Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist - Essay Example

Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist 1. Matter, form, ordinary minister, effect of Baptism, and the indelible mark received in the Sacrament of Baptism Baptism is a welcome ceremony, the beginning of a lasting relationship, a right relationship, with God. Water and oil are used in baptism to symbolise cleansing and anointment (“The Catholic Liturgical Library: Rite for the Baptism of One Child” par. 9). Baptism is performed by a priest or deacon, along with the other ministers. The priest reads some parts of the Scriptures on the subject of baptism. Bible readings include Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus (John 3: 1-6), the sending of the apostles to the world to preach and baptise (Matthew 28: 18-20), the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1: 9-11), and Jesus’ admonition to allow the children to come near him (Mark 10: 13-16). The priest may give a short homily to explain about the reading and to remind the parents and godparents of their responsibilities to the child being baptised. Then the priest announces, “I baptise you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. These words relate to the words spoken by Jesus Christ before he ascended into heaven when he commanded the disciples to make disciples of all nations and baptise them in the “Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The indelible mark of baptism is the “end of sin and the beginning of goodness” (“The Catholic Liturgical Library” par. 27). 2. The Significance of the Sign of the Cross, the use of water, the use of oil, the prayers of exorcism, and the white garment in the celebration of the sacrament of Baptism The sign of the cross reminds us of Christ’s passion and death on the cross and prepares the baptism candidate to partake of that sacrifice for God and the church. Water becomes “a rich symbol of grace,” to signify cleansing and being reborn away from a sinful past (“The Catholic Liturgical Library” par. 19). Oil is for anointing – to heal us from anything that prevents our right relationship with God. The exorcism prayer protects the baptised from evil spirits while preparing him or her to be a part of the church or the People of God. The priest exorcises the candidate from evil spirit and prepares that physical body to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. The white garment of the candidate symbolises purity and the indelible mark that this soul is free of original sin (“The Catholic Liturgical Library: Rite for the Baptism of One Child” par. 16). 3. How Baptism is a participation in the dying and rising of Christ? We are initiated into the unconditional love of God to free us and cleanse us from original sin and be one with God. Baptism allows us to understand the meaning of the Paschal Mystery and Jesus’ mission on earth which is to save mankind. The Paschal Mystery enables the People of God to have power over sin. Immersion in or sprinkling of water commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Jesus began his ministry with the baptism of John in the River Jordan, then he comes out from the water glorious while a voice from heaven announces that he is the Son of God (“RCL Benziger Sacraments: Walkthrough of the Confirmation Rite” par. 1). When Christ was dying on the cross, the Roman soldier lanced his spear on the side of Christ and water and blood came out. It has great significance because it is like baptising the sinful world while Jesus is dying and fulfilling his mission to save the world. 4. Matter, Form, Ordinary Minister, and effect of the Sacrament of Confirmation, and the indelible mark received in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is administered by the Bishop and the ceremony takes place while the Holy Mass is celebrated. The bishop is the ordinary minister who can delegate a priest in the confirmation rite. Another priest presents and call one by one the candidates who may be accompanied by their sponsors or parents (“RCL Benziger Sacraments: Walkthrough of the Confirmation Rite” par. 1). Confirmation completes the sacrament of baptism and culminates in the communion of the Body and Blood of Jesus (“RCL Benziger Sacraments : Walkthrough of the Confirmation Rite” par. 1). After the homily, the bishop and the candidates perform the renewal of baptismal promises in which the candidates reject Satan and assert their belief of the teachings and doctrines of the Church. The bishop and the priests lay hands on the candidates, after which the bishop performs the confirmation bestowing upon the candidates the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The baptised receives the “seal of the Lord and the gift of the Holy Spirit” during the anointing with chrism, signed with the perfumed oil, so that the candidate becomes “fragrant” and can spread “the sweet odor of Christ” (“RCL Benziger Sacraments: Walkthrough of the Confirmation Rite” par. 6). As soon as the bishop makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the baptised, he announces, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”. 5. The Purpose of Confirmation for the Individual and for the life of the Church Jesus preached and was persecuted, leading to his sacrifice and crucifixion on the cross. His resurrection led to his glorious ascension into heaven. As soon as he has ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and gave the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In baptism, God announces that we are “adopted” sons of God and the Holy Spirit will dwell in us. The purpose of the confirmation is to affirm the presence of the Holy Spirit in us and explain to us the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Jesus is God who became man, who died on the cross for us, and when he ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit descended in tongues of fire. All these are God’s plan of salvation for us, in which we have to observe and live the sacraments so that we can be united with him. Lesson 8: The Eucharist 1. Matter, form, ordinary minister, and effect of the sacrament of the Eucharist The priest is the main celebrant in the Holy Mass, but the Holy Spirit is working in him. Sometimes, it is a concelebrated mass or several priests joining to celebrate the Paschal Mystery. Bread and wine are presented in the altar and during the consecration the priest consecrates the bread and wine to become the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Mass is divided into the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist. Scripture readings from the Old and New Testaments are the first activity. The priest reads the Gospel which is about Jesus’ ministry and his passion, death, and resurrection. The Liturgy of the Eucharist leads us to the Last Supper, the blessing of the bread and wine to become Jesus’ Body and Blood, and the surrounding events leading to the Cross (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 8-31). The Scriptures inspire the contents and procedure of the Holy Mass or the Holy Eucharist, as decreed by the Council of Trent. The Holy Spirit through the celebrant turns the bread and wine into Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (“Ecclesia De Eucharistia of His Holiness Pope John Paul II” par. 2). Pope John Paul II affirmed to the Christian Church that “the center of the church’s life is the Eucharist,” a commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ (“Ecclesia De Eucharistia of His Holiness Pope John Paul II” par. 20). The Holy Eucharist revolves around the events in Jesus’ ministry which leads to his sacrifice and death on the cross, his resurrection and ascension into heaven. 2. How the bread and wine came to be used in the celebration of the Eucharist. How is this consistent with the Catholic sacramental worldview? The celebration of the Eucharist with the use of bread and wine is consistent with the Catholic sacramental worldview. Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is present and remains present in the Eucharist. The bread is kept on the tabernacle since it is considered as one of the holiest places in the church. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who was slaughtered in order to free humanity from sin and bring us to eternal life. The Eucharist is a celebration (commemoration) of the Last Supper when the Lord Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb himself, a perfect offering, the only one acceptable to the Father. The mass also commemorates the Exodus in the Old Testament when every Hebrew family had to offer an “unblemished lamb”. At the Last Supper, Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples when he shared the bread and wine for the disciples to eat and drink, but as he blessed them, he told them that it was his Body and Blood. He also asked the disciples to do it in remembrance of him. 3. How Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is related to the sacrifice on the altar in the celebration of the Eucharist, including how the baptised exercise their royal priesthood. As we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, we bring to life the event that took place more than two thousand years ago in the Upper Room when Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Passover, or the Last Supper. Jesus proclaimed, “This is my body which will be given up for you. This is the cup of my blood, poured out for you…” (“Ecclesia De Eucharistia of His Holiness Pope John Paul II” par. 10). When the priest raises the bread and wine, it is the “One” who is speaking through the priest’s mouth. The Eucharist is not only about the time of the breaking of the bread, but includes the events surrounding it, i.e. the agony in Gethsemane, or when Jesus and his disciples went to the Kidron valley and the Garden of Olives, when he prayed with sweat and blood falling from his skin, and now this blood is to be shared by all “as a drink of salvation” in the Eucharist (“Ecclesia De Eucharistia of His Holiness Pope John Paul II” par. 5). As People of God, we exercise our Royal Priesthood through preaching and sharing the bread and wine, even sharing our wealth to the less fortunate among us who are also members of the church. 4. How the celebration of the Eucharist is a meal. What are the fruits of Holy Communion? What is expected of someone who is sent out from the celebration having received Holy Communion? The Eucharist is celebrated based on the context of a meal, representing the Paschal Banquet or the Last Supper. This also refers to the Old Testament days, the Hebrews whom Moses was to lead to the Promised Land, were instructed by God to perform the Passover meal which was to eat the lamb for every family and consume it completely. Like in the family, the People of God in the Holy Mass share the bread and wine. John Paul II says that the Eucharist “unites heaven and earth” because even if it is “celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world” (“Ecclesia De Eucharistia of His Holiness Pope John Paul II” par. 13). Jesus, the Son of God, became man to give back to God “all creation redeemed”. When we eat his Body and Blood, we are part of the Body of Christ. The communion of his Body and Blood also includes communion of the saints – that we have to love one another as Christ loves his church (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 13). When we eat the bread and wine, transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we become part of an intimate union with Christ, physically and spiritually. Works Cited Ecclesia De Eucharistia of His Holiness Pope John Paul II 2003. Web. 3 Oct. 2014. . RCL Benziger Sacraments: Walkthrough of the Confirmation Rite 2011. Web. 3 October 2014. . The Catholic Liturgical Library: Rite for the Baptism of One Child 1969. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. . United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 1996. The Order of Mass Worship Aid. Chicago: Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications. Print. Read More