RE 113: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION

YT Link: https://youtu.be/ZsivsDWIYXI

OBJECTIVES:
Discuss clearly the sacraments of Initiation through a web map;
Cite concrete ways of becoming a life-giver in a community where we belong through a mission
commitment;
Thank God in prayer for welcoming us in his loving community.

BTI:
Domain 3: Diversity of Learners 3.2.1 Implement teaching strategies that are responsive to the
learners’ linguistic, cultural, socio-economic and religious background

CAPSOUL OF THE SESSION:

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and
help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

INTRODUCTION

The 7 sacraments are God’s way of journeying with us in our earthly pilgrimage. The initiative
is always with God. God created us in God’s image and breathed the breath of the divine life into
us. God loves us as we are and invites us to share in the divine life: to be one with God; immersed in
God; held by God; encircled by a love that knows no bounds.
Those who choose to accept this invitation to live in relationship with God within the Catholic
faith do so by participating in the process of Christian Initiation. This is how we express our YES to
God. This process has three key steps: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist.

ACTIVITY
5-MINUTE BREAK OUT ROOM:
1. What’s the story of your Baptism as related to you by your parents.
2. What did you remember during your Confirmation day?
3. What were your preparations to receive your first communion?

ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

The sacraments of Christian initiation lay the foundations of every Christian life. "The
sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the
origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism,
strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal
life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure
the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity." -CCC 1212-
 CCC 1212 highlights that the sharing in the Divine nature given to men through the grace of
Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful
are born anew by baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of confirmation, and received in the
Eucharist the food of eternal life.

A brief description of the three sacraments follows:

BAPTISM
I baptise you – in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
You have clothed yourself in Christ.
You have been enlightened by Christ.
(Rite of Baptism)

Baptism, which celebrates the beginning of life in the family of God. The message of baptism is the
invitation to belong. Baptism unites us to Jesus as it institutes us into his body – the people of God.

Baptism is the first sacrament of Christian Initiation. In baptism we are made one with Christ and a
member of the Church. We are claimed by Christ when we are marked with the sign of the cross and
joined to Christ as we are baptised with water – in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
We are anointed with oil, clothed in our baptismal garment and given our baptismal candle. All these
actions are signs that we have committed ourselves to the life-long journey of putting on Christ and
making the mind of Christ our own.

As we take our places as new members of the Catholic Church, we know that the community, its liturgy
and prayer, and the mission of God it pursues, will sustain us on this journey.

The sacrament of baptism is received only once. Since Vatican II, the Catholic Church recognises the
validity of baptism in the other Christian churches which baptise with water using the Trinitarian
formula.

Scriptural Grounding
Baptism: “Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
(Matthew 19:4-6)

CONFIRMATION
Pour out the Holy Spirit upon them
to confirm them with his abundant gifts,
and through his anointing
conform them more fully to Christ, the son of God.
Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Peace be with you. Amen.
(Order of Confirmation)

Confirmation, also a sign of belonging, reminds us that to belong to the church means to be open to
the holy spirit, to love and serve others, to take an active part in the church, and to share with others
what we believe. Confirmation gives us the holy spirit, the principle of unity.
Confirmation is the second Sacrament of Christian Initiation. The Bishop, as leader of the diocesan
Church community (or his delegate) administers confirmation. Through the Laying on of Hands and
Anointing with Chrism our baptismal commitment is confirmed. Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit –
wisdom and understanding, counsel and fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord – we are
strengthened to live more truly and responsibly as disciples of Jesus and members of the Church
committed to pursuing the mission of Jesus.

Scriptural Grounding
Confirmation: Peter and John went down to these people and prayed that they might receive the Holy
Spirit. They imposed hands on them and they received the holy spirit. (Acts 8:15 – 19)

EUCHARIST

The Word of the Lord. Amen

The Body of Christ. Amen
Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
All glory and honour is yours. Amen.
(Roman Missal)

Eucharist, which says that Jesus is really with his people, in the flesh, reminds the members of God’s
family to give thanks to God. To receive the Eucharist is to tell in a public way that a person is a part
of the family. Eucharist is the food of unity – when we receive Jesus’ body and blood, we are united
to the lord and to one another.

Process of Christian Initiation is completed when the person comes to the table to receive communion
for the first time.
We believe Eucharist makes the Church. The Church is made:
• in the gathering of the community, on Sunday – the Lord’s day,
• in listening to and reflecting on God’s word spoken to us in the scripture
• in the offering of our lives to God by joining ourselves to Christ’s offering
• in our personal and communal transformation in this action
• in our being sent to live as disciples of Jesus, continuing the mission of Jesus in the world.

This is how the Church is made. This is how I become a disciple, as I return each Sunday to be nourished
by the Word of God and the Body of Christ. This is how we pursue the life-long process of initiating
ourselves into the life of God.

When we 'do' Eucharist in this way, a wonderful transformation can happen within us and within our
families, our society and in our world.

Scriptural Grounding
Eucharist: “Then, taking bread and giving thanks, He breaks it and give it to them, saying: this is my
body to be given to you. Do this as a remembrance of me. He did the same with the cup after eating,
saying as he did so: this cup contains my blood, and the blood of the new and everlasting covenant
which will be shed for you and for all men. Do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22: 19-20)

APPLICATION:
Identify the key terms that summarize the Sacraments of Initiation. Present it comprehensively in a
concept web.

ASSESSMENT
Online Quiz

REFERENCES

Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines. (1997). Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC)”.
Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education, CBCP Building, 470 Gen. Luna St.
1002 Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
Hurailt, B. (2005). “Christian Community Bible”. Imprematur: CBCP, Pastoral Bible Foundation, 8
Mayumi St., Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Quimba, R., et.al.(2012). The Church (Theology Series, Vol. 3). Printed by CSL Printing Press #30 Orange
St., Spring Village, Maa, Davao City
https://www.mn.catholic.org.au/church-mission/catholic-life/sacrament/sacraments-of-initiation/