Introduction to the Sacraments
Rev. Paul R. FisherPastor, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Harrisburg
Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer
SACRAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #1
The Word was made fleshand made his dwelling among us
and we have seen his glory
The Sacraments are a privileged way in which nature is taken up by God to become a means of mediating supernatural life. …Water, oil, fire and colors are taken up in all their symbolic power and incorporated in our act of praise.
The Lord, in the culmination of the mystery of the Incarnation, chose to reach our intimate depths through a fragment of matter.
Pope Francis – Laudato Si
WHAT YOU SEEIS
WHAT YOU GET
SACRAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #2
What the SacramentsARE NOT!
•Magic•Re-enactments•Representations•Rites of Passage•Empty Ritual
What the SacramentsARE!
• Epiclesis• Anamnesis
• Re-presentations• Rites of Passover• Efficacious signs
PERSONALENCOUNTERS WITH THE RISEN CHRIST
You will see the Son of Mancoming on the clouds of heaven
in great power and majesty
EXPERIENCE IN THIS WORLD THE REALITIES OF THE NEXTEschatologicalApocalyptic
After all you have diedand your life
is hidden now with Christin God
SACRAMENT:The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament.
WHAT YOU SEEIS
WHAT YOU GET
SACRAMENT:• SACRED SIGN
• INSTITUTED BY CHRIST• ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH• WHICH ALWAYS GIVES GRACE
SACRED SIGNPerceptible to the senses
SacramentumMysterion
INSTITUTED BY CHRIST Participation in his Person
In his Public MinistryAnamnesis
Actions of the Risen Lord
ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCHFor their celebrationFor their regulationFor their tradition
WHICH ALWAYSGIVE GRACE
Ex Opere Operato(by the work worked)
GRACE NOT ALWAYS RECEIVEDEx Opere Operantis(by the work of the worker)
THESEVEN
SACRAMENTS
SEVEN IN SCRIPTURE• שבעHebrew = seven or oath = “sacramentum”• Creation extended over seven days• For seven days he shall consecrate you (Lev 8:33)• In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall observe the Passover, a feast of seven days (Ez:45:21)• And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. (Mt 13: 36-37)• one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loosen its seven seals.” (Rev. 5:5) = mysterion
•Seven days of the New Creation•Seven days of priestly consecration •Seven days of the Paschal feast•Seven baskets containing fragments from Christ’s public ministry•Seven seals opened one by one which reveal heavenly mysteries
The “Seven” Sacraments
Now there were setthere six stone water jars,
according to the manner of purification of the Jews.
Sacraments of InitiationBaptism
ConfirmationCommunion
Sacraments of MissionMatrimonyHoly Orders
Sacraments of HealingPenanceAnointing
SACRAMENT:• SACRED SIGN
• INSTITUTED BY CHRIST• ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH• WHICH ALWAYS GIVES GRACE
A SIGNis that which conveys something else to the mind, besides the species which it
impresses on the senses(St. Augustine)
SACRAMENTAL SIGNSARE ACTIVE
(ACTIONS)
•Baptism -Immersing•Confirmation - Laying on of Hands•Communion - Taking, Blessing,
Dividing, Consuming•Penance - Confessing and Absolving
•Anointing - Anointing•Matrimony - Giving and Receiving•Holy Orders - Preaching, Ruling,
Sanctifying
THE SACRAMENTAL SIGN•MATTER•FORM
•MINISTER•RECEPIENT•INTENTION
Note: if any one of these is lacking the sacrament is invalid
SACRAMENTAL MATTER
Baptism - Natural WaterConfirmation – Sacred Chrism
Eucharist - Wheat Breadand Grape Wine (mixed with water)
Orders - Handing on sacred ministryMarriage - Relationship of Baptized Man & Woman
Penance - Confession of SinAnointing - Olive/Vegetable Oil