CATHOLIC'S TEACHING
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals
Sacraments and Sacramentals
Signs of God's grace in our lives
We recognize that the Sacraments have a visible and
invisible reality, a reality open to all the human senses but grasped in its
God-given depths with the eyes of faith. When parents hug their children, for
example, the visible reality we see is the hug. The invisible reality the hug
conveys is love. We cannot "see" the love the hug expresses, though
sometimes we can see its nurturing effect in the child.
The visible reality we see in the Sacraments is their
outward expression, the form they take, and the way in which they are
administered and received. The invisible reality we cannot "see" is
God's grace, his gracious initiative in redeeming us through the death and
Resurrection of his Son. His initiative is called grace because
it is the free and loving gift by which he offers people a share in his life,
and shows us his favor and will for our salvation. Our response to the grace of
God's initiative is itself a grace or gift from God by which we can imitate
Christ in our daily lives.
The saving words and deeds of Jesus Christ are the
foundation of what he would communicate in the Sacraments through the ministers
of the Church. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church recognizes the existence
of Seven Sacraments instituted by the Lord. They are the Sacraments of
Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist), the Sacraments of Healing
(Penance and the Anointing of the Sick), and the Sacraments at the Service of
Communion (Marriage and Holy Orders). Through the Sacraments, God shares his
holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier.
Sacraments
and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples | en
Español
This 28-page booklet and study guide highlights the connections between the
celebration of the sacraments and our social mission as followers of Jesus and
the Body of Christ.
The Mystery of the Eucharist and the Call to Love and
Transform: A reflection on section II of The Mystery of the Eucharist
in the Life of the Church | en Español
In November 2021, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
approved The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church.
The document is divided into two sections, “I. The Gift,” and “II. Our
Response,” followed by a brief concluding reflection (“Sent Forth”).
Section I emphasizes the gift of Jesus’ real presence in the sacrament of the
Eucharist, which we experience personally and communally as members of the
Mystical Body of Christ. This reflection guide by the USCCB Dept. of Justice,
Peace and Human Development focuses on the “Transformation in Christ” passages
in Section II, which guide our response to the gift of the Eucharist.
Sacraments of the Church
Sacraments of Christian Initiation
Sacraments of Healing
Sacraments of Service
The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus. Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters. . . . Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin – Original and actual – and begin to live a new life with God.
In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ's call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love.
2. CONFIRMATION
In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person
is"sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for
service to the Body of Christ.
The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God's Spirit
would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission. Their prophecy was
fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the
Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his
baptism by John. Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the
Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the
Apostles and to the entire Church. After his death, he was raised by the
Father in the power of the Spirit.
Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be
missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society,
and the world. . . . We receive the message of faith in a deeper
and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus
Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building
up the community in loving service.
~from the United States Catholic
Catechism for Adults | en español
Pray
Learn
- Explore
the USCCA to learn about the liturgy of Confirmation and
the effects of the sacrament. | en
español
- Following
Christ in the Holy Spirit: Discernment of the Holy Spirit | en
español
- Embracing
Our Universal Call to Holiness | en
español
Act
- Confirmation:
Strengthened by the Spirit, Called to Action | en
español
- A
How-to-Pray Primer for Parents and Families | en
español
- Are
You a 3G Catholic?
- Adolescent
Catechesis: A Catechesis that Engages Youth for Discipleship
The Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism,
Confirmation, and the Eucharist –
are the foundation of the Christian life.
~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
3. EUCHARIST
The Eucharist
What is the Eucharist?
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian
life. The term “Eucharist” originates from the Greek word eucharistia,
meaning thanksgiving.
In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become
the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the
instrumentality of the priest. The whole Christ is truly present -- body,
blood, soul, and divinity -- under the appearances of bread and wine, the
glorified Christ who rose from the dead. This is what the Church means when she
speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.
Where is the Eucharist mentioned in the Bible?
The Lord Jesus, on the night before he suffered on the
cross, shared one last meal with his disciples. During this meal our Savior
instituted the sacrament of his Body and Blood. He did this in order to
perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the ages and to entrust to the
Church a memorial of his death and resurrection. The Institution of the
Eucharist is written down in the four Gospels below:
Why does Jesus give himself to us as food and drink?
Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual
nourishment because he loves us. By eating the Body and drinking the Blood of
Christ in the Eucharist, we become united to the person of Christ through his
humanity. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I
in him" (Jn 6:56). In being united to the humanity of Christ, we are at
the same time united to his divinity. Our mortal and corruptible natures are
transformed by being joined to the source of life.
Is the Eucharist a symbol?
The transformed bread and wine are truly the
Body and Blood of Christ and are not merely symbols. When Christ said “This is
my body” and “This is my blood,” the bread and wine are transubstantiated.
Though the bread and wine appear the same to our human faculties, they are
actually the real body and blood of Jesus.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of
the gifts and the altar. As the ministers prepare the altar, representatives of
the people bring forward the bread and wine that will become the Body and Blood
of Christ. The celebrant blesses and praises God for these gifts and places
them on the altar, the place of the Eucharistic sacrifice. In addition to the
bread and wine, monetary gifts for the support of the Church and the care of
the poor may be brought forward. The Prayer over the Offerings concludes this
preparation and disposes all for the Eucharistic Prayer.
The Eucharistic Prayer is the
heart of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In this prayer, the celebrant acts in
the person of Christ as head of his body, the Church. He gathers not only the
bread and the wine, but the substance of our lives and joins them to Christ's
perfect sacrifice, offering them to the Father.
The introductory dialogue
establishes that this prayer is the prayer of the baptized and ordained, is offered
in the presence of God, and has thanksgiving as its central focus. Following
this dialogue, the celebrant begins the Preface, which consists of four
different Eucharistic Prayers. After these prayers, communion is then given.
The following timeline follows
the traditional Liturgy of the Eucharist:
·
Presentation of the Gifts and
Preparation of the Altar
·
Prayer over the Offering
·
Eucharistic Prayer
o Preface
o Holy, Holy, Holy
o First half of prayer, including Consecration
o Mystery of Faith
o Second half of prayer, ending with Doxology
·
The Lord's Prayer
·
Sign of Peace
·
Lamb of God
·
Communion
·
Prayer after Communion
The document The Mystery of the Eucharist in
the Life of the Church was
developed by the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was approved by the full body of the USCCB at its
November 2021 General Meeting and has been authorized for publication.
Penance is an experience of the gift of God's boundless
mercy.Not onlydoes it [the Sacrament of Penance] free us from our sins but it
also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for
those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers. We
obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: "It is in
pardoning that we are pardoned."
Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the
Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin
committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession we have the opportunity
to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in
which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins,
especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the
Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live
without God. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts
17:28).
~from the United States Catholic
Catechism for Adults | en español
Pray
Learn
- Explore
the USCCA to learn about the
Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and its impact on the
individual and the life of the Church. | en
español
- God's
Gift of Forgiveness: A Pastoral Exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance
& Reconciliation | en
español
- The
Four Steps of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation | en
español
- Why
Should I Confess My Sins to a Priest? | en
español
Act
- Penance:
Reconciled to Right Relationship, Called to Heal and Restore | en
español
- Rediscover
the Sacrament of Penance: Resources for Individuals
- How
to Go to Confession | en
español
For diocesan and parish leaders:
Promoting
Participation in the Sacrament of Penance: Diocesan and Parish Resources
Jesus came to heal the whole person, body and soul.
In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick,
throughthe ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal
them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs
of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us
of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.
The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait
until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful
judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.
When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the
hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed
of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the
Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy
Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany
serious illness or the frailty of old age.
~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults | en español
Pray
Learn
- Explore
the USCCA to learn about the liturgy for the
Anointing of the Sick and its effects within the community and
the life of the sick. | en
español
- Respecting
the Dignity of the Human Person at the End of Life
Act
- Anointing
of the Sick: Joined to Christ, Witnesses of Hope and Healing | en
español
- The Corporal
Works of Mercy include visiting the sick and burying the dead.
- The Spiritual
Works of Mercy include praying for the living and the dead.
Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man
and woman and ends with "the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Rev 19:7,
9). Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God
gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his
Church. Man and woman were created for each other.
By their marriage, the couple witnesses Christ's spousal
love for the Church. One of the Nuptial Blessings in the liturgical celebration
of marriage refers to this in saying, "Father, you have made the union of
man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and
his Church."
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than
a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The
marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a
permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God.
The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a
public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage
within the Eucharistic Liturgy.
~from the United States Catholic
Catechism for Adults | en español
Pray
- Prayer
for a Married Couple
- Prayer
of a Couple on the Anniversary of Marriage
- Celebrating
the Rite of Marriage
Learn
- Explore
the USCCA to learn
about the celebration of Marriage and its purpose and effects in
the couple's life and the life of the Church. | en
español
- Marriage:
Sacrament of Enduring Love
- Formation
in Human Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Life
- Resources
on marriage and family life
Act
- Matrimony:
United in Love, Strengthened for Service | en
español
- Family
Retreat: Nurturing and Sustaining Christian Marriage
- Seven
Day Virtual Marriage Retreats
For pastoral resources on marriage and family life,
please visit For Your Marriage | Por Tu Matrimonio:
Holy Orders
For more more information about vocations to the priesthood
and diaconate, please see our section on Vocations.
From the moment of Jesus' conception in the womb of Mary
until his Resurrection, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. In biblical
language, he was anointed by the Holy Spirit and thus established by God the
Father as our high priest. As Risen Lord, he remains our high priest. . . .
While all the baptized share in Christ's priesthood, the ministerial priesthood
shares this through the Sacrament of Holy Orders in a special way.
"Here I am, send me." (Is 6:8)
Ordination to the priesthood is always a call and a gift
from God. Christ reminded his Apostles that they needed to ask the Lord of the
harvest to send laborers into the harvest. Those who seek priesthood
respond generously to God's call using the words of the prophet, "Here I
am, send me" (Is 6:8). This call from God can be recognized and
understood from the daily signs that disclose his will to those in charge of
discerning the vocation of the candidate.
~from the United States Catholic
Catechism for Adults | en español
Pray
- Prayer
for Priests
- Prayers
for Vocations
- Prayer
Card for Vocations | en
español
- Prayer
and Discernment Resources
- Music
for Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests, and of Deacons (coming
soon)
Learn
- Explore
the USCCA to learn about the
Sacrament of Holy Orders and what role ordained ministers have in
the life of the Church. | en español
- Vocations
- The
Discernment Process
Act
- Holy
Orders: Ordained to Serve, Gather, Transform, and Send | en
español
- Parent
and Family Resources for Vocations
- Parish
Resources for Vocations
Christmas trees can be a great tool for catechesis whether at home or in a classroom. This lesson plan will help you unpack the symbolism of the Christmas tree customs with your students. They will be able to see their trees in a new way and even be able to teach their parents about what Christmas trees are meant to remind us of during 
Forty days.