Our Catholic Faith Living What We Believe CHAPTER 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry  The Power of Forgiveness in a Suffering World  Penance  Anointing of the Sick  Holy Orders  Matrimony

 Penance Christ Forgives our sins in the sacrament of conversion Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry The Power of Forgiveness in a Suffering World Christ calls all his disciples to extend his love and to minister to others as well  Penance Christ Forgives our sins in the sacrament of conversion  Anointing of the Sick Christ helps suffering people with his graces  Holy Orders calls men to minister to us in Jesus’ place  Matrimony helps married couples to be Christ to each other and their families

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry The Power of Forgiveness in a Suffering World How can a good and loving God permit so much suffering and evil in the world? 1. God is supremely good and loving, even in the midst of suffering – proved by Christ’s own suffering and death. 2. Suffering and evil are an unfortunate part of the human story – God does not cause or send suffering. 3. God’s created world is on a journey to perfection – it is not yet perfect.

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry The Power of Forgiveness in a Suffering World How can a good and loving God permit so much suffering and evil in the world? 4. The misuse of freedom is the cause of much moral evil – intellect and free will require much responsibility. 5. Christian faith announces the Good News of Jesus Christ, who conquered the forces of evil – Jesus’ suffering, Death, and Resurrection have conquered the worst evil: death and separation from God.

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Penance The Sacrament of Penance is also called: Sacrament of Forgiveness reminds us that God imparts pardon and peace through the priest’s words of absolution Prayer of Absolution “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Reconciliation God’s loving forgiveness unites us with God and the Church Confession highlights the telling of our sins to the priest Sacrament of Penance stresses that when we turn from sin, we must do penance and make satisfaction for the sins we have committed Sacrament of Conversion changing our lives by rooting out sin, by firmly intending to sin no more, and by trusting in God’s infinite mercy and grace

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Penance The Rite of Penance has two essential elements 1. The acts of the penitent 2. God’s action CONTRITION Genuine sorrow for one’s sins perfect vs. imperfect contrition THROUGH PRIESTS & BISHOPS Coworkers who forgive sin in Jesus’ name and determine the penance given CONFESSION Telling one’s sins to a priest after an examination of one’s conscience SATISFACTION Part of the reparation sinners need to do such as praying and doing works of mercy

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Anointing of the Sick History of the Anointing of the Sick Jesus showed that God’s Kingdom was present through his healing ministry Jesus’ disciples continued his healing ministry by preaching repentance, casting out demons, and anointing and healing the sick The Letter of James shows the roots of this sacrament: Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:14-15

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Anointing of the Sick History of the Anointing of the Sick By the Middle Ages the sacrament was usually administered only to those who were dying The reforms of the Second Vatican Council stress that the sacrament is for those suffering from serious illness, the elderly, those facing major surgery as well as the dying

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Anointing of the Sick Rite of the Sacrament of Anointing 1. The priest lays hands on the sick person(s) 2. He prays for them in the faith of the Church: 3. He anoints their forehead and hands with oil ideally blessed previously by a bishop Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Anointing of the Sick Spiritual healing: comfort, peace, courage of the Holy Spirit Effects of the Sacrament of Anointing Physical healing when this will help the person in his or her condition before God For dying persons, the strength of the anointing and viaticum before entering eternity and meeting God The forgiveness of sin if the person has not been able to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation The union of the sick person more closely to Christ’s redemptive Passion

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Holy Orders The Ministerial Priesthood “ministers to the ministers” Sacramental ordination consecrates certain baptized men to one of three degrees of a sacred order:  episcopacy – bishops  presbyterate – priests  diaconate – deacons Continues the special ministry Jesus entrusted to the Apostles

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Holy Orders The Ministerial Priesthood Through the ministerial priesthood Christ becomes visibly present to the Church as its head Confers a “sacred power” of service on behalf of Christ for his Church Bishops and priests must:  proclaim and teach Gods’ Word to all  lead the Christian community in worship  guide and rule God’s people by imitating Jesus’ model of humble service

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Holy Orders The special roles of ordained ministry Diaconate ● Configured to Christ, “to serve, not to be served” ● Help bishops and priests at liturgies and other liturgical functions Presbyterate ● Work alongside bishops as their helpers and extensions ● Act in the person of Christ, especially in celebrating the Eucharist Episcopacy ● Receives the fullness of Holy Orders ● As successor to the Apostles, he takes Christ’s place: as teacher (to instruct), as shepherd (to rule), as priest (to sanctify) ● The visible head of a diocese

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Holy Orders Rite of Holy Orders The Church has the authority to ordain only baptized men The essential sign for all three orders is the bishop’s laying on of hands followed by a prayer of consecration In the Latin Rite priests and bishops may not marry

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Matrimony The Catholic Understanding of Marriage A sign of God calling a man and woman to holiness through ordinary married life A vocation written into our nature A permanent, exclusive love relationship True committed love brings forth life Requires the virtues of faithfulness until death and openness to children

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Matrimony The Catholic Understanding of Marriage The bride and groom are the ministers Sexual sharing must take place according to God’s two-fold plan:  it must be unitive – a powerful sign that binds the couple as lifelong partners  it must be procreative – open to sharing in God’s creative activity The family is the domestic Church

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry Matrimony Effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony Because it is a covenant, it is valid for life Christ gives the husband and wife graces they need to live lovingly each day If Christ blesses the marriage with children, he helps the parents to raise and educate them in a Christian family setting

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry VOCABULARY Presbyters (184) Bishop (184) Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (185) Sacrament of Holy Orders (185) Sacrament of Matrimony (185) Sacrament of Penance (187) Absolution (187) Concupiscence (187) Contrition (188) Perfect contrition (189) Imperfect contrition (189) Extreme unction (191) Viaticum (191) Latin Rite (192) Diaconate (195) Celibacy (197) Polygamy (198) Annulment (201)

Chapter 7 The Sacraments of Healing and Ministry My dear friends, let us ask God for his continued blessing upon this bridegroom and his bride. Holy Father, creator of the universe, maker of man and woman in your own likeness, source of blessing for married life, we humbly pray to you for this woman who today is united with her husband in this sacrament of marriage. May your fullest blessing come upon her and her husband so that they may together rejoice in your gift of married love (and enrich your Church with their children).  Lord, may they both praise you when they are happy and turn to you in their sorrows. May they be glad that you help them in their work and know that you are with them in their need. May they pray to you in the community of the Church, and be your witnesses in the world. May they reach old age in the company of their friends, and come at last to the kingdom of heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Nuptial Blessing Option C