The Sacraments

What is a Sacrament? What does a Sacrament do?

Answer * An outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace

What is a Sacrament? What does a Sacrament do? Answer * An outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace * An action of the Holy Spirit at work in His Church to grow us as children of God

What is a Sacrament? What does a Sacrament do? Answer * An outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace * An action of the Holy Spirit at work in His Church to grow us as children of God * An oath by which God does what He said He was going to do—give us His life! Prepare us for Heaven!

What is a Sacrament? What does a Sacrament do? Answer * An outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace * An action of the Holy Spirit at work in His Church to grow us as children of God * An oath by which God does what He said He was going to do—give us His life! Prepare us for Heaven!

How many Sacraments are there?

Seven

How many Sacraments are there? Seven What are the Seven Sacraments?

How many Sacraments are there? Seven What are the Seven Sacraments? Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession, Healing of the Sick, Marriage, Holy Orders

Two ways to better understand the Seven Sacraments

1. By understanding Growth

Two ways to better understand the Seven Sacraments 1. By understanding Growth 2. By understanding Light

Two ways to better understand the Seven Sacraments 1. By understanding Growth Baptism (we become spiritual babies) Confirmation (we become spiritual maturing adults) Confession (we need spiritual counsel and healing—admitting what’s wrong; doing what’s right) Anointing of the Sick (we need physical healing) Eucharist (we need spiritual food and drink—nourishment) Marriage and Holy Orders (we, the Church, need to increase in number—more children, more bishops, priests, deacons)

Our life parallels Jesus’ life: And Jesus grew in wisdom and age and favor before God and man (Luke 2:52). Jesus’ Baptism: After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).

Our life parallels Jesus’ life: And Jesus grew in wisdom and age and favor before God and man (Luke 2:52). Jesus’ Confirmation: While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5).

Our life parallels Jesus’ life: And Jesus grew in wisdom and age and favor before God and man (Luke 2:52). Jesus in/having Communion (Eucharist) : Jesus as the Son is in communion with the Father and the Spirit (Col 2:9) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body.“ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28). After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit (John 19:28-30).

Our life parallels Jesus’ life: And Jesus grew in wisdom and age and favor before God and man (Luke 2:52). Jesus’ life-long Confession: Jesus has never sinned (Hebrews 4:15) and therefore, His entire life has been a good confession—saying and doing the same things God Himself would say and do. Jesus’ resurrection Healing: Jesus’ resurrection is the prime example of the ultimate victory over sickness and death. We too participate in his death so also to participate in his resurrection.

Our life parallels Jesus’ life: And Jesus grew in wisdom and age and favor before God and man (Luke 2:52). Jesus’ Marriage: Jesus was not married in a conventional way, but is married to His Bride, the Church. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2). One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:9).

Our life parallels Jesus’ life: And Jesus grew in wisdom and age and favor before God and man (Luke 2:52). Jesus’ Holy Orders: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Two ways to better understand the Seven Sacraments By understanding Growth Baptism (we become spiritual babies) Confirmation (we become spiritual maturing adults) Confession (we need spiritual counsel and healing—admitting what’s wrong; doing what’s right) Anointing of the Sick (we need physical healing) Eucharist (we need spiritual food and drink—nourishment) Marriage and Holy Orders (we, the Church, need to increase in number—more children, more priests) External Number Internal Strength

Two ways to better understand the Seven Sacraments

2. By understanding Light

Two ways to better understand the Seven Sacraments 2. By understanding Light When light hits a prism, what happens?

Two ways to better understand the Seven Sacraments 2. By understanding Light When light hits a prism, what happens? Answer We get a spectrum of seven colors 3 primary colors, 4 secondary colors

Baptism Anointing of the Sick Confirm- ation ation Holy Orders Orders Confession Marriage Eucharist

Presentation by Michael J. Cook