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Holy Sacraments

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The Sacraments

BAPTISM
"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. " (Matthew 28:19)

The Sacrament of Baptism is the gateway to Christian life. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God. We become members of the Body of Christ as we are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We can’t wait to welcome your child into the life of Christ and our Church through Baptism.

CONFIRMATION
They (the apostles) laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. " Acts 8:17

Confirmation perfects the graces received in Baptism by a special outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those receiving this Sacrament are rooted more deeply into the life of God and His Church. They are strengthened to bear witness to the Christian faith in both words and actions.

HOLY EUCHARIST
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever,...he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and...abides in me, and I in him." John 6: 51, 54, 56

The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church's life, for in it Christ associates his Church and all her members with his sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving offered once for all on the cross to his Father; by this sacrifice he pours out the graces of salvation in his Body which is the Church. (CCC 1407) Just as the body needs food for nourishment in this journey of life, so the soul needs the nourishment of the Eucharist in our journey towards heaven.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK
“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

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confers special graces on those baptized Catholics who are suffering due to a grave illness, old age or in danger of death. This anointing can restore health, if such is according to God’s will, but also confers peace, courage and strength to endure such difficulties in a Christian manner. For those unable to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, this Sacrament also confers the forgiveness of sins and for the dying, preparation for passing over to eternal life.

By their ordination, priests and bishops can offer the prayers and administer holy oil to the forehand and hands of the baptized Catholic receiving this sacrament. We are honored to be able to accompany you in this special way during such difficulties.

RECONCILIATION
“Jesus said to them (the apostles) again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:21-23

God is merciful and throughout Jesus’s public ministry he offered repentant sinners the forgiveness of their sins. The Church continues this ministry of forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) which reconciles us with God and also with the Church, Christ’s Body, wounded by sin.

Jesus gave priests the authority to forgive (absolve) sins. Of course, God himself absolves sins; however, God is ever mindful of our human nature that is healed through the concrete act of confessing our sins to another and hearing the words of absolution by the priest, in whom Christ is really present and working. We can thus know and experience God’s forgiveness in a real and human way that frees us from the burden of our wrongdoings, washes us clean and allows us to start anew. This Sacrament also gives us the grace to fight temptation and sin and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Ultimately, confession brings us closer in relationship with God and grants peace, serenity of conscience and spiritual consolation.

MARRIAGE
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word. So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” Ephesians 5:25-26; 28
In the life of Christ, we see and hear about love being poured out for the other. It is in giving that we receive and become our best selves.
So at the heart of the Church's life are two sacraments that celebrate the priority of love given in service of others: The Sacrament of Marriage and The Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Married love is meant to mirror the unconditional, permanent, faithful, and total love that God has for each of us. To live married love well means to find one of the most significant sources of human fulfillment and happiness. We are thrilled that you are seeking God's grace and help in living out this high calling through the Sacrament of Matrimony, and we are excited to help you prepare for more than just your wedding day.

Good Shepherd Church

a parish of the Society of Christ the King

Holy Sacraments

The Sacraments