Sacraments and Sacramentals
Encounter the Intangible, Invisible God Through Tangible, Visible Signs
One of the unique features of Catholicism is its sacramental life. Catholic Christianity experiences and sees the world through the lens of sacramentality, in other words, Catholics recognise and see the presence of God in all things. God is present in people, events, places, the environment, the world at large and the cosmos. It is through our living of life and through the people and events around us that we encounter the invisible God.
In order to understand sacraments and sacramentality, it is helpful to make the distinction between the concept of sacraments in general and the seven rituals sacraments of the Catholic Church. In general terms, sacraments can be any person, event or thing which enables the believer to encounter God in a new or deeper way. These special moments have the potential to heighten the presence of God in our life. Because we are human, God’s presence can only be felt through our humanness, our human experiences and our relationships with others.
(Gail Davis, Sacramentality Workshop, 2017)
In order to understand sacraments and sacramentality, it is helpful to make the distinction between the concept of sacraments in general and the seven rituals sacraments of the Catholic Church. In general terms, sacraments can be any person, event or thing which enables the believer to encounter God in a new or deeper way. These special moments have the potential to heighten the presence of God in our life. Because we are human, God’s presence can only be felt through our humanness, our human experiences and our relationships with others.
(Gail Davis, Sacramentality Workshop, 2017)
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Catholics: Why We Are a Sacramental People
with Fr. Michael Himes Fr Michael Himes writes: "In the Catholic tradition, we call the occasions when grace or God’s love is made effectively present for us sacraments….By sacrament, I mean any person, place, thing, or event, any sight, sound, taste, touch, or smell, that causes us to notice the love which supports all that exists, that undergirds your being and mind and all the beings of everything about us. If there is one thing that defines what it means to be Catholic, I think it is this sense of sacramentality."
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How many such sacraments are there, asks Himes?
The answer is a “virtually infinite number,” for there is absolutely nothing that cannot be a sacrament.
The principle of sacramentality reaches its climax in the celebration of the seven sacraments.
It is there that we encounter God’s presence in a unique and most effective manner.
The answer is a “virtually infinite number,” for there is absolutely nothing that cannot be a sacrament.
The principle of sacramentality reaches its climax in the celebration of the seven sacraments.
It is there that we encounter God’s presence in a unique and most effective manner.
The Seven Sacraments
Living the Catholic Way:
The Sacraments There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders.
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Living the Sacraments: Finding God at the Intersection of Heaven and Earth
Too many Catholics view the sacraments as isolated rites of passage disconnected from daily living, hoops to jump through, rather than as gateways to fulfilling lives centered on a spiritual relationship with God. Such a misunderstanding distances Catholics from the heart of their spiritual vitality and renders the Church less relevant to their experience.
Joe Paprocki opens up this critical aspect of Catholic life in Living the Sacraments. He presents the sacraments as a spiritual path. Their power and grace open our hearts to ongoing encounter with God. Read More. |
Discovering the Nearness of God:
An Eight Part Series on the Catholic Sacramental Vision by Joe Paprocki
This eight part series on the Catholic sacramental vision, published on Joe Paprocki's blog Catechist’s Journey, draws from his book, Living the Sacraments: Finding God at the Intersection of Heaven and Earth.
"Every sacrament of the Church, every ritual, every sacramental object tells our story and enacts our narrative. A ritual action that fails to do this rings hollow. On the other hand, when these rituals are celebrated fully and robustly, they make manifest a narrative of Good News: we are rescued, restored, and reassured! The Catholic vision, then, is one that recognizes God as being present in the world—a sacramental vision. "
Click the image at the right to find the complete series.
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The Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist
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Bishop Barron on the Sacrament of Baptism
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Baptism | Catholic Central
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Bishop Barron on the Sacrament of Confirmation
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Confirmation | Catholic Central
What exactly is happening at confirmation? Kai and Libby explain just what is being confirmed, who is doing the confirming, and, most importantly...why?
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Bishop Barron on the Sacrament of the Eucharist as Meal
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Bishop Barron on the Sacrament of the Eucharist as Sacrifice
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Bishop Barron on the Sacrament of the Eucharist as Real Presence
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Eucharist 101 | Catholic Central
Catholics call the Eucharist "the source and summit of the Christian life." But what does that mean? What do Catholics REALLY believe about the Eucharist? Why is it important?
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