Introduction to Sacrament Part 3

1. Introduction to the Sacraments
Rev. Paul R. Fisher
Pastor, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Harrisburg
Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer

2. • SACRED SIGN
• INSTITUTED BY CHRIST
• ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH
• WHICH ALWAYS GIVES GRACE
SACRAMENT:

3. • Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)
• You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1: 8)
• And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is
my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (1
Corinthians 11:24)
By the Lord:

4. • What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder."
And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries
another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her
husband and marries another, she commits adultery.“ (Mark 10: 9-
12)
• Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me
more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15)
• He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you
forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive
them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20: 22-23)
• These signs will accompany those who believe: … they will place
their hands on the sick, and they will get well.” (Mark 16: 17-18)

5. The Apostolic Era:
• Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about
three thousand were added to their number that day.(Acts 2:
41)
• When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to
Samaria. … Then Peter and John placed their hands on
them, and they received the Holy Spirit.(Acts 8: 14, 17)
• For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to
you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took
bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and
said, “This is my body(1 Corinthians 11:23-24)

6. • For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and
shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh.
This is a great sacrament.. (Ephesians 5: 31-32)
• They gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he
was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1: 26)
They appointed] presbyters for them in each church and,
with
prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom
they had put their faith. (Acts 14:23)
They chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy
Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon,
and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. These
they set before the apostles; and they praying, imposed
hands
upon them. (Acts 6: 5-6)

7. • God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not
counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us
the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for
Christ… (2 Corinthians 5: 19-20)
• Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the
presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him
and anoint with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer
of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him
up. (James 5: 14-15)

8. The Tradition of the Church:
CHRISTIAN INITIATION
PATRISTIC ERA
Prolonged Catechumenate
Mainly conferred on adults
Baptism-Confirmation-Holy Communion at Easter Vigil
POST PATRISTIC ERA
Additional times for initiation (Vigils of Epiphany, Pentecost)
MIDDLE AGES
Decline of Catechumenate
Mainly conferred on children
Delay of Confirmation and Communion
MODERN ERA
Restoration of Catechumenate (RCIA)

9. PENANCE
PATRISTIC ERA
Order of Penitents
Public Confession of Sin/Private Confession of Sins
Prolonged Penances
Conferred on adults
Reconciliation on Holy Thursday
POST PATRISTIC ERA
Private Confessions
Indulgences
MIDDLE AGES
No longer an “order” of Penitents
Private Confession/Absolution
Immediate preparation for Holy Communion
Age of Reason
Also for Venial Sins
Confessional screen

10. BAPTISM
MIDDLE AGES
Decline of Catechumenate
Mainly conferred on Infants and Children
Emphasis on Limbo
Separation of Confirmation and Communion
MODERN ERA
Restoration of Lent/Easter as the Seasons of Baptism
Specific Rite for Infants and Children

11. CONFIRMATION
MIDDLE AGES
Conferred mainly on children
Separation from the Rite of Baptism
Delay until puberty
“Soldier for Christ”
MODERN ERA
Baptismal connections
The “restored” order
“Adult commitment”

12. EUCHARIST
PATRISTIC ERA
Solemnization of Rite
Multiplicity of Rites
Communion in Hand
Communion under Both Forms
Communion Fast
Sundays and Feasts
MIDDLE AGES
Communion on Tongue
“First Communion” distinct from other Sacraments of
Initiation
Less Frequent Communion
Communion under One Form
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Daily Mass

13. REFORMATION ERA
Infrequent Communion
The “Roman” Rite – Missal of St. Pius V
Banquet in the context of a Sacrifice
19TH CENTURY
Reduction of age of 1st Communion
Reduction of the Communion Fast
Liturgical movement
MODERN ERA
Missal of Paul VI
Sacrifice in the context of a Banquet
Communion in the Hand as option

14. MARRIAGE
PATRISTIC ERA
Pastoral Care surrounding Marriage
Priestly blessing of existing relationship
Readmission to Holy Communion for Divorced/Remarried
POST PATRISTIC ERA
Marriage Rite become Civil Rite
MIDDLE AGES
Church exercises complete jurisdiction over Marriage
Catholics only permitted to marry Catholics
Form of Marriage established
No Divorce
Annulments
REFORMATION
Separation of Sacramental and Civil Marriage
Permission for Mixed Marriages
Dispensation to marry unbaptized
MODERN ERA
Ecumenical Reinterpretation of the Form of Marriage

15. HOLY ORDERS
PATRISTIC ERA
Bishops, Priests, Deacons chosen by local communities
Clerical Continence
POST PATRISTIC ERA
Bishops chosen by Bishops
MIDDLE AGES
Apprenticeship for candidates to Priesthood
Bishops chosen by Pope
Clerical celibacy
Clerical social class
REFORMATION
Formation in Seminaries
MODERN ERA
Definition of the Matter and Form of the Sacrament

16. RECONCILIATION
MODERN ERA
Communal Rite of the Sacrament
Reconciliation Chapels/Rooms

17. ANOINTING OF THE SICK
PATRISTIC ERA
Rite for the Healing of the Sick
Little distinction between the Sacrament and non-sacramental anointing
POST PATRISTIC ERA
Rite in Preparation for Dying
MIDDLE AGES
Anointing of the five senses
For the Forgiveness of Sins in preparation for Final Judgment
REFORMATION
Attempt at reform of theology
No real reform in practice
MODERN ERA
Reform in practice