Note
Studied by 94 people
Sacraments and Rituals
I. What is liturgy?
a. Liturgy-public, communal, and official worship of the Church
i. From the Greek, leitourgia “public work” or “service on behalf of the people of God”
ii. From the public, sign of the faith of the local community
iii. It is communal, not intended to be celebrated alone
iv. It is official, meaning the church regulates how it is celebrated
b. Types of Liturgy
i. Eucharist/Mass- the source and summit of the faith
ii. Liturgy of the Mass
iii. Sacrament
II. Symbols v. Rituals
a. Sign- an object that represent something else
b. Symbol- based on Greek “to throw together or compare,” an object or action that points us to another reality
i. Sign-stop sign
ii. Symbol-sign of peace
1. Helps to look beyond what we see to seek a deeper mystery
2. Can have double meanings
c. Rituals
i. Symbolic action, actions that have deeper meaning
ii. Can be simple (handshake) or complex (Opening Ceremony of the Olympics)
III. Sacraments
a. One of the seven efficacious signs of God’s grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church by which divine life is dispensed to us.
i. Visible sign of invisible reality
IV. Sacraments are efficacious
a. Efficacious: The power something holds to cause a desired effect.
b. Disposition: An inner attitude and readiness to receiving God’s gifts (graces) particularly through the Sacraments
c. Grace: The free and undeserved gift of God’s loving and active presence in the universe & our lives
i. In the biggest sense…
1. Jesus = Sacrament of salvation
V. Church= Sacrament of Christ
a. The Church is the visible sign of the presence of Jesus in the world
i. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium begins by affirming two basic teachings:”
ii. Because Christ is within the Church, people come to know Christ through the Church.
VI. The 7 Sacraments
a. Sacraments of Initiation
i. Baptism
ii. Confirmation
iii. Eucharist
b. Sacraments of Healing
i. Reconciliation/Penance
ii. Anointing of the Sick
c. Sacraments at the Service of Communion
i. Holy Matrimony
ii. Holy Orders
VII. Baptism- Defined
a. The first of the three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) through which a person begins a new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit, and is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ.
i. Foundation of the Christian life
ii. Every Catholic should receive all three.
iii. Gives access to the other sacraments and eternal life
VIII. Baptism-Scriptural Roots
a. Old Testament
i. Waters over the abyss in creation (Genesis 1-2)
ii. Great Flood (Genesis 7)
iii. Exodus Experience (Exodus 14)
iv. Crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 3)
b. New Testament
i. Jesus’ Baptism by John (Matthew 3:13-17)
ii. Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
IX. Baptism-Ritual
a. The Rite of Baptism
i. Essential elements of the Baptism Rite
1. Triple immersion into a baptismal pool or the triple pouring of water on the head.
2. Formula, “NAME, I baptize you the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
3. Ordinary and extraordinary ministers
ii. Additional elements of the Baptism Rite
1. Anointing with the Oil of Catechumen
2. Anointing with Chrism
3. Lighting of the Baptism candle
4. Clothing with white cloth
X. Baptism-Effects
a. Special Graces received
i. One dies and rises with Christ and receives sanctifying grace.
ii. Be “like Christ” (Christian)
iii. Adopted children of God and members of Christ’s Church.
iv. Receives an indelible Character
v. Share in the three-fold ministry of Christ; Priest, Prophet, King
XI. Eucharist-Defined
a. “The source and summit of the Chrisitan life” (CCC 1324)
i. Eucharist means “Thanksgiving”
ii. Other names:
1. Lord’s Supper
2. The Holy Sacrifice
3. Holy Communion
4. The Breaking of Bread
5. The Most Blessed Sacrament
6. The Sacrament of Sacraments
XII. Eucharist-Scriptural Roots
a. Old Testament
i. Passover Mean (Exodus 12)
ii. Death of the First Born (Exodus 13)
b. New Testament
i. Jesus feeds the 5,000 (John 6)
ii. Last supper (Matthew and Luke)
XIII. Eucharist- Symbols
a. Bread
i. Old Testament
1. Food itself and a sign of hospitality
2. Sharing bread is a sign of covenant relationship
ii. New Testament
1. Jesus is the bread of life, encountering through receiving and participating
2. Christians are called into community throw the relationship
b. Wine
i. Old Testament
1. Seen as a life force, used for helping the weak and sick
2. Worshipers often brough wine when offering sacrifice
ii. New Testament
1. Wedding feast at Cana-turning water into wine
2. Wine/blood is equated with the forgiveness of sins
XIV. Eucharist-Effects
a. Unites us with Christ
b. Separates us from our sins
c. The unity of the Mystical Body: the Eucharist makes US church
d. Takes away from social or racial differences
e. Builds up the Christian community
XV. Confirmation-Defined
a. Early Church
i. Given together with Baptism and First Eucharist in the first centuries of the Church
ii. Became separated when it became impossible for the Bishop to perform all the Baptisms of the faithful in his diocese
iii. Priests/deacons became minsters of Baptism and Bishop
iv. Confirmed them when he was able to get around to the individual parish
XVI. Confirmation-Scriptural roots
a. History of Confirmation
i. Old Testament
1. The Spirit of God came upon certain individuals destined for a particular mission (Isaiah 6:1-2)
2. Prophets & Prophecies
ii. New Testament
1. Spirit descended upon Jesus at his Baptism
2. Jesus began his public ministry by quoting the words of Isaiah (Luke 4:14-21)
3. Jesus promised to send his followers the Spirit (Pentecost, Acts 2:1-13)
a. Go out and preach the Good News
b. Receiving the Holy Spirit was a necessary part of being a follower of Christ
XVII. Confirmation-Ritual
a. The Rise of Confirmation
i. Renewal of Baptismal Promises (Profession of Faith)
ii. Laying on of Hands
iii. Anointing with Sacred Chrism
1. Consecrated by Bishop at the Chrism Mass: Bishop breathes on the Chrism
XVIII. Confirmation-Effects
a. Effects of Confirmation
i. Confirmed person’s bond with Christ and the Church is strengthened
1. Receives dan indelible character
a. Become a reflection of Christ acting in the world
b. Deeper participation in the Church
c. Strengthened to spread and defend the faith
ii. Person is enriched with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit
iii. Bring a perfection of grace that was first received in Baptism