Sacraments, Symbols, & Ritual
Download
Report
Transcript Sacraments, Symbols, & Ritual
SACRAMENTS, SYMBOLS, &
RITUAL
Symbol & Ritual
Lion King Baptism Scene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXjI2kuNk
hE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YHzhev
Y1Jk
What symbols and actions are there and what
do you think is the deeper significance?
Symbol & Ritual
Sign
An object that refers to a specific thing.
Symbol
an object or action that points us to another reality.
It leads us to look beyond our senses to consider a
deeper mystery.
Ritual
The established form of words and actions for a
ceremony that is repeated often.
The actions often have a symbolic meaning.
Importance of Symbols & Rituals
Unify
Tangible way of expressing intangible
realities
Transcend everyday experience and point
toward deeper meaning
Transition rituals – new states in life
Intensification rituals – reinforce community
beliefs and practices.
Importance of Symbols & Rituals
Sacred Space
Sacred Time
Sacred Meaning
Significant places, moments, and ideas
Both Personal and communal significance
Beyond explanation – mysterious
Homework
Read article 7 & write a definition of
sacrament to share with the class.
Group worksheet – Identifying symbols and
rituals (from textbook)
Does the fact that all religions and all people
have sacraments (sacred symbols and rituals)
diminish or enhance the Catholic
Sacraments?
What makes the Catholic Sacraments unique?
Symbols, Rituals, &
Sacraments
Sacraments, Symbols, & rituals = language of
communication with God.
Paschal Mystery – core of every Sacrament
It is what we celebrate and participate in by letting go
of our former self (dying) and living a life in Christ
(rising)
Jesus – great sign and symbol of God’s love for us
Church – sacrament of God’s life and love
Communicates God’s presence to the world.
Sacrament
sacramental – when tangible symbols and
rituals are used to reveal a deeper meaning
Stations of cross, holy water, crucifix
The Sacraments are efficacious signs of
grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to
the Church, by which divine life is dispensed
to us. The visible rites by which the
sacraments are celebrated signify and make
present the graces proper to each Sacrament.
They bear fruit in those who receive them
with the required disposition.
Experiences of Grace
Grace – gift of life and relationship with God
offered freely to us.
Sanctifying grace – permanent disposition
enabling us to live in relationship with God
given through Baptism and renewed in the
other Sacraments
Actual graces – God’s interventions in our
lives.
Example – Mission trip to New Orleans
Redemption – “to buy back; rescue” - given
the power through Christ over sin and death.