Tiber River Cafe: March 2014

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Tiber River Cafe--Sacrament of Marriage

Hello, and welcome to the Tiber River Café. My name is Dean Humphreys, and today’s topic is the Sacrament of Marriage. We read in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19 verses 4-7, that Jesus said, “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.” This is the Sacrament of Marriage.

The Catholic Church recognizes seven Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony (marriage), Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation (also known as confession). We believe that there is a sacred reality to each of the Sacraments and that each Sacrament points us towards Jesus. Catholics believe that each of the Sacraments was instituted by Jesus himself, pointing to Biblical events in the life and ministry, as well as the stories and teachings, of Jesus of Nazareth, our Lord and Savior.

Each of the Sacraments also points to the Christian life, as we participate as a faith community, in the celebration of the Sacraments. The Sacraments are signs and a means to God’s graces, the graces that are needed to live a truly Christian life. The Church teaches that we cannot earn grace, for God’s grace is a free gift of Himself as the controlling influence in our lives. Sacraments are the life of the Church for they help to make us more holy people, they help to build up the Body of Christ, and they point us towards God.

In the Book of Genesis, chapter 2 verse 18, we read, “It is not good that man is alone.” God created marriage so that by design man and woman should complement and complete one another, we draw strength from each other, and we encourage each other’s spiritual growth. The husband and wife give themselves to each other, they give themselves to their family, and they give themselves to the larger community. Each spouse models the love Christ has for his Church.

In the Book of Genesis, chapter 1 verse 27-28, we read, “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply.” Husband and wife are equal in human dignity and in marriage both are equal as one. The union of man and woman, the bride and groom, reflects the symbol of divine union between Christ, who is the Bridegroom, and His Church, the Bride.

We read of this union between Christ and His Church in St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5 verse 21-31, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over to her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” And the union between husband and wife helps each spouse to cooperate in the raising up of their children in the Faith. The married couple has children, we raise and care for our families, we educate our spouse and children in the Faith, and we provide the necessary moral and ethical training for future generations.

The Catholic Church teaches that matrimony is ‘the sacrament by which a baptized man and a baptized women bind themselves for life in a lawful marriage and receive the grace to discharge their duties.” The marriage bond is between the two spouses and God. This mutual consent is sealed by God, and the man and woman enter into a covenant agreement with God, this covenant can never be dissolved, even the Church cannot break this irrevocable covenant.

From marriage comes the family and the Christian home is called ‘the domestic church.’ It is within this domestic church that parents teach their children our Catholic faith, to love, to seek justice and truth, and to honor God. The Church teaches that parents are the principal and first educators of their children. Parents teach their children to love and care for our neighbors and to care for the larger community, for we are a universal Church.

The Sacrament of Marriage is more that the civil legal contract between a man and a women which can be provided by the state and marriage is more than simply obtaining certain government and civil benefits. The Catholic Church believes that marriage is more than a civil contract, the Church holds firm that marriage is a covenant, a sacred oath between the bride and groom and God. A simple definition of covenant is an agreement between people, in this case it is a perfect oath between God and His people, but it is more than just a contract, for a covenant binds one to the other in a ritual manner.

In marriage the man and woman become one flesh with vows taken before God. A marriage covenant refers to the relationship between a husband and wife, the permanent lifelong union between the two persons. The union between man and women is the sacrament that makes it a loving sign of the union between Christ and His Church, as we read in St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5 verse 25, “love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church”.

The mark of the Sacrament of Marriage, its external sign, is the wedding contract itself. The contract is not the license issued by the state, but rather the contract between the man and the woman, the vows that each spouse makes to the other. And as long as each spouse intends to maintain a true marriage, then the Sacrament of Marriage is completed. The effect of this sacramental marriage is an increase in God’s sanctifying grace for each of the spouses and a participation in the life of God.

Marriage is common to all peoples and cultures, from the beginning of human existence, as we read in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 13 verse 4, “Let marriage be honored among all”. But the Catholic Church believes the covenant bond between the husband and wife is sacred. Their marriage is a lifelong union for the purpose of having children and mutual support, which is love. And the Church teaches that the marriage between two baptized Christians entered into with the intention to contract a true marriage is a sacrament. The marriage is when one gives oneself totally to the other person, a public statement of love and fidelity. And this union mirrors and reflects the union between Jesus and His Church, it is a symbol of God’s love.

The Church helps the couple prepare for their marriage through discussion, instruction, and prayer, often called Pre-Cana classes, as in the Wedding of Cana. We read that Jesus not only approves but promotes the goodness of marriage and the happiness of the couple. We read in the Gospel of John, chapter 2 verses 1-11, how Jesus and his disciples attended the wedding celebration at Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine. The bride and groom are to prepare themselves for the Sacrament of Marriage by first receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The marriage is a public sign celebrated within the faith community of believers. The ministers for a sacramental marriage are the spouses themselves. The priest or deacon serve only as witnesses. The Catholic Church strongly encourages Catholics to have a wedding Mass, called the Nuptial Mass. The marriage ceremony is a liturgical act to be celebrated within the Christian community which confirms the goodness and sacredness of marriage. The Nuptial Mass is a very special blessing for those starting the holy vocation of marriage.

During the Rite of Marriage, the ceremony itself, the man and woman exchange wedding rings as an outward sign and reminder of their love and fidelity to one another. During the exchange of wedding vows the man and woman promise each other their mutual love and support, they promise to give freely of themselves to the other. They promise to help each other despite trials, hardships, and disappointments. They promise each other that there will always be love and forgiveness. They are now in a state of life called marriage, perpetual and exclusive.

A Sacrament is an outward sign that confers an inner grace. In marriage the outward sign is the exchange of marital consent. The couple administers the Sacrament of Marriage to each other, they join into a covenant agreement with God for Christ is at the center of all Christian life, the priest or deacon serve as the witness to this covenant, to bestow the Church’s blessing. The priest or deacon is simply the official or witness to the Sacrament, representing Christ and His Church and offering the Church’s blessing.

But it is important to remember that the presence of the priest or deacon is absolutely necessary, for without the priest or deacon there is no sacrament. As Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John, chapter 1 verses 7-9, “’For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’. Therefore what God has joined together, no human must separate.”

There are four basic elements that are common for a natural marriage. The first element is that the marriage is a union between opposite sexes, male and female. Second, the marriage is a lifelong union, the union only ending when one spouse dies. Third, the marriage union excludes any other unions with any other person, that each spouse must remain faithful and monogamous. And fourth, this lifelong marriage union and exclusiveness are guaranteed by a contract. The Catholic Church also teaches that the marriage has a supernatural quality in addition to the basic natural elements. For all love comes from God, for God is love, and the Sacrament of Marriage is a sign and symbol of God’s love. This love then spills out to others, the married couple’s children, their families, as well as other members of their faith community

It is not always easy being married. It is not easy for two people to live with each other day after day, year after year. We have faults and defects, we get on each other’s nerves, and we often grate on each other. But over time, and with much patience and prayer, we come together in our mutual growth. We grow into one body, physically and spiritually, and we evolve into the fulfillment of the Sacrament itself. Our married love is caught up into the love of God.

So there you have it, a rather simple explanation of the Catholic Church’s Sacrament of Marriage. Marriage is the sacred and lifelong covenant between one man and one women, in the presence of God. Something to think about this Sunday at Mass. I also encourage you to check out my pages on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook; as well as my blog on Blogger, where I have complete transcripts of all my videos.

Well, thanks again for stopping by the Tiber River Café, where there is always plenty of room at the banquet table. I hope to see you next time. Peace be with you

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Tiber River Cafe--Sacrament of Confirmation

Hello, and welcome to the Tiber River Café. My name is Dean Humphreys, and today’s topic is the Sacrament of Confirmation, along with the Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Eucharist, the Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of Initiation to the Catholic Church. The Sacrament of Confirmation is our Pentecost, it is the time in one’s life when we receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that comforts and strengthens that person’s life in Christ that began at Baptism, as we read in the Book of Acts, chapter 19 verses 5-6, “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them.” We also read in the Book of Acts, chapter 2 verse 38, “Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This is the Catholic Church’s Sacrament of Confirmation.

In the Book of Acts, chapter 2 verses 2-4, we read about the first Pentecost, “And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Later in the Book of Acts, chapter 8 verses 14-17, we read how the early apostles confirmed the new converts, “Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” The ‘laying on of hands’, which is the Sacrament of Confirmation, has the power to transform. And as we read in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 6 verse 2, how the early Church was taught “instruction about baptisms and laying on of hands.” This is our faith, a 2000 year tradition.

The Sacrament of Confirmation involves the laying on of hands, that we receive the Holy Spirit, which is the unbroken succession from Jesus himself when he laid his hands upon his disciples. At the time of Confirmation the bishop will trace the sign of the Cross on our forehead with holy oil, and he says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” and we respond, “Amen.” Two thousand years ago the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, forty days after the Resurrection of Jesus, and Jesus promised his disciples at that Pentecost, that he would send his Spirit to comfort and strengthen them. We are filled with this same Holy Spirit at the time of our own Confirmation, and the Spirit continues to comfort and strengthen Christ’s disciples, we are Christ’s disciples. St. Paul also writes about our inheritance of salvation through the Holy Spirit in his Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1 verse 13, when he tells the people of Ephesus, “In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.”

The main or central act of the Sacrament of Confirmation comes after the laying on of hands. The central act is the anointing of the person being confirmed with chrism, which is the fragrant oil, and the bishop says the words, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” We are then consecrated, the seal of the Holy Spirit comes upon us, the fulfillment of the graces conferred upon us at the time of our Baptism. This is the time in a person’s life when there is a mature commitment to Christianity, to what we believe as Catholics, to following Jesus and being his disciple.

In the Sacrament of Baptism we become new members of the Catholic Church, the Body of Christ. As we continue to grow both physically and spiritually we continue our faith journey in the Sacrament of Confirmation. With the perfection of our Baptismal promises, we complete the Sacrament of Confirmation and we become more attached to the Church and her mission. We become witnesses of Christ in our world, and we have an obligation to spread the Gospel message to our family, friends and neighbors. And we are to defend our faith by word and deed. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, and we are more fully connected not only to our local parish but also to the larger Christian community, the universal Church.

The Sacrament of Confirmation perpetuates the grace of Pentecost, confirms the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and strengthens our life in Christ that began with our Baptism. Confirmation is our Pentecost. Confirmation solidifies more firmly our bond with the Church and associates us more closely with the mission of the Church. And Confirmation helps us to proclaim our Christian faith in words accomplished by deeds, as we are told in the Book of Acts, chapter 1 verse 8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses.” We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, giving us the courage to boldly and confidently continue on our faith journey.

There are five general effects of Confirmation. First, Confirmation grounds us more deeply in the family of God, we become God’s sons and daughters. Second, Confirmation unites us more closely with Jesus. Third, it increases and magnifies the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Fourth, it helps to solidify our attachment to the Church. And fifth, Confirmation provides us with the strength to defend our faith, to spread the Gospel message, and to be witnesses to our Lord and Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit we become instruments of grace, to practice love and service to our family, friends, and neighbors, to participate in the Church’s mission.

The Sacrament of Confirmation normally occurs when a child reaches what is termed the ‘age of reason’. Some parishes celebrate the Sacrament at the age of 7 while other parishes, like my local parish, celebrates the Sacrament in the 10^th grade. For those Catholics who did not receive the Sacrament as a child, the Sacrament can be received at any time during a person’s life. It is important that the candidate for Confirmation be in a state of grace, they should participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, confession, before being confirmed.

The bishop is the ordained minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Each bishop is a successor of the Apostles, the Apostles whom the Holy Spirit descended upon at Pentecost. A priest can be authorized by the bishop to perform the Sacrament. Adult converts to the Catholic faith are normally confirmed by the local parish priest. During the celebration the bishop will wear red vestments to signify the red tongues of fire seen hovering over the heads of the Apostles at the first Pentecost.

At the time of Confirmation, the candidate approaches the bishop, along with their sponsor, and your sponsor will present you to the bishop by stating your confirmation name. Your sponsor puts their hand on your shoulder, and then the bishop will anoint your forehead with oil making the sign of the Cross, while saying your confirmation name and says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”, and you respond, “Amen.” The bishop then says, “Peace with you” and then you respond, “And with your spirit.” And now you are confirmed, sealed with the Holy Spirit, able to accept responsibility for your faith. The faith our parents and godparents promised at our Baptism is now confirmed in our Confirmation. We renew our Baptismal promises to renounce Satan and to believe in God and his Church.

The sacred oil used with the Rite of Confirmation is a mixture of olive oil and balm. Balm is a fragrant substance added to the oil to give it a sweet aroma. The oil used in our Confirmation is the same oil used at our Baptism, and it’s the same oil used to anoint bishops and priests during the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The symbol of oil reminds us that we are members of a larger family, the universal Church. The oil indicates that we now belong to God, that we are elevated to a special service to God, that we now become part of the priesthood of all believers. The anointing of oil signifies that we are followers of Christ, who is the ‘Anointed One’, Jesus who was anointed with the Holy Spirit as we read in the Book of Acts, chapter 10 verse 38, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

So there you have it, a rather simple explanation of the Sacrament of Confirmation, our own Pentecost when we are sealed with the Holy Spirit as we continue on our faith journey for we are commissioned to live out our faith on a daily basis. Remember, the same Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus during his baptism in the Jordan River is the same Holy Spirit that descended on the Apostles at Pentecost, and it is the same Holy Spirit that descends on us at our Confirmation.

I also encourage you to check out my pages on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook; as well as my blog on Blogger, where I have complete transcripts of all my videos.

Well, thanks again for stopping by the Tiber River Café, where there is always plenty of room at the banquet table. I hope to see you next time. Peace be with you.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Tiber River Cafe--Sacrament of Baptism

Hello, and welcome to the Tiber River Café. My name is Dean Humphreys, and today’s topic is the first of the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Baptism. It is with our Baptism that we are brought into the life of the Church, and our Baptism is essential for our eternal salvation.

The Sacrament of Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, which also includes the Sacrament of Eucharist and the Sacrament of Confirmation. Baptism is called the ‘door of the Church’, as Baptism is the first of the seven Sacraments in both time, as it is very often received as infants, as well as priority. In the Catholic Church most baptisms are performed on infants, as baptisms were performed since the earliest days of the Church.

Once baptized the person becomes a member of the Church, the newest member of the family of God. For Catholics, being baptized is the very mark of being a Christian, for to be baptized is to be with Jesus. Jesus made it very clear in the Gospel of John, chapter 3 verses 1-21, when Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus that baptism is essential for salvation, stating, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Which is Baptism.

We are baptized with water, which is one of the essential elements of Baptism. For water must be poured over the person’s head, or if they prefer they can be immersed in water; and the second essential element of Baptism are the words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” which must be said. Just like Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 28 verse 19, when he told his disciples, when he told us, to “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.” Water represents life and death, cleansing and growth, for water recalls the flood of Noah, of how the waters of the Red Sea were parted for Moses, and how Jesus himself was baptized in the Jordan River.

Baptism comes from the Greek word for ‘immersion’ or ‘bath’. For the waters of Baptism cleanse us of our sins and gives us new life. It removes the guilt and effects of Original Sin of Adam and Eve as we read in the Book of Genesis. We are made a new creation, we undergo a new birth in Christ, for we are born again in the truest sense. At our Baptism we take off the old life and put on the new life that is in Jesus, we now fully participate in the life of Jesus. At our baptism we are permanently changed, we become a new person, rising to a new life in Christ. And we are baptized only once, as the Sacrament imparts an enduring sign, a mark that we are Christ’s, a permanent mark that we are brought into the life of the Church, that we become a part of the Body of Christ in a sacramental bond.

We celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism in the midst of our Christian community, at the Mass, with the community gathered together, supporting the newest member and their family as they start their spiritual journey. The Baptism is celebrated in the presence of the Christian community, for we who are already baptized actively participate in the Sacrament and renew our own Baptismal promises. In ordinary circumstances a new baby will be baptized by either a priest or deacon within a few weeks of birth.

The parents understand the Christian values and will pass them on to their children. The parents will have the support of the Christian community in living those ideals. There must be a commitment on the parent’s part to live the mission of Christ, to accept the responsibility of training their child in the practice of the faith. The parents must model and demonstrate daily to their children how to live a Christian life. Children will then have the basics of our Christian faith at home, with their parents shaping their faith formation in word and deed. The family home is considered the domestic church, where children will learn the foundations of our Catholic faith, and then will be able to grow in the faith and to understand the larger Church.

Baptism removes the guilt and punishment of Original Sin of Adam and Eve. By delaying Baptism until a child can fully understand the Sacrament puts the eternal salvation of the child in jeopardy. In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 16 verse 16, Jesus says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” and that person will have eternal life. There is a direct and clear connection between Baptism and salvation.

At our baptism we are given a burning candle, lit from the Pascal candle, for like Jesus, who is the light of the world, the newly baptized carries the light of Christ out into the world. The candle symbolizes that we are an ‘Easter people’, that we believe in Jesus who was raised on the third day, on Easter morning, and we as a people of God pass on the torch, the Baptismal candle, to the newly baptized. The infant will also traditionally wear a white garment, which is an ancient tradition. Through the Sacrament of Baptism we share in the victory won over the powers of evil and darkness. We are cleansed of Original Sin and the white garment that the newly initiated wears represents our being cleansed into a new life in Christ.

As discussed earlier, the Sacrament of Baptism has an enduring and permanent mark and can only occur once, so if an adult converts to the Catholic faith and underwent a proper Baptism in their former Protestant denomination (remember the water and proper words) then a second Baptism will not be done. If the person has never been baptized, or the prior baptism was not valid, the person would be baptized after receiving proper instructions in the faith, normally as part of an RCIA program, which is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. The Easter Vigil, which is the Saturday night Mass before Easter Sunday, is the prime Baptismal liturgy for the RCIA candidates. Adult Baptism is the first step of a life-long journey of Christian discipleship, to living a truly committed Christian life.

The Catholic Church teaches that there are six effects of Baptism. The first effect is the removal of guilt from both Original Sin, which is the sin imparted on all mankind by Adam and Eve, as we read in the Book of Genesis, and Baptism also removes personal sin which are the sins we have committed ourselves. Obviously only Original Sin is removed for infants and small children as infants and small children are not capable of personal sin.

The second effect of Baptism is the removal of all punishment because of sin. Third, there is an infusion of God’s grace, the life of God comes within us. Fourth, we become a part of Christ. And fifth, we become a part of the Church, we are a member of the Body of Christ. And finally, after Baptism which is the first of the seven Sacraments we are then able to participate in the other six sacraments of the Church.

So there you have it, a rather simple explanation of the Sacrament of Baptism, which is the first of the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. Through our Baptism we become a part of the Church, the Body of Christ, and through our Baptism we have eternal salvation, as Jesus said, “no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit.” Something to think about next Sunday at Mass.

I also encourage you to check out my pages on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook; as well as my blog on Blogger, where I have complete transcripts of all my videos.

Thanks for stopping by the Tiber River Café, where there is always plenty of room at the banquet table. I hope to see you next time. Peace be with you.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Tiber River Cafe--Sacramentals

Hello, and welcome to the Tiber River Café. My name is Dean Humphreys, and today’s topic are sacramentals. The Catholic Church teaches that sacramentals are ‘sacred signs instituted by the Church to prepare us to receive the fruit of the Sacraments and to sanctify different circumstances of our lives (CCC 1677)’.

First let’s talk about the Sacraments. The Catholic Church recognizes seven Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony (marriage), Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation (also known as confession). We believe that there is a sacred reality to each of the Sacraments and that each Sacrament points us towards Jesus. Catholics believe that each of the Sacraments was instituted by Jesus himself, pointing to Biblical events in the life and ministry, as well as the stories and teachings, of Jesus of Nazareth, our Lord and Savior.

Sacramentals are not the same as Sacraments. The seven Sacraments were given to the Church by Jesus, to be administered by the Church, and the Sacraments provide graces absolutely necessary for our eternal salvation. Sacramentals on the other hand have a resemblance to the Sacraments, but sacramentals do not give us the grace of God. Sacramentals will include a prayer and an outward sign or symbol, symbols such as laying on of hands, making the sign of the cross, or sprinkling holy water.

Sacramentals do not confer grace but they do prepare us to receive God’s grace and they help us to better cooperate with God’s grace. We are able to weave the sacramental into our daily lives for we want to be closer to God. Our Catholic faith becomes a way of life, a spiritual journey, and sacramentals allow us to use our five senses to fully experience our faith. We touch the holy water, we smell the candles burning, we recite the prayers and devotions, we see the ancient icons and we hear the sacred music; the sacramentals are our tangible reminders of God’s never-ending love and forgiveness.

Sacramentals include religious signs, symbols, both public and private devotions and prayers such as the cross and crucifix, symbols such as the fish, prayers such as the Rosary, rituals, sacred music, pictures and icons, statues, as well as natural or made objects such water, palm branches, incense, candles, and sacred oil.

Sacramentals also include our gestures during times of prayer and worship, such as standing, kneeling, prostrating, bowing, sitting, as well as making the sign of the cross. They are the images, actions, and blessings that can often tell others that we are Catholic. Sacramentals provide a uniqueness to our faith.

Sacramentals also include ritual words such as ‘amen’ which is the Hebrew word for ‘so be it’, the Hebrew word ‘alleluia’ which means ‘praise the Lord’, as well as the Hebrew word ‘hosanna’ which means ‘please, save us.’

There are a wealth of sacramentals that we can cherish and use to help us move closer to God, we can basically pick and choose which ones move us, which ones mean something special to us. We can choose which of the sacramentals we may want to incorporate, many or few, whatever helps us in our spiritual journey. Remember, the seven Sacraments are necessary for our eternal salvation, whereas sacramentals simply help point us in the proper direction.

So there you have it, a rather simple explanation of sacramentals, something to think about next Sunday at Mass. I also encourage you to check out my pages on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook; as well as my blog on Blogger, where I have complete transcripts of all my videos.

Thanks for stopping by the Tiber River Café, where there is always plenty of room at the banquet table. I hope to see you next time. Peace be with you.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Tiber River Cafe--Seven Sacraments

Hello, and welcome to the Tiber River Café. My name is Dean Humphreys. Today’s topic is the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church; the Sacraments are the visible signs given to us by Jesus to give grace.

Let’s first start with the word ‘sacrament’ which comes from the word ‘sacramentum’. Sacramentum is a Latin word which means “a sign of the sacred”, and the Sacraments point to and reflect that which is sacred and important to Christians. Basically a Sacrament is “a visible sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.” Sacraments represent our tradition as Christians, our past and future, as well as our hope. The Sacraments are our celebration of our Catholic faith, a celebration of our Christian lives, because the Sacraments are those special moments in our lives when we experience God’s presence in our lives. And to fully understand and appreciate our Sacraments is to fully participate in the life of the Church.

There is both a visible as well as invisible reality to each of the Sacraments. The visible expression is what we can see, as well as what we can smell, touch, taste, and hear—we use our five senses to experience this outward expression of our faith. There is also an invisible reality in which we cannot readily see God’s grace, the graces which are the free and loving gifts that God shares with us, his children, which is to help us grow as disciples of Jesus, to show us the way to eternal salvation. When the Sacrament is administered in the way Jesus established, and with the proper intention, then the Sacrament gives freely the grace it signifies. The Sacraments are not dependent upon the worthiness of the person, but are rather completely dependent upon the power of Jesus. The power of our Lord and Savior lives in the Sacraments.

Let’s take a moment to briefly discuss sacramentals. Sacramentals are not the same as Sacraments. The Sacraments were given to the Church by Jesus, to be administered by the Church, and the Sacraments provide graces absolutely necessary for our eternal salvation. Sacramentals on the other hand have a resemblance to the Sacraments, but sacramentals do not give us the grace of God. Sacramentals will include a prayer and an outward sign or symbol, such as laying on of hands, making the sign of the cross, sprinkling holy water. Sacramentals do not confer grace but they do prepare us to receive God’s grace and helps us to better cooperate with God’s grace. Sacramentals include religious signs, symbols, both public and private devotions and prayers such as the Rosary, gestures, rituals, music, images, as well as natural or made objects such as sacred oils, water, candles, and the vestments worn by clergy. Sacramentals also include our gestures during times of prayer and worship, such as standing, kneeling, prostrating, bowing, sitting, as well as making the sign of the cross.

Sacramentals also include ritual words such as amen which is the Hebrew word for ‘so be it’, the Hebrew word ‘alleluia’ which means ‘praise the Lord’, as well as the Hebrew word ‘hosanna’ which means ‘please, save us.’ Sacramentals also include various Christian symbols such as the cross, lamb, fish, incense, and the palm branch. There are a wealth of sacramentals that we can cherish and use to help us move closer to God, we can basically pick and choose which ones move us, which ones mean something special to us. Remember, we can choose which of the sacramentals we may want to incorporate, many or few, whatever helps us in our spiritual journey. The Sacraments are necessary for our eternal salvation, whereas sacramentals simply help point us in the proper direction.

Next we will take a brief look at the general and basic concepts of each of the Sacraments. Remember, the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church are Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, and Holy Orders; and each Sacrament was given to us by Jesus as we will see. The first three Sacraments, Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation are called the Sacraments of Christian Initiation, because the rest of our Christian lives depends on this firm foundation. There are two Sacraments of Healing which are the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as confession. And there are two Sacraments of Service which are the Sacrament of Matrimony and the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 3 verse 5, Jesus tells Nicodemus that “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Baptism is the first of the Sacraments, one of the Sacraments of Initiation (along with the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist), for in Baptism we are made a new creation, we undergo a new birth, we are born again. We believe that Baptism washes away sin and that the baptized are brought into the life of the Church through water and Spirit, as in the Book of Acts, chapter 22 verse 16, we read “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”

The person being baptized has water poured over their heads, or they can be immersed in water if they prefer, as the minister says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In the Books of Acts, chapter 2 verse 38, we read, “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” And Baptism is essential for our eternal salvation, as we read in First Peter, chapter 3 verses 20-21, “In the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is eight persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you.”

In the Gospel of John, chapter 6 verses 53-58, we read, “So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” This is the Eucharist, one of the Sacraments of Initiation, the Sacrament celebrated the most often—every time we attend Mass. The Eucharist is the Sacrament that makes present the body and blood of Christ under the appearances of bread and wine, just like Jesus promised us in the Gospels.

In the Book of Acts, chapter 2 verses 2-4, we read about the first Pentecost, “And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Sacrament of Confirmation is the last of the three Sacraments of Initiation. The Sacrament of Confirmation perpetuates the grace of Pentecost, confirms the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and strengthens our life in Christ that began with our Baptism. Confirmation is our Pentecost. Confirmation solidifies more firmly our bond with the Church and associates us more closely with the mission of the Church. And Confirmation helps us to proclaim our Christian faith in words accomplished by deeds, as we are told in the Book of Acts, chapter 1 verse 8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses.” We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, giving us the courage to continue on our faith journey.

In the Book of James, chapter 5 verses 15-16, we read, “If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” The Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as confession, is for those times when we turn away from God’s will in our life, at times we fail in loving God and our neighbor, and we sin—in the Sacrament of Reconciliation our loving relationships with Christ, our neighbor, and the Church are restored. We have a conversion of heart to turn away from sin and to move in the direction of God and to follow His will, which is our eternal salvation. Reconciliation is about admitting our sins, expressing our sorrow, resolving to try to do better in the future, and obtaining God’s magnificent gift of forgiveness. Just like Jesus promised us in the Gospel of John, chapter 20 verse 23, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

In the Old Testament, the Book of Genesis, chapter 2 verse 24, we read, “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.” This similar passage continues in the New Testament, in St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5 verse 31, we read, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” The Sacrament of Matrimony, the marriage between one man and one woman, is when human love and God’s love work together to establish an enduring and faithful covenant. Marriage is a permanent commitment between a man and a woman intended for the stability of the couple, the stability of the family, and the stability of society.

In the Book of Hebrews, chapter 5 verse 1, we read, “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” The Sacrament of Holy Orders continues God’s plan to have priests act as a mediator between Himself and us, His people. Jesus sent his Apostles into the world to preach the kingdom of God, to bring people to conversion, to heal the sick and cast our demons, to forgive sins, and to celebrate the Eucharist. The three levels of Holy Orders are deacon, priest, and bishop. Deacons are those men called to minister to the people of God in communion with the bishop and priests. Priests are those men called to serve the local church. And bishops are those men called to serve the wider community. Through the laying on of hands, for 2000 years, there has been an unbroken chain in the Sacrament of ordained ministers in the Catholic Church.

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6 verse 13, we read, “And they cast our many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.” The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is the Sacrament of healing and forgiveness. From the earliest apostolic times, the religious leaders have anointed and prayed over the sick for the purpose of spiritual assistance. The purpose of the anointing is to give Christ’s own comfort and strength to the person who is suffering, who is seriously ill, or advanced in age. We read about this in the Letter of James, chapter 5 verses 14-15, “Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

So there you have it, a simple overview of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church; Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Reconciliation, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. Each of the Sacraments was instituted by Jesus himself. Each Sacrament points to Biblical events in the life and ministry, as well as the stories and teachings, of Jesus of Nazareth. Something to think about next Sunday at Mass.

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