MEETING JESUS IN THE SACRAMENTS CHAPTER 2 WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SACRAMENTS

Celebrating our Redemption Redemption: “to recover ownership by paying a sum; to set free or ransom” Redemption is the action of Jesus Christ whereby he paid the price of his own death on the cross to save us from sin In the liturgy (the work of the people) we actually participate in the events of the Paschal Mystery—the power of the Holy Spirit makes these events (which happened only once historically) present and real for us.

The liturgy is the way Christ communicates the fruits of the Paschal Mystery, our Redemption, until he comes again.

Christ Acts Through the Sacraments Pentecost forever changed the Apostles. After the Holy Spirit came to them, they became enlivened, rejuvenated, and filled with courage.

Christ Acts Through the Sacraments The Apostles entrusted others to carry on their work of teaching, baptizing, serving, and building up the Church. Through an unbroken chain of this apostolic succession, today’s Church can trace a continuous line of leadership back to the days of the Apostles.

God the Father: Source and Goal of the Liturgy God the Father is the source of the blessings—divine life-giving actions that are both word and gift—we receive from the liturgy. God acts first—we act in response by giving him worship and accepting his Word as the truth.

The Work of Christ in the Liturgy Christ acts through the sacraments to communicate his grace and is always present in the Church: In the minister of the sacrament. In the Word, since it is Christ who speaks when the Scriptures are read at the liturgy. When the Church prays and sings and is gathered in his name. In the Eucharistic species, his own Body and Blood.

The Holy Spirit Prepares Us to Meet Christ in the Liturgy The Holy Spirit prepares us for Christ He enables the Church to understand the Old Testament as the preparation for the New. He prepares us to encounter Jesus in the liturgy. He serves as “living memory” of the Church—anamnesis.

Introducing the Seven Sacraments The Church’s entire liturgical life revolves around the Sacrifice of the Eucharist and the other sacraments Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Penance and Reconciliation Anointing of the Sick Holy Orders Matrimony

Introducing the Seven Sacraments Christ instituted each of the sacraments while he was on earth. Each sacrament is rooted in and based upon the Paschal Mystery. Christ gave the Church authority to determine which rituals would be sacraments and what the rituals themselves would consist of.

The Sacraments of Faith The mission of the Church to evangelize—to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others—was always a sacramental one. The faith of the Church—saying “yes”—comes before the faith of the believer. “Lex orandi, lex credendi”

Graces of the Sacraments The sacraments confer the grace they signify—ex opere operato, “by the very action being performed.” The fruits of the sacrament depend on the disposition of the one who receives them. Marana tha: “O Lord, come” Union with the Trinity, which we will only experience fully after death, begins to live in us now through the sacraments.

Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy We “celebrate” the sacraments because they are acts of divine worship. Sacraments are celebrations that are “woven from signs and symbols.”

Who Celebrates the Liturgy? THE LITURGY IS AN ACTION OF THE “WHOLE CHRIST”—HEAD AND BODY IT IS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY UNITED WITH ITS HEAD THAT CELEBRATES

How Is the Liturgy Celebrated? Signs and Symbols Words, actions, and objects that express the meaning of each sacrament FORM MATTER

How Is the Liturgy Celebrated? People saying and doing the same thing at the same time is a sign of unity. Word of God, especially in the Liturgy of the Word Liturgical singing and music Sacred images, or icons

Liturgical Traditions The mystery of Christ is so rich that it is celebrated by several liturgical traditions Certain elements of the liturgy are adapted to the cultures of diverse peoples

Earthly Signs Used by Jesus WATER BREAD OIL HUMAN TOUCH

When Is the Liturgy Celebrated? The liturgy is structured around Sunday—the first day of the week. Catholics are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on Sundays and other holy days of obligation. When we celebrate the liturgy, we are brought into the presence of the Paschal Mystery.

Preparing for the Incarnation of Jesus Christ The Incarnation is marked during Advent and Christmas. Advent: “coming” We remember the centuries of people who waited with faith and hope that God’s promise to send a Savior would one day be fulfilled. We celebrate our own anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time. Christmas on December 25—Jesus is the true Son of God and Light of the World

Focusing on the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery is marked during Lent and Easter Lent: “springtime” Easter Triduum: most sacred days of the Church Year—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday Easter: “passover” During the season of Easter, the Church reads accounts of the Resurrection appearances of Christ Celebrates the Ascension and ends with Pentecost

Marking Ordinary Time Ordinal: “numbered” The liturgical periods between Easter and Advent, and Christmas and Lent The purpose is to teach Christians how to follow Jesus in everyday, ordinary life

Mary The Church Year also includes the feasts of Mary—the perfect model of Christian discipleship “Advocate” “Helper” “Benefactress” “Mediatrix”

They “have suffered and have been glorified with Christ” The Sanctoral Cycle The feasts of saints found throughout the year on the Church’s liturgical calendar They “have suffered and have been glorified with Christ”

Liturgy of the Hours The public prayer of the Church that makes holy the entire course of the day and night; also called the Divine Office

The Church at Prayer What is prayer? “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” Prayer is founded on humility and comes from the heart, our “hidden center . . . the place of decision . . . the place of truth . . . the place of encounter . . . the place of covenant” Vocal Prayer Meditation Contemplative Prayer

Where Is the Liturgy Celebrated? Churches have an eschatological—“last things”—significance Jesus is not limited to one place—the whole earth is consecrated to Jesus However, Catholics construct buildings for divine worship—churches In churches, you will most likely find: Altar table Tabernacle Chair—“cathedra” Ambo Aumbry Baptistery Reconciliation room

St. Katharine Drexel Founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Her true mission: to evangelize Native Americans and African Americans into the Catholic Church for the Salvation of their souls “My sweetest joy is to be in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.”