asf2

• Paschal Mystery


  The Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ by which he heals us from sin and enables us to become children of God
• Every liturgy is a celebration of the Paschal Mystery
• Every Liturgy is a celebration of God's plan of salvation
• Through Word and Eucharist we remember what God has done, and we look forward to what He will do for his people
• Liturgical Year


  Recalls and celebrates Salvation History/Covenant History
• Within the cycle of a year the Church unfolds the whole mystery of Christ, from His incarnation and birth until His Ascension, the day of Pentecost, and the expectation of the blessed hope and the Lord's return
• The Passion and Death of Jesus

  1. Jesus speaks about His death

  2. Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried

  3. He is accused of blasphemy and false prophecy, religious crimes which the Law punished with by stoning

  
• The Cross

  • Symbol of saving love
  • Transformation of suffering and weakness through active, total self-giving love
• What makes Christ's saving love unique is that it is universal, eschatological, and empowering
• The Resurrection of Jesus

  1. The Lord is Risen!

  2. Challenges to overcome to joyfully receive the Risen Christ into my heart
• The actual event of Christ rising from the dead was real starting point and foundation for the beginnings of Christian Faith
• If Christ was not raised, your faith is worthless
• Jesus Appearances after His Resurrection


  • Sunday morning to Mary Magdalene
  • The women returning from the sepulchre
  • Appearance to Peter
  • On the road to Emmaus
  • Sunday evening without Thomas
  • One week later
  • Three weeks later to the disciples on the shores of Galilee
• Christ's Resurrection enlivens earthly hopes with the "great hope" of eternal life, planting the seed of salvation in our present time
• The Ascension of Jesus

  1. Christ's return to the Father was necessary for sending the Spirit

  2. We are aware of the living presence of the Risen Christ among us in the Holy Spirit sent among us

  3. We also know the Creed that He "will come again to judge the living and the dead"
• In the first eucharistic acclamation we proclaim: "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!"
• Parousia


  Meaning "coming" or "presence", is the traditional term for Christ's Second Coming as divine judge
• I See You, Lord: 'I'm so blessed my Lord,I can see you in all the lovely things

  So fine and true. I see you in the beauty of the flowers and

  the rain. I see you between the lines of a sweet refrain.

  I'm so blessed my Lord,I can see you Even when I'm lonely

  and in pain. I see you in the beauty of the stars at night. I

  see you in my life I feel alright.

  I see you Lord in sorrow and in happiness. I see you in the

  glory of sweet success. I see you Lord every hour,

  everyday.I can see you Lord whenever I pray.

  I'm so blessed my Lord, I can see you In the smile

  of a baby sweet and true. I can see you in the

  eyes of my very best friends. I see you in these

  bonds just like your love that never ends.'
• Sacramental signs


  Signs of God's presence in the world
• Sacrament


  Consecrated, sacred rite
• Mystery


  Unfathomable saving action of God in Christ
• Efficacious symbol


  A symbol that effects what it symbolizes and symbolizes what it effects
• Sacramentum


  A sign that sanctifies, a sign of a sacred reality
• A sacrament is 'a visible sign of invisible grace'
• A sacramentum is a sacrum signum 'sign of a sacred thing'
• Sacrament


  An efficacious sign of God's grace instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us
• The efficacy of the sacraments does not depend on the holiness of the minister who confer it
• Sacraments are powers that come forth from the Body of Christ, which are ever living and life giving
• Sacraments are the MASTERWORKS of God in the new and everlasting Covenant
• The Seven Sacraments


  • Baptism
  • Confirmation
  • Eucharist
  • Penance
  • Anointing of the Sick
  • Holy Orders
  • Matrimony
• Signs


  The Sacraments are sensible symbols of God's Grace
• Efficient


  The Sacraments actualize the spiritual reality they represent
• Of Grace


  The Sacraments transmit the Divine Grace: Sanctifying Grace and Sacramental Grace
• Sanctification


  The Sacraments augment Man's Sanctification, the process of becoming closer to God
• Salvation


  Each Sacrament aims for the Salvation of Man, the act of entering Paradise
• Three Essential Elements of each Sacrament

  • Minister
  • Matter
  • Form
• Leader: 'When we live in unity, how good and how pleasant it is.'
• Leader: 'Pray for us, Holy Father Augustine, that we may dwell together in peace.'
• All: 'God our Father, Your Son promised to be present in the midst of all who come together in His name. Help us to recognize His presence among us and experience in our hearts the abundance of Your grace, Your mercy, and Your peace, in truth and in love. We ask this, through Christ our Lord. Amen.'
• True worship

  According to St. Augustine