SACRAMENTS

& LITURGY
 PRELIM COVERAGE
INTRODUCTION TO THE SACRAMENTS

THE IDEA OF THELITURGY

 SACRAMENTS
Definition
1. By St. Paul (Acts 9:1-18)
The word Sacrament comes from the
Latin word “Sacramentum” meaning
mystery. This term is being used by St. Paul
to refer to God’s plan of always wanting to
save, renew and unite all things in Christ.
Paul is referring to the sacrament of
BAPTISM.
 SACRAMENTS
Definition
2. By St. Augustine
Sacrament is a Sign of a Sacred Reality.
The sign points to the deeper reality of the
spiritual world, a world of friendship with
God be realized.
He is referring to the sacrament of
PENANCE.
 SACRAMENTS
Definition
3. By St. Thomas Aquinas
Sacrament is an Efficacious Symbol. It is
one that effects what is symbolizes and
symbolizes what it effects. It is a special
sign that brings about what it symbolizes and
symbolizes what it brings about.
He is referring to the sacrament of HOLY
EUCHARIST.
JESUS CHRIST: the first SACRAMENT
1. He is the mystery of God’s love for
mankind
2. This loving kindness was made visible in
Jesus is the great sign of God in our midst.
(Emmanuel – God is with us)
- Jesus is the symbol of God’s total love for
us - Jesus is the great sacrament, the prime
or first sacrament
- In Him God became visible – available to
us.
JESUS CHRIST: the first SACRAMENT
3. Jesus is an “Efficacious Sign”
His passion, death, resurrection and
glorification point to a reality that sin and
death have been conquered, that eternal life
with the Father is a reality. Because Jesus is
a sacrament, He does not only point to these
realities, He makes them possible to us to
achieve today.
JESUS CHRIST: the first SACRAMENT
4. The cured leper, Jesus touch was a
sacrament, a visible sign of God’s loving
action. (Mt. 8:1-3)
Jesus’ kind glances and reasoning touches
and life-giving words are signs of the father’s
love and concern. (Mt. 9:18-25; Mt. 9:27-30;
Mt. 9:1-7; Mt. 8:5-8,13)
JESUS CHRIST: the first SACRAMENT
This same Jesus is present today in the seven
sacraments. He comes to us in the visible
sign of:
-Words-Bread and Wine -Water and Oil
He comes to us and takes us to His loving
Father.
OTHER DEFINITION OF SACRAMENT
Sacrament is an outward sign instituted
by Christ to give us grace.
1. A sacrament is a sign
A sacrament is a special visible sign that
puts into contact with our Lord. The
sacraments are particular signs that represent
particular actions and values of Jesus.
OTHER DEFINITION OF SACRAMENT
Action – The Eucharist is a symbolic re-
enactment of the last supper.
- The immersion in water, baptism
represents conversion and death to sin.
OTHER DEFINITION OF SACRAMENT
Values
• Forgiveness Sacrament of Penance
• Unity in the community Sacrament of
Holy Eucharist
• Healing Sacrament of Holy
Anointing
OTHER DEFINITION OF SACRAMENT
2. A sacrament was instituted by Christ
The sacraments are ultimately traceable to
Jesus. Jesus often came to people at the time of
their greatest needs.
• when people were sick Mt. 12:9-13
• When they needed forgiveness Lk.19:1-10
• When they were beginning married life Jn.
2:1-11
OTHER DEFINITION OF SACRAMENT
3. A sacrament gives grace
Grace is the gift of God’s friendship
for us. Grace is the story of God’s
constant love for us. Grace is God’s free
invitation to us to live in union with Him.
WHAT DO SACRAMENTS DO?
1. The seven sacraments commemorate
what happened in the past. They re-enact
in symbol the actions and values of Jesus.
They recapture His message of conversion,
forgiveness, love and unity.
WHAT DO SACRAMENTS DO?
2. The seven sacraments demonstrate in
the present that Jesus Christ lives. The
sacraments bring about an actual meeting
with Jesus through signs.
WHAT DO SACRAMENTS DO?

3. The seven sacraments prefigure our

glorious future with Christ at the end
of time.
 The Seven Sacraments-Life Events-Values Of Jesus
SACRAMENTS LIFE EVENTS VALUES OF JESUS
1. Baptism Birth Conversion, accepting the
Good News
 The Seven Sacraments-Life Events-Values Of Jesus
SACRAMENTS LIFE EVENTS VALUES OF JESUS
2. Confirmation Growth Strength of the Spirit to live
a committed Christian life
of service.
 The Seven Sacraments-Life Events-Values Of Jesus
SACRAMENTS LIFE EVENTS VALUES OF JESUS
3. Holy Eucharist Daily life together, meal Strength of unity to live a
life of love
 The Seven Sacraments-Life Events-Values Of Jesus
SACRAMENTS LIFE EVENTS VALUES OF JESUS
4.Reconciliation/Penance/ Sin and guilt Forgiveness and reunion
Confession with the community
 The Seven Sacraments-Life Events-Values Of Jesus
SACRAMENTS LIFE EVENTS VALUES OF JESUS
5. Anointing/Extreme Sickness and Death Healing and strength to
Unction endure
 The Seven Sacraments-Life Events-Values Of Jesus
SACRAMENTS LIFE EVENTS VALUES OF JESUS
6. Holy Orders/Priesthood Service, vocation Ministry of love to God’s
people
 The Seven Sacraments-Life Events-Values Of Jesus
SACRAMENTS LIFE EVENTS VALUES OF JESUS
7. Marriage/Matrimony Family Life, Vocation Ministry of love to spouse
and children
 SUMMARY

Effects of the Sacraments:

1. To draw us into a closer relationship to the Church, and thereby to relationship to
Christ Himself, in the Spirit, and to the Father.
SUMMARY
Effects of the Sacraments:
2. To gradually transform us into
Christ’s way of thinking, Christ’s way of
acting, Christ’s way of praying and
loving, forgiving and serving.

St. Paul counselled: “Put on the Lord

Jesus Christ”. Romans 13:14
 SUMMARY

Note: The sacraments can effect this only if celebrated in FAITH, because without
faith, no saving personal relationship can be established or strengthened.
Therefore: A SACRAMENT is a saving symbolic act, arising from the ministry of
Christ and continued in, by and for the Church, which, when celebrated in faith, draw
us into likeness to Christ in His Paschal Mystery, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
 SACRAMENTALS AND FILIPINO RELIGIOSITY
Sacramentals:
- are objects, practices and the like that help us become aware of Christ’s grace-
filled presence around us.
 SACRAMENTALS AND FILIPINO RELIGIOSITY
Sacramentals:
 SACRAMENTALS AND FILIPINO RELIGIOSITY
Sacramentals:
- They help us receive the sacraments with greater fruits and render holy
various occasions in life.
 SACRAMENTALS AND FILIPINO RELIGIOSITY

Sacramentals:
- are sacred signs/symbols which signify some spiritual effects which are realized
through the action of the Church.
 SACRAMENTALS AND FILIPINO RELIGIOSITY

Sacramentals:
- they differ from the seven sacraments in that they are not “instituted by
Christ’, but by the Church, which uses them to sanctify everyday life.
 SACRAMENTALS AND FILIPINO RELIGIOSITY

Sacramentals:
 SACRAMENTALS AND FILIPINO RELIGIOSITY

Sacramentals:
 Sacramentals Which are Very POPULAR Among
Filipinos, Who Eagerly Make use of:
1. Blessings
Ex: Home, cars, buildings
 Sacramentals Which are Very POPULAR Among
Filipinos, Who Eagerly Make use of:
2. Actions
Ex: kneeling down, bowing, making sign of the cross
 Sacramentals Which are Very POPULAR Among
Filipinos, Who Eagerly Make use of:
3. Words
Ex: Grace before meals, Indulgence novena prayers, pious invocations, litanies
 Sacramentals Which are Very POPULAR Among
Filipinos, Who Eagerly Make use of:
4. Objects - Ex: Ashes, palms, candles, crucifixes,
 Sacramentals Which are Very POPULAR Among
Filipinos, Who Eagerly Make use of:
4. Objects - Ex: rosaries, scapulars, statues

Note: - fanatic Catholics (relate the story of the statue of Sto. Entierro.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY
LITURGY – is the exercise of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the whole Christ, which
is the Church in union with her head.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY
It means that the liturgy is the work of the entire Church as sharing in the
priesthood of Christ.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY
Therefore, it is not only Christ who offers, and not only the ordained priest, but all
the faithful together.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

Now, if the liturgy is the exercise of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, then He must be
present in liturgical celebrations:
1. He is present in the sacrifice of the mass
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

Now, if the liturgy is the exercise of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, then He must be
present in liturgical celebrations:
2. He is present in his ministries
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

Now, if the liturgy is the exercise of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, then He must be
present in liturgical celebrations:
3. By the Eucharistic species
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

4. By His power, He is present in the sacraments, so that, when a man baptizes, it is

really Christ who baptizes.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

5. He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the Holy
Scripture is read in the Church.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

6. He is present finally when the Church prays and sings, for He promised, “where two
or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them”. (Mt. 18:20)
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

Therefore: We are supposed to take part actively in liturgical celebrations.

 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

Here we are faced by the danger of mere FORMALISM.

Liturgical celebrations can easily become:
1. Empty
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

Here we are faced by the danger of mere FORMALISM.

Liturgical celebrations can easily become:
2. Mechanical
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

Here we are faced by the danger of mere FORMALISM.

Liturgical celebrations can easily become:
3. Something merely external
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

Here we are faced by the danger of mere FORMALISM.

Liturgical celebrations can easily become:
4. Something of a merely aesthetic or psychological interest that “turns us on”.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

What then are we doing in Liturgical celebrations?

- Liturgy is the objective enactment over time and space, of a real event.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

What then are we doing in Liturgical celebrations?

- Liturgy is the objective enactment over time and space, of a real event.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

What then are we doing in Liturgical celebrations?

- It is a sacred ritual in which the sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and together with
His paschal mystery, all the mysteries of the life and the work of Jesus Christ, as
continued in the Church, are made present and thus accessible to us.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

CONTENTS OF THE LITURGY

1. The sacrifice of the mass as its core
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

CONTENTS OF THE LITURGY

2. The sacraments
Baptism Confirmation Holy Eucharist
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

CONTENTS OF THE LITURGY

2. The sacraments
Confession Anointing of the sick
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

CONTENTS OF THE LITURGY

2. The sacraments
Holy Orders/Priesthood Marriage/Matrimony
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

CONTENTS OF THE LITURGY

3. The ecclesiastical year (seasons of the year)

Advent Lent
Ordinary Time
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

CONTENTS OF THE LITURGY

4. The liturgy of the hours
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

1. Liturgy used to bring to mind what the priest does around the altar in ceremonial
worship.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

But now we realize that in the early Church, liturgy meant everything that all
Christians did in taking part in “God’s work” the divine plan to sum up all things to
Christ. Jn. 17:4; Eph. 1:10)
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

This included not only the divine worship, but proclamation of the Gospel (Rm.
15:16) and service of one’s neighbor (2Cor 9:12).
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

This included not only the divine worship, but proclamation of the Gospel (Rm.
15:16) and service of one’s neighbor (2Cor 9:12).
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

Although liturgy today designates more properly the “official public worship of the
Church”, they confirm PCP II’s stress on full, active participation of the whole people
of God – everyone – and the essential inner connection of the liturgy with social
action. (Doing something good for neighbor)
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

2. The center of the Church’s liturgy is the EUCHARIST which commemorates the
Paschal Mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ – His passion, death, resurrection, ascension
and the descending of the Holy Spirit. Through this mystery the power of God’s
salvific love is offered to us.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

Since this salvation touches all of creation in its entirety, liturgy in its broadest
sense, is the proclamation, manifestation, and celebration not only of Christ and His
Paschal Mystery, but also of the Church’s own mystery and mission as universal
sacrament of salvation, and the whole world and the temporal order, consecrated and
ordered to its creator and final goal.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

Since this salvation touches all of creation in its entirety, the Church’s own mystery
and mission as universal sacrament of salvation, is to save and liberate the people from
being poor.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

Since this salvation touches all of creation in its entirety, the Church’s own mystery
and mission as universal sacrament of salvation, is to save and liberate the people from
oppression.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

3. For the ordinary Filipino Catholic, liturgy means the yearly cycle of liturgical
seasons like Advent, Lent, Holy Week, Easter Time and in celebrating feast days like
Christmas, Sto, Nino, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Palm Sunday, Easter, Pentecost,
the Immaculate Conception, etc.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

But what needs to be improved is the basic understanding of the essentials of
Catholic liturgical worship.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

NATURE OF THE LITURGY

But what needs to be improved is the basic understanding of the purpose of going
to liturgical celebration:
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF THE LITURGY

1. Trinitarian and Paschal
The Church’s liturgical prayer is directed to the Father, through His Son, Jesus
Christ, in the Holy Spirit. The liturgy is a celebration of the Good News of our
ACTUAL salvation worked by the Blessed Trinity through Jesus Christ’s Paschal
Mystery. (Suffering, death and resurrection)
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF THE LITURGY

2. Ecclesial
The liturgy is the prayer of the Church gathered in assembly, an ecclesial activity,
celebrated by the whole Christ, head and members. It is essentially an activity of the
community, a gathering together in an ordered assembly and communion of the
baptized. Thus the power of salvation is mediated through various relationships within
the Church.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF THE LITURGY

3. Sacramental
Liturgy is celebrated through a pattern of symbolic, ritual movements, gesture and
verbal postulates.
By participating in liturgy’s sacramental, symbolic activities, the church’s
members both express their faith in Christ and their desire to deepen it, and actually
share in the reality signified, namely, salvation through forgiveness and communion
with risen, glorified Christ in the Spirit.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

SYMBOLS USED IN THE LITURGY

1. Gathering of the baptized assembly itself
2. The natural symbols from creation
Ex: light, darkness, water, oil, fire, etc.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

SYMBOLS USED IN THE LITURGY

3. Humanly produced symbols
Ex: bread and wine

4. Christian salvific symbols

Ex: reading and interpretation of the Scripture, sign of the cross, Paschal candle,
laying on of hands, etc.
 THE IDEA OF THE LITURGY

SYMBOLS USED IN THE LITURGY

5. Persons
They express the personal mystery of God’s love manifest in Christ’s Paschal
Mystery.
 CONCLUSION
SACRAMENTS:
1. Signs of Faith
- In so far as they express and proclaim belief in the unseen reality of God.
 CONCLUSION
SACRAMENTS:
2. Acts of Worship
- In so far as they draw us ritually into Christ’s Paschal worship of the Father.
 CONCLUSION
SACRAMENTS:
3. Signs of Unity of the Church
- In so far as also who participate in them share a common faith and enjoy a
common fellowship.
 CONCLUSION
SACRAMENTS:
4. Signs of Christ’s Presence
- In so far as the Incarnate Word is not confined by time and space but is made
available here and now, as He is, the risen Christ.