The Sacraments

Biblical foundation: Matthews 26: 26-28

Philosophical Foundation: The sacraments are “actions of Christ” By them his grace enters our soul to
give it divine life and to nourish it” (Most Rev. Louis LaRavoire Morrow, STh.D.

 Salvation history, foundation of sacraments.

 It is to Understand that God loves His people unconditionally
 SIGN – represents something aside from itself
 SYMBOL – gives proper understanding of man’s salvation and direction of God’s love
 From “sacra” – sacred
 Paul used Latin word “Sacramentum”
 Mysterion – God’s hidden plan
 An outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace

Outward sign – something perceived by senses

Instituted by Christ – Only God can give grace and decide what channels used

Power to give Sanctifying grace – graces given:

Rev. Morrow, “It is principally through the sacraments that we obtain the grace of God. They
are channels by which grace enters our souls to give them divine life and to nourish them”

Sacraments of Christian Initiation:

1. Baptism – gives our soul’s new life of sanctifying grace by which we become children of God and
heirs of Heaven.
2. Confirmation – where the Holy Spirit comes to us in a specific way, enables us to profess our
faith as strong & perfect Christian soldiers of Jesus
3. Holy Eucharist – where Jesus Christ’s blood, soul, and divinity, is contained, offered, and
received (bread and wine)

Sacraments of Healing:
1. Penance/Reconciliation – sins committed after baptism are forgiven through a priest
2. Anointing of the Sick – anointing with blessed oil by a priest, through prayer gives health,
strength to soul, and sometimes body, if in danger from death, sickness, accidents, or old age.

Sacraments of Communion/Service:
1. Holy Orders – through which men receive power and grace to perform sacred duties
2. Matrimony – baptized woman and man bound together for life in a lawful marriage and
receives grace to discharge duties.
Symbols:

Deepening:
 Sacraments need to be willingly given to someone
 Ceremonies are not necessary, they do make the occasion more solemn, meaningful, and
increase devotion of recipient
 Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Order – Sacraments received only once
 Holy Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and Matrimony – Can be received more than
once
 Sacraments of Initiation – draw us in toward Christ, empowers us
 Sacraments of Healing – Jesus Christ responsible as physician of our souls
 Sacraments of Vocation – Marriage and Holy Orders

Baptism
 The “first sacrament”, the “door of the sacraments”, and the “door of the Church”.
 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae
spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to other sacraments
 Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God
 Also used to refer to any ceremony, trial, or experience by which a person is initiated, purified,
or given a name
 Holy Baptism is the door of the spiritual life through the first man death entered into all, unless
we be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, we cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven
 Baptism’s efficacy is the Holy Trinity, and the instrumental cause is the minister who confers the
sacrament exteriorly
 The effect of this sacrament is the remission of all sin, original, and actual; likewise of all
punishment which is due for sin.
 Father that creates
 Son that saves
 Spirit that sanctifies
Therefore, no satisfaction for past sins is enjoined upon those who are baptized; and if they die before
they commit any sin, they attain immediately to the kingdom of heaven and the vision of God.

Etymology

 Greek word bapto/baptize – to wash or to immerse

 Baptism – intended to signify the sacramental washing by which the soul is cleansed from sin
while water is poured upon the body
 Washing of regeneration, illumination, the seal of God, the water of eternal life, the sacrament
of the Trinity
 The “plunge” into the water symbolizes the catechumen’s burial into Christ’s death, from which
he rises up by resurrection with him, as “a new creature.”
 “The washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” for it signifies and actually brings
about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one “can enter the kingdom of God.”
 Greek nouns and verbs –
o Baptein – to wash something
o Baptizein – to wash, often a person in a ritual context
o Baptismoa – Jewish ritual washing
o Baptisma 0 the new Christian rite
7 types of Baptism
Mentioned in whole Bible, each case physical baptism is a picture of a spiritual truth. The important
point to consider is the picture portrayed by baptism.

1. Baptism of the Cross (or cup)

o Jesus Christ “drank” the Cup filled with our sins.
2. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
o The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a real baptism. When a person accepts Christ as Savior,
he is placed into the body of Christ. He is identified as a believer.
3. Baptism of Fire
o There is a judgement coming at the 2 nd coming of Christ when all nonbelievers are taken
from the earth. This removal of unbelievers for judgement is the baptism of fire.
4. Baptism of John
o The new believer was “identified” with the water, but the water represented a spiritual
identification.
5. Baptism of Jesus
o When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist, the water was symbolic of
God’s will in salvation, namely that Jesus would go to the Cross.
o This was a unique baptism. As He went into the water, he was saying in effort. “I will die
for the sins of the world.” As he came out of the water He said, in effect, “I will rise
again that believers might have resurrection bodies and victory over death and the
grave.”

Confirmation
 A rite
 The signs and rite of Confirmation
 Effects of Confirmation

Sacrament of Confirmation – necessary for the completion of baptismal Grace

 The baptized are more perfectly bound to the church and are enriched with the special strength
of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are as true witness of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and
defend the faith by word and deed.
 In Old Testament, confirmation speak about the spirit of the Lord resting on the apostles making
them as true witnesses and defenders of faith. This was the fire of truth left by Jesus on the
apostles when he ascended into heaven in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Confirmation – the sacrament through which the Holy Spirit comes to us in a specific way enable us to
profess our faith as strong and perfect Christian and Ambassador and soldier of Jesus Christ.

“Confirmation in a very special manner which brings us the Holy Spirit with His sevenfold gifts.” Then
they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” – My Catholic Faith, Rev. Marrow
The Vicar General/Bishop Administers the Sacrament of Confirmation

The bishop is the usual minister in confirmation. The Holy See gives the missionary priest and
parish priest the power to administer as extraordinary ministers (Morrow, 1964)

The Signs and Rites of Confirmation

Anointing in biblical and other ancient symbolism is rich in meaning: oil is a sign of abundance
and joy; it heals and gives strength. As the continuation of baptism. It strengthens therefore the
baptized in following and doing all his Christian responsibilities. By Confirmation, Christian, who are
anointed share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with
which he is filled so that their lives may give off “the aroma of Christ”

Eucharist
Biblical foundation: John 6: 51-56

Eucharist, from Greek, eucharistia, reflects the centrality of thanksgiving

Eucharist should not only be center of our prayer but also our entire life – Pope John Paul II

Characteristics of Eucharist
1. It is a meal – celebration of the Jewish Pasch, the festivity which recalls the liberation of God.
o Eucharist is a New Passover
2. The Presence of Jesus – “Do this in memory of me.”
o Eucharist is completely Jesus.
o Real Presence – summary term, refers to the notion that Jesus Christ is “really, truly,
and substantially present” in the Eucharist
3. Memorial of His Passion and Death
o Transubstantiation – frequently described as a continuation of the sacrifice that Jesus
made, difference that it is unbloody
o Eucharist – sacrament of death, instituted on the night Jesus was betrayed.