Sacraments of Initiation
Steve Surprenant, MBA, STB/MA
Senior Vice President & COO
Mercy Community Health, CT
January 6, 2009
Objectives
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Understand the biblical foundations of the
Catholic Sacraments of Initiation
Understand the impact of historical
changes on the Sacraments of Initiation
Understand the current sacramental
theology of the Sacraments of Initiation
Today’s Agenda
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Introduction
Sacraments of Initiation
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The evolution of Catholic interpretation
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New Testament and in the early Christian
communities
The Middle Ages and The Council of Trent
The contemporary theology of the Sacraments
of Initiation
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Following Vatican II
Introduction
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Catholic Church
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Also called Roman Catholic Church
“catholic” from Greek for “universal”
All come under the jurisdiction of the Pope, successor
of Saint Peter, Bishop of Rome
Western Rite (Latin Rite)
Eastern Catholic Churches (comprised of 22 rites)
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Byzantine, Coptic, Armenian, Maronite, Syriac and Chaldean
Scope of Discussion
What is a Sacrament?
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The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by
Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is
dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments
are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper
to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive
them with the required dispositions. (#1113)
Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are
seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the
Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders
and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages
and all the important moments of Christian life: they give
birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life
of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the
stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.
(#1210)
Signs and Symbols
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A sacramental celebration is woven from signs and
symbols. Their meaning is rooted in the work of
creation and in human culture, specified by the events of
the Old Covenant and fully revealed in the person and
work of Christ. (#1145)
The liturgy of the Church presupposes, integrates and
sanctifies elements from creation and human culture,
conferring on them the dignity of signs of grace, of the
new creation in Jesus Christ. (#1149)
Signs of the covenant. The Chosen People received from
God distinctive signs and symbols that marked its
liturgical life. (#1150)
Signs and Symbols
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These are … signs of the covenant, symbols of God's
mighty deeds for his people. Among these liturgical signs
from the Old Covenant are circumcision, anointing and
consecration of kings and priests, laying on of hands,
sacrifices, and above all the Passover. The Church sees
in these signs a prefiguring of the sacraments of the
New Covenant. (#1150)
Signs taken up by Christ. In his preaching the Lord Jesus
often makes use of the signs of creation to make known
the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.17 He performs
healings and illustrates his preaching with physical signs
or symbolic gestures. He gives new meaning to the
deeds and signs of the Old Covenant, above all to the
Exodus and the Passover, for he himself is the meaning
of all these signs. (#1151)
Sacraments of Initiation
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The Sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism,
Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of
every Christian life. "The sharing in the divine nature
given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain
likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of
natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism,
strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and
receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By
means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they
thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the
divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity.”
(#1212) (Intro to RCIA – [Divinae consortium naturae])
Sacraments of Initiation
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baptizein: (Greek) for “plunged into”
metanoia: (Greek) for “turning around”
Baptism was seen as a conversion/turning
from life of the flesh to life in the Spirit
“Plunging into” the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ
Celebrate this conversion process through
ritual ceremonies/actions within the Church
Sacraments of Initiation are invitation to a
life-long process of conversion
The Early Church
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First Christians were those who had either
known Jesus or were hearing about him
from those who knew him personally
We know from the Gospels and the Acts of
the Apostles the Jesus sent his disciples
out to preach, teach and baptize
Baptism of John the Baptist, the same that
Jesus himself experienced
Through baptism that you became a
follower of Jesus – a Christian
The Early Church
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In the early Church, adults and children
were all baptized; hear in the Acts that
whole households were baptized
From the earliest times, baptism was first
and foremost for the forgiveness of sins
Involved a personal commitment,
metanoia, turning around, life-change
This new start of life involved the
presence of Jesus; the newly baptized
sharing in Christ’s passion, death and
resurrection
Sacrament of Confirmation
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Early Church, the ordinary ministry of all
sacraments was the bishop; direct
connection with the Apostles
By 4th C, with the growth and spread of
the Church, priests began to baptize and
preside at the Eucharist
So, anointing after baptism (confirming)
reserved for the bishop; originally may
have been separated by weeks or months,
but soon became months or years
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True in the Western rite, not Eastern Rites
Sacrament of Confirmation
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Interestingly, the Eucharist was still given
to all newly baptized, even infants (either
the bread or the wine, or both)
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Still true today in Eastern Rites
So, by 4th C, in Western Rite, the original
order of Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism,
Confirmation and Eucharist, had changed
to Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation
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True with the exception of the Easter Vigil
celebrated by the bishop
The Middle Ages
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Time passed and theology evolved
Dark Ages: Catholic theology and ritual were
confined primarily to monasteries in the West
Great Schism (1054 AD) between East and West
All of these events impacted theology
surrounding Sacraments of Initiation
By 12th C, for example, Church stopped
offering Eucharistic bread to infants because
might “spit up”, then when cup was
withdrawn for everyone, children now
excluded
The Middle Ages
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So, by 13th C, First Holy Communion would
happen after a period of education, usually
around the age of 14 or 15
However, baptized children probably had
already been brought to the bishop cathedral
for confirmation before First Holy Community
Original order of Baptism, Confirmation and
Eucharist was again restored
Pre-Vatican Council
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Pope Pius X (1906) allowed children to make
First Holy Communion as young as age 6-7
Now, order disrupted again; Baptism,
Eucharist and Confirmation
Theology developed around Confirmation as a
“stand alone” sacrament of strengthening
Kiss of peace became a slap on the cheek;
those being confirmed with “soldiers for
Christ”
Contemporary Practice
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Vatican Council II (1962-1965) opened the
Catholic Church to the modern age and new
thinking and schools of theology
One call from the bishops of the world was to
reinstate the catechumenate; time of
preparation for adults preparing to come into
the Church
By 1972 promulgated by Rome; 1988 became
mandatory for all dioceses in the USA
Duality of Practice
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For infants/young children, still have the
practice of Baptism for infants, first Eucharist
in 2nd grade, and Confirmation in high school
Catechesis:
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Parents are required to complete preparation
classes for Baptism
Child and parents complete classes before First
Holy Community
Child/young adult completes two year program of
preparation for Sacrament of Confirmation
Parish priest is ministry for Baptism and
Eucharist; Bishop or delegate for Confirmation
Duality of Practice
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For adults, Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults (RCIA)
Catechesis:
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Extensive period of preparation; usually
accompanied by a sponsor
At the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday), candidate
receives Sacraments of Initiation in original order
Parish priest is ministry for all of the
sacraments; using Sacred Chrism blessed by
the bishop
Sacraments of Initiation Today
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The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace,
instituted by Christ and entrusted to the
Church, by which divine life is dispensed to
us. The visible rites by which the sacraments
are celebrated signify and make present the
graces proper to each sacrament. (#1113)
Sacraments of Initiation Today
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Whenever possible, Sacraments of Initiation
should take place within the celebration of the
Eucharist; greatest of the Sacraments
Liturgy of the Word is always celebrated
Baptism (for infants)
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Anointing: Oil of Catechumens (on the chest)
Bless the Water and Make Profession of Faith
Baptism: either pouring water or immersion
Anointing: Sacred Chrism (on the head)
Clothing with White Garment
Lighting Baptismal Candle from Easter Candle
Sacraments of Initiation Today
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Eucharist:
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Liturgy of the Word
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Special involvement of the children in the liturgy
Confirmation (for young adults)
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Celebrated by the Bishop (or designee)
Invocation of the Holy Spirit
Taking of a Name
Anointing with Sacred Chrism
Sign of Peace
RCIA Today
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Begin as Candidates seeking membership in
the Christian community of faith
Welcome through a formal ritual and anointing
to the Catechumenate; now Catechumens;
time of final preparation for initiation into the
Church; finally become Elect with scrutinies
Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday)
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Profession of Faith
Baptism Rite
Confirmation
Participation in the Eucharist
Closing Thought
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Gospels tell of that Jesus missioned His
disciples to go out, preach the Good News
of salvation; to baptize in the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Ritual process of Christian initiation is the
beginning of a journey that concludes only
with the vision of God. In other words,
one is initiated into a way of life, a living
out of the implications of baptism. Such a
journey is not concluded until each
Christian meets the Lord.