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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.
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."
(Catechism of the Catholic
Church. 1131, 1210)
What is a sacrament?
A sacrament is a visible sign, or ritual
experience, in which we encounter Christ’s saving love in the context of
Church community. In this
event, our capacity to be open to Christ’s actions depend upon the maturity
and depth of our faith disposition.
Therefore, the sacramental event is like a dialogue or encounter
between Christ and ourselves, as members of the Church community.
In the 4th-century theologian St.
Augustine's definition, the sacraments are "outward and visible signs
of an inward and spiritual grace."
Baptism
This sacrament begins our Christian
life. Baptism marks us as one
who has been saved by Jesus Christ and sanctified with the Spirit of God.
“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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20) (Catechism of the Catholic
Church. 1276)
You will need
to be a registered member of our Parish. You will need at least one
practicing Catholic in good standing for Godparents. If this is your first
child, baptism preparation classes are required. To schedule a Baptism or
find out about classes, contact the parish office at (865) 522-2205.
Confirmation:
This sacrament is the full initiation
into the Church community.
Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism by a special outpouring
of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which seal or “confirm” the baptized in
union with Christ and equip them for active participation in the worship
and apostolic life of the Church.
This usually occurs in the 8th
grade or the age of 13. For
more information contact the church office.
Eucharist:
Also called Holy communion, this
sacrament unites us directly with Jesus. Through union with him, and with one another, we are
truly joined as a community.
We know this, because the gospel tells us is Luke 22:19 – And he
took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying,
“This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me”.
In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present in the bread and
wine. Taking this form enables
us to form a real union with him.
Marriage:
Marriage is the rite by which the
matrimonial union becomes a sign of God’s love and union with his people.
(Ephesians 5:25) Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Through this sacrament, Christians are
able to see a sign of the depth and permanence of God’s love. In addition, couples learn the
holiness the Lord intended to be part of the marital union.
Marriage prep
and counseling sessions are required. Please contact the Church at least
four months in advance. To schedule an appointment, contact the parish
office at (865) 522-2205. You
are also asked to complete an Engaged Encounter Weekend.
Reconciliation:
Also called Penance or Confessions, the
Sacrament of Reconciliation is the formal celebration of a sinner’s
repentance and God’s immediate forgiveness. Reconciliation celebrates and reminds us of God’s mercy
and helps us to experience divine forgiveness. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we experience that
forgiveness and are reconciled once again with God, with church and with
ourselves.
Jesus proclaimed the Good News of
forgiveness for sins
Scripture tells us in Luke 7: 48, 50
that Jesus said, “Thy sins are forgiven. Thy faith hath saved thee; go in
peace.”
Anointing of the
Sick:
This sacrament, which
is the liturgical prayer for seriously ill Church members, was formerly
called Extreme Unction.
Anointing of the Sick celebrates and reminds us of God’s compassion
and helps us to experience spiritual and sometimes physical strengthening
when we are ill. The signs of
hold oil and laying on of hands used in administering this sacrament
express our faith in God’s power over sickness and the meaning of suffering
in the life of the community.
(James 5:14-15) Is any
sick among you? Let him call
for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him
with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
If you know anyone that
needs this sacrament please contact the church office.
Holy Orders
Members of the
community are chosen and anointed in this sacrament to serve the Church as
deacons, priests and bishops.
Beginning with Our Lord, the Church required leadership, which was
called forth in prayer and signs. For we are told in Scripture John 20:22 – And when
he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, “Receive ye the
Holy Ghost:” Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they
should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.
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