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What is Catholic Church Confirmation and Its Gifts?
Growing spiritually
The Catholic Church Confirmation states that we are baptized in order to be confirmed. Confirmation comes after baptism thus receiving the grace of the holy spirits making us grow in faith. This sacrament is called Confirmation because the faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong. Sometimes, those who benefit from Confirmation are referred to as soldiers of Christ
What is Catholic Church Confirmation?
Confirmation or Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the seven sacrament, it is a sacrament of initiation. A sacrament in which the Holy Ghost is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong in faith and soldiers of Jesus Christ. Meaning, accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny.
In the Catholic Church, anyone that has been baptized properly can and should be confirmed.
“Bishops are the successors of the apostles. They have received the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders. The administration of this sacrament by them demonstrates clearly that its effects is to unite those who receive it more closely to the Church, her apostolic origins, and her mission of bearing witness to Christ.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1313)
How is confirmation performed?
Catholic Confirmation is performed with the ordinary minister extending his hand over the one to be confirmed and anointing his/her head with the oil of chrism. The actual Confirmation ceremony is much longer than this, but this is the main part of the action.
Each individual to be confirmed comes forward with his sponsor.
Each Catholic selects his/her own Confirmation name.
The Catholic being confirmed stands or kneels before the bishop, and the sponsor lays one hand on the shoulder of the one being confirmed.
The Confirmation name is spoken, and the bishop puts Chrism Oil on the person’s forehead, says his name aloud, and then says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The person responds, “Amen.” The bishop then says, “Peace be with you.” And the person responds, “And with your spirit” or “And also with you.
The ceremony may take place at Mass or outside of Mass, and the bishop wears red vestments to symbolize the red tongues of fire seen hovering over the heads of the apostles at Pentecost.
The oil of chrism is consecrated by the bishop at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday and is reserved for special things like Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and blessing of tower bells, consecration of churches, altars, chalices and patens.
What happens during Confirmation?
The holy spirits takes center stage. In short it is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the one granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Confirmation brings Catholics a deepening of baptismal grace and unites us more firmly to Christ. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit and leaves an indelible mark on the soul just like baptism.
Confirmation of the holy spirits, whom Christ Jesus sent (John 7:37-39, 16:7). Jesus instructed his Apostles that “you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit” and called upon the Apostles to be his “witnesses” to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). At the Pentecost, the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), and began to spread the Word of God
What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit received through Confirmation are
Wisdom,
Understanding,
Knowledge,
Fortitude or Courage,
Counsel,
Piety or Love, and
Fear of the Lord.
The Sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation) are for any age. Adult converts who’ve never been baptized are baptized when they become Catholic; they’re confirmed and receive their First Communion at the same Mass when they’re baptized, or if they were baptized in a Protestant Church, they make a Profession of Faith, are confirmed, and receive Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass — the night before Easter.
Prayers
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What Is The Catholic Scriptures About Faith?
A Christians life don’t go always go easy, it can be argued that God is more interested in something offered to him sacrificially, in that when life doesn’t go your way, you put your hopes and fear unto him that things will turn out good. The sacrificing of your own self unto him is the strength that keeps you going because you have assurance that all turn out good to your favor.
Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light. Helen Keller
Faith in God refers to a relationship of trust and adoration in God and Jesus. There are many scriptures of faith in the Holy Bible which predict our actions and outlook towards life and existence. The very idea of believing in God and Jesus is what drives us to move forward and achieve greater things in life by living fearlessly. God has guided us with His word through the chapters in Bible.
Faith is the key to Please God:
Faith in God is a critical necessity. God is pleased by those who believe in Him and Christ. God would bless those infinitely who carry His love and faith with them in their hearts.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
John 3:36
The eternal satisfaction:
The eternal satisfaction achieved by a human being is through the way of faith and belief.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9
Faith produces Strength and perseverance in believers:
Human strength mostly is perceived to be physical endurance. However, it is more than that. It is an emotional and psychological stability that one has instilled to the very core. This strength is what gets us through thick n thin in life. This is the real courage that helps us emerge triumphant in difficulties.
“Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
James 1:3
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
1 John 5:4
Faith as the eternal healer:
Faith in God is the ultimate answer to all worldly problems and thus purifies the heart of all sins and evil things. Faith is the act of believing in positivity and goodwill. It is what heals us eternally.
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
James 2:19
“Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.”
Jeremiah 33:6
“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.”
James 5:15
Believing in Jesus and Eucharist adoration is the way of leading to a peaceful and happy life. Only then can a person achieve eternal satisfaction and glory when he believes and admits that joining the Holy Communion; Jesus resides in the bread and wine we consume. And that Jesus is going to guide us with love towards the path to achieving eternal bliss.
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Why is Faith In God Important?
Life can be hard at times and when things don’t go our way, we begin to lose faith. Imagine life without faith.
Horrible!
Faith is as important as the air we breathe Without faith; we couldn’t expect that things would turn out all right for us no matter what the situation might be. Faith nourishes the heart and the soul while air nourishes the body.
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” — Thomas Aquinas
On the other hand, without faith it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6), so our relationship with the Lord is dependent on it. Faith is what brings the things God has provided for us from the spiritual realm into the physical realm (Heb. 11:1). Our faith is the victory that enables us to overcome the world (1 John 5:4). Everything the Lord does for us is accessed through faith.
Faith in God is a deep-rooted spiritual love for God and His oneness. It is a complete and unconditional state of love and belief in good. Faith, the state of relying on God and His plans for our destiny is both exhilarating and reassuring at the same time. This faith is what allows us to dive deep into sea and jump from airplanes because we believe we wouldn’t crash or get eaten by a shark. The mere idea of living involves our blind faith in God because we walk, meet new people, eat at new places and converse with strangers without the possibility of loss hampering our abilities. This unique state of selflessness comes to those who have an inherent faith in God and His love for us.
Faith is one of the most primitive human sentiments. It isn’t a luxury; it is a necessity that is instilled deep into our souls and predicts our whole lives. Many people argue that they cannot believe in something they do not physically “See” or “touch”. It is a sad spectacle that those people fail to acknowledge the miracles happening in front of their eyes.
Since the beginning of time; the Sun has been giving us its energy. The day and night; the seasons, mountains and deep blue ocean. They have all been there. The scientific idea has undergone massive revolutions throughout the centuries and is still an ongoing debate among scientists and astrophysicists. However, the believers; they have the eye to see how these are all God’s blessing on His children. The believers do not slow down research by just saying “It’s God’s gift” but they have the heart to appreciate God’s love for them. They are never scientifically backwards; instead they have a spiritual peace with which they can find answers and yearn for God’s love.
Faith in God is a delicacy that everybody has around them to be relished but alas! They do not see it. Having a deeply embedded faith makes your heart abundant and allows you to “give” forward the kindness that God has bestowed upon you. This forms the basis of all humanitarian aspirations. It marks the key of peace and harmony amongst people.
Having trust and faith in God is the ultimate solution to all the worldly stress, anxiety and psychological trauma that has covered us in modern times. This utmost faith relieves us of many tense situations because you can leave the matter and move towards solving it calmly. This composure not only enhances our ability to find the solution; but also keeps us relaxed in times of stress and difficulty.
Indeed, having faith in God is beautiful and forms the very basis of living in this world.
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The Teaching of Catholic Moral and Values in Our Daily Life
There are so many temptations and influences pulling us in different directions and making moral choices to guide us in our ways can be confusing. As Catholic, it’s comforting to know that, Jesus Christ had given us with clear moral framework to guide us towards fulfilling life.
Catholic faith and morals all ultimately lead to one thing, the untainted love of mankind for his God. It is impossible to live without the belief that life means more than just the worries and struggles, the bliss and contentment of our daily routines. Catholics uncover that meaning and hope in Jesus Christ who was sent by God, the Father for salvation for all mankind.
The catholic morality teaches us about life,
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
And the catholic faith gave us a new life in Jesus Christ. Which is far greater and has far more significance then just following some rules?
There are some basic principles that help us understand what the catholic morals teach us. These principals are our guide to have a healthy happy life.
The first and the most important teaching of catholic faith and morals is the law of love. Love is the great commandment of God. Love of God and the neighbor is the starting point everything emerges from here. It is the basis of catholic morality.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depends all the law and the prophets.” (Mt 22:37-40)
The requirements of love are the essence of all the moral rules. Yes indeed love has requirements. There’s a minimum and a maximum that love requires. If we fall below the minimum then it means that the life of Christ cannot exist in us that is technically the definition of mortal sin. The maximum is to wholly give ourselves for the others just like the Jesus Christ did for us. In truth there is no limit to the maximum we will always find that we will always have more to offer.
Next in the catholic morality is grace. What is grace? Well to love without any limits can be very demanding and impossible to an extent too but when it comes to God nothing is impossible. If we let Him then God gives us the ability and the power to do more than what we can even imagine. Once we accept this gift of God it changes us from within.
There are five basic concepts in catholic moral theology
Freedom: God created us and gave us the liberty to choose and make decisions of our own free will. We are responsible for our choices and their consequences.
Truth: we believe that God is the ultimate source of all moral truth. This truth is objective and does not discriminate on the basis of culture, race or taste.
Conscience: conscience is our ability to judge certain things and actions and then decide them to be wrong or right.
Law and natural law: everyone has innate sense of basic moral truth but our judgment can be clouded so the God has revealed this law directly to us.
It all comes down to one main thing to Love the lord with a complete heart and believe in Him then and only then can we live a true life.
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What Does Trinity Means To The Catholic?
To Explain the mystery of the Trinity isn’t easy, but as Catholics, we know and love this fact of three persons in one God. I understand most people would argue, how can there be three persons in one?
The fact is that the mystery of the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Catholic faith and of the Catholic life
What is the Trinity or Holy Trinity?
Well trinity in Catholic belief is the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. It is said that one God is in three divine people. This word is derived from the Latin word trinitas which means, “Three, a triad.” These are three different people yet they are one. According to the Christian faith, it is said that there is one God in all three while they are treated as three different beings very distinct as declared by the Fourth Lateran Council that,
“It is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds”
So in the trinity it is considered that all things come from “the father” through “the son” and into “the holy spirit.”
Here it is to be noticed that the “begetting” used for the son is an intellectual begetting. This begetting of the son comes about in the inner life of God. They are not considered as two separate or different beings rather they are said to be two persons with a distinct relation who remain as one entity.
ESSENCE:
According to the texts of the New Testament the teaching of the Trinity was Matthew 28:19, which made it mandatory that baptization be done, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
The holy trinity has four timeless relations with the God,
The Father dynamically and perpetually creates the Son, constituting the person of God, the Father.
The Son is inertly created by the Father, which constitutes the person of the Son.
The Father and the Son keenly spirate the Holy Spirit in the one relation contained in the inner life of God that does not constitute a person. That is because the Father and Son are already in relation to each other and constituted as a person in the first two relations. As CCC 240 teaches,
“[The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity] is Son only in relation to his Father.”
The Holy Spirit is passively spirated of the Father and the Son, constituting the person of the Holy Spirit.
This being said, doesn’t mean that there are three different Gods. There is only one God present as three as strongly suggested in the bible that God does exist as three people but is only one divine being. He is only one. As said in the first of the Ten Commandments that, “Thou shall have no other gods before me.” The Shema of the Hebrew Scriptures: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Also in the texts of the New Testament:
“The LORD our God is one.”
If we think about a family, we’ll realize that the father, mother and the child, they can be three different people and yet have the same nature just like that the father, the son, and the holy spirit are three distinct persons possessing the same divine nature.
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What Are The Three Different Forms Of Penance In A Catholic Life?
Since biblical times, Christian Saints have take up different forms of penance for their sins and for others. See Ezekiel 4:4, Ezekiel had to bear the punishment of others for years. As Christians, we too are called to do penance for our wrong doing and for others. Three forms of penance are identified below.
What is penance
Penance is basically punishing one’s self to repent for his wrongdoings. It is the act of feeling sorry for your mistakes and bad deeds. Penance is a sacrament, a believer goes to the church, confesses his sins infant of a priest and is given absolution for it.
Essence
There are various ways to repent and express interior penance but mainly the priests and the scriptures focus in the following three forms:
Fasting
While fasting a person between 18 and 59 years of age is required to eat less than he normally does. One meal or two small meals a day. This fasting is an obligation on god Friday and Ash Wednesday. The fast will be broken by having drinks such as milkshakes which could be considered as foods. Alcohol beverages do not break the fast but are against the spirit of penance.
Prayers
In this, you say a prayer during the sacrament of confessions pay your penance.
‘Against you, you alone I have sinned, what is evil in your sight I have done’ (Ps 50: 6),
This is the first step we take by accepting our sins.
Almsgiving
Almsgiving can also be used for penance if a person is required to donate goods or money to the poor.
These things increase one’s relation with the God and himself along with improving his connection to others. Apart from these there are other ways for penance too;
Abstinence
Abstinence requires a catholic who is 14 years old to not eat meat on Fridays. He is to follow this law until his death. Abstinence is done to honor the passion of Jesus that he observed n good Fridays. Abstinence is also served as penance. A person must do any good charitable deed on the Fridays outside of lent or they can just follow the tradition and abstain from eating meat on all Fridays of the year.
Baptism
Being baptized erases all the previous sins of a person. Whether you’re baptized as a child or as an adult it erases all your previous wrongdoing and you get a clean sheet. A chance to start over.
Martyrdom
Martyrdom holds a very high position amongst the Catholics. Obtaining martyrdom automatically erases your inequities and your sins are forgiven.
Being a good person
Being a good person in your daily life increases your chances of being forgiven. No one knows which act of yours might be liked by God and He’ll forgive you. Trying good deeds in daily life such as giving charity, forgiving another person, helping someone in need, reconciling with a neighbor and being concerned for his salvation, arbitration of saints, defending someone’s rights protecting them and preventing them from injustice.
Tears of repentance
God cannot see one of his in pain and repent from him directly, cry in front of him and ask for forgiveness.
Following Jesus
Flowing the path of Jesus and living by his words, walking in his footsteps and taking up one’s cross each day is the surest way of penance.
As they say, no one is perfect. By observing the following ways whole heartedly is what God appreciates. If you repent from the heart you’ll surely be forgiven. Bearing the burden of Penance enables you get closer to God.
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What Are The Effects Of The Catholic Church Sacraments Of Healing?
The sacraments of healing
As human, we have natural tendency to sin, this breaks our relationship with God. Through reconciliation with God, we begin to heal.
The body can be subject to suffering, illness, and even death. Before you know it, life fades away and be lost. Jesus Christ is the physician of our bodies as well as our souls. He is the one who forgave sins and brought him/her back to health and he continues to do this through his church, in the power of the holy spirit, it is his work of curing and redemption. Using the popular words- Jesus saves!
Essence
There are two sacraments of healing:
The sacrament of penance and reconciliation:
“Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.
Only God can forgive sins and the people ask Him for forgiveness. As Jesus is the son of God he exercises the right to forgiveness. As he said this himself, “The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” and by his divine authority, he has further given this write to his men. Christ willed the church as the sign and the instrument of penance and recompilation. Here who shall enter if he repents fully heartedly will be forgiven. The apostolic ministry was entrusted with the implementation of the power of forgiveness by him, which he also indicted with the “ministry of reconciliation. The apostle is sent out “on behalf of Christ” with “God making his appeal” through him and pleading: “Be reconciled to God.
This sacrament is called the sacrament of conversion because it calls Jesus to conversion and helps the person who has strayed far away from his father reconnect with him. This sacrament also blesses the Christian sinner’s peculiar and ecclesial steps of penance, conversion, and satisfaction hence also called the sacrament of penance. Apart from that, it is also called the sacrament of forgiveness as after the sacramental absolution by the priest God grants forgiveness to his people and it is also called the sacrament of reconciliation as it reconciles the sinner back with his God. This is the whole purpose and effect of this sacrament.
The sacrament of anointing the sick:
This sacrament is said to provide comfort to all the sick through the grace of God. It provides spiritual and sometimes physical healing as well. The ritual involves anointing with oil of the sick and prayer of the priest. The person being anointed receives grace for the salvation of their souls. The effects of this sacrament are forgiveness of your sins, you receive spiritual strength and healing.
Each of us has a list of sins, the crimes we committed and the wrongs we did. Nobody’s perfect and it’s never too late to atone for them and try and repair the harm done. These sacraments help him do that and live a peaceful and satisfactory life.
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What Are The Seven Sacraments Of The Catholic Church?
Admit it, you wondering there’s so much to learn about the Catholic Church. Well the more you learn the better you’ll be prepared for the Journey. Learning about the seven sacraments helps you celebrate them to the fullest.
What is a sacrament?
A sacrament in Christianity is considered as a sign by Christ to give grace to his people. It’s the belief of Christians that the sacraments simply do what they say they do. These sacraments point towards something beyond them, something greater than them. It points to what is sacred
They point towards God and his grace. Jesus Christ himself is considered as a sacrament as he sacrificed himself for mankind. The humanity of Jesus Christ is his spirituality and because of this humanity the trinity comes towards us through the sacred sacraments. Only he and he alone allow the grace to come to mankind.
There are seven sacraments of a catholic church
Baptism
Eucharist
Confirmation
Marriage
Anointing of the sick
Holy orders
Reconciliation
So what are all these seven sacraments?
Baptism:
Baptism is considered as the very first of the seven sacraments. Let’s say it is considered as a door to the other sacraments. It is believed that when a person is baptized God enters in the human soul. The process of baptism is very easy. The priest pours water over the head of the person, who is being baptized and says,
“I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Eucharist:
In the process of Eucharist the partaker is said to receive the blood, body and soul through bread and wine in the human world. The bread and wine are consecrated and the priest repeats the words of Jesus,
‘This is My Body’ and ‘This is the chalice of My Blood.’
Confirmation:
This process is said to make a person witness to Christ and then lead a responsible Christian life. In this ritual the person is anointed with chrism which is the holy oil and these words are said,
“Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Reconciliation:
Reconciliation is basically the confession. In this a catholic asks for forgiveness from God by confessing his sins to a priest. The priciest is considered as a bridge between the person and Jesus Christ and it is considered that all sins of the person are forgiven with these words of absolution.
“I absolve you of your sins in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Anointing of the sick:
This sacrament is said to provide comfort to all the sick through the grace of God. It provides spiritual and sometimes physical healing as well. The ritual involves anointing with oil of the sick and prayer
Marriage:
Also known as matrimony binds together a man and a woman for life. They both mutually give their consent to enter the marriage and the God gives them both his
Grace to fulfill their vows.
Holy orders:
In holy orders the chosen or men who want to spend their life in service of the church are appointed as priests, bishops and deacons.
Adult wanting to become catholic, will first go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). This includes the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist, but also all of the rites of the catechumenate. It’s all about obeying the Holy Spirit more faithfully. These seven sacraments allow the people to have faith and live a peaceful life.
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Should non-Catholics Receive Holy Communion?
Receive the Body and Blood of Christ
Holy Eucharist holds the most important place amongst the seven sacraments, during which we receive the very blood and body, divinity and soul of Jesus Christ. Through the reception of Holy Communion, precious graces come to those who partake in the ritual. It strengthens the unity with the church, assimilating the Christian more into Jesus. It is an encounter through which the followers receive Christ in their bodies. John Paul II said that ‘The Eucharist builds the church’. Not only it unifies the community but it also fortifies a person individually, a channel of eternal life.
Essence:
This adds up to the fact that Christ is actually present in the Eucharist whether be it in soul, divinity, blood, body. Consequently, to obtain him in communion, it is during the action of the congregation that unites one another in believing in the all church teaches, confesses and believe rather than the outward statement of being united towards the Christian faith. Therefore those that are not catholic cannot agree towards such a statement, as they are not in fully communion with the Catholics. Giving communion to a non-Catholic is a counter sign to the reality, where one can be forced to say ‘we are one’ when in truth that person is not. Basically when a non-Catholic receives a communion, it would blatantly be a lie, expressed through actions.
“I am Catholic and hold all that the Church teaches to be true as truth and I therefore unite myself to Jesus and all his Catholic Church, through the bonds made in the Eucharist.” Is said through the body, in most of the churches. Thus a non-Catholic must be made aware of what exactly is believed by the Catholics. However there will be cases that do not believe in the Eucharist but there would be some who will share a belief in the Last supper. For those who showcase there admiration for the Eucharist, can be taken to church to join the Catholics in the Communion only after confirmation and baptism (If necessary).
Moreover, the Church holds the authority to limit the communion as a part of concern they hold for their spiritual well-being. As quoted by Paul in order to receive (communion) without discerning the blood and body, is to obtain condemnation. Subsequently putting someone in danger in the matters of spirituality and nobody would want that for their Christian brothers and sisters.
To conclude, there is no law that states that the Church can amend the teachings of the Christ. As a part of the conviction, it requires it believers to be faithful to their religion, even if it causes offense in their immediate circle. It must be clear that the Catholics do not try to be limited, but faithful and honest to Christ. Bringing us to the question should non-Catholics receive Holy Communion? No, Non-Catholics cannot receive the Eucharist, same goes for Catholics who are not in full communion to the Church and are in no state of grace (un-confessed mortal sins). Rest aside the ones that do not receive the communion can be encouraged to express their desire whilst they pray to form unity with the Lord Jesus and with each other.
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The Biblical History And Effects Of Holy Communion
Biblical History
The teachings of the Church identifies the Last Supper as the origin of the Eucharist or Holy Communion, where Jesus had taken a bread and a cup of wine and distributed it among his disciples, whilst telling them that the bread was his body and the wine was his blood. The most written account of the Holy Communion being practiced was found in the First Epistle to the Corinthians (approximately around AD 55) where Apostle Paul related Last supper of Christ to ‘eating bread and drinking the cup of the Lord’ as a part of celebration to a ‘Supper of the Lord’.
According to Paul the celebration of rite was a mandatory act. Whereas the Acts of Apostles mentions the early Christians meeting for a ceremony that included ‘the breaking of bread’.
Into the middle of 2nd century, a description of something that can be recognized as a rite that the Christian community uses today, was given by Justin Martyr. Former sources Ignatius of Antioch and Didache 1 Clement gave of glimpse of the Christian activates during the Holy Communion. Sources that followed later offered some details from the time around the year 200 as mentioned in Apostolic Tradition and Tertullian. It was then later when the Church went public during the second decade of fourth century and after the conversion of Constantine the Great, that the Holy Communion was recognized as an integral part of the Christian life.
Before the conversion of Constantine the Great, Christians suffered bloody persecution. He turned the history of the world into a new course and made Christianity the religion of the State.
Effects
Those who participate commendably in the Holy Communion are able to share the merit attained by Jesus Christ through his sacrifice. The believers are able to share the merit of Christ and the new covenant due to frequent reinforcement after they partake in the Holy Communion. Fellowship of life is guaranteed with the son of God after attending the Eucharist, whereby it is a visible reinforcement of life and expression with Jesus Christ. Through his blood and body, Christ serves his nature to the believers, a nature eminent by faultless strength to conquer, thereby permitting the follower to live in Christ.
On behalf of the actual presence of the blood and body of the Christ, the noble partaking of Holy Communion inaugurates true companionship with the Lord and therefore unites the believers, whether be it dead or alive, into one unit. The former is described in Corinthians 10 as: “For us, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” The unison of the followers originated through the Holy Communion is in fact unity with Christ’s apostles and Jesus Christ himself and all those who were reborn of the Spirit and water. At the same time Lord’s Supper is also an essential means to prepare for the return of Christ by the Christian community. In this communion of the Eucharist the true form and true nature of the Church is whereby revealed
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The benefits and importance of the Holy Communion
The Holy Communion also known as the Eucharist, the Lord’s Last Supper is considered a sacrament in most churches whilst also being a Christian rite. It was first introduced by Jesus Christ during his last supper. Being aware of his impending death, he shared a parting meal with his followers where he took ordinary wine and table bread, paid his gratitude to God, asked him to bless it and distributed it among his adored companions. Wherewith he referred to the wine as his blood and the bread as his body. Following this, the Christian community celebrate through Eucharistic celebration to honor the sacrifice of Jesus on a cross.
Benefits
Whether it is the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion or Holy Eucharist, there is nothing like this important and solemn act of worship. As part of the Christian community, the Holy Communion can be the celebration of the New Pledge of the Christians that includes the local and global fellowship of the believers. It is the string that brings all the Christians together in a common fellowship. It is the seal of God stamped on believers as an exchange to Jesus’s sacrifice. It frames an invisible and invincible blood fence of protection around them. Provides a guarantee for the eyes of God to be always be towards good on fellow Christians. It is a mark of the Coverage that is covenant, we dwell in Jesus. An introduction to Zoë Life of God is instilled into whoever partakes in the Holy Communion, bringing about a commitment to fulfill all Christian obligations and duties. Part of the positive consequences that result due to this activity is:
Regeneration of the Christian faith.
Establishment of faith in fellow Christians in their Lord.
A commitment to a lifestyle of sacrificial and self-denials living.
A resolution to spend life exemplary in accordance to what God wants.
An initiation to yield the Great Commission to the end of the globe.
Importance
Holy Communion is of utmost importance all around the globe. It is the act of communion and act of love with God that was instituted for mankind, to give them support and strength in their faith. The significance of this activity is demonstrated by what it actually is; the Blood and body of Jesus Christ that has been placed in an edible form for all men to participate in, whilst He left a significant part of himself for his followers to always have, for mental, spiritual and physical strength. It is extraordinary for man, as it has been honored through time and has shown miracles when the men cried in need. Holy Communion is an association between our practice of faith, connection of faith and acceptance of faith. It is fair reminder of everything he wanted the Christians to see and wanted to teach them. Whereby the Lord’s Supper served its purpose to never separate Jesus’s children from him. The importance of Holy Communion to our souls and us is endless when it comes to explanation because it is past the love a man can have for the loveliness of one’s soul and is timeless in its entirety. It is purely given to mankind so that a part of Jesus always stays with the Christians that reminds them of the necessity of the clean state of existence that this Sacrament of hope and love will give to every man’s soul. Therefore Holy Communion is way beyond a gift but it is a Communion with God that helps man to live with God forever.
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Catholic First Holy Communion and its meaning
The Catholic first Holy Communion is a ceremony among Christians. In this ceremony, a person gets the Eucharist. This tradition is mostly common amongst the Latin churches and the catholic churches
The first Holy Communion mostly takes place amongst the teenager or children of ages between seven and thirteen. It often acts as the rite of passage. The rite of passage is basically a celebration when a person leaves one group and enters another.
Along with the Sacrament of Baptism, First Holy Communion is one of our three sacraments of initiation.
Adult converting to Catholic, goes through RCIA process, in order to receive First Holy Communion. It is through these sacraments of initiation that we become full members of the Church.
We receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time during the First Holy Communion.
The Holy Eucharist refers to Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity that are truly present in the consecrated host and wine also called the Body and Blood of Christ on the altar. For us as Catholics, there is nothing greater than to receive Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist at Mass.
This event is very important in the catholic practice. As in the catholic theology, the Eucharist is considered very crucial.
Essence
The Holy Communion is a Christian rite that is considered sacred in most churches. In the New Testament, it’s believed to be said that the Jesus Christ started this tradition in his last supper. He gave his followers bread and wine during the Passover meal and then commanded his disciples to follow that tradition in his memory. It is also said that Jesus Christ refers to the bread as his body and the wine as his blood. In the Eucharist celebration, the Christians remember the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
During the ceremony, the elements, bread, and wine or grape juice, a sit’s replacement, are consecrated on the altar or the communion table and consumed later on. The communicants, who ate the elements then may speak of “celebrating the Eucharist” or “receiving the Eucharist.”
In this ritual, Christians believe that Jesus Christ is present although the beliefs differ about the fact that how, where and when he is present. The elements are the same among each of them, whichever church it may be, but there is the difference in thoughts. Some believe that these elements become the body and blood of Christ whereas other think that the true body of and blood of Christ Is present in the elements i-e, the bread, and the wine.
This ritual only takes place after baptism. Once an individual has become of the required age where he can think and reason carefully; the ceremony is performed followed by his first confession. This tradition is celebrated by Roman Catholics around the world.
The celebration usually involves big family gatherings. The communicants are made to wear special clothing. Their clothes are white to represent the element of purity but this is not followed by all culture. Girls usually wear elegant dresses with a garland made of flowers or hair accessories attached to a veil. In some communities, they wear dresses handed down to them through their mothers and sisters or sometimes just school uniforms while boys may just wear tuxedos or a national dress.
For some, this tradition is just a reenactment of the last supper and is a symbolic representation while others believe that there is an actual spiritual presence of Christ during the ceremony.
The Holy Communion is an essential sacramental for catholic families it is the third of seven sacraments of Catholics.
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What is Eucharist adoration and why?
Eucharistic Adoration is honoring and adoring the Eucharistic Existence of Christ, as simply understood by the name. If dug deeper then it comprises of the contemplation of Christ’s mystery that exhibits itself before the Christian community.
Therefore Eucharistic Adoration is the adoration of Christ who exists in the Holy Eucharist. Numerous churches that behold the adoration, the Eucharist is exhibited in a holder that is special; called a monstrance where people come to worship Jesus and pray consistently throughout the night and day. Throughout Eucharistic Adoration, Christians remain silent whilst they watch and wait and bare their souls to Jesus’s graces that pour out from the Eucharist.
They believe that by worshipping the Eucharistic Christ, they become that person that God wants them to be, gently transforming them as the Lord draws them closer. When it is in its full swing, Eucharistic Adoration is Man and God reaching out for each other, at the same time.
According to catholic belief, the Mass the Christians attend every week where the priest bestows his listeners with the words: “…He took bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you“. And when the priest says “this my body”, it is that particular instant when through miraculous transformation, the wine and bread offered at the Holy Eucharist truly becomes the Soul, Body ,Divinity and Blood of Jesus, his true presence in the form of wine and bread.
Why Eucharistic Adoration?
Eucharistic Adoration is a personal invitation from Jesus to people belonging to Christian community therefore the fellow Christians are greatly needed as Jesus waits for them to join the Sacrament of love. The Adoration helps in repairing evils all over the globe and bringing about peace in the worlds thus it is the center of life. It also helps a person in maturing spiritually with every minute spent in the Holy Eucharist and shows that nobody is as important to Jesus as you are to him. It is the best time a person spends on Earth with their Best friend, Jesus whilst attending the Blessed Sacrament.
During Eucharistic Adoration, a person is never left disappointed, just as how you can never be exposed to the sun without receiving the rays likewise you can never leave the communion without being bathed in the Divine rays of Jesus’s peace, love, grace. It is through the bread that Jesus calls his fellow followers to faith whilst showcasing humility as he remains hidden in the Sacred Host and makes their hearts one with his after transforming mercy.
The Eucharistic Adoration is a fair reminder of the love Jesus showed the Christian community when he was crucified on the cross to pay the price of their sins and also provided them with eternal life showing the limitless love he has for his followers.
Click to learn more. Various Eucharistic adoration prayers.
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What is Holy Eucharist and why is it so significant to the Catholic Church?
The word Eucharist is a Greek word for thanksgiving also referred to as the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, it is recognized as a sacrament in many churches and is, therefore, a Christian rite. Being one of the major sacraments of the Church, it was first introduced by Jesus Christ during his Last meal most commonly referred to as the Last supper.
According to popular belief, our bodies require drink and food for physical growth and nurture, so for growth and nurture of our souls, they also require the ‘soul’ food. Being aware of his impending death on a cross, Jesus shared a parting meal with his adored companions after he sensed this yawning need of the human soul.
During this sacred meal, Jesus took ordinary wine and table bread, begged God to bless it, paid his gratitude to Him and distributed it among his disciples. The distribution took place whilst he spoke some eternal and astounding words: “This bread is my body. This wine is my blood. Every time you eat this bread and drink this wine in my name, I will be present to you.” Whereby he referred to the wine as his blood and the bread as his body. And it is this Eucharistic celebration that the Christian celebrate to commemorate Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross.
Essence
Why was Holy Communion introduced by Jesus? Other than remembering Jesus, it is a wonderful experience that should be and can be repeated as he discloses his grace and beauty, revelation by revelation, layer by layer. Being close to what Jesus referred to as a conduit that rewarded his followers with his presence, Holy Eucharist is a bodily declaration of Jesus Christ for the believers. During the Holy Communion, we not only consume wine and bread but also physically take on the presence of Jesus and his essence. It is only the matter of being aware of the significance of the wine and the bread and it would not be long before we would be filled with Jesus’s very life.
The wine and bread are not just fair reminders of the Last supper of Christ but they are the actual blood and body of Jesus. Therefore Holy Eucharist is not a repeat of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross but a mere offering to the blood and body that was once offered by him to the cross. Receiving the Holy Communion, a Christian integrates the redeeming act performed by Jesus Christ on the cross. With the help of the Holy Eucharist, all the Christians stand together in the most intimate fashion. It not only nourishes their body and soul but also assists in the growing and strengthening of their spiritual life, reminding them of the necessity to access the Holy Communion with love, fear of God and faith.
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What is Catholic Church Confirmation and Its Gifts?
Growing spiritually
The Catholic Church Confirmation states that we are baptized in order to be confirmed. Confirmation comes after baptism thus receiving the grace of the holy spirits making us grow in faith. This sacrament is called Confirmation because the faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong. Sometimes, those who benefit from Confirmation are referred to as soldiers of Christ
What is Catholic Church Confirmation?
Catholic Church Confirmation or Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the seven sacrament, it is a sacrament of initiation. A sacrament in which the Holy Ghost is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong in faith and soldiers of Jesus Christ. Meaning, accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny.
In the Catholic Church, anyone that has been baptized properly can and should be confirmed.
“Bishops are the successors of the apostles. They have received the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders. The administration of this sacrament by them demonstrates clearly that its effects is to unite those who receive it more closely to the Church, her apostolic origins, and her mission of bearing witness to Christ.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1313)
How is confirmation performed?
Catholic Church Confirmation is performed with the ordinary minister extending his hand over the one to be confirmed and anointing his/her head with the oil of chrism. The actual Confirmation ceremony is much longer than this, but this is the main part of the action.
Each individual to be confirmed comes forward with his sponsor.
Each Catholic selects his/her own Confirmation name.
The Catholic being confirmed stands or kneels before the bishop, and the sponsor lays one hand on the shoulder of the one being confirmed.
The Confirmation name is spoken, and the bishop puts Chrism Oil on the person’s forehead, says his name aloud, and then says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The person responds, “Amen.” The bishop then says, “Peace be with you.” And the person responds, “And with your spirit” or “And also with you.
The ceremony may take place at Mass or outside of Mass, and the bishop wears red vestments to symbolize the red tongues of fire seen hovering over the heads of the apostles at Pentecost.
The oil of chrism is consecrated by the bishop at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday and is reserved for special things like Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and blessing of tower bells, consecration of churches, altars, chalices and patens.
What happens during Catholic Church Confirmation?
The holy spirits takes center stage. In short it is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the one granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Confirmation brings Catholics a deepening of baptismal grace and unites us more firmly to Christ. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit and leaves an indelible mark on the soul just like baptism.
Confirmation of the holy spirits, whom Christ Jesus sent (John 7:37-39, 16:7). Jesus instructed his Apostles that “you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit” and called upon the Apostles to be his “witnesses” to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). At the Pentecost, the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), and began to spread the Word of God
What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit received through Confirmation are
Wisdom,
Understanding,
Knowledge,
Fortitude or Courage,
Counsel,
Piety or Love, and
Fear of the Lord.
The Sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation) are for any age. Adult converts who’ve never been baptized are baptized when they become Catholic; they’re confirmed and receive their First Communion at the same Mass when they’re baptized, or if they were baptized in a Protestant Church, they make a Profession of Faith, are confirmed, and receive Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass — the night before Easter.
Stanthonyofpaduanh.org/Religious/Education/Prayers
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First Time Catholic Church Confession for an adult – Admitting your Wrong Doings
Our Lord said “Whose sins you shall forgive, they shall be forgiven.” This is to say, God has given man the power to forgive sins through Jesus. As a result, the Priest have the authority to forgive sins. The barrier between man and God is Sin. Christ came on earth to bring peace to people of goodwill and devised a means of removing that barrier through Confession of sins.
The means by which God forgives sins after baptism is confession. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9) Confessing your sins to a priest is a way of admitting your wrong doings to yourself. It means you know what you have done wrong and you feel guilty about it and seek redemption.
New converts cannot receive Holy Communion without going through confession stage. The basics is that, confession and absolution must be received by a sinner before receiving Holy Communion, “for whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27).
If you decide to go to a proper Catholic priest in a church and confess; here are some guidelines for your initial confession.
This is the first time you’re going to a church as an adult to confess, there are going to be a number of things you might want to admit that you’ve done. Start with the Ten Commandments to properly examine yourself and your conscience or you can take the seven deadly sins approach. Pride/Vanity, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger/Wrath, Greed/Covetousness, Sloth.
In case of the Ten Commandments, It is going to be hard to remember every sin you’ve decided to confess so it’s better to use a pen and a paper. Write them all down and then decide which one takes priority over the other. This is because of course going as a grown-up for the first time, the list is going to be long and the priest cannot give you a lot of time. Your confession has to be short. So, you have to decide what sins you need to confess. There’s no need to go into great detail, just confess the sin!
If you don’t want to be rushed, try going in the end. Let other people finish their confessions so there’s no one waiting behind you and you don’t feel the need to hurry.
After the confession, it is better to burn the paper. It isn’t a good idea to hang on to your past sins. Just remember God forgives and forgets.
There is another major factor that has to be considered before going in. You have to know if you’re going as a catechumen (unbaptized) or a candidate (validly baptized). In the case of former you need to let the priest know that you were recently baptized before you begin confession. That is a good thing because a baptism is an immediate remission of all sin, including original, minor and mortal sin. Also you will not have to discuss any sins prior to your baptism.
In case of the latter, as I mentioned, the list is going to be pretty long. So according to Catholic practice, you need to consider the most serious mortal sins, to keep the confession from going on too long (the priest will, naturally, cut you off if it takes time). What you can do is let the priest know that you were baptized previously but entered the church now or you are in RCIA with the intention to convert to Catholicism Most priests will understand the dilemma and possibly grant you absolution for sins you could not confess.
First Time Catholic Church confession for an adult, try to prepare as best as you can. How to go to confession will give you good understanding to preparation. It’s always a great feeling to get that heavy burden off the shoulder, especially if you’ve done something wrong you feel you cannot reveal to anyone, in this case, a priest is the right person to open your heart to. However, confessing for the first time especially being an adult can be intimidating but it’s nothing to be afraid of. After the confession you will instantly experience a sense of relief and you will be at peace with yourself and with a high spirit the Lord has forgiven you.