Sacraments are outward
signs of inward grace
instituted by Christ for our sanctification.
The Mass
The greatest sacrament in
the Catholic Church is the Holy Eucharist, especially as celebrated in the Mass.
The Catholic Mass is unique among Christian religions because it is the actual
reincarnation of Jesus Christ in body and blood and then taken into our bodies
to nurture our soul and nourish our spirit. Mass is conducted in most parishes
on a daily basis and at least every Sunday. The Mass is celebrated as a communal
prayer in spiritual fellowship with other Catholics in our parish and throughout
the world.
There are five reasons
why Catholics celebrate the Mass:
- Show Christ or deep
love and respect - Adoration
- Ask for forgiveness
for our sins - Contrition
- Glorify God for his goodness
and great love - Praise
- Ask God for help in our
needs and those of others in our world- Petition
- Thank God for his many
blessings bestowed upon us and our loved ones - Thanksgiving
The Seven Sacraments
If you're like most Catholics,
you really don't remember much of what you were taught about the sacraments
(if you were taught at all).
I remember the first time
I took golf lessons from a professional golfer. After playing golf for a number
of years, I decided that maybe a Pro could teach me a few things. To make a
long story short, I was amazed at how much I didn't know I didn't know about
the game of golf. Incidentally, this pro insisted on a series of seven lessons.
The things I learned about golf have stayed with me for many years and have
greatly improved my enjoyment of the game.
I would like to suggest
seven 'lessons' about the game of being Catholic. These are the seven sacraments.
Click on the links below to begin your lessons. You may be amazed to discover
what you didn't know you didn't know about your religion. What you learn will
help you enjoy your faith more than you might think.
- Baptism
- (Greek baptizein) means to "plunge" or "immerse"; the
"plunge" into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into
Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a
new creature."
- Reconciliation
- (also known as the Sacrament of Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation)
has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find
God's unconditional forgiveness, and as a result we are called to forgive
others.
- Holy
Eucharist - the true Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ hidden
under the appearance of bread and wine.
- Confirmation
- the third and final step in your initiation into the Catholic Church. The
first two steps are Baptism and Holy Eucharist. Confirmation is a strengthening
of the Gifts given to you by the Holy Spirit at the time of your Baptism and
confirms your full initiation into the Church
- Matrimony
- a public sign that one gives oneself totally to this other person. The love
that binds a husband and wife together is not of God, it is
God, for God is Love. (1 John 4:16) It is in this love and through
this love that new life is brought forth.
- Holy
Orders - the priest being ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing
them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel,
and by providing other means to holiness. See also our links page on Vocations.
- Anointing
of the Sick - formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is a ritual
of healing appropriate not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual
sickness.
