Sacraments of the Catholic Church

The liturgical life of the Catholic Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders.

The purpose of the sacraments is to make people holy, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God; but being signs, they also have a teaching function. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and object, they also nourish, strengthen, and express it; that is why they are called "sacraments of faith." The sacraments impart grace, but, in addition, the very act of celebrating them disposes the faithful most effectively to receive this grace in a fruitful manner, to worship God rightly, and to practice charity.

Worship is integral to our lives as Christians. When we engage in the prayer and ritual of the Church, we are formed as Church. Our sacramental rites are of primary importance while we are gathered.

The history of human salvation is the history of the way God came to men. The first step on this way was the bridging of the gulf separating God and man in the person of the one Mediator Jesus Christ and by his work of redemption. By means of his Church Christ makes his grace available to all. Only in this application of redemption to mankind is the redemptive action of Christ completed. The doctrine of the sacraments is the doctrine of the second part of God's way of salvation to us. It deals with the holy signs which Christ instituted as the vehicles of his grace.

The great mystery of the union in Christ of a human nature with the second Person of the Godhead is that the human actions and sufferings of Christ are divine actions and sufferings. The sacraments are a living continuation of this mystery. There are earthly, external signs here which, of themselves, could never acquire any supernatural significance, but the signs of the sacraments have been made by Christ into vehicles of his grace. They effect in men the grace for which Christ made them the sign.

So there are two fundamental ideas which constantly recur in the Church's teaching, on the sacraments. First there is the Church's concern for these instituted by Christ, their number, and their proper preservation and administration; then the grace which Christ has for all time linked with these signs and which is communicated by them.

The second is the effect of the sacraments. They are the signs of Christ's work; the effectiveness of Christ's continuing work in his Church cannot be dependent on man's inadequacy. A sacrament, administered properly in the way established by Christ and with the proper intention, gives the grace it signifies. It is effective not by reason of the power of intercession of priestly prayer nor on account of the worthiness of the recipient, but solely by the power of Christ. The power of Christ lives in the sacraments. The effect of the sacrament is independent of the sinfulness or unworthiness of the minister. The Church has never tolerated any subjective qualification of the objective effectiveness of the sacraments ex opere operato. This would ultimately be to conceive the way of salvation as being man's way to God and not God's way to man.

The Church Thus Teaches: There are seven sacraments. They were instituted by Christ and given to the Church to administer. They are necessary for salvation. The sacraments are the vehicles of grace which they convey. They are validly administered by the carrying out of the sign with the proper intention. Not all are equally qualified to administer all the sacraments. The validity of the sacrament is independent of the worthiness of the minister. Three sacraments imprint an indelible character.

Sacramentals are instituted by the Church and are effective by virtue of the Church's intercession. Institution and alteration of them is reserved to the Holy See.

Although it is not a sacrament, Christian Burial will be addressed in this section.

Baptism

Baptism, the first and fundamental sacrament and the gate to the other sacraments, is the purifying and sanctifying sacrament of rebirth. It is the means by which its recipients are incorporated into the church in a sacramental bond of unity.

Confirmation

By a signing with the gift of the Spirit, confirmation enriches the baptized with the Holy Spirit, binding them more perfectly to the Church, and strengthening them in their witness to Christ by word and deed and in their work to bring to its fullness the Body of Christ. Confirmation is conferred through anointing with chrism and the laying on of hands.

Eucharist

The Eucharist is the most august sacrament, in which Christ himself is contained, offered and received, and by which the Church constantly lives and grows. The Eucharistic Sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated over the centuries, is the summit and source of all Christian life and worship; it signifies and effects the unity of the people of God and achieves the building up of the Body of Christ.

As children reach the age of reason, generally around age seven, the Church extends to them an invitation to celebrate the sacrament of Eucharist. The initiation into the Christian community that took place at baptism is further extended by inviting children to enter fully into the heart of Christian faith through participation in the Eucharist.

Penance

Through penance, the faithful receive pardon through God's mercy for the sins they have committed. At the same time, they are reconciled with the Church community. The confession, or disclosure, of sins frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others.

Anointing of the Sick

Through the sacrament of anointing, Christ strengthens the faithful who are afflicted by illness, providing them with the strongest means of support. Jesus showed great concern for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the sick and commanded his followers to do the same. The celebration of this sacrament is an opportunity for the deepening of the faith of the community who are able to witness the faith and devotion of those being anointed.

Marriage

The Church has a rich tradition in its teaching on sacramental marriage and covenantal union. The Old Testament authors write of God making a covenant with the chosen people and promising them that they will never be forsaken. The New Testament authors write of Jesus as the new covenant and compare the relationship of Jesus with the Church to the relationship of a husband and wife. The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership for the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.

Holy Orders

Holy Orders is the sacrament by which bishops, priests and deacons are ordained and receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. The sacred rite by which orders are conferred is called ordination. The apostles were ordained by Jesus at the Last Supper so that others could share in his priesthood.

Christian Burial

The Church asks spiritual assistance for the departed, honors their bodies, and at the same time brings solace of hope to the living. The celebration of the Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living. While proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and witnessing to the Christian hope in the resurrection, the funeral rites also recall to all who take part in them God's mercy and judgement and meet the human need to turn always to God in times of crisis.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults includes the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist, but also all of the rites of the catechumenate. The initiation of adults is a gradual process that takes place within the community of the faithful.

Together with the catechumens, the faithful reflect upon the value of the paschal mystery, renew their own conversion, and by their example lead the catechumens to obey the Holy Spirit more generously.

Mauaji, uhusiano wa damu na uhusiano ndugu kisheria ni kati ya vizuizi vya ndoa ya Kikristo!

Mpendwa  kwa mara nyingine tena karibu katika kipindi chetu cha Kanisa la nyumbani. Katika vipindi vilivyopita tulianza kuvitazama vizuizi vya ndoa kwa sura nyepesi ya Kichungaji.

Tunasema tena: Lengo letu, ni kuyapa hadhi, uzuri na heshima kuu zaidi maisha ya ndoa na familia, ili kwamo Mungu atukuzwe na wanadamu watakaswe. Katika kikao chake pamoja na Makardinali, Baba Mtakatifu Francisco katika salaamu zake amewaomba Makardinali wote, kuzamisha mawazo yao katika kuweka mbele ukuu wa Sakramenti ya ndoa na uzuri wa familia.

Hadi sasa tumezungumzia vizuizi saba, yaani umri (kuwa chini ya umri unaokubalika kisheria), uhanithi (kukosa uwezo wa kushiriki tendo la ndoa), ndoa awali, utofauti wa imani, daraja takatifu, nadhiri hadhara ya useja katika Shirika la kitawa na kutoroshwa. Leo mpendwa, tunaendelea...!
Kizuizi cha NANE ni MAUAJI. Sheria Kan, namb. 1090 inakataa ndoa ya mmwagaji damu ili aweze kuoa. Kwa mfano, Ndg. Pori anampenda sana Mwitu. Lakini Mwitu amekwisha kuolewa na Bw. Kichaka. Pori anaamua kumuua Bw. Kichaka ambaye ni mume halali wa Mwitu, ili apate nafasi ya kumuoa Mwitu. Hicho ni kizuizi!

Au mama Ngedere amemchoka kabisa mumewe, badala yake anampenda sana Bw. Nyani na huyu Bw. Nyani yupo tayari kumuoa Mama Ngedere lakini kikwazo ni Bw. Ngedere. Mama Ngedere anaamua kutumia ukatiri wake aliorithi kutoka kwa shetani, anamuua mumewe kwa sumu au kwa kukodi majambazi au kwa kupanga ajali; ili awe huru kuolewa na Bw. Nyani. Au wewe unamuua mchumba wa fulani ili yule fulani akuoe wewe. HICHO NI KIZUIZI. NDOA HIYO ITANUKA DAMU KILA SIKU!!

Kizuizi cha TISA ni UHUSIANO DAMU. Sheria Kan, namb. 1091 inakataza kabisa ndoa kati ya ndugu wa damu daraja la kwanza na daraja la pili hadi ngazi ya nne. Mfano Baba hawezi kumuoa binti yake au mjukuu wake, au dada kuolewa na kaka yake. Pia mtu huwezi kuoa mtoto wa dada yako, au kumuoa dada ya baba yako mzazi. Haitegemewi kusikika kijana unataka kufunga ndoa na mama yako mzazi.

Maingiliano ya kindoa kati ya ndugu wa damu ni tatizo linalokua sana nyakati zetu hizi, kwa sababu za usiri mkubwa na uholela katika uzazi. Kijana na Binti ni watoto wa baba mmoja, ila hawajuani kwa sababu baba aliwazaa sehemu tofauti kwa siri. Taratibu zifuatwe vizuri ili kuona kweli wanaoingia katika agano hawaingii katika uharimu. Uchumba wa kuchunguzwa na matangazo ni kitu muhimu sana. ukisikia ndugu wa damu wanataka kufunga ndoa, ni kizuizi hicho, timua mbio kaseme kwa Paroko.

Kizuizi cha KUMI ni UHUSIANO-NDUGU KISHERIA. Sheria Kan, namb. 1092, tuifafanua kwa mifano zaidi. Maana iliyofichika ni kwamba, kwa kitendo cha kuoa na kuolewa, mume anajenga udugu wa karibu kabisa na ndugu wa mkewe, na mke anajenga udugu wa karibu na ndugu wa mumewe. Ikitokea mmoja anafariki, haitegemewi mama mfiwa aolewe na baba mkwe wake, au baba mfiwa akaoe mama mkwe wake ambaye ni mjane. Au hata ile ambayo hutendeka mahali pengi ya mtu kuamua kuoa mdogo wa marehemu mkewe, au mama anaolewa na mdogo wa marehemu mumewe. Au mtu unaamua tu kukurupua mke wa ndugu yake. Yohane Mbatizaji alimkataza Herode tabia ya aina hiyo. KIMSINGI SIO HALALI. IkitokeA hivyo, usiifiche hali hiyo, taratibu ya kichungaji ifuatwe, Baba Paroko anajua.

Tunaahirisha kipindi chetu kwa leo, tusikilizane tena wakati mwingine. Kutoka Radio Vatican,
Ni mimi Padre Pambo Martin Mkorwe OSB.

Maaskofu wa Hispania waanza hija ya kitume mjini Vatican

Kundi la kwanza la Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Hispania, Leo tarehe 24 Februari 2014 linaanza hija ya kitume inayofanyika mjini Vatican walau kila baada ya miaka mitano kadiri ya sheria za Kanisa. Kundi la kwanza linaundwa na Maaskofu 44, litapata nafasi ya kukutana na kuzungumza na Baba Mtakatifu pamoja na viongozi waandamizi kutoka Vatican.

Taarifa zinaonesha kwamba, kundi la pili litakutana na Baba Mtakatiofu Francisko kuanzia tarehe 3 hadi tarehe 8 Machi 2014. Baba Mtakatifu anatarajiwa kukutana na Maaskofu wote wa Hispania hapo tarehe 3 Machi 2014. Kwa mara ya mwisho, Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Hispania lilifanya hija yake ya kichungaji kunako mwaka 2005. Hata kama walihitimisha hija yao kadiri ya sheria za Kanisa, lakini hali ya Mwenyeheri Yohane Paulo wa Pili iliendelea kudhohofu sana.

Katika uongozi wa Baba Mtakatifu mstaafu Benedikto XVI, Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Hispania halikupata nafasi ya kufanya hija ya kitume mjini Vatican. Baba Mtakatifu mstaafu Benedikto XVI alibahatika kutembelea Hispania mara tatu wakati wa utume wake kama Khalifa wa Mtakatifu Petro. Mara ya kwanza ilikuwa ni Mwaka 2006 wakati wa Maadhimisho ya Siku ya Tano ya Familia Kimataifa iliyoadhimishwa mjini Valencia. Kunako mwaka 2010 Baba Mtakatifu Mstaafu Benedikto XVI alitembelea mjini Barcelona na Santiago de Compostella.

Vijana wengi wanaikumbuka hija ya kichungaji ya Baba Mtakatifu Mstaafu Benedikto XVI mjini Madrid wakati wa Maadhimisho ya Siku ya Vijana Duniani kwa Mwaka 2011, wakati vijana waliponyeeshewa na mvua kubwa na Baba Mtakatifu mstaafu Benedikto akabaki pamoja nao! Adhimisho likaendelea kama ilivyopangwa kwa Kesha na Ibada ya Kuabudu Ekaristi Takatifu.

Daily Reading for Monday, February 24th, 2014

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Reading 1, James 3:13-18

¹³ Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.
¹⁴ But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide the truth with lies;
¹⁵ this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish.
¹⁶ Wherever there are jealousy and ambition, there are also disharmony and wickedness of every kind;
¹⁷ whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it is also peaceable, kindly and considerate; it is full of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.
¹⁸ The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15

⁸ The precepts of Yahweh are honest, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, light for the eyes.
⁹ The fear of Yahweh is pure, lasting for ever; the judgements of Yahweh are true, upright, every one,
¹⁰ more desirable than gold, even than the finest gold; his words are sweeter than honey, that drips from the comb.

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Gospel, Mark 9:14-29

¹⁴ As they were rejoining the disciples they saw a large crowd round them and some scribes arguing with them.
¹⁵ At once, when they saw him, the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him.
¹⁶ And he asked them, 'What are you arguing about with them?'
¹⁷ A man answered him from the crowd, 'Master, I have brought my son to you; there is a spirit of dumbness in him,
¹⁸ and when it takes hold of him it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and goes rigid. And I asked your disciples to drive it out and they were unable to.'
¹⁹ In reply he said to them, 'Faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.'
²⁰ They brought the boy to him, and at once the spirit of dumbness threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell to the ground and lay writhing there, foaming at the mouth.
²¹ Jesus asked the father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' 'From childhood,' he said,
²² 'and it has often thrown him into fire and into water, in order to destroy him.
²³ But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.'
²⁴ 'If you can?' retorted Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who has faith.' At once the father of the boy cried out, 'I have faith. Help my lack of faith!'
²⁵ And when Jesus saw that a crowd was gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit. 'Deaf and dumb spirit,' he said, 'I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.'
²⁶ Then it threw the boy into violent convulsions and came out shouting, and the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, 'He is dead.'
²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up, and he was able to stand.
²⁸ When he had gone indoors, his disciples asked him when they were by themselves, 'Why were we unable to drive it out?'
²⁹ He answered, 'This is the kind that can be driven out only by prayer.'

St. John Theristus

Feastday: February 24
1049 - 1129

Benedictine monk, called Theristus or “Harvester.” He was of Calabrian lineage, born in Sicily. His mother was a slave of the Saracens. John escaped at a young age and became a monk.