1. Chapter 11
THE SACRAMENTS

2. The Sacraments God designed the sacraments with human nature in mind
The sacraments use physical, sensible signs to indicate spiritual, invisible realities.
They make the abstract, concrete.
Sacraments accomplish what they signify because God works in them

3. Signs of grace
Sacraments are referred to as “Holy Mysteries” in Eastern Church
“Sacramentum” = Latin for “oath”
Linked to Roman soldiers’ oath of office
A sign that points to a deeper, spiritual reality
An “efficacious sign of grace”
The Sacraments accomplish in the soul what their signs symbolize

4. Instituted by christ
Christ left us the sacraments as fonts of grace for our salvation
God bestows his grace on us through them.
When we receive grace, we receive a share in the divine life of God.
There are SEVEN Sacraments
Can you name them all?

5. Sacraments in scripture
Baptism: Matthew 28:19
Confirmation: Acts 19:6
Eucharist: Matthew 26:26-28
Penance: John 20:23
Matrimony: Mark 10:9
Holy Orders: Luke 22:19
Anointing of the Sick: James 5:14

6. EX OPERE OPERATO
“By the very fact that the operation is being performed”
Literally “by the work worked”
A Sacrament confers the grace it signifies
The sacrament is valid because Jesus confers it
The reception of grace depends on disposition of the recipient
i.e. “what you put in, you get out”

7. Sacraments that are received only once
Baptism
Confirmation
Holy Orders
These sacraments configure us to Christ and distinguishes us from others.

8. Matter Physical matter to convey God’s grace to us Baptism: Water
Confirmation: Sacred Chrism (oil)
Eucharist: Bread/Wine
Penance: verbal confession
Holy Orders: laying on of hands
Marriage: the couple
Anointing of the Sick: oil of the sick

9. form The words of the sacramental rite
Ex: “Be sealed with the Holy Spirit”
Without the form, the sign is not present, and the matter is not sacramental

10. minister The person who performs the sacramental act
Christ is the minister of every sacrament, but he works through the Church and human ministers
Each sacrament is different.

11. Sacramental grace Grace comes in two forms:
Sanctifying Grace
Actual Grace
Sacraments give us sanctifying grace
Sanctifying grace helps us “to act by God’s love”
AKA “habitual grace” because it encourages virtue and choosing good over evil

12. Sanctifying Grace Weakened by venial sins Lost through mortal sins
The Sacrament of Penance restores this type of grace and helps repair our relationship with God

13. Actual grace
The grace God gives us in particular moments to strengthen us against temptation or to help us do something virtuous
The intervention of God in our lives to propel us toward goodness
Given freely and available to everyone.
It is our responsibility to choose to respond to grace

14. Proper disposition
We must want to receive the graces offered by the sacrament
We must be in the proper spiritual condition
NOT in a state of mortal sin
Exceptions to the rule: Baptism/Penance (sometimes Anointing of the Sick)
Receiving a sacrament unworthily is serious
This is sacrilege – a mortal sin

15. Sacraments are necessary…
…for salvation: we need grace to respond to our vocation- they are the means by which God sanctifies us
… to draw us to Him: they are encounters with God which unite us to him
…because they constitute three divine calls: a life of holiness, a life of worship, and to live according to His moral teachings
…for unity in the Christian community: they are communal in nature

16. Categorizing the sacraments
INITIATION
Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation
HEALING
Penance, Anointing of the Sick
SERVICE OF COMMUNION
Matrimony, Holy Orders