Section 5: The Sacraments at the Service of Communion

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders Through Baptism, we are called to shared in the common priesthood of the faithful. Some people are called to serve in the ministerial priesthood of Christ as priests and bishops. Priests and bishops are called to be “servant leaders,” who teach the Word of God, offering divine worship, and governing the Church as representatives of Christ.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders Deacons are ordained in Holy Orders, yet do not participate in ministerial priesthood. The Sacrament of Holy Orders is by which baptized men are ordained for permanent ministry in the Church as priests, bishops, and deacons. In Roman society, an order was a term used for a select group of people.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders The Church uses the word order to describe the various states of religious life of bishop, priest, or deacon. God called Israel to be a holy and priestly people. Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the first high priest. Out of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, God selected the tribe of Levi to be priests and carry out liturgical worship and sacrifice.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders The priesthood of the Old Testament prefigured the ordained ministry that Jesus established, for the Old Testament’s priests could not bring about salvation by their offerings; only Jesus could by giving Himself. Since Abraham is our “father in faith,” all blessings given to Aaron and the tribe of Levi as priests is given to those ordained today.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders Jesus fulfilled the priesthood of the Old Testament by instituting the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Jesus, our new High Priest, does not offer God the blood of lambs, but His own blood, becoming Himself the Lamb of God. The priesthood is a sacrament of Apostolic ministry, entrusted first to the Apostles and continued throughout history with the “laying on of hands” action.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders Melchizedek’s priesthood prefigured that of Christ’s by Melchizedek offering bread and wine to God as Jesus did at the Last Supper. Priests are committed to serving the entire Church and foster Christian unity with Jesus Christ through grace. Priests and bishops are not seen as any holier than you or myself before God; all people are called to be holy.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders Priests and bishops do however have three unique and different responsibilities than laity by their ordination: Teaching the faithful Leading the Liturgy Governing the Church

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders The priest makes Jesus visible as High Priest, Good Shepherd, and Teacher. Through Holy Orders, a priest is given the power to act in the place and person of Christ Himself. Even though bishops and priests act in the person of Christ, they are still men, and as men, are not perfect as Christ is perfect.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders The sins of the priest and bishop, whatever they may be, do not impede the power of the sacraments they provide, such as Penance. If a priest sins, they can still forgive the sins of others in Penance. Being ordained is not to be a privilege; it is done to be a servant of servants to all people.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders There are three degrees of ordination: Bishop (episcopate) Priest (presbyterate) Deacon (deaconate) A Bishop is one who has received the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and is a Successor to the Apostles.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders A college of bishops, like the college of cardinals, is just another word for “gathering.” Bishops are the head of a particular area of the Church, such as the Archdiocese of Newark is headed by Archbishop John Joseph Myers. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the direct successor of Saint Peter.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders The gift of the Holy Spirit, first given to the Apostles by Christ, is handed on the bishops through Apostolic Succession. Thus, the bishop represents Christ as teacher, shepherd, and priest. The ordination of a new bishop must be approved by the Pope to show unity throughout the entire Catholic Church.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders A Priest is one who has received the ministerial priesthood and who serves the community of faith by representing the bishop in their own local church by presiding over the Liturgy. A presbyterium, or grouping of priests, help advise the bishop. The bishop is solely responsible for assigning priests to local churches within their diocese.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders When a priest is ordained, the bishop lays his hands on the head of the new priest to be, along with the priest pledging obedience to the bishop and sharing a sign of peace. By these actions, the bishop sees the new priest as his coworker and brother.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders By the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the character of Holy Orders, a priest can act in the person of Christ. The priest fulfills his priestly duty especially when celebrating the Eucharist, who, acting in the person of Christ, makes Jesus present on the altar of Calvary in the bread and wine.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders A Deacon is one who is ordained for service and ministry, but not for the ministerial priesthood. Holy Orders unites deacons to Christ, reminding them to serve one another as Christ did. Deacons can proclaim the Gospel, distribute Holy Communion, Baptize, assist at marriage blessings, give homilies, preside over funerals and care for the poor.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders There are two types of deacons: Transitional deacons Permanent deacons Transitional deacons intend to become priests in the future. Permanent deacons can be married or single and do not plan to become priests. If a permanent deacon is single, he makes a promise of celibacy; if married, he promises not to remarry once his spouse dies.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders Holy Orders creates an indelible mark on one ordained; it is never given as a temporary state. In some instances, a priest may be removed from practicing or exercising his ministry; however, he is still a priest. The grace of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is union with Christ and sharing in His mission as priest, teacher, and pastor.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders The special grace given to the bishop in Holy Orders is strength, strength to: Guide Govern Love all people Proclaim the Gospel to all The special grave given to priests is that of faithfulness to the office of Christ in all its callings and needs.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders Deacons make a sacramental commitment to the whole of God’s people. Grace is a gift; it is not a thing, but a relationship with God. All ordained are called to be servant leaders, just as Christ was the Good Shepherd, willing to lay down their lives for their flock.

Part 1: The Sacrament of Holy Orders

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Marriage takes work, mutual respect, and mutual love. It is a lifelong commitment to love and cherish the other spouse, in good times and in bad. The union of a baptized man and woman is a symbol of God’s everlasting covenant of love and grace in Jesus Christ.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Because we are made in the image and likeness of God, we are made to love, since God is love. Marriage was created by God for two great goods: To have a man and woman pledge each of themselves to one another To procreate and raise children

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Marriage is when two people become one; from two fleshes, into one, which cannot be separated by man since it was joined by God. Sin causes misunderstandings and problems in marriage by way of Adam and Eve, who committed the first sin. The consequence of their original sin is that humans must now toil and give pain filled childbirths.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony However, God offers mercy to us all, which allows married people to work through problems and misunderstandings together. The Old Covenant said marriage was a dissoluble unity. The Prophets compared marriage to God as the bridegroom and His Church as His bride, showing how close marriage makes two people.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Jesus’ partaking of the Wedding at Cana shows God’s divine blessing for marriage. Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding, a sign of God’s new covenant in Christ’s blood (transformed from wine) and expressed God’s presence in marriage.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Jesus taught the divorce and remarriage were against the plan God had for humanity. Grace from God in the Sacrament of Marriage can sustain a couple for their entire lifetime. Marriage is not easy, but can produce the greatest fruits of all: love and life.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Marriage is an exclusive, permanent, lifelong commitment between a baptized man and woman in which they promise to care for each other, procreate, and raise children. The terms Marriage and Matrimony are interchangeable. In Roman society, the woman was subject to the man, but today, man and woman are seen as equals, especially in marriage.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Husbands and wives who love each other are symbols of God’s love for His Church, according to Saint Paul. Saint Paul believes there is no greater love than the love God has for His Church, hence why Saint Paul says marriage and its dynamic love are symbols of the unbreakable, unending love between man and woman.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Marriage is a public vocation. Marriage then takes place in a Church, before a priest and at least two witnesses since marriage is an act of worship and religious action. A priest or deacon is not the minister of the Sacrament of Marriage, for they are witnesses; the actual ministers are the bride and groom, who give free consent to marriage. In the Eastern Church however, the priest is the minister of Marriage.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony This consent to marriage, freely given, is the essential element marriage. The priest receives this consent and gives the Church’s blessing on the consent. Free consent is defined as: Not being under any constraint or force Not being barred from marriage by any natural or Church law

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Some constraints from free will could be addiction, pregnancy, or mental illness. Where there is constraint, marriage is not valid. The period of preparation, usually a year before marriage, takes place to assure free consent and will are what drives the two people to one another.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony One must also be allowed to marry; people cannot not marry within family, priests cannot marry, etc. The declaration of a null marriage, such as a marriage without consent, is called an annulment. Those who receive a civil divorce are not annulled from marriage in the eyes of the Church; they are still members of the Church but cannot receive the Eucharist, especially if they remarry.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony The grace in the Sacrament of Marriage allows a couple to love each other fully and to strengthen their bond with one another. Unconditional love is the only basis for a lasting marriage of fidelity. Just as Christ is faithful to His Church, so much husband and wife always be faithful to one another.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony A husband and wife who encounter problems may separate, but are still married and do not join into other relationships. The ultimate goal of a separation is reconciliation and a renewed commitment to one another. The grace of marriage is a lifelong grace which can greatly enrich a marriage.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony The Sacrament of Marriage is the foundation of the Christian family. The family is called the domestic church, because it is at home that children learn to love God and learn about the faith. Parents are the teachers of children in the faith.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Parents exercise that “common priesthood of the faithful,” by setting times of regular prayer and reading the Bible at home. Families are the lifeblood and backbone of God’s Church. Even single people can be part of families, where by adopted or through blood, benefiting the married family and themselves.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony Women and men about to marry must be open to children, as this is one of the fruits of married life. Each child is a gift from God and have individual gifts, so it is the parents’ job to nurture those gifts. Those families who cannot have children can still share their love with others and even adopt, further spreading God’s love and their love to children in need of a family, home, and God.

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony The three essential elements of Marriage are: Unity Exclusive union between one man and one woman Indissolubility Cannot be broken, unless properly annulled Openness to children Contraception goes against this openness to the gift of children from God, which a couple must be willing to accept

Part 2: The Sacrament of Matrimony