In the name of the Father,
and of the the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art Thou among women
And blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.
I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary;
suffered under Pontius Pilot,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell;
on the third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the Holy Catholic Church;
the Communion of Saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and life everlasting.
Amen.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God,
Light from Light,
True God from True God,
begotten, not made, one in being with the Father;
through Him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven,
by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For out sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered, died and was buried.
On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures;
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the Giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
with the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus,
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us,
O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen.
Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help,
or sought your intercession was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
we turn to you, O Virgins of virgins,
our Mother.
To you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
do not despise our petitions,
but in your mercy hear us and answer us.
Amen.
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary,...
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord
R. Let it be done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary,...
V. And the Word was made flesh
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary,...
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
Thy grace into our hearts,
That we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,
was made known by the message of an angel,
may, by His Passion and Cross,
be brought to the glory of His Resurrection,
Through the same Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.
| This is the exultant prayer of the Virgin Mary after her vision of the Angel Gabriel. Gabriel told Mary that she would bear a son and call him Jesus. It is found in St. Luke's Gospel (1:46-55) and has been one of the great prayers of the Church for almost two thousand years. | |
| Shrines of Our Lady, Peter Mullen |
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden,
And behold,
From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty has done to me great things
And His name is holy.
His mercy is on those who fear him,
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm,
And scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their seat
And exalted the humble and the meek.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
But the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel,
As He promised to out forefathers,
Abraham and his children forever.
Amen.
| This is the Easter Anthem to the Blessed Virgin. It was probably composed in the twelfth century, although ancient tradition says the it was written by Pope Gregory V around 998 AD. | |
| Shrines of Our Lady, Peter Mullen |
Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven, Alleluia!
He whom thou wast fit to bear, Alleluia!
As He promised, hath risen, Alleluia!
Pour for us to God thy prayer, Alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
For the Lord hath risen indeed, Alleluia!
I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary;
suffered under Pontius Pilot,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell;
on the third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the Holy Catholic Church;
the Communion of Saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and life everlasting.
Amen.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God,
Light from Light,
True God from True God,
begotten, not made, one in being with the Father;
through Him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven,
by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For out sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered, died and was buried.
On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures;
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the Giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
with the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
Amen.
Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy.
Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her Glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the Name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.
Amen.
O my God,
I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins,
and that he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches,
because you revealed them,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
Amen.
O my God,
relying on your infinite goodness and promises,
I hope to obtain pardon of my sins,
the help of your grace,
and life everlasting,
through the merits of Jesus Christ,
my Lord and Redeemer.
Amen.
O my God,
I love you above all things,
with my whole heart and soul,
because you are all good and worthy of all my love.
I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you.
I forgive all who have injured me
and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
Amen.
I confess to almighty God,
to blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to blessed Michael the Archangel,
to blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy apostles Peter and Paul,
and to all the saints that I have sinned exceedingly
in thought, word, and deed,
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin,
blessed Michael the Archangel,
blessed John the Baptist,
the holy apostles Peter and Paul,
and all the saints,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Amen.
O my God,
I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.
I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and he pains of hell,
but most of all because they offend Thee, my God,
who art all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
to confess my sins,
to do penance
and to amend my life.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be.
Amen.
Father in heaven, you have made us for yourself;
our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
Fulfill this longing through Jesus,
the bread of life,
so that we may witness to him who alone satisfies the hungers of the human
family.
By the power of your Spirit lead us to the heavenly table
where we may feast on the vision of your glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
Bless us O Lord
and these Thy gifts
which we are about to receive,
from Thy bounty,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
We give Thee thanks,
Almighty God,
for all Thy benefits;
Who lives and reigns,
world without end.
Amen.
Angel of God,
my Guardian dear,
to whom His love
commits me here,
ever this day (night)
be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide.
Amen.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Hide me within Thy wounds.
Never permit me to be separated from Thee.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me,
And bid me to come to Thee,
That with Thy saints, I may praise Thee
For everlasting ages.
Amen.
| Lord, have mercy on us. | Lord, have mercy on us. |
| Christ, have mercy on us. | Christ, have mercy on us. |
| Lord, have mercy on us. | Lord, have mercy on us. |
| Holy Mary, Mother of God. | Pray for us. |
| Saint Michael, | Pray for us. |
| Holy angels of God, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Joseph, | Pray for us. |
| Saint John the Baptist, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Peter and Saint Paul, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Andrew, | Pray for us. |
| Saint John, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Mary Magdalene, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Stephen, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Ignatius, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Lawrence, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Agnes, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Gregory, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Augustine, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Athanasius, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Basil, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Martin, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Benedict, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Francis and Saint Dominic, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Francis Xavier, | Pray for us. |
| Saint John Vianney, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Catherine, | Pray for us. |
| Saint Theresa, | Pray for us. |
| All you saints of God, | Pray for us. |
| Lord, be merciful, | Lord, save us. |
| From all harm, | Lord, save us. |
| From every sin, | Lord, save us. |
| From all temptations, | Lord, save us. |
| From everlasting death, | Lord, save us. |
| By Your coming among us, | Lord, save us. |
| By Your death and rising to new life, | Lord, save us. |
| By Your gift of the Holy Spirit, | Lord, save us. |
| Be merciful to us sinners, | Lord, hear our prayer. |
| Guide and protect Your Holy Church, | Lord, hear our prayer. |
| Keep our Pope and all the clergy in faithful service to Your Church. | Lord, hear our prayer. |
| Bring all people together in trust and peace. | Lord, hear our prayer. |
| Strengthen us in Your service. | Lord, hear our prayer. |
| Amen. | |
| We must adore and worship only one true God.
The first commandment summons man to believe in God, to hope in Him, and to love Him above all else. We worship God by acts of Faith, Hope and Charity and by prayer and sacrifice.
We worship God through prayer whenever we speak to God, to praise Him, to thank Him and to accept his holy will. We publicly worship God through the Liturgy of the Mass. |
| O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth."
The second commandment enjoins respect for the Lord's name. The name of the Lord is holy. The second commandment forbids every improper use of God's name. Blasphemy is the use of the name of God, of Jesus Christ, of the Virgin Mary, and of the saints in an offensive way. Profanity is using the name of God, or other holy names or words in anger or in an abusive, disrespectful manner. False oaths call on God to be witness to a lie. Perjury is a grave offense against the Lord who is always faithful to His promises. "Do not swear whether by the Creator, or any creature, except truthfully, of necessity, and with reverence." In Baptism, the Christian receives his name in the Church. Parents, godparents, and the pastor are to see that he be given a Christian name. The patron saint provides a model of charity and the assurance of his prayer. We begin our prayers and religious activities with the sign of the Cross: "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." God calls each one by name. |
| "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." "The
seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord."
The Sabbath, which represented the completion of the first creation, has been replaced by Sunday which recalls the new creation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ. "Sunday is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church." On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass." "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body." The institution of Sunday helps all "to be allowed sufficient rest and leisure to cultivate their amilial, cultural, social, and religious lives." Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder from observing the Lord's Day. |
| According to the fourth commandment, God has willed that, after him,
we should honor our parents and those whom he has vested with authority
for our good.
Children owe their parents respect, gratitude, just obedience, and assistance. Children must obey their parents in all things except sin. Children have an obligation to help their parents in their old age, or when they are sick and helpless, and to pray for them. Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children in the faith, prayer, and all the virtues. They have the duty to provide as far as possible for the physical and spiritual needs of their children. Parents should respect and encourage their children's vocations. They should remember and teach that the first calling of the Christian is to follow Jesus. |
| Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred
because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image
and likeness of the living and holy God.
The murder of a human being is gravely contrary to the dignity of the person and holiness of the Creator. The prohibition of murder does not abrogate the right to render an unjust aggressor unable to inflict harm. Legitimate defense is a grave duty for whoever is responsible for the lives of others or the common good. From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice, gravely contrary to the moral law. Because it should be treated as a person from conception, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed like every other human being. Intentional euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. Suicide is forbidden by the fifth commandment. |
| "Love is the fundamental and innate vocation of every human
being."
By creating the human being man and woman, God gives personal dignity equally to the one and the other. Each of them, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. Christ is the model of chastity. Every baptized person is called to lead a chaste life, each according to his particular state of life. The union of man and woman in the indissoluble bond of married love, for the procreation of children and for mutual help to each other, is the sublime purpose of human sexuality. The covenant which spouses have freely entered into entails faithful love. It imposes on them the obligation to keep their marriage indissoluble. Only husbands and wives who are validly married and are acting according to God's holy plans and laws may engage in the acts and pleasures of sex. Sins against the sixth commandment include adultery, fornication, masturbation and homosexual acts. Impure speech and immoral books, magazines, movies, plays, television and pictures are forbidden. |
| "You shall not steal." "Neither thieves, nor the
greedy, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Every person has the right to own personal property and we must respect the private property of others. We are forbidden to take what rightly belongs to another. The seventh commandment forbids theft. Theft is the usurpation of another's goods against the reasonable will of the owner. Every manner of taking and using another's property unjustly is contrary to the seventh commandment. The injustice committed requires reparation. Commutative justice requires the restitution of stolen goods. The seventh commandment enjoins the practice of justice and charity in the administration of earthly goods and the fruits of men's labor. The goods of creation are destined for the entire human race. The right to private property does not abolish the universal destination of goods. Sins against the seventh commandment include:
|
| Truth or truthfulness is the virtue which consists in showing oneself
true in deeds and truthful in words, and guarding against duplicity,
dissimulation, and hypocrisy.
Respect for the reputation and honor of persons forbids all detraction and calumny in word and attitude. Care must be taken not to say anything to damage another's reputation. It is wrong to judge another person without sufficient evidence. Gossip, insults and unjust criticism and included as sins against the eight commandment and against one's neighbor. Lying consists in saying what is false with the intention of deceiving the neighbor who has the right to the truth. An offense committed against the truth requires reparation. The golden rule helps one discern, in concrete situation, whether or not it would be appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it. |
| "Everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his heart."
The ninth commandment warns against lust or carnal concupiscence. It forbids willful consent to impure thoughts or desires. Purity of heart will enable us to see God: it enables us even now to see things according to God. Purification of the heart demands prayer, the practice of chastity, purity of intention and of vision. Purity of heart requires the modesty which is patience, decency, and discretion. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. |
| "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
The tenth commandment forbids avarice arising from a passion for riches and their attendant power. Envy is sadness at the sight of another’s goods and the immoderate desire to have them for oneself. It is wrong to be envious of the success and good fortune of another. We must not desire things that belong to others. |
O God, Who by the precious blood of Thine only-begotten Son
didst sanctify the standard of the cross;
grant, we beseech Thee, that we who rejoice in the glory of the same holy cross
may feel everywhere the gladness of Thy sovereign protection.
Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O Jesus,
You did desire to die for me
that I may receive the supernatural life,
sacntifying grace,
and become a child of God.
How precious must be that life.
Teach me to appreciate it more and more.
Amen.
O Jesus,
You have chosen to die the disgraceful death on the cross.
You have paid a high price
for my redemption
and the life of grace that was bestowed upon me.
May I love You always.
Amen.
O Jesus,
Your painful fall under the cross
and Your quick rise
teach me to repent and rise instantly
should I ever be forgetful of Your love
and commit a mortal sin.
Make me strong to conquer my wicked passions.
Amen.
O Jesus,
Your afflicted Mother was resigned to Your passion
because She is my Mother also,
and wants to see me live and die
as a child of God.
Grant me a tender love to Your holy Mother.
Amen.
O Jesus,
Simon first reluctantly helped You to carry the cross.
Make me better understand the value of my sufferings
which should lead me closer to You,
as Simon was united with You through the cross.
Amen.
O Jesus,
how generously did You reward that courageous woman.
When I side with You against sin and temptation,
You surely will increase the beauty of my soul
and fill me with joy and peace.
Amen.
O Jesus,
despite my good resolutions,
I have sinned repeatedly.
But Your sufferings assure me of forgiveness
if only I return to You with a contrite heart.
I repent for having offended You.
Amen.
O Jesus,
You did teach the women of Jerusalem
to weep rather over themselves.
Make me weep over my sins
which caused Your sufferings
and the loss of my friendship with You.
Amen.
O Jesus,
I see You bowed to the earth
enduring the pains of extreme exhaustion.
Grant that I never yield to dispair
but come to You for help
in hardship and spiritual distress.
Amen.
O Jesus,
You did permit Yourself
to be stripped of Your garments.
Grant that I may sacrifice all my attachments
rather than to imperil the devine life of my soul.
Amen.
O Jesus,
how could I complain
to be nailed to God's commandments
which are given for my salvation
when I see You nailed to the cross.
Strengthen my faith
and increase my love for You.
Amen.
O Jesus,
dying on the cross,
You did preach love and forgiveness.
May I be thankful
that You have made me a child of God.
Help me to forgive all those
who have injured me.
Amen.
O Jesus,
a sword of grief pierced Your Mother's heart
when You were lying lifeless in Her arms.
Grant me, through Her intercession,
to lead the life of a loyal child of Mary.
Amen.
O Jesus,
Your enemies triumphed
when they sealed Your tomb.
But Your eternal triumph
began on Easter morning.
Strengthen my good will to live for You
until the devine life of my soul
will be manifested in the bliss of heaven.
Amen.
A Sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ to give grace.
 |
Baptism is a sacrament which cleanses us from original sin, makes us
Christians, children of God, and members of the Church.
Baptism is one of the sacraments of initiation and it starts a Catholic on a journey of faith. Baptism introduces one to the Church community with whom one will live and grow spiritually. With the sacrament of baptism, the Catholic community commits to be the baptized person's guide and companion on their journey of faith. Baptism is a naming ceremony in which a baby is given a name, traditionally, after one of the saints. |
| Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." |
| Matthew 28:18-20 |
| Essential Elements | |
| External Sign: | Water |
| Gift of Sacramental Grace: | Cleanses us of original sin Makes us Christians through grace, children of God and heirs of heaven |
| Accompanying Words and Actions: | Pouring water on the forehead while saying: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." |
| Administered by: | A Priest (but in cases of necessity, any person may baptize) |
 |
The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus
Christ, together with His Soul and Divinity, under the appearances of bread
and wine.
Holy Eucharist, also know as Holy Communion and the Blessed Sacrament, is the enactment of the Last Supper, during which Christ promised his ongoing presence to his disciples. We believe in the presence of Jesus Christ, in the form of bread and wine, which is consumed during the sacrament of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is one way in which Christ remains present and accessible to the Church. Holy Communion is offered at every Mass. During the Mass, the priest speaks the words of consecration over the bread and wine which are transformed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ and then given to the people. The Eucharist is a symbol of God's nurturing care. Jesus offers His life to the people in the form of bread and wine. |
| Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." |
| Luke 22:19-20 |
| Essential Elements | |
| External Sign: | Bread and Wine |
| Gift of Sacramental Grace: | We receive Christ Himself, the source of all grace. |
| Accompanying Words and Actions: | The body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ become truly and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine when the Priest pronounces the words of Eucharist consecration, usually in the contest of Mass. We then receive the Body and Blood of Christ as the Eucharist Minister says, "Body (or Blood) or Christ", to which we respond, "Amen". |
| Administered by: | A Priest consecrates the bread and wine. An Eucharist Minister may administer the sacrament. |
A contemporary confessional with the option of face-to-face confession, shown by the two chairs, or traditional confession with the screen. |
Penance is the sacrament whereby the sins, whether mortal or venial,
which we have committed after Baptism are forgiven.
Penance, also called "reconciliation" or "confession", is when we confess our sins and then receive forgiveness by the priest in Christ's name. The person going to confession does the following:
In turn, the priest does the following:
|
How to Receive the Sacrament of Penance
| (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." |
| John 20:21-23 |
| Essential Elements | |
| External Sign: | Voicing one's sins in confession Performing the penance prescribed by the Priest Sign of absolution in which the minister grants forgiveness |
| Gift of Sacramental Grace: | Mercy from God. Pardon for all our sins. Reconciliation with the Church. |
| Accompanying Words and Actions: | The Rite of Reconciliation in which we:
|
| Administered by: | A Priest |
|
Confirmation is a sacrament by which we receive the Holy Spirit, in
order to make us strong and perfect Christians and "soldiers" of Jesus
Christ.
In Confirmation we receive the sign, or seal, of the Holy Spirit. We are marked spiritually as followers and witnesses of Christ. This seal of the Holy Spirit is marked symbolically with holy chrism in the sign of the cross on our forehead. Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation. When we are baptized, we begin our initiation into the Church. Confirmation is one more step into the initiation into the body of Christ. When we are confirmed, we are called to give public witness to the good news to our family, our neighbors, and even strangers. We are sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit and are strengthened to live out our baptismal promises. |
| When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. |
| Acts 2:1-4 |
| Essential Elements | |
| External Sign: | The renewal of baptismal promises The profession of faith by the candidates Chrism anointed on the forehead in the sign of a cross |
| Gift of Sacramental Grace: | Awakening of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:
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| Accompanying Words and Actions: | The Bishop anoints the candidate with chrism in the form of a cross on the forehead, imposes his hands and says, "Receive the seal of the Holy Spirit, the Gift of the Father." |
| Administered by: | A Bishop or Bishop designate |
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In the sacrament of matrimony, the Church brings God's love and blessing
to a newly married couple. The sacrament of marriage is a powerful sign of
Christ's presence that joins a man and woman together for life.
In a marriage, three parties are involved: the husband, the wife, and Jesus Christ. A marriage is a covenant relationship with God. The couple partners with God in creation; this means one of the prime intentions of marriage is to have children. The marriage bond is a spiritual partnership agreement requiring the free consent of the couple, and sealed by God. Marriage involves a wholeness of experience. The body, mind and soul, of the couple come together as one. It is a joining of spirit and will with feeling and passion. |
| He (Jesus) said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate." |
| Matthew 19:4-6 |
| The Lord God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." |
| Genesis 2:18 |
| Essential Elements | |
| External Sign: | Freely given wedding vows spoken by the bride and groom Wedding Rings |
| Gift of Sacramental Grace: | God's spiritual guarantee to stay present to them and to
help them grow individually and together over their lifetimes. The gift of children. |
| Accompanying Words and Actions: | Freely given marriage vows between the bride and groom. Special nuptial blessing for the marriage covenant given by the priest. |
| Administered by: | The Bride and Groom (A priest or deacon serves as a witness of the church.) |
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Holy Orders is the sacrament by which bishops, priests and deacons of
the Church are ordained, and receive power and grace to perform their sacred
duties.
Holy Orders is a sacrament in which a man commits his entire life to serve the Church community and in doing so becomes a symbol of God's presence. With this commitment, the Church grants him the responsibility and the power to offer Mass, forgive sins, give blessings, administer other sacraments, and attend to the spiritual life of the community he serves.
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| So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith. |
| Acts 6:2-7 |
| For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. |
| 2 Timothy 1:6 |
| Essential Elements | |
| External Sign: | The Bishop lays hands on those to be ordained. |
| Gift of Sacramental Grace: | Spiritual power together with the grace to exercise properly the respective office. |
| Accompanying Words and Actions: | The fingers of each new Priest are anointed with holy oil. The Bishop says to each priest, "Accept the gifts from the people and be offered to God. Be conscious of what you are doing, be as holy as the actions you perform, and model your life after the mystery of the Lord's Cross." |
| Administered by: | A Bishop |
 |
This sacrament is the anointing of the sick with holy oil accompanied
with prayer.
The sacrament honors both the physical and spiritual healing presence of Christ. It holds both strengthening and curative powers and brings wholeness and well-being to those who receive it. The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick brings the following gifts:
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Anointing of the Sick in Your Home
| Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the priests of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him 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. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. |
| James 5:14-15 |
| The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. |
| Romans 8:16-17 |
| Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church. |
| Colosians 1:24 |
| Essential Elements | |
| External Sign: | Olive oil properly blessed. |
| Gift of Sacramental Grace: | Grace to help bear suffering. |
| Accompanying Words and Actions: | "Through this holy anointing and His most loving mercy, may the Lord assist you by the grace of the Holy Spirit so that, when you have been freed from your sins, He may save you and in his goodness raise you up." |
| Administered by: | A Priest |
