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All Catholics who have reached the age of reason and are not prevented by sickness or other sufficient cause, are obliged
to attend Mass and to abstain from unnecessary work that impedes worship on all Sundays and on the following Holy
Days of Obligation:
- Christmas - December 25
- Immaculate Conception –
December 8
- *Mary, Mother of God – January
1
- *Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
– August 15
- *All Saints Day – November 1
- *When these three Holy Days fall on a
Saturday or a Monday the obligation to attend
mass and to abstain from unnecessary work is
suspended.
Ascension of Our Lord ��
Observed on the Seventh Sunday of Easter in
Archdiocese of Chicago
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The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic
Church are easily appreciated under three headings: Sacraments
of Initiation, Sacraments of Healing, and Sacraments at the
Service of Communion.
SACRAMENTS OF INITATION
(Baptism, Confirmation,
Eucharist)
-
“The Sacraments of
Initiation – Baptism,
Confirmation, and the
Eucharist – lay the
foundations of every
Christian life.” ��
Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 1212
-
Christian
Initiation of
Adults – RCIA
-
The Rite of
Christian
Initiation
of Adults
(RCIA)
involves
preparation
for and the
celebration
of Baptism,
Confirmation
and
Eucharist,
which
manifest the
intimate
relationship
of these
sacraments
to one
another. The
process
usually
takes place
within the
context of a
parish
community or
an
intentional
Catholic
worshipping
community,
i.e. at a
college or
University.
The dual
foci of the
RCIA for
unbaptized
adults are
the
deepening
conversion
to Christ
and full
communion
with the
Church. The
Rite also
provides for
the
initiation
of
unbaptized
children of
catechetical
age who will
receive
Baptism,
Confirmation,
and
Eucharist
together.
Children who
have reached
the age of
reason
receive the
three
sacraments
at the same
time.
RCIA
consists of
four
distinct
periods of
formation:
Period of
Inquiry;
Period of
the
Catechumenate;
Period of
Enlightenment;
and Period
of
Post-Baptismal
Catechesis.
For more
information
on becoming
Catholic,
please
contact
the Parish Rectory at 773-238-4877 or email
us at
christtheking9235@att.net
.
-
Christian Initiation of Children
Baptism of infants
usually takes place within the first few weeks
after birth. The faith of parents, at least one
being Catholic, together with the intention to
raise their child in the Catholic faith, is a
necessary prerequisite for celebrating the
sacrament. The 1980 Instruction on Baptism and
Canon Law both call for catechesis for parents
and godparents regarding the responsibility they
take upon themselves when they present their
children for baptism.
-
Sacrament of Confirmation
In the Archdiocese of Chicago,
Confirmation is always celebrated within Mass to
express more clearly the fundamental connection of
this sacrament with the entirety of Christian
initiation, which reaches its culmination in the
Eucharist. Students in the Archdiocese of Chicago
are to be confirmed during their Junior High or High
School years. Adults who have not been confirmed
should contact their parish priest in order to
participate in a period of catechesis within the
parish or a Vicariate Adult Confirmation program.
-
Sacrament of the Eucharist
The Eucharist is the sacrament
in which the Christian initiation reaches its
culmination; for in and through this sacrament,
Christians are fully joined to Christ. “The
Eucharist is the ‘source and summit of the
Christian life’. The other sacraments, and
indeed all ecclesial ministries and works of the
Apostolates, are bound up with the Eucharist and are
orientated toward it. For in the Eucharist is
contained the whole spiritual good of the Church,
namely Christ himself, our Pasch”. … “In brief, the
Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: ‘Our
way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist and the
Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.” –
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324 and 1327.
Therefore, communities and individuals preparing to
celebrate the Eucharist and to receive Holy
Communion should be mindful to hold the Blessed
Sacrament in highest honor and to reverence the
Sacrament with the greatest adoration.
Genuflections, respectful silence, and other signs
of reverence for the Blessed Sacrament are
appropriate recognitions of God’s mysterious gift of
Christ for us in this Sacrament.
-
First Communion
The determination
of readiness to receive the Sacrament of the
Eucharist for the first time is a primary
responsibility of the pastor as well as the
child’s parents and/or guardian(s). They are to
see to it that children who have reached the use
of reason are correctly prepared for and are
nourished by Communion. Traditionally, children
are prepared for reception of the Eucharist
during second grade in their parish. Children
first receive the Sacrament of Penance before
receiving First Communion.
-
Eucharist Fast
The regulation for
fasting is considered a means of spiritual
preparation for receiving the Eucharist and a
symbol of reverence for the Sacrament. The
Eucharist Fast is limited to one hour before
actually receiving the Eucharist. It pertains to
solid food and all drinks, except water. Taking
medicine does not break the fast. The fast
applies to priests who celebrate the Mass and by
the faithful, regardless of what time of day the
Mass is celebrated and Communion is received.
Those who are sick, in hospitals – even if not
confined to bed – and those caring for the sick,
may receive communion even if they have taken
food during the previous hour.
SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
(Penance and Anointing of the Sick)
-
“The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and
bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and
restored him to bodily health (Cf. Mk 2:1-12), has
willed that his Church continue, in the power of the
Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even
among her own members. This is the purpose of the two
sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the
sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.” – Catechism of
the Catholic Church, 1421.
-
Sacrament of Penance
“According to the Church’s
Command, ‘after having attained the age of
discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an
obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at
least once a year.’” – Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 1457. However, we are encouraged to
receive the Sacrament of Penance frequently, even
monthly, throughout our lifetime so that we can
benefit from the graces we obtain through reception
of this sacrament.
-
First Penance
The Sacrament of
Penance is to precede First Eucharist. Formal
instruction for Penance is to be separate and
distinct from preparation for the reception of First
Eucharist. The value of this practice is to
catechize the children, from the age of reason, to
the true Christian spirit of penance and conversion,
to growth in self-knowledge and self-control,
to a true sense of sin, even venial sin, to the
necessity of asking pardon from God, and above all
to a loving and confident abandonment to the mercy
of the Lord. In no circumstances should a child
receive First Eucharist without first having
received the Sacrament of Penance.
-
Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of the Anointing
of the Sick is the proper sacrament for those
Catholics who have attained the use of reason and
whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or
old age. Through this sacrament, the Church comforts
and supports the person who is suffering and
continues the healing ministry of Christ. Only a
priest or bishop can administer the Anointing of the
Sick.
-
Viaticum
For those who are about to die,
the Church, in addition to the Anointing of the
Sick, offers the Eucharist as viaticum – food
for the journey home.
SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE
OF COMMUNION
(Matrimony (Marriage) and Holy Orders)
“Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and
Matrimony, are directed towards
the salvation of others; if they
contribute as well to personal
holiness, it is through service
to others that they do so. They
confer a particular mission in
the Church and serve to build up
the people of God.” –
Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 1534.
Sacrament of Matrimony
“The matrimonial covenant, by
which a man and a woman,
establish between themselves a
partnership of the whole life,
is by its nature ordered toward
the good of the spouses and the
procreation and education of
offspring; this covenant between
baptized persons has been raised
by Christ the Lord to the
dignity of a sacrament.” –
Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 1601.
Marriage Preparation
A couple wishing to marry should
contact their parish priest or
deacon no later than six months
prior to the anticipated date of
the wedding, earlier if
possible. The purpose of this
period of time is to involve the
couple actively in a process
through which they appreciate
their readiness to marry and the
nature of the sacrament for
themselves and for the Church.
Sacrament of Holy Orders
“The whole Church is a priestly
people. Through Baptism, all the
faithful share in the priesthood
of Christ. This participation is
called the ‘common priesthood of
the faithful’. Based on this
common priesthood and ordered to
its service, there exists
another participation in the
mission of Christ: the ministry
conferred by the sacrament of
Holy Orders, where the task is
to serve in the name and in the
person of Christ the Head in the
midst of the community.” –
Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 1591
“The ministerial priesthood differs in
essence from the common
priesthood of the faithful
because it confers a sacred
power for the service of the
faithful. The ordained ministers
exercise their service for the
People of God by teaching,
divine worship, and pastoral
governance.” – Catechism of
the Catholic Church, 1592.
“Since the beginning, the ordained
ministry has been conferred and
exercised in three degrees: that
of bishops, that of presbyters,
and that of deacons.” – >
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1593.
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Catechism of the Catholic Church #1491: The Sacrament of
Penance is a whole consisting in three actions of the
penitent and the priest's absolution. The penitent's acts
are repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to be the
priest, and the intention to make reparation and do works of
reparation
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Actually, the Sacrament of
Matrimony is administered by the
bride and groom. The priest and
two witnesses (Best Man and Maid
of Honor) are necessary for the
Church and Civic records.
"The mission of the Office
for Evangelization of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
is to create among Chicago area
Catholics an enthusiasm for
their faith, that in living
their faith in Jesus, they
freely share it with others. The
Office assists the
Cardinal-Archbishop in forming
Catholics as evangelizers. The
Office also assists the agencies
of the Archdiocese and
especially the parishes in
educating, training, and forming
Catholics in Catholic
evangelization, and specifically
in the three goals of Go and
Make Disciples, A National Plan
and Strategy for Catholic
Evangelization in the United
States.
Organized evangelization is a
relatively new ministry in the
Catholic Church in the United
States. In November of 1992, the
United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops approved Go
and Make Disciples, A National
Plan and Strategy for Catholic
Evangelization in the United
States. The Plan offers
three goals for implementation."
For more information,
see the Office of Evangelization
at "http://www.goingforth.org/"
.
Your local parish is also the place to begin the process of
becoming Catholic. Each parish will have a program of faith
formation, which is commonly called the Rite for Christian
Initiation for Adults (RCIA ). Contact a parish near you and ask to
speak to the Pastor or the person who coordinates the RCIA program.
One of the best ways to gain better knowledge of the Bible is
to start with the Gospels. Try reading one chapter a day, or
taking time each Sunday to arrive early for mass in order to
meditate on the readings before they are proclaimed. Buying your
first bible can be a bit bewildering since there are many
different translations of the Bible. The Catholic Bible is the
New American Bible, sometimes also called the St. Joseph Bible.
It is good to have a bible with footnotes that can help to
explain difficult passages. Another good bible for prayer and
knowing Jesus more intimately is a New Testament that is broken
down by date so that the reader gets a little taste each day.
There is information below with links to publishers for a good
bible(s). Many parishes take advantage of the excellent
resources for Catholic Bible study so your own parish or a
neighboring parish is a good place to start for a Catholic Bible
study. Some good resources for a bible study that are available
for purchase are noted below.
Recommended Bibles
- To order a copy of the New American Bible that has a
companion study commentary
click here.
- ISBN: 0195282795 / 9780195282795
- Hardcover: $45.00
- College Paperback: $29.99
- To get a copy of the New Testament segmented by date for
daily meditation
click here.
- ISBN: 971-554-062-7
- Price: $10.00
Bible Study Resources
-
The Chicago Catholic Scripture School - A Bible School
of the Archdiocese of Chicago. It uses an excellent guide
published by Paulist Press. This program is for serious
students of the Bible who want to study in learning
communities for two to four years.
-
The Little Rock Bible Study - A more in depth Bible
study series that allows students to delve more deeply into
God's Word.
-
Loyola Press - Books purchased for about $8.00 that are
used for a 6-week series of study and sharing.
-
The Great Adventure - A program developed by Jeff Cavins
that uses an overview method of learning about the Bible.
-
Catholic Scripture Study - this program is used and well
liked in the Joliet Diocese.
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