Life Changing experiences (The Sacramentality of Creation) Everyone experiences moments that prompt them to look at the bigger picture and to question what life is really all about. These experiences are often linked to such life-changing events as … the death of a friend or loved one, the birth of a child. Experiencing such moments can be turning points in our lives. 1) Share with a partner any experiences that have prompted you to ask the question, ‘What is life all about?’ 2) Were these experiences turning points in your life? Explain.

Ordinary experiences can become ‘God moments.’ Ordinary, everyday experiences, as well as major, out-of-the-ordinary experiences, can make us aware of God’s presence in our lives. The sacred authors of the New Testament used the Greek term mysterion, which is the root for ‘mystery’, to describe ‘God moments’, those times when we are aware of God’s presence in our lives. Latin scholars have translated mysterion as both mysterium and sacramentum. It is from this terminology that the Church gets the language of ‘mystery’ and ‘sacrament’. This usage points to… the mystery of God’s saving plan for humanity; the Church’s sacramental view of reality. A ‘sacramental view’ of reality sees God present and active in all of his creation.

How do we make sense of our lives? God has revealed himself and his divine plan for humanity most fully in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God. Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, or ‘God with us’. Jesus is the living, ever-present sacrament of God. What personal experience can you recall that you now see as being a ‘God moment’ or ‘God encounter’ in your life? Describe the difference you think it would make if you were to become more aware of God’s presence with you in your everyday life.

Sacraments exist for people Salvation Salvation is the forgiveness of sins and restoration of friendship with God, which can be done by God alone. The‘principle of sacramentality’ God and creation are inseparable. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. The ‘economy of salvation’ refers to God’s activity in creating and governing the world, particularly with regard to his plan for the salvation of the world in the Person and the work of Jesus Christ.

Sacraments exist for people The Catholic Church has developed liturgical rituals and traditions that celebrate and profess faith in God’s saving presence in and with his Church. The Sacraments are the heart and center of the Liturgy of the Church. Christ is present with his Church in the Sacraments. What Sacraments have you celebrated? In what ways were these celebrations experiences of God’s presence for you?

Sacraments exist for people The Catholic Church celebrates Seven Sacraments that Christ has given to the Church. Sacraments of Christian Sacraments of Sacraments at the Initiation Healing Service of Communion Baptism Penance Holy Orders Confirmation Anointing of the Sick Matrimony Eucharist Sacraments are‘efficacious signs of grace’.This means that we always encounter Christ and his saving work and presence in the Sacraments.

The grace of the Sacraments― the sharing in the life of God Grace is the free and undeserved gift of God’s love to us. God offers us grace out of his unconditional love and desire for us to live in communion with the Holy Trinity, both right now and eternally. Grace empowers us to know God truly and to love and serve God freely. Grace enables us to grow in faith and strengthens us to live that faith. Grace enhances rather than restricts our freedom. Grace helps us to choose to work toward overcoming the consequences of Original Sin and the power of evil in our lives.

The grace of the Sacraments― the sharing in the life of God FORMS OF GRACE Sanctifying Grace: A habitual gift of God’s own divine life which is first received in Baptism. We experience this form of grace as our daily and lived friendship with God. Actual Graces: God’s interventions in our lives. Actual graces strengthen our intellect and will. They guide us to know and choose the best way to live as children of God and disciples of Jesus. Sacramental Graces: Gifts of the Holy Spirit received in the Sacraments to help us live out our Christian vocation. Charisms and special graces for one’s state in life: These graces are given for the common good of building up the Church.

The grace of the Sacraments- the sharing in the life of God ‘Ex opere operato’ means ‘from the power of the work itself’. This phrase points to the truth that God is always present and always at work in the Sacraments. ‘Ex opere operantis’ Means ‘from the power of the person taking part in the work’. The graces offered in the Sacraments need to be freely accepted and then lived. The effectiveness of the Sacraments for our lives is directly linked to our readiness and attitude when we receive them. God’s grace always comes with the responsibility to live as Jesus’ disciples.

The Church, the universal sacrament of Jesus Christ Grace and Salvation The root of the word ‘salvation’ comes from the Greek sozo, meaning ‘to save or make safe’ and ‘to heal or restore health’. From their beginning the people of Israel professed that: God alone saves; God alone kept them safe from all that threatened to destroy them; God alone is the source of peace and fullness of life. Jesus was talking about such grace and Salvation when he declared, ‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10).

The Church, the universal sacrament of Jesus Christ Why do we need the Church? God has chosen to let his grace flow abundantly through the Church and the Sacraments. The Church is the universal sacrament of Jesus Christ. The Church is the sacrament of Salvation. Jesus gave us the Church and instituted the Sacraments for our Salvation. The Church is the sign and instrument of the Trinity’s communion with all humanity. The Church is both the means and the goal of God’s plan for humanity. The Sacraments celebrate and strengthen our unity and identity as disciples of Jesus. God continues his saving work through the Church.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, The Little Flower Thérèse Marie-Françoise Martin was born on January 2, 1873 in Alençon, a small town west of Paris, France. As a teenager she became aware of Henri Pranzini, an unrepentant and convicted murderer, and she prayed for him. As he was being executed, Pranzini grasped a crucifix and kissed it. Overwhelmed by joy on hearing of Pranzini’s repentance, Thérèse vowed that she would make praying for others a part of her way of life. In 1888 Thérèse joined the cloistered Carmelite community of Lisieux, Normandy.

St. Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower The ‘Little Way’ of St. Thérèse of Lisieux The ‘Little Way’ of St. Thérèse is a ‘sacramental’ way of life. It teaches us the value and significance of doing the ordinary things of life with love and a sense of God’s presence. It sees that all life is ‘graced’. It sees God present in everything, in everyone and in every situation.