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Every Sacrament is an encounter with the Risen Lord. So then a Sacrament is a visible sign, signifying the gift of God's grace instituted by Jesus Christ. Almost all the Sacraments are given in a liturgical service.
Accordingly, there are four characteristic marks in a Sacrament. We can explain these four characteristics taking for example the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
1. A visible sign - hosts and wine
2. The gift of grace - receiving the body and blood of Jesus Christ
3. Instituted by Christ - At the Last Supper on Holy Thursday by Jesus Christ.
4. The liturgical Service - The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
When we receive the Holy Eucharist we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. By receiving the body and blood of Christ we believe that our spiritual life is nourished. That is the gift of grace that we receive inwardly. Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. The bread and wine that Jesus used at the Last Supper are visible signs of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The bread and wine are transformed into Jesus' body and blood during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. That is the liturgical service for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
There are seven Sacraments, the picture below shows the Seven Sacraments.
The Seven Sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian Life.
There is thus a resemblance between the stages of the natural life and the stages of the spiritual life' Through the Sacraments Jesus Christ gives us grace. We should receive them with our own free will and with a good knowledge and understanding about the Sacrament we receive. All those who are baptised should receive the other Sacraments at the proper age and at the suitable time. We can categorise the Seven Sacraments as follows:
These three Sacraments can be received only once
1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Holy Orders
These Sacraments imprint an indelible mark on the soul. The graces and benefits that one receives from each Sacrament is found on the next page.
1. Baptism
Baptism is a sacrament that we can receive only once. An indelible mark of "God's Child" is imprinted in the soul of the one who receives the Sacrament of Baptism.
The Symbols used during Baptism
1. Water Water symbolises dying to sin and rising to a new life.
2. White Garment White garment symbolises putting on Christ and keeping it pure and spotless all throughout life.
3. Paschal Candle Symbolises, that the Risen Christ has lighted up the newly baptised with His own light which has to be kept lighted all throughout life.
4. Anointing with Chrism
Symbolises coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Baptized
2. Confirmation
On the day of the Pentecost
The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday. In the same way the Holy Spirit will descend upon all those who receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. We must pray and implore the blessings of the Holy Spirit before we begin our work, our studies or any other activity. The Holy Spirit will enlighten us, give us power and his strength to do everything well. The reception of the Sacrament of the Confirmation is necessary for the completion of the baptismal grace. By the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. They become mature Christians and bear witness to Christ by word and deed.
3. Holy Eucharist
By the words that Jesus uttered at the Last Supper Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Euchrist. The Sacraments of Initiation come to completion when receiving the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, Italy
Time of the miracle - In the year 700 A.D.
The place of the miracle - In Italy, in a monastry named after St. Longinus (The Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus)
The miracle - A priest monk who had doubts about the change of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, had just spoken the solemn words of consecreation, when the host was suddenly changed into a circle of flesh and the wine was transformed into visible blood.
Result of the Scientific test in 1574
In February 1574 Monsignor Rodrigues verified in the presence of reputable witnesses that the combined weight of the five pellets of frozen blood was equal to the individual weight of any of them, a fact that was later memorized by being kept in a marble tablet in 1636. This place is still located in the Church.
The result of the medical scientific experiments in March 4th 1971 by Professor Linoli
• The flesh was identified as muscular tissue of the human heart.
• The blood and the flesh were found to belong to the same blood group AB positive.
• The blood contained the minerals that is found in human new and fresh blood. Minerals such as Calcium, and of Proteins.
• No preservative was found inserted to keep it always fresh and new.
• Though the flesh and blood were exposed to the influence of the physical atmosphere for nearly 12 centuries no sign of decay is noticed.
The findings of 1970 experiments
After Scienctific experiments done by the Naza Institute, it was revealed that the blood in the Holy Shroud of Turin and the blood in the piece of flesh in the Lanciano miracle, belong to the same group of blood. The blood group is AB Positive
So we have enough of evidence to prove that Jesus is really and truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Hence we must receive Jesus regularly with faith. love and with due reverence. By receiving Holy Communion our spiritual life is nourished and we receive grace upon grace.
Through these two Sacraments one receives spiritual, physical and mental healing.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance is the Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins committed by a person after his Baptism.
A person, who due to serious sin, loses his state of grace. God’s friendship is Reconciled and brought back to God’s friendship by the Sacrament of reconciliation.
Institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
After his resurrection, on the evening of Easter Sunday he appeared to his apostles and saying the words of the Holy Scripture stated below gave them the power to forgive sins to his apostles and instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Graces received through he Sacrament of Reconciliation
* Jesus forgives our sins
* He removes eternal punishment
* We regain sanctifying grace
* We receive the strength to avoid sin
* We are reconciled to God and to our neighbour
Confession is essential for those who have fallen into mortal sin after baptism. If we fall into mortal sin we should immediately beg God’s forgiveness by an act of contrition and approach the confessional at the earliest. Even if we are not in mortal sin, it is advisable to make one's confession from time, to time, for our venial sins. When we do so, we obtain forgiveness for our sins and gain strength to avoid sin.
In order to make a good confession there are five things we need to do
1. Examine your conscience
2. Be sorry for your sins
3. Make a firm resolution not to sin again
4. Confess your sins to a priest
5. Do the penance given by the priest
Sacrament of Anointing of the sick
When we become physically weak and come close to death we need a lot of spiritual strength. The Sacrament of the anointing of the sick brings us both spiritual and physical strength at this crucial hour.
Graces received through the Sacrament of anointing of the sick
✴️ It gives spiritual and physical strength to the sick person
✴️ Forgiveness of sins
✴️ Become a sharer of Christ’s suffering
✴️ Sometimes by the healing power of this sacrament sick persons get healed.
✴️ Removes the fear of death.
When do we receive the Sacrament of anointing
✴️ When somebody is seriously ill.
✴️ Before a serious operation.
✴️ After a serious accident
✴️ When somebody is at the last moment of his life
Preparing the place for the anointing of the sick.
When the Sacrament of Anointing of the sick is given in your home prepare the place as it is shown in the picture.
If there is a very sick or an aged Catholic person in your neighbourhood inform the parish priest, and make arrangements for that person to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the sick. It is very good if you can make that person receive Holy Communion from time to time. Whenever possible give them a chance of making their confession and pray for them.
Jesus Christ instituted two sacraments for this purpose
1. Holy Orders (Priesthood)
Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of Holy Order to continue the mission entrusted to the apostles until the end of the world.
2. Holy Matrimony
It is a contract between a man and a women with the intention of procreating children and accepting responsibility before God to build up a good Christian family. God endorses this promise, blesses this union and grants abundant graces to fulfill the obligations of family life. Catholic marriage is a contract and also a sacrament.
These two Sacraments build up God’s people. The priest fulfils it in the parish and the parents fulfill it in the home by cultivating a good environment in the parish and at home they perform their duties by doing their service and obligations as promised on the day of their ordination and marriage.
Priesthood
Lord Jesus Christ on Holy Thursday saying the following words instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
The Sacrament that was instituted by Jesus Christ at the last supper is continuously commemorated everyday by the priests by offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Sacrament of Holy Orders imprints an indelible mark on the soul of the priest. Therefore they can receive this sacrament of Holy Orders only once in a life time.
The services of the Priests.
• Preaching the Word of God
• To be a true shepherd
• Offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
• Administer the Sacraments.
• A priest acts as a mediator between God and man
• He offers to God the prayers and adoration of the people of God.
• He obtains God’s mercy and blessings on the people.
• He blesses the people
• He conducts the Daham Pasala
• He teaches the religion
• He conducts funeral services
• He Visits homes and Families
• He helps the poor
It is our duty to help the priests to do their various responsible tasks. Hence let us help the priests in whatever way we are able. The pictures below show us a few such instances.
Holy Matrimony
Institution of the Sacrament of Matrimony
The marriage was instituted by God at the beginning of the world.
Duties and responsibilities of children towards their parents
Look at this picture. You can see two children paying homage to their parents. We too must pay our respect to our parents. They have given their whole life for us. Therefore we must help them whenever we can. As students we must do our studies well so that they will be happy. We must always behave well at home, so that there will be peace at home, because they gave us life, they fed us with good food. They spent for our education. They lead us to God by helping us to do our religious duties. They always make us go on the right path by their good example.
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