THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
1210 Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life:1 they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.
1211 Following this analogy, the first chapter will expound the three sacraments of Christian initiation; the second, the sacraments of healing; and the third, the sacraments at the service of communion and the mission of the faithful. This order, while not the only one possible, does allow one to see that the sacraments form an organic whole in which each particular sacrament has its own vital place. In this organic whole, the Eucharist occupies a unique place as the "Sacrament of sacraments": "all the other sacraments are ordered to it as to their end."2
1 Cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III,65,1.
2 St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III,65,3.
At the basis of the Catholic faith is the belief in Christ who not only saved us from sin by His passion but also that Christ founded the Church whereby we are united in a “hidden and real way to Christ who suffered and was glorified.” (Lumen Gentium, 7) In the Church, “Christ now lives and acts in and with His Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age. He acts through the sacraments in what is called ‘the sacramental economy;’ this is the communication of the fruits of Christ’s Paschal mystery in the celebration of the Church’s sacramental liturgy.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1076) The sacraments can be divided into three groups:
The Sacrament of Baptism is the first and most important Sacrament that one can receive. It is the so called "gateway" to all the other Sacraments. Most Catholics are baptized as infants. By the pouring of water (or immersion), and the spoken words: "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" a whole new world opens up for the newly baptized. One is freed from Original Sin, is incorporated into the Catholic Church, are made members of Christ and become sharers of Christ's mission in this world.
If the person is baptized later on in life, at that moment also all the sins of one's life are being washed away, as well as all the punishment due to sin is take away too.
Every person on earth is called to: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (as St. Peter spoke in Acts 2:38).
St. Paul also baptized whole families as seen while he was in prison in Philippi. The jailer "was baptized at once, with all his family." (Acts 16:31-33)
To have your child baptized at St Francis de Sales or St Joseph, please contact Fr. Peter.
There is a Baptismal class that both parents and sponsors/god-parents will have to take.
BAPTISM (Cann. 849 - 878)
Can. 849 Baptism, the gateway to the sacraments and necessary for salvation by actual reception or at least by desire, is validly conferred only by a washing of true water with the proper form of words. Through baptism men and women are freed from sin, are reborn as children of God, and, configured to Christ by an indelible character, are incorporated into the Church.
CHAPTER I.
THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM
Can. 850 Baptism is administered according to the order prescribed in the approved liturgical books, except in case of urgent necessity when only those things required for the validity of the sacrament must be observed.
Can. 851 The celebration of baptism must be prepared properly; consequently:
1/ an adult who intends to receive baptism is to be admitted to the catechumenate and is to be led insofar as possible through the various stages to sacramental initiation, according to the order of initiation adapted by the conference of bishops and the special norms issued by it;
2/ the parents of an infant to be baptized and those who are to undertake the function of sponsor are to be instructed properly on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attached to it. The pastor personally or through others is to take care that the parents are properly instructed through both pastoral advice and common prayer, bringing several families together and, where possible, visiting them.
The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is the most NOBLE of all the Sacraments. Along with Baptism and Confirmation, Eucharist completes the Sacraments of Initiation. A Catholic is not a fully initiated Catholic, if he or she has not received all three Sacraments.
If one desires to get married, the priest will have to make sure that the Catholic parties are fully initiated. If one is not fully initiated, the priest will help the adult to become a fully initiated Catholic.
For a boy to be called by God to become a priest, these three Sacraments are required, before he can be ordained (Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist).
We remember the Last Supper when Christ Himself instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
The Sacrament of Confirmation brings the fullness of the Holy Spirit to a believer. Through this Sacrament one becomes a soldier for Christ. The outpouring of the gifts is a result of this Sacrament.
Usually this Sacrament is dispensed at the Easter Vigil - for those to be baptized, or received into the faith, or who have not received this Sacrament in younger years.
When teenagers study to receive this this Sacrament, the Bishop himself will come or send a delegate, to confirm whole classes all at once. For these youngsters it is a 2 year study.
St. James writes: “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven."
This Sacrament is for those who "begin to be in danger of death due to sickness or old age."
Please call Fr. Peter to request this Sacrament. Before a major surgery or prolonged and worsening condition of a sickness.
Anyone who has sinned after receiving the Sacrament of Baptism, shall receive the Sacrament of Confession. Our good LORD knows our sins, but He wants us to know them also and confess them to a priest, who is the dispenser of the Blood of Christ. Nothing can take your sins away, but His precious Blood.
Before we go to Confession, of course we need to examine our conscience. Then go to the priest and confess all sins committed since the last good confession. To make a good confession, we must confess humbly, sincere, and entire.
Not everyone is called to this special vocation. First of all, one has to be able to pray well, get along with others, have a great ability to love - a bridled, a chaste love. By their configuration with Christ the Head, they will not bring forth children in the physical way, but spiritually. That is why we call them "Father." As parents, or grandparents, you have a a great obligation to foster vocations, to the priesthood and the religious life. If God has placed a vocation in a young person, and a parent shall not discourage this vocation.
Just think: if your boy becomes a priest, daily he will include you in the prayers, especially holy Mass. If your girl becomes a Bride of Christ, her prayers are very powerful - and she would daily lift you and the family up on prayer. It cannot get any better...
If you think you have a vocation, please talk to Fr. Peter. He will help discern if this call is from God.
For those who are called to the married life, this Sacrament will give the spouses the strength and grace necessary. Spouses are a gift from God and as such they are instrumental in helping us to reach our goal: heaven. Openness towards love and life, the couple bears witness to God's goodness in letting them become co-creators with almighty GOD.
Marriage preparation does take some time. Please contact Fr. Peter at least 6 MONTHS before a planned wedding.
Bishop Fulton Sheen said: it takes 3 to get married: a Man, a Woman & GOD.