Sacraments


Penance and Reconciliation

 

Jesus said, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Matthew 16:19

 

"The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with him in an intimate relationship." Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation "is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation." Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true "spiritual resurrection," restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God."

Catechism of the Catholic Church #1468 

 

Examination of Conscience for Grade School Age

Examination of Conscience for Junior High, High School Age

   

 Here at St. Bridget's, the First Reconciliation sessions provide children with a positive experience of understanding right from wrong, conscience formation and encountering the healing mercy and forgiveness of God. 

 

In the Fall, your child will be preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

 The Eucharist

 

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them."

 John 6:51, 54, 56

 

 The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."

By the Eucharist celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.

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, #1326, #1327

 

 

    At St. Bridget's the First Eucharist sessions draw children and their families into a deep experience of the Eucharist which helps them to love more fully their Catholic faith. Parents take part in preparing their child for the reception of both Reconciliation and Eucharist.  

            

        

 Confirmation

 

"Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."

Acts 8:14-17

 

It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once was granted to the apostles on the day Pentecost.

From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of Baptismal grace:

·                 It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry "Abba! Father!";

·                 It unites us more firmly to Christ;

·                 It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;

·                 It renders our bond with the Church more perfect;

·                 It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

Catechism of the Catholic Church #1302, #1303

 

    Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation received around the age of 16.  Baptized Catholics who have not completed their initiation can begin discernment about their readiness to enter a process of preparation leading to the celebration of Confirmation.  The preparation includes at least 2 years in a formal catechetical process in the parish prior to immediate preparation for the liturgical celebration.  Immediate preparation takes place prior to Confirmation.  Those entering the process take part in a spiritual and liturgical preparation with an appropriate level of Catechesis and faith development.

 

 

Click here to view photos of children preparing and receiving the sacraments of First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation.

 

Contact Coreen Wagenbach (651-257-2474  x58) with any questions.