Sacraments of Initiation TH 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. T he 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 Mysterion

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 sacraments FoundationInstitutionPractice BaptismMk 1:9-12/par.Mt 28:19Acts 2:38-41 ConfirmationActs 2:1-4Cf. Jn 16:7Acts 8:14-17 EucharistMk 14:22- 25/par. 1 Cor 11: Acts 2:42-46 PenanceMt 9:1-8Jn 20:21-23Mt 18:18 AnointingMk 6:13Cf. Lk 9:1James 5:14-15 OrdersCf. Heb 5Mt 18:18; Lk 22:19 2 Tim 1:6 MarriageCf Jn 15:34-35Mt 19:3-6Ef 5:22-27 (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 Orders Marriage 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 1131 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. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions 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. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required 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 Paschal Mystery. The sacraments are grounded in Christ and His Paschal Mystery. The supernatural effects assist us to accomplish the mission which is unique to each individual. The supernatural effects assist us to accomplish the mission which is unique to each individual.

Initiated into what? First we are born into divine life First we are born into divine life Then strengthened in divine life Then strengthened in divine life Then nourished in divine life Then nourished in divine life

And…. Formed into the Formed into the People of God, People of God, the Church the Church