SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION

                                                    Catechism  #1210-1498

 

Outline

 

  1. Original Sin

  2. Grace

  3. Seven Sacraments

  4. Sacraments of Initiation

  5. Initiation Sacrament Summary

  6. Scripture Citations

  7. New Testament Events for Baptism

  8. Baptismal Rite

  9. Effects of Baptism

10. Reception and Effects of Confirmation    

11. Confirmation from Acts of the Apostles

12. Relation of Confirmation to Baptism 

13. Rite of Confirmation

14. Eucharist in the New Testament

15. The Presence of God 

16. The Real Presence

17. The Mass

18. Sacrament of Reconciliation

19. Sin and Grace

20. Manner of Confessing

 

1.  Original Sin  

 

The sin of Adam introduced brokenness into our nature 

Man was created with a more perfect nature

       Without concupiscence or the tendency to give in

       to sensuality, e.g. smoker, alcoholic, sex offender

Baptism removes the stain of original sin and restores our

       relationship with God, but concupiscence remains with us

 

2.  Grace   

 

Gift of Holy Spirit, makes us Christians, children of God

Grace Is taking part in the life of God.

Sanctifying grace is the disposition to live and act

       in accordance with God's will

Actual Graces are interventions of God guiding

       particular human actions.

Merit we cannot be liberated from sin by our own

       efforts (Pelagianism).

Each Sacrament has special graces directly conferred

       by its reception

 

3.  Seven Sacraments

 

Seven Signs instituted by Christ to confer the grace

       that they signify.

A sacrament is an absolutely known contact with God

Each sacrament gives specific graces for particular

       purposes

Each has a name, type, sign, minister, minimum age, 

       typical frequency of reception, etc.

Some sacraments put a permanent character on the soul

There are three types of sacraments: 

       Initiation (baptism, confirmation, Eucharist)

       Healing (reconciliation, anointing) 

       Service or Vocation (holy orders, matrimony)

 

4.  Sacraments of Initiation

 

Received together when joining the Church as adult 

Baptism removes the stain of original sin

       and all past sins, makes us Christians

Confirmation increases and deepens baptismal grace, 

       imparts the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Eucharist, true Body and Blood of Christ gives special

       graces when received, nourishes our spiritual life

Reconciliation or Confession, provides forgiveness

       and absolution for sins

 It is required for the remission of mortal sins  

 

5. Initiation Sacrament Summary

 

Sacr     Type  Char    Minister           Sign

 

Bapt       Init     Yes      Priest            Pour water

                                   Deacon            Words

                                  (Layperson)   

 

Conf       Init     Yes      Bishop          Anointing

                                   (Priest)

 

Euch      Init      No       Priest            Bread, Wine

 

(Recon  Heal    No       Priest      Tell Sins, Absolution)  

 

6.  Scripture Citations

 

Baptism:  Act 8:36-9, Mt 28:19, Mk 16:15-16

Confirmation    Act 8:4-16,  Act 9:17-18

Eucharist    Mt 26:26-28,   Mk 14:22-2 

                     Lk 22:19-20,  1 Cor 11:23-25

Reconciliation  Jn 20:22-23

                                  

7.  New Testament Events for Baptism

 

John's baptism of repentance in the Jordan River Mk 1: 4

Jesus starts his mission with Baptism by John

       'This is my Beloved Son'  Mt 3:13-15

'There Is a baptism that I still must receive' Lk 12: 50  

Jesus' final commission: 'Go, therefore, make disciples

       of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,

       and of the Son. and of the Holy Spirit'  Mt 28:19,20 

Paul's writings: 'Put on the new nature' Col 3: 9,

       'No longer be enslaved by sin' Rom 6: 6

'No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born

       again of water and the spirit' (to Nicodemus) Jn 3: 5;

 'Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved' Mk 16:16 

God 'wishes all to be saved and to come to knowledge of

       the truth' 1 Tim 2: 4    

 

8.  Baptismal Rite

 

Essentials: pouring  water three times, saying

       "I baptize you - in the name of the Father,

       - and of the Son, - and of the Holy Spirit"

Other parts of the rite (some are optional) :

       Blessing of the water

       Renunciation of sin

       Profession of faith

       Baptism Itself (pouring water and saying words)

       Anointing with chrism

       Investing with white garment

       Presentation of a lighted candle

 

9.  Effects of Baptism

 

All sins are forgiven, original sin, and all personal sins,

       as well as all punishment for sin 

Forgiveness of all prior personal sins

Imparting of a permanent character on the soul (baptism

       can be received only once)

The inclination to sin (concupiscence) remains

Baptized persons become members of the Church

       become eligible to receive other sacraments

 

10.  Reception and Effects of Confirmation  

 

Called the sacrament which leads to Christian Maturity

Generally received during early adolescence,            

Eastern Church: received with baptism of infants

It confers a deepening of God's friendship

It provides sacramental graces that

       illuminate the mind and strengthen the will  

It puts a permanent character on the soul 

Adults:  Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist

       are received at the same ceremony

       First confession is made beforehand

 

11.  Confirmation from Acts of Apostles:  

 

"Peter and Paul prayed....for the Samaritans to receive

       the Holy Spirit"  

"They had only been baptized" 

"Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came

       down on them"

See scripture passages  Acts  8:14 -16; 9: 6. 

 

12.  Relation of Confirmation to Baptism

 

Baptism Is a sacrament of spiritual regeneration

Confirmation Is a sacrament of spiritual strengthening

Confirmation perfects and completes the initiation

       of baptism

Before Vatican II the confirmed were called soldiers of Christ

Baptism makes us children of God,  and confirmation

       gives us the grace to be loyal disciples of Christ

 

 

13.  Rite of Confirmation

 

Laying on of hands with the invocation  

       "All Powerful God _ _ _ _ _ _ send your Holy Spirit on them

to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and

understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit

of knowledge and reverence.  Fill them with the spirit of  wonder

and awe in your presence.  We ask this through Christ our Lord" 

 

Then comes the anointing with chrism, saying

       "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit". 

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit were enumerated above

 

14.  Eucharist in the New Testament 

 

Marriage at Cana, changing water to wine Jn 2:1-12

Bread of Life discourse Jn 6:47-69

"My flesh is food indeed, and My blood drink indeed."        

       There are four accounts of the Last Supper consecration

       Mt 26: 26-28, Mk: 14 22-25, Lk: 22 20,  1 Cor 10:16. 

On the road to Emmaus Jesus was recognized at      

       the breaking of the bread   Lk 24 13-35       

Paul in Heb: 9:11-14 "The blood of Christ --- purifies our

       conscience --- to serve the living God" 

The Acts of the Apostles recount breaking the bread        

       Acts 2 42-47; 20 7.11; 27 35.    

           

15. The Presence of God

 

God is in the world sustaining it

Christ is guiding His Church

God is present to us during prayer

God is present in the scriptures

God is present in other sacraments by

       their giving of grace

Christ is present during the entire Mass

Christ is in the Eucharist in a special way

       denoted by the term Real Presence

 

16. The Real Presence  

 

Bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood

       of Christ at the consecration of Mass

The change is real - bread and wine cease to exist except

       for the appearances,

The body and blood of Jesus now truly exist

Mass is a true channel of Grace,

       as is receiving Communion

In Mass the Priest does in time and space what

       Is perpetual in heaven

 

17.  The Mass

 

The Mass is the Worship Service for consecrating the       

        Eucharist and distributing it to the people. 

1st Part - Penitential Service - asking pardon for our sins

2nd Part - Liturgy of the Word - selections from scripture

       are read and commented upon in the homily

3rd Part - Liturgy of the Eucharist - priest consecrates bread     

       and wine - transforms them into the body and blood of Jesus

The Eucharist is then distributed to the people

There is a short concluding rite

 

18.  Sacrament of Reconciliation     

 

Sign is confessing sins and absolution

Confess sins - both kind and number

Mortal (serious)  required to be told

Venial (lesser)  optional for telling

Absolution is given by the priest

There is absolute secrecy of what is told in confession

Biblical source: power of binding and loosening 

       whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven  

       Mt 16:19; Mt 18:18

Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven   Jn 20:23

                                                  

19.  Sin and Grace      

 

Sin is an offense against God, as breaking a commandment

Mortal Sin has three characteristics: a) grievous matter 

       b) sufficient reflection, c) full consent of the will

Venial Sin lacks one or more of these characteristics

       it weakens the soul, fosters habits of sin

 

State of Grace is the condition of not having

       any mortal sin on a person's soul

One who dies in the state of grace goes to heaven

       perhaps after spending time in purgatory

A person dying with mortal sin ends up in hell forever

 

20.  Manner of Confessing     

 

Face to face (new way) or behind a screen (old way)

Say "Bless me father for I have sinned",

Tell sins to the priest, say act of contrition 

He will pronounce the words of absolution 

Do assigned penance as soon as possible

 

21. One Form of the Act of Contrition

 

O My God I am heartily sorry for having offended thee.  I detest

all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains

of hell, but most of all because I have offended thee my God

who art all good and deserving of all my love.  I firmly resolve

with the help of thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance,

and to amend my life.  Amen. 

 

 

 

CPPoole,  December 3  2000, October 16 2005