Catechetical Resources
The seven Catholic Sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant, and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence.
from The Catechism of the Catholic Church
1131 The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.
1132 The Church celebrates the sacraments as a priestly community structured by the baptismal priesthood and the priesthood of ordained ministers.
1133 The Holy Spirit prepares the faithful for the sacraments by the Word of God and the faith which welcomes that word in well-disposed hearts. Thus the sacraments strengthen faith and express it.
1134 The fruit of sacramental life is both personal and ecclesial. For every one of the faithful on the one hand, this fruit is life for God in Christ Jesus; for the Church, on the other, it is an increase in charity and in her mission of witness.
Seven Sacraments
Baptism
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Whether we are baptized as infants or adults, Baptism is the Church's way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God.
Eucharist
Catholics believe the Eucharist, or Communion, is both a sacrifice and a meal. We believe in the real presence of Jesus, who died for our sins. As we receive Christ's Body and Blood, we also are nourished spiritually and brought closer to God.
Reconciliation
The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God's unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Marriage
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally to this other person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union of husband and wife speaks of family values and also God's values.
Holy Orders
In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest being ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel, and by providing other means to holiness.
Anointing of the Sick
The Catholic Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is a ritual of healing appropriate not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual sickness.
- Nazareth Master CatechismThe contents of five historic Catholic catechisms in their original order.
The Sacraments by
"The heart of this book is about the ways in which the liturgy of the sacraments has been celebrated and understood in history and the ways in which the liturgy can (and should) influence how we understand the sacraments today." In the first text of its kind, renowned liturgical scholar Kevin W. Irwin offers a thorough explanation of the sacraments in their intimate relationship to liturgy. In Part 1 he traces the historical evolution of sacraments and sacramental practice from their biblical foundations through the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Part 3 concerns a theology of sacraments based on the liturgy as a major and firm foundation for understanding the theology of the sacraments today. Bridging these two main parts are two methodological chapters that describe the sources and method to be applied in Part 3. The Sacraments and Their Liturgical Foundation is an indispensable resource for scholars and students who need to understand the sacraments as they should be understood: in their historical and theological relationships to the liturgy.
Call Number: BX 2200 .I79 2016ISBN: 9780809149551Publication Date: 2016-01-05
The Oxford Handbook of Sacramental Theology by
This Handbook introduces the theology of the sacraments from a variety of perspectives. It contains historical overviews, biblical discussion, philosophical and theological reflection, as well as ecumenical discussion. It is one of the most comprehensive overviews of the sacraments throughout the tradition of the Christian church.
Call Number: BV 800 .O94 2015ISBN: 9780199659067Publication Date: 2015-09-30
The Way of Catechesis by
The Way of Catechesis offers a new and timely perspective on the vital ministry of catechesis at a pivotal moment in the work of New Evangelisation. Gerard F. Baumbach shows how today's catechists can follow the pedagogy of Jesus and he invites readers to an understanding that includes both the process and the content of handing on the faith and also a way of living in union with Christ the Teacher. Baumbach invites readers to consider how key issues and questions throughout the Church's history shed light on today's questions and concerns. Numerous reflection questions help the reader prayerfully reflect upon and personally integrate the lessons. He emphasises four characteristics of the catechetical process in each historical era--belonging, believing, discerning, and living--to highlight the distinctive characteristics of each period and their relevance to catechesis today.
Call Number: BX 1968 .B37 2017ISBN: 9781594717147Publication Date: 2017-05-31
The Catechist's Backpack by
Catechists spend their time guiding children and adults in deepening their Catholic faith. But who's guiding the catechists on their spiritual journey? While there are many books about what catechists should know and what they should do, there is very little on the spirituality of being a catechist. Written by two nationally known, expert lay catechists, The Catechist's Backpack gives catechists the resources that speak to the spiritual dimension of their call to share the Catholic faith. Warm and conversational, Joe Paprocki and Julianne Stanz foster, explore, and celebrate the spirituality of the catechist, encouraging catechists to embrace their spirituality so that they can pass on a living faith to the children they teach. Also available in Spanish! La mochila del catequista
Call Number: BV 4513 .P377 2015ISBN: 9780829442465Publication Date: 2015-02-01
The Deacon's Ministry of Charity and Justice by
The deacon's exercise of charity and justice extends the loving hand of God's constant love and mercy to all who are in need. The Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education has called this work "the ministry most characteristic of the deacon." In The Deacon's Ministry of Charity and Justice, Deacon William Ditewig focuses on this ministry as a constitutive element of the nature of the Church itself--always flowing from the ministries of Word and Sacrament and leading back to them, never apart from them. Along with a rich exploration of the scriptural, historical, and theological foundation of the deacon's practice of charity and justice, Deacon Ditewig--one of today's foremost experts on the permanent diaconate--develops specific and concrete principles for exercising these ministries faithfully, authentically, and effectively. The Deacon's Ministry series explores the three fundamental diaconal ministries identified in the teaching of Vatican II: those of the liturgy, of the word, and of charity to the people of God (Lumen Gentium29). This series, written by three highly regarded permanent deacons, offers a rich combination of theology, spirituality, and practical and effective guidance. Deacons and those in diaconal formation, their families, the bishops and priests they work with, and the people they serve will welcome it.
Call Number: BX 1912 .D3375 2015ISBN: 9780814648247Publication Date: 2015-12-07
The Sacrament of Baptism by
The celebration of the sacrament of baptism underwent a major change in the years after the Second Vatican Council (1962 '65). The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was revised to take into account the situation of the contemporary world by incorporating insights from the earliest centuries of the Church. The Rite of Baptism for Children was renewed to take into account the role of parents and godparents in a more direct way. These two situations 'the initiation of adults who profess their own faith and the baptism of children whose faith is professed for them 'are the object of this book. The symbols and actions of the rites together with the words of Scripture and prayer are explored to answer the question: How do these celebrations reveal a theology of initiation and baptism for today's Catholic community? Michal G. Witczak, SLD, is a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and an assistant professor in liturgical studies at The Catholic University of America. His writings have appeared in Theological Studies, Ecclesia Orans, and Liturgical Ministry.
Call Number: BX 2205 .W58 2011ISBN: 9780814625170Publication Date: 2011-04-01
Annulment by
Annulment provides a user-friendly summary of the process of applying for a decree of nullity of a former marriage. Primarily intended for RCIA candidates, it is also helpful to RCIA staff and volunteers who will guide the candidates through this process or will simply answer their questions about it. The book also emphasizes the healing and pastoral guidance that can come from the annulment process.
Call Number: BX 2254 .M36 2016ISBN: 9780809149575Publication Date: 2016-01-05
