religion

 Sacrament Study Guide



Chapters 1-4

Vocabulary:

  • Sacred: the holy, that which is of God

  • Grace: the creative, sustaining, and transforming self-gift of God that is always being offered to us 

SCT

  • God’s loving presence in the world 

  • God’s love and concern expand to all of creation 

  • For Christians - expresses the reality of God’s gift of Self to us

  • Sacrament: anything that gives an experience of God, makes God’s loving presence reality 

    • “Sacramenta” - Latin translation

    • Meant to provide an experience of God

    • An earthly, bodily experience that is also a spiritual experience

    • **Sacraments have two dimensions:

      • God's action and presence as grace 

      • Our faithful response to God 

        • AP-F

  • Symbols: observable, physical realities that represent invisible qualities or elements, more than one meaning

    • Ex: cross → Jesus’ death & resurrection: faith

    • “Meaning Pictures” - help us to see beyond the surface of things

      • To search for the deeper significance and levels of meaning in things

    • We do NOT impose meanings on symbols, INSTEAD… we discover meanings in symbols 

    • Touches our hearts as well as our heads - thought-provoking, stimulating, soul-stirring, powerful means of communicating the sacred in our life

  • Rituals: symbolic actions that help us concretely, or physically, express our beliefs, values, and deepest concerns

    • BVC

    • Ex: baptism, weddings, birthdays, cross sign, prayer, etc. → **HAVE SYMBOLIC MEANING

    • A part of human cultures & communication - help us express what is important to us

    • 3 Characteristics of Rituals:

      • Repeated action

      • Linkage to the past

      • Communal action 

    • Observing a ritual IS NOT equated to participating in it

  • Prayer: a wholehearted faith response to God, who loves us without conditions and is with us in every moment of our life

    • Whole-hearted faith response to god

    • All our living could be prayer

    • Worshipping in word, in act, and in silence 

    • Intentional

    • Conscious



Sacramental Awareness vs. Sacramental Dullness

  • Sacramental Awareness: special appreciation of the sacred in the world; reveals to us that God is present everywhere if we are willing to look for him

  • Sacramental Dullness: inability to see God's presence in their life

  • What is the antidote to Sacramental Dullness → Sacramental Awareness = being willing to recognize God’s loving presence and see the sacred in our life

  • What two actions let us recognize sacramental moments?

    • Listening & Responding to God’s messages of love and concern for us



Difference Between a Sign and a Symbol:

  • Sign → object that represents something else - math signs, letters

  • Symbolic Signs → may have more than one meaning/evoke more than one response; what they stand for is connected to what they are - cross → Jesus’s death and resurrection - faith



Different Kinds of Symbols:

  • Cultural Symbols: symbols that are closely dependent on a specific situation, place, or group

    • SPG

    • Tied to the situation the symbol is used in

      • Ex: The Bald Eagle → freedom and patriotism in America

    • Can…

      • Change their meaning

      • Lose their meaning

      • Make no sense outside a certain context

  • Universal Symbols: symbols that are clearly recognized throughout the world

    • Understood by people of many different cultures

    • Can be complex or contradictory (CC)

      • Ex: Heart → love & affection 



Literal vs. Symbolic Thinking

  • Literal → facts, visible, measurable; that’s all there is; face value - VMF

    • **Necessary during emergencies 

  • Symbolic → in relationship to all other things and as having meaning at many levels



Sacraments as Symbols

  • Most important symbols of the Catholic Church → THE 7 SACRAMENTS

    • Contains both universal symbols & symbols unique to Christians

  • Our symbols may become sacraments for us 

  • God’s loving presence is made visible and tangible in our life here and now 

  • Sacraments are symbols of God’s grace



Rituals vs. Routines

  • A ritual can become a routine when a practice does not hold as much importance or significance

  • Routine: a regular and repetitive practice

    • Brushing your teeth every morning → done because it has to be done

  • Ritual: requires more effort and involves a deeper meaning behind the action

    • Going to mass every Sunday → an action not done simply based on its completion or just to do it, but done to represent your faith



Characteristics of Rituals - RCL

  1. Involves movements and gestures → meaning beyond what they express

  2. Repeated actions → worth doing more than once

  3. Often called symbolic celebrations → break us out of life’s routines

  4. Usually connected to important events in people’s lives → firsts, milestones

  5. Often include significant words → words are secondary to the action, power can be diminished by wordiness or excessive explanation

  6. Link people to their past → remind people of who they are

  7. Communal actions → many involve a whole group at once

  8. Require people’s wholehearted participation → not just going through the motions; if we want them to have any kind of meaning for us




Chapter 5

Vocabulary

  • Incarnation: God’s embodiment as a human in Jesus

    • “Incarnare”: Latin translation of “to make flesh”

    • Jesus is the fullest, most complete sacrament of God in the world

    • Sacrament of which all others flow and by which others are understood 

  • Paschal Mystery: suffering, death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus

    • Paschal: Passover

    • Connecting the Old Testament to the New Testament 

    • From sin and death to a new life with God 

  • Pentecost: “The Birthday of the Church”

    • 40 days after resurrection

    • Jesus constantly challenged his disciples 

  • People of God: the church as a whole

    • Catholic church leaders at the Second Vatican Council during the mid-1960s spoke of the church as the people of God



Jesus: Fullness of Divinity, Fullness of Humanity

  • Jesus is both fully God and fully human - Jesus offers humanity a picture of what humans can be and what God desires for us so that we fully respond to God’s offer of Grace

  • Incarnation portrays God's embodiment as Jesus

  • Jesus' life reveals God's love and the Kingdom of God

  • The Paschal Mystery symbolizes freedom from sin and new life with God

  • The Cross shows God's presence in suffering

  • Resurrection displays the transformative power of God's grace



Model of Full Humankind

  • The Incarnation mystery affirmed by the church asserts Jesus as both fully God and fully human

  • Jesus' story conveys a dual message: God's revelation and guidance on how humans should respond - GR

  • Jesus serves as a model for humanity at its best, demonstrating how to trust God and love others faithfully



Chapter 6

Be able to describe two of the five phases of Church history - one of them has to be Phase Five: 

Phase 4 - Church and Sacraments After the Council of Trent:

  • Before the Protestant Reformation, early reform attempts faced challenges

  • Martin Luther's call for reform was not the first; nine official gatherings between 1123 and 1517 addressed abuses but were largely ineffective

  • The Council of Trent (1545-1563) was called to address reformers' grievances and doctrinal challenges

  • The council addressed complaints about casual attitudes toward religious matters and distorted beliefs

  • Council of Trent focused on the sacraments, declaring seven sacraments as central and approving a scholastic understanding

  • Emphasis on consistency in sacramental practices, using Latin and rituals, to prevent abuses

Phase 5 - Church and Sacraments in the Twentieth Century:

  • Post Vatican Council II - 1960s onward 

  • Pope John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s to modernize church teachings while reconnecting with early traditions

  • Church aimed to stay true to Jesus' spirit while adapting to changes

  • Changes to the celebration of mass - PALK

    • Prayers & Responses - now said by the entire assembly

    • Altar - now set close to the congregation & the priest faces everyone

    • Latin - used to be said in Latin

    • Kneeling - used to kneel for Communion, now we stand

  • Post-Vatican II, the seven sacraments changed to better reflect the central belief in Jesus



Sacraments of Initiation Focus on the meaning of each sacrament, its symbols, and its development:

3 Sacraments of Initiation: - BCE

  • Baptism: brings new life to christ

    • Symbols:

      • Oil: strength, healing, and being chosen

      • New/white clothing: being clothed in Christ

      • Water: baptism, Church, being free from sin, refreshment and the Trinitarian formula

        • BCFRT - bergen catholic for reall turnt 

    • Development: 

      • First Baptisms: initiated by Jesus and continued by apostles spreading the Good News

      • Catechumenate in Early Church: four-stage preparation leading to Baptism during Easter Vigil

      • Mystagogia: post-Baptism period for new Christians to deepen understanding within the Christian community

      • Delayed Anointing: western Church postpones oil anointing, leading to the development of Confirmation

      • Infant Baptism: evolved, more common by 500 AD, emphasizing inclusion of children and removal of Original Sin

      • Lifelong Initiation: baptism seen as an ongoing process, a reminder of continuous initiation into the Christian journey

  • Confirmation: strengthens our new life with the gifts of the holy spirit

    • Symbols: BLA

      • Breath of God/Wind/Fire: represents the Holy Spirit, symbolizing the conscious acceptance of the gift of the Spirit 

      • Laying on of Hands: power, used in Confirmation as a ritual action, connecting to the Old Testament and the historical practice in the early Church

      • Anointing with Chrism: being sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit

    • Development: 

      • Confirmation: completes baptismal grace, highlighting continuous growth in the Spirit throughout life

      • Gifts of the Holy Spirit: seven virtues from Baptism, accepted and strengthened during Confirmation

      • Preparation: similar to RCIA, involves 1-2 years before Confirmation

      • Ritual of Confirmation: includes symbolic actions like laying on of hands, anointing, renewal of promises, and a general blessing

      • Connection to Baptism: echoes Baptism, emphasizing ongoing initiation into a new life with Jesus

      • Order of Sacraments: debate on the order, with the "age of discretion" influencing decisions

  • Eucharist: nourishes us with the body and blood of Christ

    • Symbols: Sharing of bread & wine - consecrated as Jesus’ own body and blood

    • Development: 

      • Originated from Jesus transforming the Passover meal, symbolizing life and human relationships

      • Evolved from a fellowship meal to a ritual, emphasizing the mystery of Christ's sacrifice, death, and Resurrection

      • The Middle Ages saw a shift in emphasis, with priests taking a more central role and less active participation from the congregation

      • Vatican Council II brought significant reforms, encouraging active participation, standing during communion, and changes in language and rituals



Real Presence 

  • Central to the Catholic Understanding of the Eucharist → the real presence of the risen Christ is among them, not just in memory but in the present moment

  • Nourishes them and enables them to give their own energy and life to others 

  • “Be the bread for the world”

    • Challenged to not only receive the body of Christ 

    • But to be the Body of Christ in our everyday life

    • Members of the early church recognized that the Eucharist was meant to mirror the way they lived



Confirmation Age Debate

  • Shifting confirmation to age 7

    • Pros - a more meaningful experience of celebrating confirmation

      • Confirmation as a teenager was less significant for them compared to First Communion

  • Introducing a non-sacramental reaffirmation later in life

    • Allows individuals personal freedom 

  • Personal Opinion - shift to age 7

    • If Catholics were to celebrate confirmation later on in life, they may find themselves postponing the ritual due to various conflicts

    • Young children will be able to devote more of their time to this




Sacraments of Healing - 2 RA

  • Reconciliation: signifies the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of a person's relationship with God

    • Act of confessing sins allows individuals to seek spiritual healing and experience the mercy of God

    • Effects → a sense of renewal, peace, and the assurance of divine forgiveness, promoting spiritual growth and a closer connection with the community

  • Anointing of the Sick: offers comfort and healing to those facing illness or suffering

    • Anoints of the sick person with blessed oil, accompanied by prayers for physical and spiritual well-being

    • Effects →  a sense of solace, strengthening the sick person's faith and trust in God's care

      • Finding peace and courage in the face of illness, fostering a deeper understanding of life's challenges

Prodigal Son Interpretation for Today

  • Found in the Bible & remains relevant today as a timeless story of redemption and forgiveness

  • Speaks to the human experience of making mistakes, seeking forgiveness, and the unconditional love of God

    • MFU

  • Encourages reflection on personal growth, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of second chances

  • Emphasizes the transformative journey from disobedience to reconciliation, offering a message of hope, compassion, and the possibility of redemption for individuals in today's context

Marriage - Meaning of Sacrament

  • Seen as a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, mirroring the love between Christ and the Church

  • Signifies not only the union of two individuals but also their commitment to a lifelong partnership rooted in love, fidelity, and mutual support

  • Effects → the grace to live out the vows faithfully, creating a sacred bond that contributes to the spiritual growth of the couple

Essay Prompts

Describe the Vatican Council II quote: The Eucharist is “the source and summit of Christian life.”

  • Source - everything we have comes from the Eucharist because it is Christ himself; source of grace and all the sacraments are oriented toward it

  • Summit - is the top of all that we seek, since it is Christ himself; there is nothing greater to reach



SSNDs - Why do you think the experiences of Sr. Imma Mack are included in the study of the Eucharist? 

  • Remarkable actions during WWII

    • Age of 20 - served as a candidate for the SSND and visited the Dachau concentration camp weekly for 11 months

  • Courage & Dedication

    • Risked her life to help the prisoners at Dachau, relying on God’s protection & the support of her family and sisters in the community

  • The Eucharist’s “breaking of the bread” - represents Jesus’ life-giving sacrifice to us

    • She made sacrifices to better her community



What do the gifts of the holy spirit give to us? - WRK

  • 7 Gifts → wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder and awe in God’s presence

  • Wisdom: helps individuals see and appreciate God's perspective on matters and guides them in making choices that align with God's will

  • Reverence: encourages a profound respect and devotion toward God

  • Knowledge: allows individuals to see God's purpose in all things and to live in accordance with God’s plan



What significant contribution to the Catholic church's understanding of the sacraments was made by Saint Thomas Aquinas?

  • His discussion of the sacraments as causes of God's grace

  • Sacraments also served as instruments that actually brought about God's grace



How is reconciliation relevant in a relationship between a father and son?

  • Relevant for healing, understanding, trust-building, and fostering a more positive connection

  • Contributes to the overall well-being of both individuals and sets the foundation for a healthier family life



KAHOOT ANSWERS:

  • god is present in suffering and death - true

  • the primary emphasis of the anointing of the sick is to bring spiritual strength and healing to the sick - true

  • the Latin word for holy communion offered to a dying person is incarnare - false; incarare means putting on flesh

  • penecost observes the coming of the holy spirit; ascension is the day Jesus returned to the father

  • Christianity became a thing in the 3rd century 

  • Augustine taught that many things could be a sacrament

  • st pope John xxiii called for change and renewal in the church that resulted in the second Vatican council - true



OTHER IMPORTANT VOCAB WORDS TO KNOW:

  • Sacrament: unique, divinely given way that Jesus’ saving presence in the world in carried throughout the church

    • primary symbol of all the sacraments is the holy spirit

  • Transubstantiation: means bred and wine become Jesus truly present

  • Church: a human organization that has changed overtime

  • Initiation:

  • Sin:

  • Augustine: believed that sacraments were signs of God's grace, as he believed that they were a way in which God communicated His grace to believer

  • Aquinas: more philosophical approach to understanding sacraments - in terms of natural theology

  • Council of Trent: taught that the sacraments were effective signs of grace brought by Christ

  • Vatican Council II: