(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣5️⃣ – Mary, Singular Vessel of Devotion
💭 To Reflect
Mary, with a singular mind and total focus on doing God’s Will, is the singular vessel of devotion – passionately and courageously doing what God wanted in her life!
✅ To Practise
Be totally devoted to doing what God wants in life!
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may not be distracted or deviated; rather be totally focused on fulfilling God’s Plan in my life, Amen!
“God is knocking at our doors, seeking a home for His Son – Shall we open the doors to Him?”
(Based on Acts 14:5-18 and Jn 14:21-26 – Monday of the 5th Week in Easter)
God knocks at my door, seeking a home for His son.
“Rent is cheap”, I say.
“I don’t want to rent. I want to buy”, says God.
“I’m not sure I want to sell, but you might come in to look around”.
“I think I will”, says God
“I might let you have a room or two”.
“I like it”, says God, “I’ll take the two. You might decide to give me more some day.
I can wait”, says God
“I’d like to give you more, but it’s a bit difficult. I need some space for me”.
“I know”, says God, “but I’ll wait. I like what I see”.
“I’d like to give you the whole house, but I’m not sure”
“Think on it”, says God. “I wouldn’t put you out.
Your house would be mine and My Son would live in it.
You’d have more space than you’d ever had before”.
“I don’t understand at all”.
“I know”, says God, “but I can’t tell you about that.
You’ll have to discover it for yourself.
That can only happen if you let me have the whole house”.
“A bit risky”, I say.
“Yes”, says God, “but try me”.
“I’m not sure – I’ll let you know”
“I can wait”, says God, “I like what I see”.
It shows the beautiful dialogue between a soul and God, who desires to dwell in the heart of a person…
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus throwing light on this beautiful theme of God wishing to make a home in our hearts: “Those who love me, will keep my word, and My Father will love them and we will come and make our home with them” (Jn 14: 23)
The story of the Bible is a God who longs to dwell with His people.
In the Old Testament, we see the Garden of Eden was a beautiful communion of the first parents with God.
The atmosphere was so much homely… so much loving
Sin caused a rupture in this homely bonding between God and human beings.
But the Lord, still longed to dwell with His people…
He accompanied the Israelites in their journey through the desert… being with them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
He also established His glory among the people of Israel by dwelling in the ark of the covenant.
Every now and then, the people sinned and lost this presence of the Lord
Through the prophets, the Lord would invite the people to come back to His homely presence.
Finally, in the fullness of time, God decided to dwell with humans, when the Eternal Word became flesh…
Jn 1:14, “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us”
To perpetuate His continual presence, Jesus also gave us His Body and Blood, in Real Presence, when He instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper with the culmination of His Sacrifice on the Cross, and His rising from the dead.
This then, is the story of the longing of a God who yearns to dwell with His people.
Jesus re-iterates this constant longing of the Lord, by promising, “Those who love me, will keep my word, and My Father will love them and we will come and make our home with them” (Jn 14: 23)
The Lord wishes to dwell more close to us..
He longs to have a home in our hearts…
Do we make the space for Him?
The Lord promises to come and make His home in our hearts, if we love Him and keep His Word.
Loving Him requires giving Him the highest priority and precedence in our lives
Keeping His Word requires following His teachings and commandments at all times.
Loving Him means to constantly long for Him and to have our thoughts centered on Him
Keeping His Word means to make decisions and choices based on His Gospel virtues
Loving Him means to free our hearts from undue and inordinate attachments
Keeping His Word means to go against our personal choices to preserve His Will and plans
The Acts of the Apostles gives us the account of Paul and Barnabas giving a powerful witness in Lystra…
… and demonstrating the Power of the Lord, Who was given the highest priority in their life! (Acts 14:5-18)
The Lord wants a space in our hearts, to dwell in us…
Maybe, some rooms of our heart has been rented to many unwanted habits…
Maybe, some areas of our lives are occupied by unfit tenants of sin and evil…
Maybe, some quarters of our mind are accommodated with unholy and bad thoughts…
God is knocking at our doors, seeking a home for His Son…
We might feel it’s “a bit risky”…
“Yes”, says God, “but try me… I can wait…
I like what I see!”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS OF SALVATION
Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify.
They are efficacious because in them Christ himself is at work: it is he who baptizes, he who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies.
The Father always hears the prayer of his Son’s Church which, in the epiclesis of each sacrament, expresses her faith in the power of the Spirit.
As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life whatever is subjected to his power.
This is the meaning of the Church’s affirmation that the sacraments act ex opere operato (literally: “by the very fact of the action’s being performed”), i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for all.
It follows that “the sacrament is not wrought by the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient, but by the power of God.”
From the moment that a sacrament is celebrated in accordance with the intention of the Church, the power of Christ and his Spirit acts in and through it, independently of the personal holiness of the minister.
Nevertheless, the fruits of the sacraments also depend on the disposition of the one who receives them.
The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.
“Sacramental grace” is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament. the Spirit heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God.
The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Saviour. (CCC #1127-1129)
(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣4️⃣ – Mary, Spiritual Vessel
💭 To Reflect
Mary, by accepting the Word of God, becomes the spiritual vessel of God’s Love and Mercy.
✅ To Practise
Be a holy instrument in the Hand of God!
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may remain ever open and attentive to God’s Word, and truly become a spiritual vessel, Amen!
“Being filled from the fountain of God’s Love, and sharing His joy and peace to a world that is broken and seeks for consolation, comfort and calm!”
(Based on Acts 14:21-27, Rev 21:1-5 and Jn 13:31-35 – 5th Sunday in easter, Cycle C)
Mr George Crane was a popular newspaper columnist, psychologist and physician in the United States.
He speaks of an experience of a wife who came into his office, full of hatred toward her husband.
Seeking a divorce, the woman blurted out to Dr Crane, “I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has caused pain to me.”
Dr. Crane suggested a clever plan “Go home and do this…
Act as if you really love your husband.
Pretend and tell him how much he means to you.
Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible.
Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him!
And, after you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bombshell!
Tell him that you are getting a divorce.
That will really hurt him!
Hurt him to the core!”
With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, “Wonderful indeed! That is a superb way of settling scores with the one who hurt me the most!”
So off she went, doing what was told, with enthusiasm, acting “as if”
She showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing…
After two months, when she didn’t return, Dr Crane called. “So, are you ready now to go through with the divorce?”
“Divorce?” she exclaimed. “Never! I discovered I really do love him.”
Her actions had changed her feelings.
Her “affectionate” motions done with revenge, resulted in “loving” emotions with sincerity!
Her “acting” in actuality helped her to rediscover her lost love.
That’s the power of love!
Love is the best medicine for any sickness which cripples human life!
And the reason for this amazing power of love is simple:
True Love flows from the heart of the One who is Love… God!
Genuine Love gushes forth from the fount of the One who is Love Incarnate… Jesus!
The Gospel of the Day is the wonderful exhortation of Jesus to His followers with the “Great Commandment of Love”
Jesus says in today’s Gospel:
“A new commandment I give you, that You love one another, even as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34)
It is interesting to note that what Jesus gives is a COMMANDMENT…
… it was not a suggestion
… it was not a piece of advice
… it was not an ordinary recommendation
It was a Commandment!
TO LOVE, is a COMMAND!
Every follower of Christ…
…is expected …
… is bound …
… and is under obligation …
.. TO LOVE… as JESUS LOVED!
We could take a clue on understanding some dimensions of “how to love, the way Jesus loved”, by taking recourse to the 15th Chapter of St John
Jesus speaks of three dimensions of love in this Gospel passage (Jn 15)
Jesus remained in the love of the Father, by doing His commandments.
And he enjoins the same principle of Obedient Love to His disciples too.
The one who loves, also obeys…
The one who loves, also follows the commands…
Do I have a love that is obedient…?
… happy to undertake the various duties and responsibilities entrusted to me and fulfilling them to the best of my capabilities.
Jesus showed the depth of His love by undertaking the highest sacrifice of His own life.
And he enjoins the same principle of Sacrificial Love to His disciples too.
The one who loves, also offers and foregoes some luxuries and securities…
The one who loves, also gives up many of the comforts and personal desires…
Do I have a love that is sacrificial?
… willing to lay down one’s bias and prejudices, dying to one’s evil inclinations, putting to sword one’s bad habits that takes away from God and making adjustments of one’s self-desires to make way for God’s plans in life.
Jesus says, “… I chose and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain… ” (Jn 15: 16)
Jesus showed the quality of His love by displaying the fruits of compassion, tender mercy, an accommodating heart, gentleness and generosity.
And he enjoins the same principle of fruitful love to His disciples too.
The one who loves, also bears fruits of patience, kindness, self-control and faithfulness…
The one who loves, also lives a life that radiates the fruits of joy, generosity and peace…
Do I have a love that is fruitful?
… bearing fruits that witness God’s love by promoting unity and harmony and attracting many to the tender mercy of the Lord by a live of passion and zeal.
The Lord has loved us tremendously… with a love that is obedient, sacrificial and fruitful.
Each of us is to possess this same treasure of love.
Love binds every brokenness…
Love joins every divorced situation…
Love unites every ruptured circumstance…
May the Lord enable us to be filled from His fountain of love and share His joy and peace to a world that is broken and seeks for consolation, comfort and calm…
… and thus help us to share in His Dwelling place “where every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain…” (Rev 21: 4)
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS OF FAITH
No sacramental rite may be modified or manipulated at the will of the minister or the community.
Even the supreme authority in the Church may not change the liturgy arbitrarily, but only in the obedience of faith and with religious respect for the mystery of the liturgy.
Likewise, since the sacraments express and develop the communion of faith in the Church, the lex orandi is one of the essential criteria of the dialogue that seeks to restore the unity of Christians. (CCC #1125-1126)
(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣3️⃣ – Mary, Cause of our joy
💭 To Reflect
Mary, filled with the Holy Spirit, was the cause of joy to many, and continues to be a source of strength and joy to all of us!
✅ To Practise
Bring a smile to the other; be a cause of joy!
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may live a life in the Holy Spirit, and be a source of joy to all, Amen!
“Being docile to accept God’s ‘strange yet protective’ Will working in our lives!”
(Based on Feast of St Mathias, the Apostle)
There goes a legend of the early Church…
Some pagans, once forced a holy person to drink a portion of poison, as part of persecutions against the faithful.
This holy person had been imprisoned.
He drank it, and not only did he himself remain unharmed…
… but he also healed others who had been blinded by the potion.
When he left the prison, the pagans searched for him in vain, for he had become invisible to them.
The holy person was St Mathias.
Today is the Feast of this Apostle, St Mathias.
He is the Apostle, chosen by lot, to go “into the place of the traitor Judas”.
The Acts of the Apostles describes:” that he may take his place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell.” (Acts 1:25)
St Mathias had one of the most unique privileges as well as one of the most awkward moments.
He had the unique privilege of being counted the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.
He had the unique awkward moment of taking the position left blank by Judas, the betrayer.
It is usually hard to fill up empty spaces of vacancies and opportunities.
And it indeed gets too hard to fill up the vacancy of being counted among the exclusive Twelve Apostles.
This task gets too complicated especially if the vacancy was created as a shameful result of “betrayal” and “treachery”
St Mathias had to fill in the gap left by the “traitor” Judas Iscariot.
Yet, Divine Providence had it that St Mathias should replace Judas, to be “counted as one among the Twelve”.
Life sometimes is such…
We are asked to take up tasks that may seem highly uncomfortable
We are invited to draw up duties which may seem highly insulting
Are we willing to accept them, seeing God’s providential hand in them?
Are we ready to undertake them, knowing God’s Will is at work in that?
Let us trust in the mighty and assuring words of Jesus, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (Jn 15:16)
St Matthias stands in the place of the traitor Judas
But not as another traitor…
… but as one who knows the treachery of human hearts and the need for Heavenly Grace.
The Feast of St Mathias is a reminder of this naked and frightening, yet remarkable and bold truth:
There is a possibility of being a traitor in all of us
… like Judas
But there is also the glorious chance of being His faithful apostle
…like St Mathias.
There are elements of betraying God, within each of us…
… like Judas
But there are also graces of being passionately committed to the Lord…
… like St Mathias.
May St Mathias intercede and inspire us…
… to be docile to accept God’s ‘strange yet protective’ Will working in our lives
… to be bold to take up the challenge of filling up gaps caused by betrayal and uneasiness
… to be aware of God’s mighty Providence guiding every action of the Church and the world
Happy Feast of St Mathias, the Apostle
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS OF FAITH
“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 express it. That is why they are called ‘sacraments of faith.”
The Church’s faith precedes the faith of the believer who is invited to adhere to it.
When the Church celebrates the sacraments, she confesses the faith received from the apostles – whence the ancient saying: lex orandi, lex credendi (or: legem credendi lex statuat supplicandi according to Prosper of Aquitaine [5th cent.]).
The law of prayer is the law of faith: the Church believes as she prays.
Liturgy is a constitutive element of the holy and living Tradition (CCC # 1123-1124)
(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣2️⃣ – Mary, Seat of Wisdom
💭 To Reflect
Mary, was fully receptive to the Wisdom of God, and bore in herself Wisdom-Incarnate.
✅ To Practise
Ask for the Gift of Wisdom!
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may be open to the Wisdom of God, and allow God’s Plans to fulfil in my life, Amen!
“Being willing to let go a life of sin, embrace the words of the Lord and live them joyfully and fervently in our life!”
(Based on Acts 13:26-33 and Jn 14:1-6 – Friday of the 4th Week in Easter)
Most of us would have experienced the “falling asleep” or “numbness” of arms, legs and feet, especially while sitting cross-legged (usually while sitting on the floor).
Right?
Technically known as “peripheral neuropathy” or “paraesthesia”, this syndrome is caused by the compression of specific nerves.
When one sits cross-legged, sleep with arm above the head, or position any limb in such a way to put excess pressure on a nerve, that nerve will stop sending impulses normally.
If the pressure is great, or the duration long, the nerve will eventually stop sending impulses altogether.
That particular area will essentially then “fall asleep” or feel “numb”.
Once the pressure is relieved, the nerve starts functioning normally again and one is able to move the limb.
It may, however, take some time to work properly and one may feel some tingling, “pins and needles”, during the process.
Spiritually speaking, it is very much possible that one experiences such “falling asleep” or a “numbness” in one’s conscience.
This is spiritual paraesthesia!
This “lack of sensation” can cause one to be “life-less” and “feeling-less” to…
… constant occurrences of sin and evil doings
… frequent aberrations in moral and ethical life
… even constant spiritual reminders that the Lord gives us
The Gospel of the Day presents a case of “spiritual paraesthesia”, which could perhaps, be a reality in our lives as well…
Jesus, in the Gospel of the day, declares Himself as “The Way, The Truth and The Life” (Jn 14:6)
This reply of the Lord came in response to the query of Thomas, the Apostle who asked Jesus, “Lord, we do not know, where you are going; how can we know the way?” (Jn 14:5)
Thomas, along with the other disciples, had by now, spent quite a lot of time with Jesus, their Master….
They had encountered Jesus as The Way….
… the Way Forward: when sicknesses and problems of life had crippled the lives of many
They had encountered Jesus as The Truth….
… the Truth Uncompromised: when lies and malicious forces sought to thwart the plans of the Kingdom of God
They had encountered Jesus as the Life….
… the Life in Abundance: when hopelessness and sin would cause people to give up any aspirations for life
Yet, the disciples failed to recognize these aspects in Jesus.
They were perhaps, in a state of “spiritual paraesthesia”…
… being numb to understanding Jesus
… unable to sense the words and depths of the Words of Jesus.
And so when Thomas put forward the doubt: “Lord, we do not know, where you are going; how can we know the way?” (Jn 14:5)…
… Jesus emphatically declared, “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE!” (Jn 14: 6)
The Lord wanted the disciples to overcome their “spiritual paraesthesia”…
…and come to be aware of the Reality and Greatness of His Presence in their life!
Perhaps, we too often find ourselves in a state of “spiritual paraesthesia” or “spiritual numbness!”
One of the main factors, which can cause this state of “spiritual numbness,” is the reality of sin in our lives…
… which many times, we either deny or fail to acknowledge.
In the teachings of Jesus, one of the stand-out factor was His uncompromising attitude with respect to sin.
And perhaps, this is where Jesus as a Holy Person stands out incomparable with all other great spiritual or philosophical leaders of the world.
This is also where Christianity as a religion stands out unmatched with any other belief system or practice of spirituality.
For Jesus and in Christianity…
… there is an uncompromising teaching on the need to root out sin and evil offences
… there is an absolutely unparalleled insistence on removal of sin for spiritual progress
… there is an unsurpassed assertion on being holy and pure to be in communion with Him
We need to make an honest examination of our conscience…
Is our life suffering from a “spiritual paraesthesia” or “numbness to what is holy” or a “lack of sensation to sin”…
… Do I continue to pursue, persevere or promote deeds of sin, even though I am aware of it, or has been brought to my notice?
… Do I fail to be sensitive to issues of immense sin and evil happening in and around me, in people and situations, and instead become indifferent and uninterested?
A persistence in this spiritual “paraesthesia” or numbness can very dangerously sever our relation with the Lord.
The Lord proclaims that “In My Father’s house, there are many rooms…” (Jn 14: 2)
St Paul beautifully proclaims the wonders of the Resurrection of Jesus and the promise of blessing that is enshrined to everyone who follows Him:
“But God raised Him from the dead; and for many days, He appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.
And we bring you the Good News that what God promised to the fathers; this He has fulfilled to us their children, by raising Jesus!” (Acts 13:30-33)
Yes, the Lord wishes and desires, that all of us….
… should dwell with Him!
… should enjoy eternal life in Him!
… should reach the heights of holiness!
But this also requires our genuine co-operation to the Grace of the Lord…
… by seeking to get over our spiritual paraesthesia or numbness…
This process of getting out of this spiritual “paraesthesia” will involve feeling some “tingling pins and needles” of reparation, penance and atonement.
Let us be willing to…
… let go a life of sin
… embrace the words of the Lord
… and live them joyfully and fervently in our life!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS OF FAITH
Christ sent his apostles so that “repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations.”
“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.”
The mission to baptize, and so the sacramental mission, is implied in the mission to evangelize, because the sacrament is prepared for by the word of God and by the faith which is assent to this word:
The People of God is formed into one in the first place by the Word of the living God…. the preaching of the Word is required for the sacramental ministry itself…
… since the sacraments are sacraments of faith, drawing their origin and nourishment from the Word. (CCC # 1122)
(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣1️⃣ – Mary, Mirror of Justice
💭 To Reflect
Mary, being united with Jesus, Her Beloved Son, mirrored and reflected the wonderful justice of God – perfect holiness and sanctity.
✅ To Practise
Reflect God’s Justice – by a life of sanctity and holiness
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may reflect God’s Justice and Holiness through my acts and deeds, Amen!
“Being firm and joyful in being an ‘Ambassador for Christ and His Kingdom!’”
(Based on Acts 13:13-25 and Jn 13:16-20 – Thursday of the 4th Week in Easter)
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high ranking diplomat who represents a state.
He/she is usually accredited to another sovereign state, or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sovereign.
Ambassadors have some general functions…
Diplomatic:
Conducting negotiations with the host government, representing their state in meetings and delivering messages on behalf of their own government, receiving messages the host government for relay back to their own; being the spokesperson for their government etc.
Ceremonial:
Representing their government at public events in that host country and being the most visible symbol of their own country
Administrative:
Overseeing the operations at the embassy and of other diplomats and staff.
This word “ambassador” is also often used more liberally for persons who are known, without national appointment, to represent certain professions, activities and fields of endeavour.
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the “Ambassador” of His Heavenly Father, and who in turn, invites each of us to be His Ambassador and of His Kingdom in our world.
Jesus says: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send, receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives the One who sent Me” (Jn 13:20)
Jesus came into this world to reveal the love and mercy of God.
He is Love made flesh and Mercy Incarnate.
While on earth, Jesus sought to be the perfect Representative of God, His Almighty and Beloved Father.
Finding deep communion in long hours of prayer, Jesus would emphatically give witness to His Father…
… by His mighty deeds of power, spectacular wonders of healing and His heart-touching words of eternal life.
This mission of being the Ambassador of the Father, was however, not without its shares of pain for Jesus…
… He had the face the pain of being rejected by His own people
… He had to bear the agony of being betrayed by His own chosen one
… He had to face the humiliation of the worst form of execution known those days
Yet, none of this could deter the Lord from choosing to be the “Ambassador” for the Kingdom of Heaven.
He today invites each one of us to be an “Ambassador” for Him and His Kingdom.
Like an ambassador of the state or a country, perhaps we too have certain functions and roles as being the privileged “Ambassador for Christ”…
Diplomatic:
In the sense of not being compromising, but a function that makes us to be convinced and passionate in preaching the message of the Lord and His Kingdom to others.
Nothing should bring us low or falter us from standing firm in proclaiming His Word and standing for His Gospel virtues.
Ceremonial:
In the sense of not being show-off or parading mere externally, rather a duty that requires of us to make our very lives and every action a witness of the Love and Mercy of God.
Our very words should reflect the goodness of the Lord Our very actions should radiate the gentleness and holiness of the Lord
Our very life should mirror the self-sacrificing and altruistic nature of the Lord.
Administrative
In the sense of not being power-hungry or position-seekers, rather, with a servant-like attitude, seeking the good and upliftment of others.
As a representative of Christ, we must also feel the obligation within us to bring others to the faith in Jesus and make His message of love and holiness to spread to all.
The spiritual growth of the other ought to become a genuine concern for me!
St Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians echoes this call and invite of the Lord, to be His Ambassadors…
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:18-20).
We read in the Acts of the Apostles of St Paul along with other companions giving a public witness to Jesus and thus becoming His ambassador! (Acts 13:14 ff)
Let us also be firm and joyful in being an “Ambassador for Christ and His Kingdom!”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRIST
The ordained ministry or ministerial priesthood is at the service of the baptismal priesthood.
The ordained priesthood guarantees that it really is Christ who acts in the sacraments through the Holy Spirit for the Church.
The saving mission entrusted by the Father to his incarnate Son was committed to the apostles and through them to their successors: they receive the Spirit of Jesus to act in his name and in his person.
The ordained minister is the sacramental bond that ties the liturgical action to what the apostles said and did and, through them, to the words and actions of Christ, the source and foundation of the sacraments.
The three sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders confer, in addition to grace, a sacramental character or “seal” by which the Christian shares in Christ’s priesthood and is made a member of the Church according to different states and functions.
This configuration to Christ and to the Church, brought about by the Spirit, is indelible, it remains for ever in the Christian…
… as a positive disposition for grace
… a promise and guarantee of divine protection
… and as a vocation to divine worship and to the service of the Church.
Therefore these sacraments can never be repeated (CCC # 1120-1121)
Reflection Capsules 