Catholicism 101

The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant or partnership of life between a man and woman, which is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children. When validly contracted between two baptized people, marriage is a sacrament (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601). Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman as spouses in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a glorious vision of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. In other words, the whole of creation and redemption is a marriage between God and His people, and for this reason, St. Paul teaches that the union of husband and wife is an image or icon of the one between Christ and His Church (Eph 5:25-32). Marriage of the Virgin, ANGELICO, Fra, 1431-32, Tempera and gold o...

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the central act of worship by the Church, and it is central to the spiritual life of the individual Catholic. It is not only the way we fulfill the commandment of the Lord to Remember the Sabbath, Keep it Holy, but it is also a fountain of grace (participation in the life of God and help to live the Christian life) for those who participate. In total, the Mass consists of four distinct parts, called rites. A Catholic Mass explained step by step then would follow those four parts: The Introductory RiteThe Liturgy of the WordThe Liturgy of the EucharistThe Concluding Rite What is a Catholic Mass, the Introductory Rite? A Catholic Mass will begin by the entrance of the celebrant, processing down the nave (aisle). He will follow several assistan...

What are the sacraments in the Catholic Church? The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a Sacrament as an efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us (#1131). That is a packed definition to take in, so let’s try and simplify things for everyone - Catholic or not. There are seven Sacraments, which fit into the three categories of Christian Initiation, Sacraments of Healing, and Sacraments of Commitment or Service: Christian Initiation BaptismConfirmationEucharist (Holy Communion) Sacraments of Healing Confession (sometimes called Reconciliation)Anointing of the Sick (commonly referred to as the Last Rights) Sacraments of Commitment or Service MatrimonyHoly Orders Seven Sacraments Altarpiece (...

The scriptural basis for the Anointing of the Sick is quite clear. There is a description of it in the Letter of St James: Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven (James 5:14-15). Although it is often called the Last Rites, the sacrament is available to anyone past the age of reason (usually 7 or 8) who is gravely ill. It is repeatable, as needed, should the condition worsen or a new one arises. The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing them on the forehead and hands with duly blessed oil -...

The Sacrament of Baptism, together with Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church. As the Catechism states, it is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and made sharers in her mission (C.C.C 1213). That is a lot to unpack to get to the meaning of Baptism! The Baptism of Jesus The Meaning of Baptism, By Its Effects Before we try to put it more simply, if you are unfamiliar with the seven sacraments, it would be helpful to read this article on the Seven Sacraments in The Cath...

After His Resurrection, the Lord Jesus gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to His apostles. As the Sacred Scriptures recount, He breathed on them and said: If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (Jn 20:23). The Sacrament of Confession then is the liturgical celebration of God’s forgiveness of the sins of the penitent, who is thus reconciled with God and with the Church. The acts of the penitent – contrition, the confession of sins, and satisfaction or reparation-together with the prayer of absolution by the priest, constitute the essential elements of the Sacrament of Penance (C.C.C. 980, 1422, 1440, 1448). While in Baptism, we receive new life in Christ, as humans, we are still susceptible to the normalities of life: sickness, ...