Vatican II liturgy restoration ensured faithful would experience an encounter with Blessed Trinity Last month, in recognition of the Year of Faith, I introduced the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium). I began by looking at the constitution’s description of the liturgy in order to understand …
Understanding the sacraments: Christ is always present
The Second Vatican Council and the liturgy The Year of Faith, which began on Oct. 11, 2011, and concludes on Nov. 24, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council as well as the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. …
Understanding the sacraments: Mystical rites
A catechesis of the sacrament of holy orders in which Christ authorizes, empowers ministers of grace Baptism, Eucharist and confirmation are the sacraments of initiation through which we receive new life in Christ. Penance and anointing of the sick are sacraments of healing through which we are restored to spiritual …
Understanding the sacraments: ‘A great mystery’
A mystagogical catechesis of the sacrament of marriage and the sacrament’s effect on our lives Marriage is intimately woven into the plan of salvation as revealed in the Old and New Testaments. “Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and …
Understanding the sacraments: ‘Heal the sick’: a mystagogical catechesis
Healing was an important part of Jesus’ earthly ministry; the apostolic Church continues this ministry Healing was an important aspect of Jesus’ earthly ministry—“his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that ‘God has visited his people’ and that the Kingdom of God is close at …
Understanding the sacraments: Penance–a mystagogical catechesis
Mercy is stronger than sin for penitents who undergo conversion through the action of the Holy Spirit The purpose and effect of the sacrament of penance is to heal our relationship with God. “Indeed, the sacrament of reconciliation with God brings about a true ‘spiritual resurrection,’ restoration of the dignity …
Understanding the sacraments: The Eucharist–a mystagogical catechesis
Through the source and summit of Christian life, we enter into the mystery in every aspect of our lives According to Blessed John Paul II, a mystagogical catechesis of the liturgy helps the faithful to do three things: “to understand the meaning of the liturgy’s words and actions, to pass …
2
Understanding the sacraments: Confirmation: a mystagogical catechesis
The baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church with the sacrament of Confirmation Liturgical catechesis has one purpose: “to initiate people into the mystery of Christ (It is ‘mystagogy’) by proceeding from the visible to the invisible, from the sign to the thing signified, from the ‘sacraments’ to the …
Mystagogical catechesis: baptism
‘Baptism incorporates us into Christ and forms us into God’s people’ By Father Randy Stice In Sacrament of Charity, Pope Benedict reminds us that Christian formation centers “on a vital and convincing encounter with Christ” that “gains depth through catechesis and finds its source and summit in the celebration of …
From sign to mystery–mystagogical catechesis
Pastors’ commitment to efforts in leading faithful into the mystery of the sacred liturgy emphasized by Father Randy Stice In its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Second Vatican Council put special emphasis on “full, conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations” by all the faithful (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14). “In …
Understanding the sacraments: Instituted by Christ
The mysteries of Christ’s life are the foundations of what he would dispense in the sacraments The Church has always taught that the sacraments were instituted by Christ himself. She is convinced that this truth is rooted in the Word of God and the tradition, as the Catechism affirms: “Adhering …
Understanding the sacraments: How many sacraments?
By Father Randy Stice The final number was finally set after a centuries-long discernment process involving many suggestions How many sacraments are there? Two? Five? Seven? Eight? Twelve? Each of these answers has been proposed at some point by someone. This question was only answered after a long process, as …
