Sacraments

By Father Matt Guckin

Our First Image of God (Exodus 15:3-4)

The LORD is a warrior; LORD is his name.

Pharaoh's chariots and his army He cast into the sea.

The Sacraments are HIS SEVEN REAL, EFFECTIVE, STRATEGIC MOVES

We Have Our Own Way We all have our own way of reaching out to God (nature … other people … meditation) BUT GOD HAS

HIS

WAY OF REACHING OUT TO US …

The Sacraments!

• • •

BAPTISM:

Go recruit those on the outside

CONFIRMATION:

Train them for struggle

EUCHARIST:

force of love Give them an overwhelming • • •

ANOINTING:

Bring the wounded back to duty

CONFESSION:

Bring dead soldiers back to life

MARRIAGE:

Choose some for total commitment to the field of contest •

HOLY ORDERS:

Choose

some

to train---empower---raise

others

Baptism

Baptizein

– To Immerse!

We are immersed into the Life of Jesus It was foreshadowed in the OT by Noah’s Ark and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea

Baptism Where is it in the Bible????

Jesus Himself was baptized (Matt. 3, Mark 1, John 1) For us … Jesus invites us to receive baptism (Matt. 28, Mark 16)

Baptism Gives new life in Christ in which we die and rise in Him Communicates forgiveness of Original Sin and all personal sins Makes us adoptive children of the Father,members of Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit Makes us part of the Body of Christ ~ The Church

Confirmation

•

Confirmare

~ to strengthen • The gift of the Holy Spirit received at Baptism is confirmed, strengthened, and perfected for living the Christian life and spreading the faith to others.

Confirmation

Where is it in the Bible???

Acts of the Apostles 8, Acts 9, Hebrews 6

Confirmation

• It makes us cry, “Abba! Father!” • It unites us more firmly to Christ • It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us • It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit

to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of

Our First Image of God (Exodus 15:3-4)

The LORD is a warrior; LORD is his name.

Pharaoh's chariots and his army He cast into the sea.

• •

BAPTISM:

Go recruit those on the outside

CONFIRMATION:

Train them for struggle •

EUCHARIST:

force of love Give them an overwhelming • • • •

ANOINTING:

Bring the wounded back to duty

CONFESSION:

Bring dead soldiers back to life

MARRIAGE:

Choose some for total commitment to the field of contest

HOLY ORDERS:

Choose

some

to train---empower---raise

others

The Eucharist

Eucharist

– To Give Thanks We take the time to give thanks for all Christ has done for us

Eucharist

The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament which re-

presents

(makes present) in the Mass the sacrificial Death of Christ and His Resurrection —making it possible for us to eat His Body and drink His Blood

The Eucharist

Where is it the Bible??? …Like … EVERYWHERE!!!

• Mt 14:13-21; Mt 26:26-29; Mk 6:30-33; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 9:10-17; Lk 22:14-20; Jn 2:1 12; Jn 6:22-59; Jn 13 –17; 1Cor 11:23.

The Eucharist

• Unites us with Jesus Christ and His Church • Nourishes Christ’s life in us • Increases our love of God and neighbor • Forgives venial sins • Protects us from grave sin • Commits us to the poor

Our First Image of God (Exodus 15:3-4)

The LORD is a warrior; LORD is his name.

Pharaoh's chariots and his army He cast into the sea.

• • •

BAPTISM:

Go recruit those on the outside

CONFIRMATION:

Train them for struggle

EUCHARIST:

Give them an overwhelming force of love •

ANOINTING:

Bring the wounded back to duty • • •

CONFESSION:

Bring dead soldiers back to life

MARRIAGE:

Choose some for total commitment to the field of contest

HOLY ORDERS:

Choose

some

to train---empower---raise

others

Anointing Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament which gives spiritual healing and strength to a seriously ill person, and sometimes also physical recovery

Anointing Where is it in the Bible???

• In James 5:14-15 we read “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters (Greek for “Priests”) of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

Anointing In Mark 6, Jesus gives his disciples precise instructions and then sends them out in pairs. As they go out, they anoint the sick with oil, and many are cured. Christ institutes the sacrament of the sick.

Anointing Sickness and suffering have always been among the worst problems confronted in human life. By being sick we experience our limitations and it gives us a glimpse of death.

Sickness/suffering can lead to anguish, self-absorption, even despair and revolt against God. But…..it can make a person more mature and help us to discern what’s really important.

Finally … sickness/suffering can lead us to search for God and a return to Him.

Our First Image of God (Exodus 15:3-4)

The LORD is a warrior; LORD is his name.

Pharaoh's chariots and his army He cast into the sea.

• • • •

BAPTISM:

Go recruit those on the outside

CONFIRMATION:

Train them for struggle

EUCHARIST:

Give them an overwhelming force of love

ANOINTING:

Bring the wounded back to duty •

CONFESSION:

Bring dead soldiers back to life • •

MARRIAGE:

Choose some for total commitment to the field of contest

HOLY ORDERS:

Choose

some

to train---empower---raise

others

Reconciliation

Jesus came to forgive sin His FIRST WORDS are:

Repent and believe!

Reconciliation

Where is it in the Bible???

John 20:22-23 Jesus gives the ELEVEN the power to forgive sins

Reconciliation

• Forgiveness of all sin • Reconciliation with God by which grace is received • Reconciliation with the Church • Remission of punishment for sin • Peace and serenity • Spiritual strength to resist temptation

Reconciliation

Grace is given to form your conscience Your conscience judges you You go to the priest THIS IS ALL GRACE!!!!!!

Reconciliation

Tell the priest … How long since last confession Your sins Receive a penance Make an act of contrition Receive absolution of sins

Our First Image of God (Exodus 15:3-4)

The LORD is a warrior; LORD is his name.

Pharaoh's chariots and his army He cast into the sea.

• • • •

BAPTISM:

Go recruit those on the outside

CONFIRMATION:

Train them for struggle

EUCHARIST:

Give them an overwhelming force of love

ANOINTING:

Bring the wounded back to duty •

CONFESSION:

Bring dead soldiers back to life •

MARRIAGE:

Choose some for total commitment to the field of contest •

HOLY ORDERS:

Choose

some

to train---empower---raise

others

Marriage

The Catholic view of marriage is based on the belief that God has a VISION for marriage

Marriage

God’s VISION for marriage can be found in the Bible In Genesis … Adam is all alone and God gives him a “suitable partner” In Genesis … “A man shall leave his father and mother and cling to his wife and the two shall become one flesh”

Marriage

God’s VISION for marriage … God says to the couple …

be fruitful and multiply!

Marriage

God’s VISION for marriage … These things happen before the fall of Adam and Eve So AFTER the fall, what happens to marriage???

Marriage

In Genesis 4 POLYGAMY (having multiple spouses) starts to happen This is a different idea of what God intended marriage to be And polygamy continues to happen throughout … Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon … all have many wives

Marriage

As for other religions … Muslims (according to the Q’ran) may practice polygamy as a man may take up to four wives Mormons USED to allow the practice of it as well

Marriage

What does JESUS say about marriage?

Jesus was asked a question about marriage

Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?

Jesus says NO.

Marriage

After giving this answer Jesus then reminds the people of God’s VISION for marriage

In the beginning God made them male and female; for THIS reason a MAN shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his WIFE; the TWO shall become ONE flesh…

Marriage

After re stating God’s VISION for marriage Jesus then states

: ….therefore what GOD has joined together let NO one separate!

Marriage

Marriage is a SACRAMENT That is, it points to something???

It reveals something St Paul explains it in his Letter to the Ephesians

Marriage

31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

Marriage

Saint Paul uses the word “mystery”????

Mystery =

Mysterion

in Greek

Mysterion

means “something INVISIBLE made VISIBLE”

Marriage

Mysterion is translated from Greek into the Latin word

SACRAMENTUM

Marriage

Sacramentum

as…….

is translated into the English

?

So Marriage …

Marriage

Is a Sacrament

THEREFORE…..

Marriage is a visible sign of God’s love for us

Marriage

God’s love for us is … Faithful Fruitful Forever

Marriage

God’s love for us is FAITHFUL He will always be true to us Marital love is FAITHFUL The couple will always be true to each other

Marriage

God’s love for us is FRUITFUL Certainly He “prunes” us but if we let Him love us we show forth the Fruits of the Holy Spirit Marital love is FRUITFUL in terms of children BUT also in terms of growing as persons by putting aside their egos

Marriage

God’s love for us is FOREVER He will NEVER take back His love Marital love is FOREVER The ‘yes’ must never turn in to ‘no’

REPEAT SLIDE Jesus was asked about marriage in Matthew 19

Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?

Jesus says

NO

Marriage Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?" 4 He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate."

Marriage Soooooooooo…………

Annulments What’s up with this?

Jesus says NO to D-I-V-O-R-C-E So… what’s up with an annulment???

The Wedding The Wedding Ceremony reveals everything Right after the Gospel/Homily the Marriage takes place The words … the VOWS …are these …

The Wedding

Have you come here FREELY and without RESERVATION to

GIVE YOURSELVES

to each other in marriage?

So marriage is a Marriage

GIFT

Marriage

Gifts are GIVENand RECEIVED

The Wedding I (name) TAKE you (name) to be my (husband/wife)!

So the gift has been offered … and it has been accepted!

The Wedding I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health.

I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

The Wedding These words … the giving of the gift and its acceptance … Means that the man and woman have given their CONSENT That word … CONSENT … is key here

The Wedding After they give their consent to the GIFT The Priest or Deacon says …

What GOD has joined together no one must divide!

A Mini-Review Marriage is a gift that is given and accepted Marriage is a sacrament in that it is a sign of God’s love for us God’s love for us is faithful, fruitful and forever

Annulments An Annulment means the consent on the wedding day was defective … the vows taken …were NOT honest There really was no idea or a foggy idea of just how God loves us FAITHFUL ….

FRUITFUL ….

FOREVER

Annulments The marriage is considered NULL It wasn’t a sacramental marriage FROM THE START

Reasons For Annulments Consanguinity Insanity (making it impossible to give consent) Never intending to remain faithful (faking consent) Deception in order to obtain consent The couple were under the influence at the time of the marriage.

The union was not consummated

Annulment Process The Church asks questions … investigates the entire consent process If it was defective the sacramental marriage is declared null It’s still a CIVIL marriage

Annulments The whole process reveals just how special and sacred marriage is It’s NOT just about going to a courthouse and filing for no fault divorce!

Marriage Your marriage will go a long way in determining your happiness If you stick to God’s plan for marriage it WILL be difficult … but it WILL work If you DO NOT stick to God’s plan for marriage it WILL SEEM easy … but in the long run it will be even MORE DIFFICULT

Marriage So the whole key is in preparing

Failing to prepare means Preparing to fail!

Marriage Preparation Tips

JUST LISTEN

1) What type of love do you have for the other person (be brutally honest with yourself)?

a. Eros b. Philia c. Agape

Marriage Preparation Tips 2) Opposites Attract IN TERMS OF PERSONALITY BUT NOT IN TERMS OF VALUES!!!

So ask yourself…What do I value in life?

Are these values GOOD?

Marriage Preparation Tips 3) Marriage is a VOCATION it’s a “call” so PRAY about it … ask God if he/she is the ONE

Marriage Preparation Tips 4) Ask yourself: Am I spending more time on WEDDING PREP or MARRIAGE PREP???

Marriage Preparation Tips 5) Children Remind yourself I AM MARRYING THE MOTHER OF MY CHILDREN I AM MARRYING THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN

Our First Image of God (Exodus 15:3-4)

The LORD is a warrior; LORD is his name.

Pharaoh's chariots and his army He cast into the sea.

• • • •

BAPTISM:

Go recruit those on the outside

CONFIRMATION:

Train them for struggle

EUCHARIST:

Give them an overwhelming force of love

ANOINTING:

Bring the wounded back to duty •

CONFESSION:

Bring dead soldiers back to life •

MARRIAGE:

Choose some for total commitment to the field of contest •

HOLY ORDERS:

Choose

some

to train---empower---raise

others

Holy Orders

Jesus consecrates His followers at the Last Supper (Jn 17). Jesus commanded His followers, “Do this in memory of me.” (Matt. 28) His Apostles continued to celebrate the Eucharist as ordained ministers.

Holy Orders

It is an order … a command In general … a priest is one who offers SACRIFICE This is what Catholic Priests are called and ordered to do … offer the Sacrifice of the Mass

Two things …

Holy Orders

The Catholic Priesthood is MALE The Catholic Priesthood is CELIBATE

Holy Orders

MALE – The priest is an icon of Jesus Christ Jesus is male Therefore, the priest is male

CELIBACY No marriage

Holy Orders

Sex belongs in marriage (remember Jesus’ words ~ a man shall leave … and cling to his WIFE … and become one flesh)

Holy Orders

CELIBACY Matthew 19 …

some renounce marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven ~ Jesus

Holy Orders

CELIBACY Shows the goodness and beauty of human sexuality (NOT that its evil) If I gave up smoking for God’s Kingdom you would say ~ you shouldn’t smoke anyway!

Holy Orders

CELIBACY No one says “you shouldn’t be married anyway … it’s bad for you”

Holy Orders

CELIBACY There is only one greater sacrifice I can make that would prove my love for God’s people …. Giving up my very life (MARTYRDOM)