The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the Body of Christ and, finally, to give worship to God. Because they are signs they also instruct. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and objects they also nourish, strengthen, and ex-press it. That is why they are called ‘Sacraments of Faith.' - CCC 1123
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. (CCC 1131)
The seven sacraments touch all the stages 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. (CCC 1210)
When one is confirmed, he commits himself to live the life of Christ's follower. How can you commit yourself to something with which you have only a nodding acquaintance question? The goal of the confirmation seminar is to establish a basic knowledge of the story told in the Scriptures and an understanding of the idea and practice of Catholic Christianity, to which those to be confirmed are going to commit themselves by a solemn oath. During confirmation, I, as pastor, am asked to certify that all those to be confirmed are actually ready for the sacrament. I am embarrassed to admit, in the past, I have had caused to worry about the readiness of a class or an individual. I have seen students confirmed who unfortunately never return to Mass. So, I decided to teach the class myself and personally accompany the students on their adventure, establishing the real pastoral relationship that can make a difference. - Fr. Simon.
You must be a registered parishioner and you must attend the Holy Mass and Religious Education or Youth Church regularly. Register HERE
God always forgives us. He never tires of this. It’s we who get tired of asking for forgiveness. But HE does not tire of pardoning us. When Peter asked Jesus: ‘How many times must I forgive? Seven times?’ – ‘Not seven times: seventy times by seven.’ Namely always. That’s how God forgives us: always. But if you have lived a life full of so many sins, so many bad things, but in the end, a bit repentant, you ask for forgiveness, He will immediately pardon you! He always pardons us.” - Pope Francis
Moments of mental or physical illness can be times of crisis. They can mean a time of loss and pain, a time of insight and growth, or anything in between (cf. CCC 1501). Regardless, our loving God wants to be a part of our experience. He wants to share our lives with us, the bad and the good (cf. CCC 1503). But his presence and support often comes in and through the Church—our faith community. The kind words and help that we receive from others are a part of this, for God works through human means. We need to pay attention to how God works through them.
The Church can officially support us through the sacraments. In the case of an illness, that support comes in the form of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick (cf. CCC 1511). And, as the ritual clearly states, the focus is life, health, and well-being. But we must remember that a part of the fullness of life is our spiritual lives with God, which begun at Baptism and will inevitably lead to death and resurrection (cf. CCC 1523).
Clearly recognizing that human frailty is a part of the reality of life, our loving God is with us through this sacrament to strengthen us when our minds or bodies grow weak. Thus, a person facing a significant surgery is encouraged to avail themselves of this sacrament (cf. CCC 1515), as well as the aged or seriously ill (cf. CCC 1513).
"This sacrament... is NOT to be viewed as the kiss of death, but one of healing and life." - Fr. Don Miller, OFM
Read more HERE
“The engaged couple…should be given catechesis not only about the Church’s teaching on Marriage and the family but also about the Sacrament and its rites, prayers, and readings, so that they may be able to celebrate it thoughtfully and fruitfully.” – Order of Celebrating Matrimony, no. 17
"His calling is a declaration of love. Your response is commitment, friendship, and love manifested in the gift of your own life as a definitive following and as a permanent sharing in his mission and in his consecrations. To make up your mind is to love him with all of your soul and all of your heart in such a way that this love becomes the standard and motive of all your actions. From this moment on, live the Eucharist fully; be persons for whom the Holy Mass, Communion, and Eucharistic adoration are the center and summit of their whole life. Offer Christ your heart in meditation and personal prayer which is the foundation of the spiritual life." - St. John Paul II
If you are discerning about Religious Vocation and/or Consecrated Life:
What is "Consecrated Life"?
To be "Consecrated" means to be set apart for a special purpose. It refers to a state to which men and women take public vows to the Evangelical Counsels (poverty, chastity, and obedience), ordinarily within the context of a religious community (such as a monastery, convent, or friary). By taking these vows, religious men and women strive follow the Jesus' counsels in a more perfect way. As Our Lord expressly stated, they are counsels for those who desire to become "perfect" (cf. Matt. 19:10-12, Matt. 19:16-22; Matt. 5:48; Mark 10), because they most closely mirror life in heaven.
It is thus that the Church gives "preeminence" to celibacy and religious life, and recognizes it an act of supererogation, that is; exceeding the minimum necessary for salvation. (nb., CCC, p. 914-945).
It should also be noted that a diocesan priest, though he is celibate, does not take this triple vow to the Evangelical Counsels, and is therefore not consecrated in this sense of the word (Though it is interesting to point out, that Saint Alphonsus Ligouri demanded an even greater degree of holiness for priests; "For in the religious state, one purifies one's self of one's vices, whilst to receive Holy Orders, it is necessary that one has already led a pure and holy life." Instead of two enemies to contend with--the flesh and the devil--priests have a third, the world. And the sin of scandal is a further danger for them, having direct responsibility over the care of souls.)
"Nuns are ordained? - Priests and deacons receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. They are ordained. Religious brothers and sisters are not. We are part of the laity." - Susan Quaintance, O.S.B
"Nuns are all the same? - Religious women – as individuals and communities – defy stereotypes. Congregations and communities have unique charisms, the precious ways that they have been called to live out gospel imperatives. Individual sisters live lives shaped by their own gifts, fears, beliefs, biases, and sociohistorical contexts."- Susan Quaintance, O.S.B
Congregations have their unique charisms: Sister Ruby Magno, MSLT, at thier Mission in Nairobi, Kenya, top photos and Sisters of Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles and their top-selling album of traditional classical music below.
Photos courtesy: rcharder
If you feel a "tug at you heart"... please call or meet any of our holy priests, deacon and/or nun.
Our parish office number: (847) 673-1492, E-Mail: [email protected]. Office Hours is Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.