Fast Facts About Sacraments

[Lil Red]

Hey phatcatholic, I am working up small cards (3x5) for my youth for every sacrament that has 3 or 4 important but condensed facts on that sacrament. I will be adding Biblical background verses for every card, but I really just need help with the fast facts on each sacrament. Could you help me? I really just need 3 or 4 facts that you think are the most important (read: historical) facts about each sacrament.

For example, what I already have for the sacrament of reconciliation: (but I don't know if I'll keep these facts)

-Confession has been mandatory since Jesus instituted the sacrament. It wasn't until the 5th century that private, rather than public, confession became the norm.

-The Fourth Latern Council (1215) ordered annual reception of penance and the Eucharist.

-The Council of Trent (1545-1563) required confession of the kind and number of sins.


So do you see what I'm after? I want just some facts about the history of each sacrament, and Bible verses, so that way if they have more questions, they can come ask me. But this way, they'll have a little history and Bible verses in case their friends ask them.

[b]THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!![/b]

[phatcatholic]

so, u'd rather have facts about the history of the sacrament, instead of about the meaning of it, or what takes place?

btw, i'm more than happy to help

Edited May 18, 2004 by phatcatholic

[Fiat_Voluntas_Tua]

LRD (LilRedDevil), You may want to talk about the different parts of the Sacrament of Pennance...such as Contrition, Confession, Absolution...etc. Being a youth it seems that history of the Sacraments is interesting, but information about the Sacrament itself is useful. You could bust out the CCC...that what i do when i explain the sacraments.

Pax et Agape per Mariam, Andy

[Lil Red]

The thing is, most of the youth knows what happens in the sacrament. These cards (hopefully) will be more like index apologetics cards, complete with Bible verses to back the sacrament up, etc. So what do you think would fit better in that context? History or Meaning?

Thanks for the input guys!

[PhatPhred]

I think the history is interesting. For example, when did the Church switch from absolution after completing penance to absolution immediately after confession and before penance?

[phatcatholic]

i'd have to go w/ meaning. in an apologetic atmosphere, that is what we are always questioned about. they need to know:

--what the sacrament does
--its biblical foundation
--support by the ECF's

that would be the 3 things that i would include. if they know that, then they're pretty much ready to field any question on the subject. most inquirers aren't interested in the development of the sacrament over the years or when a church council issued a decree about it.

whatta ya think red?

holla back,
phatcatholic

[Lil Red]

sounds great!!!! I have the Biblical support done for all of the sacraments, along with a short explanation of why each verse supports our position. phatcatholic, thank you so much! this will really help our youth understand the sacraments so much better!

[phatcatholic]

[u][b]Baptism:[/b][/u]
--Sacrament through which The Holy Spirit makes an indelible mark on the believer that cleanses him of all sin, endows him with certain spiritual gifts as the Holy Spirit so chooses, and makes him a member of the family of God.
--[b]Justin Martyr:[/b]
"As many as are persuaded and believe that what we [Christians] teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, and instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we pray and fast with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father . . . and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit [Matt. 28:19], they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, ‘Unless you are born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:3]" (First Apology 61 [[b]A.D. 151[/b]]).

--if that ECF testimony is too long, use this one:

[b]Tertullian:[/b]
"[N]o one can attain salvation without baptism, especially in view of the declaration of the Lord, who says, ‘Unless a man shall be born of water, he shall not have life’" (Baptism 12:1 [[b]A.D. 203[/b]]).

--note: i would bold or underline the dates for the testimony too, to show the true historical nature of catholic doctrine.


aarrggh! my bro just called and i have to go now. i will address the remaining sacraments later.

pax christi,
phatcatholic

[Lil Red]

thanks, phatcatholic!

[Fiat_Voluntas_Tua]

I would agree with PhatCatholic...People question the significane of the Sacrament not the History. Even though both are important, the meaning and understanding of why the Sacraments are and where each came from is more important.

Good Luck.

Pax et Agape per Mariam, Andy

[phatcatholic]

[u][b]Reconciliation:[/b][/u]
--The Sacrament through which we are reconciled with both God and man. Reconciliation with God is attained when He forgives [i][b]all[/b][/i] our sin upon confession to a priest. Reconciliation with Man (humankind) is attained when we perform the penance that the priest suggests for us.
--[b]The Didache[/b]
"Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . . On the Lord’s Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure" (Didache 4:14, 14:1 [[b]A.D. 70[/b]]).

[b]Ignatius of Antioch[/b]
"For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ" (Letter to the Philadelphians 3 [[b]A.D. 110[/b]]).


[u][b]Real Presence in the Eucharist:[/b][/u]
--Through transubstantiation, bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, which we receive as well as "actual graces" from the Holy Spirit that forgive venial sin and strengthen our walk with the Lord.
--[b]Ignatius of Antioch[/b]
"Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God. . . . They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes" (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 6:2–7:1 [[b]A.D. 110[/b]]).


[u][b]Confirmation:[/b][/u]
--The Sacrament through which the Holy Spirit again makes an indelible mark on the believer, this time strengthening the gifts he received in his Baptism--and possibly even granting him a charismatic gift--which will enable him to go out and be a strong witness to his faith.
--[b]Theophilus of Antioch[/b]
"Are you unwilling to be anointed with the oil of God? It is on this account that we are called Christians: because we are anointed with the oil of God" (To Autolycus 1:12 [[b]A.D. 181[/b]]).

[b]Tertullian[/b]
"After coming from the place of washing we are thoroughly anointed with a blessed unction, from the ancient discipline by which [those] in the priesthood . . . were accustomed to be anointed with a horn of oil, ever since Aaron was anointed by Moses. . . . So also with us, the unction runs on the body and profits us spiritually, in the same way that baptism itself is a corporal act by which we are plunged in water, while its effect is spiritual, in that we are freed from sins. After this, the hand is imposed for a blessing, invoking and inviting the Holy Spirit" (Baptism 7:1–2, 8:1 [[b]A.D. 203[/b]]).


[u][b]Holy Matrimony:[/b][/u]
--The Sacrament through which a man and a woman become "one flesh" in life-long commitment to each other, perpetuating the family that exists within the Trinity and the unity between Jesus Christ and His Church. The couple likewise receives actual graces that will strengthen them both in their mission to bring each other closer to God.
--[b]Ignatius of Antioch[/b]
" Flee wicked arts; but all the more discourse regarding them. Speak to my sisters, that they love in our Lord, and that their husbands be sufficient for them in the flesh and spirit. Then, again, charge my brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, as our Lord His Church. If any man is able in power to continue in purity, to the honour of the flesh of our Lord, let him continue so without boasting; if he boasts, he is undone; if he become known apart from the bishop, he has destroyed himself. It is becoming, therefore, to men and women who marry, that they marry with the counsel of the bishop, that the marriage may be in our Lord, and not in lust. Let everything, therefore, be [done] for the honour of God" (To Polycarp, 5 [[b]A.D. 110[/b]],in ANF,I:100).


[u][b]Holy Orders:[/b][/u]
--The Sacrament through which a man receives the final indelible mark of the Spirit, this time making him a member of Jesus Christ's ministerial priesthood and granting him the authority of the Apostles to appropriate the Holy Spirit to the Church through the Seven Sacraments. This same Spirit also strengthens him in his lifetime devotion to celibacy and to the Church, which he takes as his bride.
--[b]Ignatius of Antioch[/b]
"Now, therefore, it has been my privilege to see you in the person of your God-inspired bishop, Damas; and in the persons of your worthy presbyters, Bassus and Apollonius; and my fellow-servant, the deacon, Zotion. What a delight is his company! For he is subject to the bishop as to the grace of God, and to the presbytery as to the law of Jesus Christ" (Letter to the Magnesians 2 [[b]A.D. 110[/b]]).


[b]Anointing of the Sick:[/b]
--The Sacrament through which we who are near death receive the sanctifying grace that forgives all sin, the actual grace that strengthens and encourages us to unite our sufferings to the Cross, and possibly even the miraculous physical healing that only the Spirit can provide.
--[b]Hippolytus[/b]
"O God who sanctifiest this oil as Thou dost grant unto all who are anointed and receive of it the hallowing wherewith Thou didst anoint kings and priests and prophets, so grant that it may give strength to all that taste of it and health to all that use it" (Apostolic Tradition,5:2[c.A.D. 215],in AT,10).

[b]Origen[/b]
"In addition to these there is also a seventh, albeit hard and laborious...In this way there is fufilled that too, which the Apostle James says :'If then, there is anyone sick, let him call the presbyters of the Church, and let them impose hands upon him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him' " (Homily on Leviticus,2:4[A.D. 244],in JUR,I:207).


red, i hope this helps. for ECF, go [url="http://www.catholic.com/library/fathers_know_best.asp"][b]here[/b][/url] or [url="http://www.cin.org/users/jgallegos/contents.htm"][b]here[/b][/url].

pax christi,
phatcatholic

[Lil Red]

phatcatholic, you are the coolest!

:tiphat: :tiphat: :tiphat: :tiphat: :tiphat: :tiphat: :tiphat: :tiphat:

baa.

[phatcatholic]

[cathgirl]