORM

•MINISTER•RECEPIENT•INTENTION

Note: if any one of these is lacking the sacrament is invalid

SACRAMENTAL MATTER

Baptism - Natural WaterConfirmation – Sacred Chrism

Eucharist - Wheat Breadand Grape Wine (mixed with water)

Orders - Handing on sacred ministryMarriage - Relationship of Baptized Man & Woman

Penance - Confession of SinAnointing - Olive/Vegetable Oil