Celebrating the Faith
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Celebrating the Faith
The Church is the community of those who seek to follow Jesus as his disciples. It is above all through celebrating faith together that we express that faith, give witness to our belief and encounter the living God who is the source of our life. For Catholics worship is not primarily something we “do” for God, but something that we, join Christ in
The most significant celebrations in the Christian life we recognise as “sacraments” moments of encounter with Christ in his Church.
The Church celebrates seven sacraments, divided into three categories:
Initiation
Baptism; where we become part of God’s family, we are Children, with baptism we are washed free of original sin and begin our new life in Christ
Confirmation: is the sacrament by which a person renews and confirms the promises made, on their behalf at Baptism.
Eucharist: The Eucharist is the high point of Christian worship. ‘It is the source and summit of all Christian life.’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324), it is when through the power of the Holy Spirit we offer bread and wine to God and it becomes the body and blood of Our Lord, which we receive through Holy Communion.
Healing
Penance & Reconciliation; this sacrament also known as confession, allows for the forgiveness of sin and the reconcilement with God and the Church
Anointing the sick; giving comfort, peace and courage to those with a serious illness or facing death, offering grace and peace and uniting with Christ in his suffering.
Service
Holy Orders; There are three levels of Holy Orders: deacon, priest, and bishop, each conferred through the sacrament of Ordination.
This sacramental act not only incorporates a man into the order of bishops, priests, or deacons but also surpasses mere election, appointment, or delegation by the community.
Through Ordination, the individual receives a special gift of the Holy Spirit, enabling him to exercise a “sacred power” (sacra potestas) that comes directly from Christ through His Church. See Vocations
Matrimony; The church also believes that marriage is a vocation, through the vows taken at the wedding service and in the presence of God, they are joined together for life and the sacrament is conferred when they offer themselves in service to the other and to the wider community.
Aside from these sacraments we grow our faith daily, through our conversations with God, through Prayer, a means to engage and deepen our relationship with God, not just to speak but to listen, to allow God to work through us via the Holy Spirit.
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve you as you deserve
to give, and not to count the cost,
to fight, and not to heed the wounds,
to toil, and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
except that of knowing we do your will. Amen