Baptism
February 11, 2000 by holyghostcc
Filed under Sacraments
I baptize you …
“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),[4] and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.”" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213)
Baptism of Adults
Please see R.C.I.A. under Religious Education
Baptism of Children
The Church requires “that there be a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion.” (Can. 868.1) In light of this obligation, we require that parents requesting baptism of their child be active and registered members of Holy Ghost for at least three months. If they are not active parishioners and wish to register in the parish, we will wish to observe their faithful practice of the faith for at least thee months, before we consider baptism of the child.
Baptism Preparation Class
We require all parents and godparents to attend Sacramental Preparation Classes. Once you have called the rectory to plan for the baptism of your child, we will have someone contact you to see up a special appointment for Preparation Classes. These classes are usually done one on one with each family and are conducted by a couple who are well prepared to teach and assist in Baptismal preparation.
Godparents
At least one godparent is required. There may be two, but they must be one man and one woman.
“For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents’ help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized – child or adult – on the road of Christian life. Their task is a truly ecclesial function (officium). The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given atBaptism.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1255)
Most people have a false understanding of what a godparent truly is. I am sure you have heard it said, that if anything happens to the parents, the godparents will raise the child. But is that what being a godparent is all about? No, in fact, the role of the godparent is to be much more than someone to take care of the children if something happens. In fact, that may not even be their role.
So what is a godparent? A godparent is to be a witness, an inspiration, a rock solid example of what it means to be a Roman Catholic in today’s world. That means that the person must be a Catholic not only in name but by the life they lead each and every day.
Most people do not know the Church’s requirements for a person who is to undertake the role of godmother or godfather. In the Code of Canon Law, a book with the laws that govern and guide the life of the Catholic Church, there are specific regulations regarding sponsors (godparents) for the Sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation.
The requirements for godparents are:
- be, not less than sixteen years of age.
- be a Catholic who has received the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
- be registered and active members of their parish.
- be living in conformity with Catholic morals and in good standing with the Catholic Church (if married, married according to the laws of the Church).
- may not be the mother or father of the person to be baptized.
- Finally, they must obtain a Sponsor Certificate, attesting to their fulfilling the stated requirements, from the parish in which they are a registered member.
Before asking someone to take on the role of a sponsor, please be sure they fulfill the requirements of the Church. This will save the person from embarrassment and the family from being disappointed. The Priest has a responsibility before God and in justice to be sure these requirements are fulfilled!
To schedule a baptism, please call the rectory office.
Penance
February 11, 2000 by holyghostcc
Filed under Sacraments
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Sacrament of Penance
“Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as “the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace.” (CCC 1446)
This Sacrament gives Christ’s faithful the further possibility of conversion. All of us know that we are not perfect and depend on God for the grace necessary to change our lives. Through Confession, we announce our sins to the priest who sits “in persona Christi” (in the person of Christ) and exercises the command of Christ to His Apostles, ”Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (Jn 20:23)
Holy Eucharist
February 11, 2000 by holyghostcc
Filed under Sacraments
Sacrament of Holy Eucharist
“At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.’ (CCC 1323)
Because the Eucharist is the supreme act of worship of God the Mass is celebrated daily. And, it is in the Eucharist that we find our strength to live the Christian faith and go forth to continue the mission of Christ in today’s world.
“The Eucharist is the source and center of the Christian life.” In the Eucharist, we find our life, our hope and our strength and we return all of our love and thanksgiving to the Eucharist, “for in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.” (CCC 1324)
To receive Holy Communion, one must be a Catholic in good standing with the Church. Children who have not yet receive their 1st Holy Communion should enter the parish Religious Education program and adults who would like to receive this or any of the other Sacraments are invited to join our R.C.I.A. program. For more information, choose the “education” link or call our Religious Education office.
Confirmation
February 11, 2000 by holyghostcc
Filed under Sacraments
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Sacrament of Confirmation
Many young people and sometimes, even their parents think of the Sacrament of Confirmation as a graduation ceremony. The reality is, Confirmation is not the end, it is only the beginning of a life committed to Christ and His Church.
Let us look at what the Church teaches us about the Sacrament. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.” (CCC 1316)
“Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that “the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time,” for without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.” (CCC 1306)
Young people who have not yet been Confirmed should enter the parish Religious Education Program and adults who have never received the Sacrament can enter the R.C.I.A. program. More information about the preparation process is available under the link for “education” in the menu bar, or contact the Religious Education office.
Holy Orders
February 11, 2000 by holyghostcc
Filed under Sacraments
Holy Orders
“Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.” (CCC 1536)
The priest is a man, chosen from among men to be an “altar Christus” (another Christ).
The call to serve is a vocation. One does not choose, but is chosen by Christ and the Church to continue the mission of Christ on earth. The priest is called to offer sacrifice on behalf of God’s people in the Holy Mass, to teach by proclaiming the Word of God and teachings of the Church and to sanctify by providing the Sacraments to God’s people, leading them in prayer, praying for them and being an example of one whose life is completely dedicated to Christ and His Church.
This however, just touches the surface. The priest, is to be a sign of contradiction by a life of fidelity to the Gospel in the midst of his daily life. One priest said, “I pick up a piece of paper on the ground for the love of God.” This summarizes the life of a priest – his whole life is to flow from his love for Christ.
If you would like to become a priest, or would like more information, visit the Diocese of Providence Office of Vocations.
