THEOLOGY – 3

LITURGY
and
The SACRAMENTS
 THEOLOGY – 3
LITURGY
and
The SACRAMENTS
Text Books:
1. Catechism of the Catholic Faith
(WORD & LIFE PUBLICATION)

2. The Seven Sacraments (SHMI QCP)

3. Catechism for Filipino Catholics
(CBCP/Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines)
 INTRODUCTION
The Seven Sacraments
are Christ’s Efficient Sign of
God’s Grace instituted by
Christ for man’s
Sanctification and Salvation.
 The Sacraments of
Baptism, Confirmation,
Holy Eucharist, Penance,
the Anointing of the Sick,
Holy Orders and
Matrimony, touch all the
The Sacraments are “Efficient
Sign of God’s Grace”
1. Efficient means effective
because they actualize the
spiritual reality they represent.
They produce the sacred effects
of what they represent.
Example in Confirmation, it
actually imparts the Holy
Spirit and Penance, really
forgive sins.
2. Signs. Sacraments are sensible symbols of
spiritual realities; it means that they
represent seven different forms of God’s
grace. Example, in Baptism, the visible sign
is Water, the spiritual reality is the pouring
of the Holy Spirit and washing away our
original sin. In the Eucharist the sensible
sign are Bread and Wine, the invisible reality
are the Body and Blood of Christ.
3. Grace: the Sacraments transmit
the Divine Grace, or the Love of
God, which is either Sanctifying or
Sacramental.
The Sanctifying Grace, which is the
Communion with God, is
conferred/given by Baptism and
Penance.
While Sacramental Grace, which is the Divine Assistance in
performing our duties, is bestowed by all Sacraments in accordance
with their specific purpose.

GRACE – is a supernatural gift of God bestowed on us through the

merits of JESUS CHRIST for our salvation.

ACTUAL GRACE – is a supernatural help of God which enlightens our

MIND and strengthens our WILL and avoid evil.

SANCTIFYING GRACE – is a permanent habitual gift given by to each

one of us by which I become a Son/Daughter of God, pleasing to GOD,
and HEIRS of God. (in itself… a life of FRIENDSHIP… unity with God.
The Sacraments were instituted by
Jesus.
The Sacraments were all instituted by Christ
during His public ministry, as recorded in the
Four Gospels:
1. Baptism: Matthew 28:19, when Jesus
commissioned his Apostles, before the
Ascension, “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.”
2. Confirmation:
John 20:21-22, it was initiated after
the Resurrection, when the Risen
Lord breathed on the disciples
gathered in the Cenacle and said:
“As the Father has sent me, so I
send you. Received the Holy Spirit”
3. Eucharist:
Luke 22:18-19, it was instituted
during the Last Supper when Christ
took bread and wine and proclaimed:
“This is my Body which will be given
for you, do this in memory of me…
this chalice is the new covenant in
my Blood which will be shed for you.”
4. Penance:
John 20: 23. It was established
during the Resurrection, when
the Risen Christ declared to his
Apostles: “Whose sins you
forgive are forgiven, and whose
sins you retained are retained.”
5. Ordination.
Luke 22:19. it was created during
the Last Supper, when Jesus
having consecrated the Bread
and Wine, appointed his Apostles
in these words: “Do this in
memory of me.”
6. Matrimony:
Mark 10: 7-9. it was ratified during the
public ministry when the Lord declared:
“A man shall leave his father and
mother and be joined to his wife, and
the two shall be one flesh. Therefore
what God has joined together, no
human being must separate.”
7. Anointing of the Sick: Mark
16:18. it was sanction during the
Resurrection when the Risen Lord
commanded the Apostles: “You
will lay hands on the sick,
and they will recover.”
PURPOSE of the Seven Sacraments.
1. SANCTIFICATION: the Sacraments
augment/intensify Man’s Sanctification, which
is the process of becoming closer to God, by
conferring/giving the Divine Grace. Since the
Sacraments sustain us from birth (Baptism)
to death (Anointing of the Sick), those who
received them with the proper disposition
become holier in their soul and healthier in
their body.
2. SALVATION: each Sacrament, in its specific manner,
aims for the salvation of Man, which is the act of
entering paradise.
Baptism helps in achieving salvation by removing the
Original Sin;
Confirmation, by granting the Holy Spirit;
Eucharist, by providing Jesus’ Body and Blood;
Penance, by forgiving the actual sin;
Ordination, by perpetuating Christ’s Priesthood;
Matrimony by consolidating the Christian Family and
Anointing of the Sick, by predisposing to the final
journey.
3 Basic Essentials of the Sacrament

1. The MINISTER:
He is the Person administering
the Sacrament, for instance the
Minister of the Eucharist is the
Priest those of Matrimony are the
bride and groom
2. MATTER:
is the Sensible Element used
to celebrate the Sacrament ; for
example, the Matter of Penance
is the Confession of all Mortal
Sins, that of Ordination is the
Laying of Hands.
3. FORM:
it is the Formula used to
celebrate the Sacrament: such as
in Baptism, “I baptize you in the
name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
EX OPERE OPERATO
The Latin maxim (proverbial saying),
translated as, “By the deed
performed,” signify that the
Sacrament are efficient/effective in
themselves, subsisting the
validity(not false) of the Minister,
Matter and Form, notwithstanding
the personal disposition of the
“ In the Person of Christ “, the Sacrament is
valid even if he is not in the state of Grace.
Nonetheless, the personal holiness of the
Minister and the proper disposition of the
Recipient greatly improve the effect of the
Divine Grace. This was explained by Jesus in
the Parable of the Sower: although the seed
is the same, it produces fruits in the good
soil
(Mt. 13:1-9). Furthermore, if the
Minister or Recipient are stubborn
unbelievers or morally depraved,
they should not come into contact
with Holy Sacraments; as Jesus
commanded: Do not give what is
holy to the dogs, or throw you
pearls before swine” (Mt.7:6).
What is the Etymology of the Word
Sacrament?
It derived from the Latin word
Sacramentum, meaning, “Consecrated;”
the term was first used by the Roman
Soldiers to identify their oath of
allegiance to the Emperor; and it was
later adopted by the Christians to signify
their spiritual consecration to Christ.
The Greek translation of Sacrament
is Mystery, intended as Sacred Rite.
Thus, the Seven Sacraments or the
Seven Mysteries, are, “Sacred Rites
that Consecrate to Christ.”
What Are the Three Sacrament of
Christian Initiation?
Baptism, Confirmation and
Eucharist, because they lay the
foundations of Christian life:
Baptism removes Original Sin,
grants Divine Adoption and
incorporates in the Church;
Confirmation confers the Holy
Spirit and makes us Soldiers of
Christ;

the Eucharist bestows Body and

Blood of our Lord.
 In the early centuries, the
catechumens would received these
Sacraments simultaneously, most during
the Paschal Vigil; now a days for pastoral
purposes, Baptism is celebrated as
possible after birth; the Eucharist, at the
age of reason-about seven and above; the
Confirmation after 12. The 3 Sacrament
give the same Graces in increasing
degrees.
What is Sacrament and Sacramentals?
• Sacraments: they are the seven
Channels of Grace instituted by Christ
for Man’s sanctification and salvation,
can not be changed by human authority.
In the Bible 7 means perfection, as
seven were the days of Creation:
Sacraments empowers Christians to
receives the fullness of God’s grace.
• Sacramentals: these are Sacred Rites
established by the Church to sanctify
the different human circumstances:
like Blessings, exorcisms and Religious
Profession. They might change
according to the spiritual needs of the
Faithful: the Holy Rosary, for instance
was added the Mystery of the Light.
 How Do Catholics, Orthodox, and
Protestants, Differ on Sacramentology?
The Catholics and the Orthodox, who
preserve the Apostolic Succession- the
unbroken chain of Ordinations connecting
their Clergy to one of the Apostles, have the
complete set of the Seven Sacraments. The
three essential elements of Minister, Matter,
and Form are unchanged ever since;
although there are minor liturgical
and terminological differences; the
Orthodox for instance, call the
Sacraments, “Mysteries,” since their
official language is Greek, while for
Catholics Latin.
 Most Protestant Denomination
reject in part or completely the
Catholic doctrine on the Seven
Sacraments, because Martin
Luther (1483-1546), their
historical founder, believed that
God would directly impart his
grace to the faithful.
 Martin Luther spared only Baptism and
the Lord’s Supper, which he intended
as sharing of bread and wine, and not
as Transubstantiation. Because of this
irreconcilable beliefs, between
Catholics and Protestants there could
not exist any Communion in Sacris, or
sacramental intercommunion; save the
Mixed
Marriages, and only limited to the
exchange of Consent, excluding the
reception of the Holy Communion
 The Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism is instituted by Jesus Christ

for conferring a threefold Grace: the
forgiveness of the original sin, the
adoption as God’s children, and the
incorporation in the church.
 The word Baptism comes from the Greek
word Baptismo, meaning “Immersion,” since
in the early centuries this Sacrament of
Baptism was mostly celebrated by
submerging the catechumens in water. Also
Jesus was baptized by immersion in the
Jordan River, as it is written: After Jesus was
baptized, he came up from the water”
(Matthew 3:16).
When did Jesus Institute the Sacrament of Baptism?

It was instituted before the Ascension,

when Jesus announced the Missionary
Mandate to his Apostles: “Go, therefore, make
disciples of all the 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 commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
 Baptism is acknowledge as, Ianua
Vitae Spiritualis, meaning, “The Door
of the Spiritual Life,” being a
precondition for the other Sacraments
and for salvation; as Jesus declared to
Nicodemus: “No one can enter the
Kingdom of God without being born of
water and the Spirit” (John 3:5).
 The 3 Parts of the Missionary Mandate

The Missionary Mandate which is

known as the Great Commission are:
1. GO: all Christians in accordance to
their vocation are sent as missionaries
either in far away lands or in their own
environment. We can be missionaries by
offering our talents, treasure, or time.
The Church has chosen two complementary
Patron Saints of Mission:
St. Francis Xavier (1506-52), a Jesuit Priest
who preached the Gospel as far as Japan;
and St. Therese of the Child Jesus (1873-97),
a Carmelite Nun who never left the
Monastery of Lisieux, but consecrated her
prayers and sacrifices for the evangelizers.
2. BAPTIZE: since Baptism is the door
of the Church and Eternal Life, all
efforts must be exerted to have people
Christianized. Some parents postponed
the Sacrament for unacceptable
reason, such as financial problems or
lack of documentation; others due to a
misguided notion of freedom, leaving
to their children
the choice of being baptized at a
mature age. St. Augustine, who
procrastinated/delayed Baptism at the
age of 31, regretted exposing himself
to eternal damnation, and became a
zealous advocate of Infant Baptism.
3. TEACH: Baptism requires the
education on the four basic pillars of
 our religion; namely: Creed,
Commandments, Sacraments and
the Lord’s Prayer/Our Father. Adult
candidates must undergo a Pre-
baptismal Catechumenate; whereas
those infant baptism, a Post-
baptismal Catechism after reaching
the age of reason. The danger of
baptizing un-
catechized adults was
tragically experienced by
Magellan’s companions, who
were killed by King Humabon
of Cebu on May 1, 1521, just
18 days after Christianized.
Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?
Since Christ’s resurrection, Baptism
is essential for salvation as he
declared to Nicodemus: “Unless a
man born through water and the
Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom
of God” (John 3:5). Fairly there are
three kinds of Baptism:
1. Sacramental Baptism: it is
acquired by those who received
the Sacrament of Baptism in the
Catholic Church.
2. Baptism of Blood: it is received by
the catechumens who died as
martyrs before being baptize. It
applies also to those who suffer
death for the sake of Christ; such as
the Holy Infants of Bethlehem
(Mt.2:16), who were baptized not in
water, but in their own blood.
3. Baptism of Desire: it is granted to
the catechumen who, without undue
procrastination, died before Baptism. It
might include also those who followed
God’s will written in their conscience
but without any fault of their own,
never heard of Christ and of his
Church. Such as the kind-hearted
inhabitants in the Philippines before
1521, the coming of the Spanish
missionaries landed in these shores.
However, person who are well
aware
and yet refused Baptism out of
fear or shame, cannot be saved.
The Three Graces Conferred in Baptism

1. Forgiveness of the original sin:

Baptism remits the original sin’s eternal
punishment, which is the damnation of
hell; but does not removed the
concupiscene, or Man’s inclination to
evil (Gen.3:1-24). Baptism forgives all
actual sins (Acts 2:38).
2. Adoption as God’s Children:
through Baptism we are reborn as
God’s children; St. Paul explained:
“The Spirit you received is the Spirit of
sons, and it makes us cry out: Abba,
Father! The Spirit himself and our
spirit bear united witness that we are
children of God (Romans 8:15-16).
Divine A makes us adoption makes
us brothers of Jesus and coheirs of
Grace and Eternal Life.
3. Incorporation in the Church:
Baptism makes us members of the
Church; as St. Paul said: “Your
bodies are members making up the
body of Christ (1Cor.6:15).
What is the Character of
Baptism?
The Baptismal Character is the
spiritual and indelible seal
impressed upon the soul by the
anointing of Chrism, to consecrate
the neophytes to Christ; as it is
written: “God has put his seal upon
us and given the Spirit in our
Being permanent, the three Sacraments –
Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination can
neither be repeated or deleted. Baptism
makes us members of the Church,
Confirmation makes us soldiers of Christ
and Ordination makes us shepherds of his
flock. Comparing it to a commercial
trademark the character is certifying the
objects ownership and authenticity.
The four basic requisites for the
reception of the Sacrament of
Baptism?
1. Believing the Apostles Creed –
the summary of the Christian
Faith
2. Practicing the Ten
Commandments – the synthesis
3. Knowing the Seven
Sacraments – the channels
of Divine Grace
4. Praying the Our Father –
the model of Christian
Prayer
What is the difference between
Infant and Adult Baptism?
Infant Baptism is given to children
before reaching the age of reason at
seven. Being unable to comply the
requirements, the infant is baptized
in the faith of the Church,
with the assistance of the good
example of parents and godparents.
These neophytes should undertake a
Postbaptismal Catechumenate,
popularly known as Catechism to
understand the Christian doctrine and
prepare for the reception of Penance,
First Communion and Confirmation.
Adult Baptism, on the other
hand is given to candidates
seven years old and above,
and must be prepared by a
Pre-baptismal Catechumenate,
which is a period of initiation in
the faith,
morals, sacraments and
prayer of the Church. Adult
baptism should be followed
immediately by the
Sacraments of Confirmation
and Eucharists.
Infant baptism was required by
the Church as soon as possible
after birth because mortality
prevent children from being
Christianized, and prevent the
abuse of postponing Baptism to
advanced old age.
What is the Catechumenate?
– the period of initiation to
the Church’s faith, morals,
liturgy and prayer, in
preparation for Baptism,
Confirmation and Eucharists
Katecheo is a Greek word which
means “to teach by word of
mouth”
Catechumenate is the period of
initiation for Baptism.
Catechumen is the person
preparing for baptism.
Catechist is the person
instructing the catechumen.
Catechesis is the lesson
taught to the catechumen.
Catechism is the book
containing the catechesis.
FINAL TOPICS

FINALS
WHAT ARE THE BAPTISMAL FONT OF THE
BAPTISTERY?
The Baptismal Font is the Church
furniture where the catechumens are
baptized:
1. It consists of a pedestal and a
basin for the pouring of water; or of a
larger pool, forBaptism by immersion.
 The basin should be cross-shaped,
symbol of the redeeming passion of Christ;
eight-sided, sign of Jesus resurrection,
which happened on the eight day; or
circular, indicating eternal life, without
beginning or end.
The Baptistrey is the sacred place where
Baptism takes place; its architectural
splendor cannot be underestimated, since it
Reflects the importance of Baptism. For
centuries, the Baptistery was a building
next to the Church, to accommodate
great numbers of catechumens. In time
it became an elegant chapel near the
main door of the Church, to signify the
necessity of Baptism to enter God’s
Kingdom, as in most colonial churches
in the Philippines.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PASCHAL
CANDLE?
The Paschal Candle, which is blessed at
the Easter Vigil, is placed beside the
Baptismal Font to signify Christ’s
Resurrection: As Jesus rose from the tomb,
so the newly-baptized are reborn to a new
life. As it is written: God in his great mercy,
has given us new life into a living hope
through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
The Paschal candle displays four
symbols:
1. the Cross - recalling the
redeeming passion of Christ;
2. the Five Grains of Incense –
symbolizes the five wounds of Jesus;
 3. the Alpha and Omega – the
first and the last letter of the Greek
alphabet, signifying Christ as the
Beginning and End of History (Rev.
22:3) and
4. the Current Year – indicating
God’s presence in our times.
 Parents and godparents light their
candles from the Paschal Candle to
profess their faith in Jesus Christ and
their commitment to bring his light into
the world; as Jesus said: “You are the
light of the world… your light must shine
before others, that they may see your
good deeds and glorify your heavenly
Father” (Matthew 5:14,16).
What is the meaning of White Robe?
The White Robe, which the neophytes
wear after the anointing with Chrism
signifies new life in the Spirit (Gal.3:27).
The white robe is the Saints’ garment
(Rev. 6:11), the neophytes pledge to keep
it unstained till death. Were they to
commit mortal sins thereafter, only the
Sacrament of Penance
could restore the state of Grace, for
this it is called the Second Baptism.
 CONFIRMATION

• What is the Sacrament of Confirmation?

• Is the efficient sign of Grace that confers the fullness
of the Holy Spirit.
• It is called Confirmation because it ratifies and
strengthens the Baptismal Grace, making us mature
Christians and soldiers of Christ.
• Confirmare, meaning “to ratify,” the confirmandi
approve as adults in Baaptism they received when
still infants: in Baptism, parents and godparents
• on their behalf; in Confirmation, they ratify the faith on
their own accord.
• this Sacrament alo is called Chrismation, in reference to
its matter which is the Holy Chrism. In Confirmation we
are anointed by the Father in union with Jesus: as it is
written: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Spirit and power” (Acts 10:38). The Hebrew word
MESSIAH, translated in Greek as Christ means
“anointed:” thus etymologically sspeaking, we Christians
are the anointed of God.
WHEN DID JESUS INSTITUTE THE SACRAMENT
OF CONFIRMATION?
• JESUS Institute the Sacrament of Confirmation on the
evening of Easter Sunday, when He appeared in the
Cennacle and said: As the Father has sent me, so I send
you. and when He had sid this, He breathed on them and
sid to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn. 20:21-22)

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity. this
Dogma, which declares that God is One Divine Nature in
• in Three Divine Persons,” was defined by Jesus, when He
said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)
• the Holy Spirit, who is called Ruah in the Hebrew Old
Testament and Pneuma in the Greek New Testament, is
the life giving breath of God. after forming Adam from the
dust of the soil, “God breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life (RUAH) and the man became a living being”
(Genesis 2:7)
• similarly, the Risen
Lord appered in the
Cenacle, breathed
on the desiciples
and said: “As the
Father has sent
me, so I send you...
recive the Holy
Spirit (Pneuma)”
(John 20:21-22)
dispositions that makes us docile to God’s will. they
were revealed by Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord shall
rest upon Him: a Spirit of Wisdom and
Understanding,
• a Spirit of Counsel and of Strength, a
Spirit of Knowledge and of Spirit of Piety ...