Our Catholic faith is a sacramental one. The Sacred is sacred to us and our lives are punctuated by truly special, intimate and powerful encounters with God and each other. The gift of life is sacred! Jesus knew this well so we believe that his intention was to found a communal experience of faith (church) that would last forever (guided by the Holy Spirit) marked by powerful encounters (sacred-Sacraments). The seven sacraments are great opportunities to deepen our connection with the divine and with the community so preparation for these moments is sometimes as important as the event.
Fr. Keehan will begin his presentation by articulating the significance of the sacred and its role in life and the formation of the seven sacraments. He will then focus on spiritual preparation for all seven, but with a particular emphasis on sacraments that directly effect young adults namely, Baptism of children, Confirmation, Marriage, Reconciliation and Eucharist.
The word, “sacrament,” comes from the Latin word mystery. From the very beginning the Church believed that the sacraments held an element of the mysterious, even the miraculous. It is in these mysteries that we find life changing contact with God. This is especially true in the sacrament of the Eucharist, in which we encounter the real presence of Christ.
Suggested questions for reflection and response:
1) What does it mean to you that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist?
2) Do you see the sacrament of confession/reconciliation as a burden or a gift, and why?