How do sacraments factor into your relationship with God?
Jam137 asked this question, and what a great question!! J Now, I guess the writing-style in this post will be a little different cuz….well Jam137… you just asked me to reveal the intimate dealings between Christ and me!… because the Sacraments are where I encounter Christ. The Sacraments are the “meeting point” between the Trinity and me (not that we don’t meet in prayer or anywhere else, but these are the most relevant.) Sure, I walk all day with Christ….but the Sacraments are tremendous encounters of grace, Christ healing, Christ forgiving, Christ consoling, Christ strengthening me, Christ loving me with an explosion of Grace!! In all the Sacraments I encounter Him, I receive showers of Grace. I meet him as Christ my Savior, my Healer, my Forgiving Father and as the Spouse of my Soul!! but lets start at the beginning (always a good place to start!) What is a Sacrament? The Catholic Church in her Catechism defines the Sacraments as: 774. The signs and instruments by which the Holy Spirit spreads the grace of Christ the head throughout the Church which is his Body. The Church, then, both contains and communicates the invisible grace she signifies.
Catholics believe there are seven sacraments instituted by Christ: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation (confession), Matrimony, Holy Orders (priesthood) and the Anointing of the Sick (blessing and anointing for the sick and dying). The Sacraments are…to put it simply, the way in which Christ touches me day by day, today. I was “born again” into His family through baptism. He gave the grace necessary for the battlefield in Confirmation. I try to receive the Eucharist (Holy Communion) every day (the Mass is celebrated every single day, several times a day, not only on Sunday. Catholics are required to go on Sunday but we can go every day if we want)… this is my daily intimate encounter with Christ. We meet at all times, that is true, but it is in the Eucharist when I am once again before the Cross, Him shouting throughout the universe and through eternity “I LOVE YOU!!” and me, feebly, with wobbly knees answering back “Oh Lord! I love You too! Help me love You more!!” And when I feel weighted down by my sin I go to Him in Confession, I confess my sins and then hear the wonderful words “By the power of Christ your sins are absolved! Go and sin no more!” and “the springs of living water” jump up in my heart! God forgives me! God loves me!! When I’ve been sick or in danger of death I’ve received the Anointment of the Sick… and if I was not miraculously healed (which sometimes does happen!) I rest assured for I’ve been given the grace to carry the cross of illness in faithfulness! I have not received Holy Matrimony (and who knows if I’ll ever will!) but if and when I receive it He will bless our union and will give us the grace necessary to have a Christian marriage. And I cannot receive Holy Orders (priesthood) being a girl and all that. But through this Sacrament I’ve been given several spiritual fathers who have listened to my sorrows and have guided me. I’ve been given fathers who gave me the life of Christ through baptism and His forgiveness through Confession and who have introduced me to The Groom through the Eucharist… So the Sacraments are the source of my Life with Christ… because the Sacraments are nothing else but Christ doings in my life! |
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