Sacraments
Sacraments are saving acts of Jesus Christ which point us to the forgiveness and mercy of God. Sacraments are acts by which we receive the Spirit of Christ and so are formed in the image of Christ as He emerged from the tomb with new life. In most sacraments the Church uses material symbols such as wine, bread, oil and water, as a vehicle for the Holy Spirit so that the sacraments are outward signs of inward spiritual grace. For example, at the Eucharist we receive what appears to be bread and wine but which is in reality the Body and Blood of Christ.
'The purpose of each of the sacraments is to sanctify (to make holy), to build up the Body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God'.
(Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium)
The seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church are grouped as follows:
- The Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism,The Holy Eucharist and Confirmation
- The Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick
- The Sacraments of Vocation and Commitment: Holy Orders and Matrimony
A bishop or a priest is the usual minister of the sacraments. A deacon may be authorized to confer baptism and any lay person may baptise another in the case of emergency. The Sacrament of Matrimony is conferred, one upon the other, by the couple marrying each other, not by the minister present who may be either a priest or deacon. In the days of the infant Church the un-baptised converts were known as Catechumens. After a suitable period of instruction the Catechumens were welcomed as full members of the Christian Community, at Easter, when they received the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. In more recent years, post Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) was established for the benefit of those wishing to become Catholics. They follow a period of formation through the RCIA, similar to that undertaken by the early-Church converts. At the Vigil Mass of Easter the Catechumens receive Baptism; those already validly baptised are received into the Church, they are then Confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time.
Every baptised person is called upon to be a herald of the gospel. At our confirmation we are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to profess our Christian faith. For those who are married or ordained an abundance of graces are available to help us, in our respective vocations, to serve and love God, each other and the wider community. If we are unwell, aged or approaching the end of our lives, we may receive healing and strength from the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. When, through human frailty, we stray away from the Lord his forgiveness can be found in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Above all is the Holy Eucharist, 'true centre of the whole Christian life'. In Holy Communion we receive the same Lord Jesus who said that if we did not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood we would not have life within us.
The Sacraments of Initiation:
Sacrament of Baptism
The risen Lord Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Baptism when he authorized his apostles:
'Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them all the commands I gave you'. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Since Apostolic times, when it was common for whole households to be converted all at once, it has been customary to baptise babies and infants. In recent times it has been the practice to baptise at a later age. Irrespective of the age at which a person is baptised, he or she is reborn and becomes a member of the Church, the Body of Christ. Our life of faith begins at baptism and it does not matter how elementary our faith may be. Each newly baptised person is consecrated to God and anointed, with the Oil of Chrism, as prophet, priest and king. The Holy Spirit marks the soul with the 'seal of the Lord' and the Holy Trinity gives sanctifying grace. Through the cleansing waters of baptism all sins, original and personal, are washed away.
The minister of baptism, generally a priest, bishop or deacon, when pouring water three times over the child's or adult's head says: 'Name ......I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.'
When baptism has been conferred in infancy the reception of the Holy Eucharist and Confirmation are delayed until more appropriate stages in a person's development, and following suitable periods of catechesis.
For Child Baptism: Before having their child baptised parents are requested to attend a Baptism Preparation Course. These are held in one of the three parishes (St Barnabas, St Augustine's or St Patrick's) at regular times throughout the year. Further information can be obtained from the Cathedral Office. Tel: 0115 9539839 email:stbarnabas@tiscali.co.uk
For Adult Baptism: Before baptism can be conferred, adults are requested to attend the Rite of Christian Initiation RCIA, this is a journey of Christian formation and will normally take several months starting in September with Baptism and Confirmation conferred at the Easter Vigil Mass. More information about RCIA can be obtained by contacting the Cathedral Office or one of the priests.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Jesus said to the apostles:
'I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever, that spirit of truth whom the world can never receive since it neither sees nor knows him; but you know him, because he is with you, he is in you..I have said these things to you while still with you; the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.'
(John 14:15-17;25-26)
After Jesus' ascension into heaven the apostles returned to the Upper Room; they remained there until the day of Pentecost.
'When suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech'.
(Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4)
The apostles, previously terrified for their lives, had been empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Their faith had been confirmed and they were brave enough to leave the Upper Room to go out to preach to the crowd. Having heard what Peter and the others had to say the people asked them:
'What must we do?'
'You must repent', Peter answered, 'and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'.
(Acts of the Apostles 2:37-38)
At Samaria, when Peter and John prayed for the people, they
'laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit'.
(Acts of the Apostles 8:17)
The bishop, the usual minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation, extends his hands over those who are to be confirmed and invokes the Holy Spirit. He then anoints each person with the Oil of Chrism, saying: Name. 'Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit'.
Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgment, Courage, Knowledge, Reverence and Awe; these are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Sacrament of Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace, it unites us more firmly to Christ, it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ. (CCC 1302) Confirmation, the sacrament of Christian maturity, is generally conferred on young adults and its reception signifies the completion of ones Christian initiation.
Preparation for Confirmation:
Young people who are not in Catholic Education are requested to attend a preparation class which is held in the Cathedral Hall from September each year in preparation for Confirmation at the Feast of Pentecost in the Cathedral, when they will be confirmed by the Bishop.
Adults for Confirmation should normally attend the RCIA programme from Christmas and will be confirmed by the Bishop at the Easter Vigil Mass. Information about the preparation for Confirmation can be obtained from the Cathedral Office. Tel: 0115 9539839 email:stbarnabas@tiscali.co.uk
Holy Eucharist
The Eucharist means to give thanks. We often call our celebration of the Eucharist the Mass for short. The word 'Mass' is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase used at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, in the days when it was said in Latin. We call receiving the bread and wine which has been blessed and become the Body and Blood of Jesus, Holy Communion, although we also say Holy Eucharist for Holy Communion.
'I am the living bread which has come down from heaven; anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world. I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. For, my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.'
John 6: 51-56)
Many of the people who heard Jesus speak these words could not accept what he had said; they walked away from him.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus and the apostles had gathered in the Upper Room to celebrate the Jewish Passover. That night he did something different. He took some bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and gave it to them, saying:
'This is my body which will be given for you; do this as a memorial of me.' He did the same with the cup after supper, and said: 'This cup is the New Covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you.'
(Luke 22:19-20)
At the Last Supper Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and the Ministerial Priesthood. Ever since that night the apostles, and their ordained successors, have continued to do what the Lord commanded. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, when the words of consecration are said by the priest, Christ's body and blood are made present under the species of bread and wine. (CCC 1353).
'The Church teaches that Christ is really present in the bread and wine that have been blessed by the priest at Mass. This means that the bread and wine have become the Body and Blood of Christ. Although the bread and wine still look and taste like bread and wine, the substance, what is actually there, has changed. The word 'transubstantiation' is used to describe this real change. Transubstantiation just means 'a change in substance'.
The Eucharist is the action of both Christ and the Church. The Mass is more than an individual act of worship and receiving Holy Communion is more than a personal act. Vatican II teaches us that: 'no Mass, indeed no liturgical action, is a purely private action, but rather a celebration of the Church as a society composed of different orders and ministries.'
The Eucharist has always been at the centre of the Church's life; through it Christ makes present within time the mystery of his death and resurrection. In it he is received in person as the 'living bread come down from heaven', (John 6:51), and with him we receive the pledge of eternal life and a foretaste of the eternal banquet of the heavenly Jerusalem. (Apostolic Letter of John Paul II Mane Nobiscum Domine, Stay with us, Lord. 2004)
Preparation for Holy Eucharist:
At about the age of seven, baptised children are prepared to receive the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation for the first time. When the same children become young adults they are prepared for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Children attending a Catholic School are prepared for receiving the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation as part of their programme of education. Children not attending a Catholic School should attend preparation classes held in the three parishes from September each year. More information about these classes can be obtained from the Cathedral Office: Tel: 0115 9539839 email:stbarnabas@tiscali.co.uk.
The Sacraments of Healing:
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Much of Jesus' public ministry was spent in healing the sick and forgiving people their sins. Jesus,
'who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health, has willed that his Church continues, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation'.
(CCC 1421).
At our baptism all sins, original and personal, were washed away. However, the Lord Jesus fully aware that we are all sinners, and in constant need of his mercy, gave to his apostles, and their ordained successors, the authority to forgive sins.
On the day he rose from the dead: The doors were closed in the room where the disciples were for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,' and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord. 'As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.' After saying this, he breathed on them and said: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. For those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'
John 20:19-23).
Penance, at one time in the Church's history, could be received only once in a person's lifetime. A person might have spent many years as a penitent before they were able to receive absolution. The more frequent reception of penance came about largely under the influence of Saint Patrick, (387-493), and the Celtic Monks. For many centuries it was the confession of one's sins and the performance of arduous penance that was of paramount importance. Since the Second Vatican Council, a greater emphasis has been placed on reconciliation, (re + conciliare), which means to unite, and in discovering the causes and effects of our sinfulness'.
'In the Sacrament of Reconciliation', (so called since the introduction of the new Rite in 1973), 'we acknowledge our sinfulness and admit our need to be reconciled with God, the Church and our neighbour. Those who approach this sacrament obtain pardon from the mercy of God for the offence committed against Him and are at the same time reconciled with the Church, which they have wounded by their sins, and which by charity, example, and prayer seeks their conversion'.
(Lumen Gentium 9:11)
There are two types of sin: venial, or sin of a less serious nature; mortal, being the most serious kind of sin from which one falls from a state of grace. For sin to be mortal it must be of grave matter; committed with full knowledge of the facts and with free consent. Dame Julian of Norwich reminds us that regardless of how terrible our sins may be, 'our falling does not hinder him from loving us'.
In the parable of the Prodigal Son, (Luke 15:11-32), Our Lord illustrated the love a human father had for his son who had been 'lost and was found'. How much more does our heavenly Father long for us to return to him. When we do, he readily forgives our sins and heals our spiritual sickness. For our part all that we need to do is recognize our need for conversion, repent of our sins and confess them to a priest. Having received absolution we must say, or do, the penance given to us. Should we have wronged our neighbour in any way then we must endeavour to make amends.
The Church teaches that if we have committed serious sin we must confess our sin in the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion.
The Prayer of Absolution given by the priest.
God, the Father of mercies through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and has sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Preparation is as for the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Adults will normally be prepared through the RCIA journey of faith which also starts in September. Please contact the Cathedral Office for more information for both child and adult preparation.
Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
In the process of healing the sick, Jesus made frequent use of signs: spittle, mud, the laying on of hands and ritual washing which the Jews would have been familiar with. When Jesus healed the man who had been blind from birth,
'He spat on the ground and made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man and said to him, 'Go wash in the Pool of Siloam (a name that means 'sent'). So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored'. (John 9:1-3, 6-7)
The apostles, who were commissioned to exercise the same healing ministry,
'anointed many sick people with oil and cured them'. (Mark 6:12-13)
Once, when Peter and John were going up to the temple, they met a crippled man who begged from them. Peter said to him:
'I have neither silver nor gold, but I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!' The man jumped up, stood, and began to walk'.
(Acts of the Apostles 3:3-9)
The sick were often laid out in the streets, hoping that Peters shadow might fall across them and heal them. (Acts 5:15)
'If one of you is ill, he should send for the elders of the church, and they must anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him. The prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up again; and if he has committed any sins he will be forgiven. So confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another and this will cure you'.
(James 5:14-15)
Whenever a person is seriously ill he or she may receive the Anointing of the Sick; one does not need to be dying to be anointed. This sacrament has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the Passion of Christ; the strengthening, peace and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the Sacrament of Reconciliation; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul. (CCC 1527, 1528, 1529, 1532) The Church offers to those who are about to leave this life the sacraments of healing in combination with the Eucharist as viaticum or 'passing over' to the Father. So, at the end of our life, we are 'prepared for our heavenly homeland'. (CCC 1525)
In the Anointing of the Sick and the Sacrament of Reconciliation Christ continues to touch us and make us whole.
Receiving the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick:
The parish priest should be informed when any parishioner is very ill or is to undergo an operation or is likely to be detained in hospital, hospital staff do not automatically send such information to the local parish priest. Please note that anyone who is sick may receive this sacrament.
The Sacraments of Vocation and Commitment
Sacrament of Holy Orders
Out of the Twelve Tribes of Israel God singled out the Tribe of Levi to be priests. The Levitical priests, who were set apart for liturgical service, were also appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, and to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. The priesthood of the Old Testament prefigured the priesthood of Christ Jesus:
'the one mediator between God and men'.
(1Timothy 2:5)
At the Last Supper the Lord Jesus gave the greatest gift to the world; he gave himself. During the celebration of the Passover meal he instituted the Eucharist as the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, and commanded his apostles to celebrate it until his return;
'thereby he constituted them priests of the New Testament'.
(Council of Trent)
At baptism each one of us is anointed prophet, priest and king. The People of God are
'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart'.
(1 Peter 2:9)
However, there are certain men called to serve God in the ministerial priesthood. The Sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred on them, by the bishop, in the laying on of hands and the Prayer of Consecration. At his ordination the priests hands are anointed and he is given the power to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Furthermore, an ordained priest, as a successor of the apostles, is empowered to be a minister of God's forgiveness. Our Lord authorized his apostles:
'Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.'
(Matthew 18:18)
By the grace of the Holy Spirit the priest is enabled to act as a representative of Christ and, at Mass, when the priest says the words of consecration, 'this is my body; this is my blood' he speaks 'in persona Christi'. The power of the words and the action of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, make present under the species of bread and wine Christ's body and blood; his sacrifice offered on the cross once for all. (CCC 1353)
Priests are called to serve and strengthen the people of God by celebrating Holy Mass, in proclaiming the Gospel, by being ministers of the sacraments, by their prayers, by teaching and in providing pastoral care for the people. It is through her ordained ministers that 'the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time'. (CCC 1536) The Lord Jesus instructed Simon Peter to: 'Feed my lambs; feed my sheep.' Therefore, 'Those among the faithful who are marked by Holy Order are appointed to nourish the Church with the word and grace of God in the name of Christ'. (Lumen Gentium 9:11)
Through baptism priests introduce men into the People of God; by the Sacrament of Reconciliation they reconcile sinners with God and the Church; by the Anointing of the Sick they relieve those who are ill; and especially by the celebration of Mass they offer Christs sacrifice sacramentally; the Eucharistic celebration is the centre of the assembly of the faithful over which the priest presides. (Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis)
Within the Sacrament of Holy Orders there are three degrees: the episcopate (bishops); presbyterate (priests); diaconate (deacons). (CCC 1536) The diaconate is a temporary stage for those men who are to be ordained priests. Some men, who may be married or unmarried, are called to the Permanent Diaconate; an ancient order dating from the Apostolic age, that was restored at the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). For many centuries, in the Latin-Rite, it has been customary to ordain unmarried or widowed men; once ordained priests remain celibate. An exception to the norm applies to certain married convert clergymen who have been ordained into the Catholic priesthood.
For those who may be interested in the priesthood or religious life please contact your parish priest in the first instance.
Sacrament of Marriage (Matrimony)
Matrimony comes from the Latin words matris and manus, meaning the duty of motherhood. Our understanding of matrimony is rooted in Sacred Scripture, Tradition and the Teaching Magisterium of the Church. Further affirmations of the sacramental nature of matrimony were made at the Councils of Florence (1438-1445) and Trent (1545-1564) and, in more recent years, at Vatican II (1962-1965) in the Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People.
From the beginning 'male and female God created them'. (Genesis 1:27) This partnership of man and woman constitutes the first form of communion between people. For by their innermost nature men and women are social beings; and if they do not enter into relationships with others they can neither live nor develop their gifts. (Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes)
When Saint Paul spoke of marriage he compared the union of husband and wife with that of Christ and his Church:
'You who are husbands must show love to your wives as Christ showed loved to the Church when he gave himself up on its behalf. For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one body'.
(Ephesians 5:25; 31)
When two people marry they confer the Sacrament of Matrimony one upon the other; the officiating priest, or deacon, acts in the capacity as a witness on behalf of the Church. There is no better place in which to celebrate marriage than in church, in the presence of the Lord Jesus who once graced the Wedding at Cana with his company. For a marriage to be valid there must be no impediment present and both spouses must freely consent to it. The apostles heard Jesus say:
'What God has joined together let no man put asunder.'
(Matthew 19:6)
A valid, sacramental marriage may only be ended by the death of one of the spouses.
In the Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, Apostolicam Actuositatem, the Council Fathers present at Vatican II reminded us that God,
'the Creator of all made the married state the beginning and foundation of human society; by his grace he has made it a great mystery in Christ and in the Church, and so the apostolate of married persons and of families has a special importance for both Church and civil society'.
The family, Ecclesia Domestica, or the domestic church, is the ideal environment in which a married couple will bring up any children they may have. By observing and following the good example of their parents, children will grow in the practise of their faith and learn to love God and their neighbour. United Christian families are a sign that love, unity and peace are possible. (Jean Vanier, Man and Woman He Made Them)
Preparation for Marriage:
Couples intending to marry at the Cathedral, Saint Augustine's or Our Lady and Saint Patrick's are required to attend a Marriage Preparation Course. These courses are held at the Cathedral Hall, at regular times during the year. Contact the Cathedral Office for further information: Tel: 0115 9539839 email:stbarnabas@tiscali.co.uk.
Funerals
Although not a sacrament, a funeral is a sacramental. Here the Church through it's liturgies celebrates the life of a person who has died and gives support to those who are bereaved. The liturgy may consist of reception of the deceased into church on the evening prior to the funeral followed by a Requiem Mass on the day, followed by either a burial or cremation. An alternative liturgy is a shorter funeral service either in church or at the cemetery. In all cases arrangements are made through the selected funeral directors. However the local priest should be made aware of a death as soon as possible.
