Our Catholic Faith Living What We Believe CHAPTER

Our Catholic Faith Living What We Believe CHAPTER 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Our Need for Signs and Symbols Baptism Confirmation Eucharist The Liturgical Year

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Our Need for Signs and Symbols Sacraments Christ left his Church the sacraments: special symbols of God’s love and important signs of grace and divine friendship A sacrament is a “visible sign of an invisible reality, a visible sign of invisible grace. ” (St. Augustine of Hippo)

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Our Need for Signs and Symbols The three Sacraments of Initiation Baptism brings new life in Christ Confirmation strengthens the new life Eucharist nourishes Catholics with Christ’s Body • They “gather in” God’s people and make us members of Christ’s Body, the Church • They give us the life of Christ and bestow the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can be Christ for others

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Our Need for Signs and Symbols Initiation in the Early Church § Most converts were adults and initiation was seen as a journey that took place in stages § Sponsors helped them prepare through a three-year period of prayer, fasting, and selfdenial § After a forty-day period of prayer and formal instruction in the faith during Lent, they received all three Sacraments at the Easter Vigil § The bishop was the main celebrant

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Our Need for Signs and Symbols Initiation in the Early Church § They were plunged into the baptismal waters three times § The five senses were anointed and the Holy Spirit invoked (Confirmation) § The neophytes received white garments to symbolize a new life in Christ § The neophytes received candles to remind them of their new vocation to be the light of Christ § The Eucharist was celebrated and they

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Our Need for Signs and Symbol Initiation today § After AD 313, most Catholics were baptized in infancy § Holy Communion is typically received at age seven § The Second Vatican Council restored the ancient way of initiating adults into the Church § The Catechumenate has distinct steps, consisting of four periods and three stages and are found in

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Baptism is foreshadowed in the Old Testament accounts of creation and the Great Flood In the New Testament Jesus himself was baptized and commanded: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them all that I have commanded you. Mt 28: 19 -20

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Baptism Infant Baptism The practice of infant Baptism shows that Salvation is a pure gift of Christ’s grace that extends even to children. It shows that the Church relies on the faith of the parents, godparents, and all the Church to ensure that infants are baptized in a faithfilled environment The essential rite is when the minister pours water on the head of the child three times and pronounces the words, “N. , I baptized

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Baptism Symbols of Baptism Symbol Meaning Water cleansing, death to an old life of sin and rebirth into new life with Christ Oil anointing with Christ (the “anointed one”), we belong to him, we receive the Holy Spirit who protects, guides, strengthens White garment purity, happiness, and a new identity of living in union with the Lord Candle Christ is the light of the world and his

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Baptism Effects of Baptism initiates and incorporates us into Christ’s Body, the Church Baptism gives us birth into a new life in Christ Baptism forgives both Original Sin and personal sin and remits all Baptism seals Christians with and indelible spiritual character that marks us as belonging to Christ

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Confirmation The Sacrament of Confirmation completes the sacramental grace of Baptism Today Confirmation is often received in the teen years to help represent a teen’s increasing personal commitment to the faith Prayer and the Sacrament of Penance are part of the preparation for the sacrament A sponsor accompanies the candidate in preparation for the rite

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Confirmation The effects of Confirmation § The full outpouring of the Holy Spirit § Binding us more closely to the Church and more firmly to Christ § Increasing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us, especially his strength to spread and defend the Christian faith by word and deed Like Baptism, Confirmation imprints an indelible spiritual mark on the soul and so can be received only once

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Confirmation While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came (down) to Ephesus where Roots and history of Confirmation he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you § In thereceive the holy Spirit when you became believers? ” They Old Testament, the prophets promised the Spirit would rest on the Messiah answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a holy Spirit. “ He said, “How were you baptized? " They § In the New Testament, the origin is found in the replied, "With the baptism of John. “ Paul then said, "John apostolic laying on of hands baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people § In theto believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Western Church the custom grew of the in Jesus. “ When they heard this, they were baptized in the bishop “confirming” the baptismal name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid (his) hands commitment of those baptized as infants on them, the holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. § Eastern Rite Churches administer all three Acts 19: 1 -6 initiation sacraments at the same time

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Confirmation The Rite of Confirmation § Renewal of baptismal promises and profession of faith § The bishop extends hands over the confirmands and invokes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit § The minister anoints the forehead with Chrism, lands on his hand, and recites the words: “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. ” § The sign of peace concludes the rite

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Eucharist Sacrament of the Eucharist § Completes a person’s Christian initiation § Is foreshadowed when: ● the priest Melchizedek offered God bread and wine ● God gave manna to the Chosen People ● Jesus’ multiplied the loaves and fishes ● Jesus changes water into wine at Cana ● Jesus declared the importance of eating his body and drinking his blood

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Eucharist Names for the Eucharist “thanksgiving” Lord’s Supper Eucharistic Assembly Holy Mass Breaking the Bread Holy Communion Holy and Divine Liturgy Most Blessed Sacrament Holy Sacrifice

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Eucharist The Celebration of the Mass LITURGY OF THE WORD First Reading NTRODUCTORY RITES LITURGY OF Responsorial Psalm Entrance & Greeting THE EUCHARIST Second Reading Penitential Rite Gloria. Alleluia or Acclamation. Offertory Prayer Gospel Eucharistic Opening CONCLUDING RITE Communion Rite Homily Prayer Blessing Creed Dismissal General Intercessions

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation The Liturgical Year Advent – prepares for Christ’s coming Christmas Season – a feast that proclaims Emmanuel Ordinary Time 1 Lent – prepares us for the solemn and joyful feast of Easter Triduum – celebrates our Redemption in Christ

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation The Liturgical Year Sacramentals § Sacred signs that resemble sacraments § Help us become aware of Christ’s presence § Prepare us to received the sacraments § They include: objects: candles, holy water, statues, icons, rosary beads, relics, scapulars, church buildings actions: blessings, genuflections, the Sign of the Cross places: the Holy Land, Rome, Lourdes, chapels

Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation VOCABULARY § § § Friendship (160) Sacrament (160) Catechumen (161) Neophytes (161) RCIA (161) Essential rite (163) Chrism (163) Christ (164) Confirmands (167) Myron (167) Rite (168) Eucharist (170) § § § Liturgy (171) Sacrifice (171) Transubstantiation (171) Preface (173) Epiclesis (174) Anamnesis (174) Emmanuel (175) Lent (176) Triduum (176) Sacramentals (176) Icons (177)

The Jesus Prayer of Cardinal Newman Chapter 6 The Sacraments of Initiation Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance wherever I go. Flood my soul with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus! Stay with me and then I will begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others. The light, O Jesus, will be all from you; none of it will be mine. It will be you, shining on others through me. Let me thus praise you in the way which you love best, by shining on those around me. Let me preach you without preaching, not by words but by example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what I do, the evident fullness of the love my heart bears for you. Amen.