Week 30: Passages 1420-1479

Chapter Two - The Sacraments of Healing
Article 4 The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

I. What is this Sacrament Called?
This sacrament goes by many names:

• sacrament of conversion
• sacrament of Penance
• sacrament of confession
• sacrament of forgiveness
• sacrament of Reconciliation

II. Why a Sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism?
After Baptism we still have the inclination to sin called concupiscence.
III. The Conversion of the Baptized
Jesus calls to conversion. The baptized are called to a second conversion, which is ongoing and has a communitarian dimension. Peter's conversion after he had denied his master three times bears witness to this.
IV. Interior Penance
Jesus' call to conversion is aimed at the heart rather then exterior acts like fasting and mortification. Interior penance urges us to exterior signs. Man's heart are hardened, God must give us a new heart. The conversion of the heart is accompanied by pain and sadness known as animi cruciatus (affliction of the spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart). The Holy Spirit illuminates sin but is also the Consoler.
V. The Many Forms of Penance in the Christian Life

"The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various
ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting,
prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God
and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism
or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: efforts at
reconciliation with one's neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the
salvation of one's neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of
charity 'which covers a multitude of sins.'
Conversion is accomplished in daily life by the gestures of reconciliation,
concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the
admission of faults to one's brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life,
examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering,
endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up one's cross
each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance." (CCC
1434-1435)

There are several ids to penance and conversion first the Eucharist and also reading Sacred Scripture, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and sincere worship. There are times in the liturgical year set aside for penitential practice.
The process of conversion and repentance is described by Jesus in the parable of the Prodigal son.
VI. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
Sin is an offense against God and a rupture of communion with him. It also damages communion with the Church. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation expresses forgiveness and reconciliation liturgically.
Only God forgives sins. Jesus Christ the Son of God has given authority to men to exercise the power of absolution and carry on the apostolic ministry.
Jesus not only forgave sins but also made plain the effects of forgiveness: sinners were reintegrated into the community. He gave the apostles this power with his words to Peter," I will give you the keys of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
"The words bind and loose mean: whomever you exclude from your communion, will be excluded from communion with God; whomever you receive anew into your communion, God will welcome back into his. Reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God." (CCC 1145)
Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church but especially for those who have committed a mortal sin after Baptism so that they might have a chance to recover the grace of justification.
The celebration of this sacrament has changed over time but has always included two fundamentals: the contrition, confession, and satisfaction of the sinner and God's action through the Church.
VII. The Acts of the Penitent
Contrition - perfect contrition comes from a love of God and remits venial sins and mortal sins if the sinner is resolved to go to confession at the first opportunity, imperfect contrition comes from a fear of punishment. The reception of the sacrament should be prepared for by an examination of conscience made in the light of the Word of God (Ten Commandments, Sermon on the Mount, apostolic teachings).
The Confession of Sins- confession to a priest is an essential part of sacrament of Penance. All mortal sins must be confessed and one should not receive Holy Communion until they have done so. One should confess all the sins they remember and not hide anything, so that they can be healed. Children should go to confession before receiving Holy Communion for the first time. Although it is not necessary confessing venial sins is strongly recommended.
Satisfaction- After receiving absolution one must do something to repair the damage caused by sin, in the form of penance.
VIII. The Minister of this Sacrament
Bishops and Priests have the power to forgive sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of Holy Orders.
IX. The Effects of this Sacrament
This sacrament restores us to God's grace.

"In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful
judgement of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgement to which he will be
subjected at the end of his earthly life. For it is now, in this life,
that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the
road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, from which one is excluded by
grave sin. In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner
passes from death to life and 'does not come to judgement'". (CCC 1470)

X. Indulgences

"'An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due
to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who
is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of
the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with
authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.'
'An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or
all of the temporal punishment due to sin.' The faithful can gain indulgences
for themselves or apply them to the dead." (CCC 1471)

Questions for Reflection
Well I don't know about everyone else, but these readings make we want to run out to confession! What a beautiful thing that Our Lord has given us the Church and the sacraments so that we can have easy access to the abundant mercy of God! Yesterday was Priesthood Sunday, let's all remember to thank the priests in our lives who administer these sacraments.
I am also thinking more deeply about ways I can practice penance and revive the spirit of repentance and conversion within myself.
How did you respond to these readings?

Week 29: Passages 1356 - 1419

Happy reading this week!

Week 28: Passages1293-1355

This week's readings cover Confirmation and the Eucharist.

II. The Signs and the Rite of Confirmation

In Biblical symbolism anointing with oil is a symbol of abundance and joy, cleansing, strengthening, healing and beautifying. Christian who receive the anointing of Confirmation share in the mission of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. In Confirmation we receive the mark of the Holy Spirit, a symbol of belonging. Christ himself said that he was marked with his Father's seal.

The rite of Confirmation is preceded by the consecration of the chrism oil by the bishop at the Chrism Mass. The rite itself begins with a renewal of baptismal promises to emphasize the connection between the two sacraments. The essential rite of the sacrament involves the bishop anointing the forehead with chrism through laying on of hands and saying the words, "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit." In the Byzantine rite the forehead, eyes, nose, ears, lips, chest, back, hands and feet are all anointed. The sign of peace concludes the rite to demonstrate the ecclesial communion of the bishop with all the faithful.

III. The Effects of Confirmation

The effect of Confirmation is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as at Pentecost. It gives us the following graces:

• it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!"



• it unites us more firmly in Christ



• it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us



• it renders our bond with the Church more perfect



• it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

Confirmation, like Baptism, also confers an indelible spiritual mark.

IV. Who Can Receive This Sacrament?

Every baptized person not yet confirmed should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. The Church suggests the "age of discretion" be reached, but children in danger of death should be given the Sacrament. Preparation should be made including catechesis that emphasizes belonging to the universal Church and parish community, receiving the Sacrament of Penance and more intense prayers.

V. The Minister of Confirmation

The original minister of Confirmation is the bishop, but he can authorize priests to administer the sacrament. If someone is near death, any priest can give Confirmation.

Article 3 The Sacrament of the Eucharist

I. The Eucharist- Source and Summit of Liturgical Life

The other Sacraments are all bound up in the Eucharist and oriented towards it.

"The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in
the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept
in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world
in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father
and to the Holy Spirit."CCC 1325

In the Eucharistic celebration we unite with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life.

II. What is the Sacrament Called?

The inexhaustible richness of this sacrament is expressed in the variety of names given to it:

• Eucharist



• The Lord's Supper



• The Breaking of Bread



• The Eucharistic Assembly



• The memorial of the Lord's Passion



• The Holy Sacrifice



• The Holy and Divine Liturgy



• The Sacred Mysteries



• The Most Blessed Sacrament



• Holy Communion



• Holy Mass

III. The Eucharist in the Economy of Salvation

The signs of bread and wine

At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are bread and wine which through the words of consecration become Christ's body and blood. Bread and wine also symbolize the goodness and of creation as we see in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the miracles of the multiplication of the loaves and the wedding at Cana prefigure the superabundance of the Eucharist.

The institution of the Eucharist

By celebrating the Last Supper with is disciples, Christ gave the Passover its definitive meaning. Christ's death and Resurrection are the new Passover and an anticipation of the final Passover of the Church and the glory of her kingdom.

"Do this in memory of me"

Jesus commanded us to repeat his words and actions until he comes, not merely remember what he did. On the first day of the week the early Christians would meet to break bread. The celebration of the Eucharist has continued to this day, and remains the center of the Church's life.

"Thus from celebration to celebration, as they proclaim the Paschal mystery
of Jesus 'until he comes,' the pilgrim People of God advances, 'following the
narrow way of the cross,' toward the heavenly banquet, when all the elect will
be seated at the table of the kingdom." CCC 1344

IV. The Liturgical Celebration of the Eucharist

The Mass has stayed the same since the second century. It has two parts: the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist.

The movement of the celebration

• all gather together



• liturgy of the Word



• the presentation of the offerings



• the anaphora



• the preface



• the epiclesis



• the institution narrative



• anamnesis



• intercessions



• communion

Questions for Reflection:

What a lot of great information on the Eucharist! A lot of food for reflection here!

I don't have any specific questions this week, but welcome your comments!

Week 27: Passages 1226-1292

Woohoo! We are on the second page of readings! We are reading about the sacraments of initiation, today we cover Baptism and begin Confirmation.

Baptism in the Church

From the day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated Baptism. Through Baptism the believer enters into Christ's death, is buried with him and rises with him.

Augustine says of Baptism:

"The word is brought to the material element, and it becomes a sacrament." (CCC
1128)

III. How is the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated?

The following gestures and symbols are part of the rite of Baptism:

• the sign of the cross
  


• the proclamation of the Word
  


• exorcisms
  


• baptismal water

• essential right (immersing 3 times or pouring water 3 times while saying "N., I baptize you in the name of the Ftaher, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
  


• annointing with the sacred chrism
  


• in the Eastern Churches, Confirmation follows
  


• white garment
  


• candle, lit from the Easter candle
  


• First Holy Communion
  


• solemn blessing

IV. Who Can Receive Baptism?

Any unbaptized adult, child or infant can receive Baptism. Faith must continue to grow after Baptism in a community of believers. In addition to the parents, a godfather and godmother help the newly baptised on the road of a Christian life.

V. Who Can Baptize?

The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the Bishop and priest, and the deacon in the Latin Church. In the case of necesity anyone, even a non-baptized person, can baptize.

VI. The Necesity of Baptism

The Lord affirms that Baptism is necesary for salvation. However,

"God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not
bound by his sacraments." (CCC 1257)

Those who suffer death for the sake of Christ, are considered to be baptized by blood. For catechumens who die before baptism, their desire to recieve it along with repentance for their sins assures them the salvation of the sacrament.

"Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and his Church, but seeks
the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it,
can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired
Baptism explicitly if they had known its necesity." (CCC 1260)

The Church entrusts babies who die without Baptism to the mercy of God.

VII. The Grace of Baptism

In Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin, personal sins and punishment for sin. The temporal consequences of sin (suffering, illness, death) remain as does concupiscence. Baptism also makes us a new creature, an adopted son of God, member of Christ, and temple of the Holy Spirit. We are incorporated into the Church and the common priesthood of all believers. Baptism unites us with all Christians, even those who are not in full communion with the Church. Baptism gives us an indelible spiritual mark that shows we belong to Christ.

Article 2 The Sacrament of Confirmation

Confirmation is necesary for the completion of baptismal grace. Confirmation enriches us with the strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith.

I. Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation

The Old Testament prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the Messiah. The descent of the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism was a sign that he was the Son of God. Jesus promised the outpouring the Spirit to everyone, which he fulfilled at Pentecost.

From the time of the apostles, the newly baptised were given the gift of the Spirit through the laying on of hands to complete the grace of Baptism. Very early an anointing with perfumed oil was added to the laying on of hands.

"This annointing highlights the name 'Christian' which means 'annointed' and
derives from that of Christ himself who God 'annointed with the Holy Spirit.'"
(CCC 1289).

In the early Church Confirmation was linked with Baptism and was performed at the same time. In the Eastern Church this is still the case.

Question for Reflection:

How can we teach our children about Baptism? Do you have any special traditions for celebrating their Baptism days?