The Sacraments - Part 2

The Sacraments - Part 2

We have examined the first three of the Sacraments, giving brief descriptions of the sacraments themselves. In Modules 2 and 3, we will go deeper into the theological and philosophical understanding of them as well. Now we move on to the next four sacraments:

The Final Four Sacraments:

• The Holy Eucharist
• Holy Matrimony
• Anointing of the Sick
• Holy Orders

The Holy Eucharist

The Holy Eucharist is the "Source and Summit" of the Christian life. It is the sacrament around which our life orbits, toward which we are drawn, by which we are nourished, and it is one of the most profound mysteries in Christianity. The Eucharist is as Our Lord said during His Last Supper: "Take ye and eat. This is my body. And taking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto the remission of sin" (Matthew 26:26-28). He also said: "Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him" (John 6:54-57).

As Catholics, and very few high-church Protestant denominations, we believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. He is there in totality: body, blood, soul, and divinity. The Eucharist is the most sacred thing to Catholics because the Eucharist is Christ Himself truly present. We call this the Real Presence. This takes place during the Mass at the point of the Consecration; I will examine the parts of the Mass in Module 2.

As such, we revere the Eucharist, and the protection, adoration, and reverence of the Eucharist has been the cause of many martyrs' deaths—and the cause of all their hope as well.

Holy Matrimony

It is true that marriage existed prior to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and subsequently His public ministry, but it was created by God nonetheless. If you look back to the creation accounts of Genesis, Eve was made the wife of Adam, thus establishing the first biblical marriage with God as the officiator (important foreshadowing when it comes to priests). However, marriage had often been used as a means of contract—a sacred contract, but still not a sacrament. Our Lord gave it the dignity of a sacrament when He attended the wedding at Cana. Here Christ worked His first public miracle, turning water into wine, thus beginning His public ministry as well. He took something that was already a good thing and perfected it in grace and holiness.

In a symbolic manner, the two becoming one—groom and bride—can be seen on the spiritual level when it comes to Christ and His bride, the Church. With the sacred contract of marriage now elevated to a sacrament, it becomes a covenant between the bride and groom and God. As we enter into the Church through Baptism, we become part of the Bride of Christ, and as such we enter into a covenantal relationship with Christ. The closer to God through the sacraments we become, the more like Christ—as in an Imitation of Christ—we become.

Anointing of the Sick

This sacrament has gone by another name before: "The Sacrament of Extreme Unction," and is commonly mislabeled as "Last Rites." It is true that Anointing of the Sick is a part of the "Last Rites," but that also includes Confession and Holy Viaticum, namely a reception of the Holy Eucharist.

Anointing of the Sick occurs when a priest visits someone who is typically bedridden due to illness, accident, or aged frailty, but a person who is able may also go to a priest and receive this Sacrament if they meet the requirements of severe illness or other impending threat of death. The sacrament is performed through the anointing with blessed oil and prayer by the priest, and it gives strength to the soul that has been weakened by sin. This is part of the office of a priest as instituted by Christ to His Apostles and by extension to their disciple-priests.

Christ, when He laid hands on people, not only cast out demons (if applicable) but healed them of their infirmities, forgave their sins, and nourished them spiritually. When He first sent the Apostles out, they would "cast out devils, anointing with oil many sick people, and healing them" (Mark 6:13). So the Sacrament not only strengthens the soul but can give strength and healing to the infirm.

Holy Orders

Holy Orders are just that—orders that are holy. They are holy by way of the authority that ordained the recipient. Holy Orders are for men who are called into the priesthood. When Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist at His Last Supper (this occurs at the Mass), the Apostles were the ordained Bishops of the Church. When Christ rose from the dead and breathed on the Apostles, they received not only the Holy Ghost but the power to forgive sins. Finally, when Christ ascended, He gave them the Great Commission: "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore, and preach to all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold I am with you all days even unto the consummation of the world" (Matthew 28:18-20).

Currently there are only three Orders of the priesthood, and a couple of honorific titles. They are the Deacon, Priest, and Bishop. The honorific titles are Monsignor, Cardinal, Cardinal-Deacon, Cardinal-Priest, and Cardinal-Bishop. Traditionally, however, there are other minor orders leading up to priesthood. They are: Tonsure, Porter, Lector, Acolyte, Exorcist, Sub-deacon, Deacon, then Priest. Many of these minor orders would be taken on at the same time, and now the office resides with those whom the Bishop appoints. The Bishop, by nature of their office, are already exorcists but may dispense the office and authority to a priest that he deems is properly disposed for the office and the work of an exorcist.