MEETING JESUS IN THE SACRAMENTS CHAPTER 1 THE CHURCH AND THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY OF SALVATION

The Incarnation Incarnation: God becoming man; entering human history; becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ TO UNDERSTAND THE SACRAMENTS AS “VISIBLE SIGNS OF INVISIBLE GRACE” WE MUST MAKE THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE!

Jesus is the Sacrament of God The sacraments and the liturgy are the system Christ uses to make himself present on earth Liturgy, or “public work” The sacraments help satisfy our deep longing for communion with Christ!

Christ: the Prime Sacrament How can Jesus be fully human and fully divine at the same time? This mystery is known as the hypostatic union: in Jesus Christ there are two natures, one human and one divine JESUS IS A SACRAMENT BECAUSE HE IS THE MOST PERFECT, MOST COMPLETE, VISIBLE SIGN OF THE FATHER’S PRESENCE: THE PRIMORDIAL SACRAMENT!

Jesus, an Efficacious Sign JESUS IS NOT ONLY A SIGN OF GOD’S LOVE; HE EFFECTS THAT LOVE AND MAKES IT PRESENT. JESUS IS THE REASON FOR, THE BASIS OF, ALL SEVEN SACRAMENTS.

The Church, the Universal Sacrament of Salvation The saving work of Christ’s entire life is the sacrament of salvation. In the Church, Jesus continues to live and work among us: the Church makes Christ present in today’s world!

The Church as Mystery The Church is something we cannot fully explain or understand Writers speak about the Church symbolically: Sheepfold Flock of sheep Cultivated field or vineyard Building of God Bride of Christ Mother New Jerusalem

The Church as Visible Sign As the visible sign of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect sign of the Father’s saving love, the Church has four distinguishing characteristics, or marks: ONENESS HOLINESS CATHOLICITY APOSTOLICITY

The Church as Efficacious Sign The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, continuing to bring God’s saving love to people throughout the world The Church is both means and goal of God’s plan to bring salvation to the world

The Mission of the Church, the Body of Christ Origin of this image come from St. Paul: As members of the Body of Christ, we are united not only to Christ but also to one another

Communion with Christ and the Church Communion with Christ is the Church’s main purpose for existing—that “each person may be able to find Christ, in order that Christ may walk with each person the path of life” WHATEVER WE DO AS CATHOLICS, WE ACT AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, AS CHRIST HIMSELF IN TODAY’S WORLD

Communion with Other Catholics We try to welcome everyone—even those we may not like We realize that every person has something positive to add to the Church

Communion with People Throughout the World The mark of catholicity refers to our relationship with other members of the Church, with other Christians, and with all of humankind The Church has a missionary mandate to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations”

Human Solidarity “The virtue of social charity, friendship, and responsible sharing whereby we recognize our interdependence on others and that we are all brothers and sisters of one family under a loving Father”

Everyone is the Church shares a communion in spiritual goods Communion of Saints There is a communion of all holy people—between the Church of Heaven and the Church of earth Everyone is the Church shares a communion in spiritual goods “the communion of saints is the Church”

The Church, the Channel of Grace The Church has the power to transform us The Church affects the inner union of people with God The Church is also a sign and an instrument of the unity

On the basis of our Baptism, we are to act as Christ: Our Mission as Priests On the basis of our Baptism, we are to act as Christ: SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES PERSONAL HOLINESS HELPING OTHERS GROW IN HOLINESS

Our Mission as Prophets We share in the prophetic mission of Christ whenever we give witness to him through our words, actions, or example We also act as prophets whenever we encourage others in the Church to persevere in faith

Our Royal Mission Christ offered us the gift of “royal freedom” so that we might overcome our own sinfulness and encourage the world to do the same True royalty does not seek to be served, but rather seeks to serve others

John Paul the Great “What else are the sacraments (all of them!), if not the action of Christ in the Holy Spirit?” First Polish pope, whose reign was the third longest in history