CHRISTIAN LIVING HANDOUT

4th Quarter
Lesson 4

I. SACRAMENTS of RECONCILIATION (Renewal of Relationship)

Parts of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Penance has three parts regarding the penitent (the one confessing) and one
part concerning the confessor (the priest who possesses the faculty to hear Confession and grant
absolution). For the penitent, there is contrition (sorrow), confession (telling of sins), and satisfaction
(performance of penance), while for the confessor there is the imparting of Absolution (the actual
forgiveness).

A.

B.

C.

D.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as the Sacrament of Penance, or Penance and
Reconciliation) has three elements:
a.
Conversion,
b.
Confession
c.
Celebration (Penance)
Conversion
First the penitent (the repentant sinner -- the root word in "penitentiary"), must be aware of his
sinfulness and must be truly sorry (contrite) for his sins. Another word for repentance is
"contrition. He must repent his sins, and seek the sacrament of penance -- that is, to go to
confession to a priest. The best way to this is by undergoing an examination of conscience.
Confession
The penitent confesses to a priest all the sins he can recall -- after examining his conscience
which he has not confessed before. The confession is entirely private -- the priest-confessor
never reveals anything the penitent confesses. This is what we call as the seal of confession.
The procedure under this part starts with (1) the sign of the cross. (2) Then, the penitent
greets with, Bless me Father for I have sinned, (3) which is followed immediately by stating the
penitents last confession. (4) After which, the penitents begins to confess all the sins he
remember to the priest. (5) He ends by saying pardon also for the sins he could not remember.
Penance
The priest-confessor proposes certain actions -- penance -- for the penitent to perform. This
may be saying certain prayers and/or performing some other fitting action. The person who
performs this penance thus shows his sorrow for his sinful acts. This helps him to overcome his
faults, and the harm his sins have caused others -- to be reconciled with them and with the
Church, and to return to behavior consistent with being a disciple of Christ.

Reconciliation

After the penitent accepts the acts of penance, the priest, by the authority that the Church has
given him absolves the sinner; that is, he grants God's mercy

In it we find God's unconditional forgiveness, and as a result we are called to forgive others.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is indeed one of the healing Sacraments. The other Sacrament is
the Anointing of the sick. The Sacraments of Reconciliation heals us by the removal of our sins and
to heal our bond/ relationship with God

Five Steps for a Good Confession

1. Examine your conscience thoroughly
2. Be sincerely sorry for your sins
3. Confess your sins to the best of your ability
4. Resolve to amend your life
5. After your confession, do the penance the priest gives you
Things to Remember
Have faith in yourself when confessing.
Say all your sins or the Sacrament will be invalid.
Remember that the confessor will not reveal anything about you confessing.
Do the best you can and ask Gods forgiveness sincerely.
II. HOLY EUCHARIST (Communion)
What the Eucharist is?
The word Eucharist comes from the Greek words Eucharistein and Eulogin which recall the
Jewish blessings that proclaim Gods works: creation, redemption, and sanctification. At the Last
Supper, Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist with His apostles with the words Do this in memory of
me. The Eucharist is an important Sacrament of Christian initiation because it is a very special
meal where we receive the body and blood of Christ under the appearance of bread and wine.
What is the Passover meal?
The Passover meal is a solemn feast, a ritual meal. It was held in every family on the night of the
14th day of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish calendar. Among their religious meals, this was the
most sacred. It starts with the blessing of the unleavened bread by the head of the family.
What was the Passovers origin?
The Passover sacrifice today refers to the Exodus event where Moses told the Israelite families to
sacrifice a lamb each and mark their doorposts with the lambs blood. In the evening, they were to
eat the roasted lamb and the unleavened bread in preparation for their journey. The people obeyed
Moses, and during the evening, the angel of death passed over Egypt and struck the first born of
every Egyptian family, including the Pharaohs. But the messenger of God saw the blood of the lamb
smeared on the doorposts of the Israelite families and passed over them, sparing their children. This
was the event which finally made the Pharaoh allow the Israelites to leave Egypt, and thus, the
Israelites were finally able to pass over from slavery to freedom. (Exodus 12: 21 32)
On this particular Passover meal which Jesus shares with His Apostles, He invests on it new and
important meaning:
First - the meal sums up the love He has for His Apostles.
Second - He takes the symbol of life the unleavened bread and identifies it with Himself.
Take this and eat it, this is my body. (Mt. 26: 26)
Third - He blesses the wine and transforms it into His own blood.
Fourth - Jesus tells His Apostles to.. do this as a remembrance of Me.
Various Ways of Jesus Presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist
First, Jesus is present in the people gathered together to remember him.
Second, Jesus is also present in the Scripture text that are proclaimed and explained in the homily.
Third, Jesus is present in the priest-presider or celebrant who leads us into the celebration of the
Eucharist.
Fourth, Jesus comes to us in the appearance of bread and wine. This is the highest and most

important presence of Christ; we call it his real presence.

The Eucharist responds to the deepest hungers of our lives, both personal and communal. These
basic human hungers include the following:
Hunger for love and acceptance
Hunger for understanding
Hunger for a clear purpose in life
Hunger for justice and peace

EUCHARIST summit of the Christian worship

And called as EULOGY (1st C.) = blessing (Heb. Berakhah) Jesus blessing the bread (Cor.
11, 23-26)
LORD SUPPER, the Last Supper.
AGAPE love feast emphasized unity, sharing, love in early Christians in weekly gathering.
MASS - sent signals the catechumen to leave ite missa est Go you are sent.
EUCHARIST, thanksgiving Jesus gave thanks to the Father. (Mt. 26, 27)

Through the ages

Celebrated in private homes after worship in Jewish temple.
1st Century: AGAPE (St. Paul calls this the Common meal, includes consecration of bread and
wine, Breaking of the bread & communion.
2nd & 3rd Century (Celebrant has the freedom to say His own prayers HIPPOLYTUS composed
as prayer in 215 became standard through Christian world.
Changes in Liturgy 4th 7th Century

384, Mass said in Latin rather than Greek Emphasis: sacrifice, no longer on the meal.
7th Century - Pope Gregory the Great: standardized Latin Mass in Rome for the Western
Church.

Paul VI: modified the Mass we have today Stressed: divinity of Christ & sinfulness of the
people. Effects: less reception of the sacrament.

Middle Ages (8th-15th Century) DEBATE: Real Presence Emphasis: CONSECRATION,

adoration not communion TRANSUBSTANTIATION was introduced 1215, 4th Lateran
Council: All Catholics to receive communion devotion to Eucharist sprung up.

16TH Century: Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation

Council of TRENT: (1545-1563) Corrected abuses in the Church and defended attacks of the
Reformers

Council of Trent
REAL PRESENCE: Body, blood, soul &divinity.
TRANSUBSTANTIATION through CONSECRATION RESURRECTED PRESENCE OF
CHRIST in the bread & wine SACRIFICIAL character of Christs sacrifice on the Cross.

1910, Pope Pius X allowed the young to receive communion.

Eucharist today
Vatican Council II (Tama na palitan na) AGGIORNAMENTO.
SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM
Changes done in the Liturgy esp. in the EUCHARIST
1. Mass said in the language of the people.
Effect: full participation.
2. Prayers of the faithful introduced.
3. Communion in both species.

Lay active participation (SERVERS, LECTORS, COMMENTATORS, Communion in the

hand

Ang ibig sabihin ng Misa NGAYON

Sign of Gods continues love for us: Comes to us in an intimate way.
REMEMBRANCE & RE-ENACTMENT OF CHRIST SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS:
Makes present and real the saving deeds of Christ.
Makes us holy (Sacrum facere: to make holy)
Symbol of ONENESS
CREATES & CELEBRATES UNITY AMONG CHRISTIANS.
REMINDER OF GODS COVENANT OF LOVE & A COMMAND TO LOVE
OTHERSto break ourselves for others.
A summit of Christian worship...TO THE FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT.
Elements of the meal & Dimensions of the Eucharist
Coming together: All baptized
Dialogue: liturgy of The WORD
Sharing of food & drink: Liturgy of EUCHARIST
The Organization of the Mass
(2) Main parts of the Mass:
1. Liturgy of the Word
2. Liturgy of the Eucharist
INTRODUCTORY RITE
1. Gathering of the people
2. Entrance Procession
3. Greeting
4. Penitential Rite
5. Gloria
6. Opening Prayer

LITURGY OF THE WORD

MEANING
We gather from different places as Gods family,
renewing our oneness with Jesus & other Christians.
We stand & sing a hymn or holy song. The deacon or
lector carries the Book of the Gospels.
The priest comes to the altar, he kisses the altar that
symbolizes Jesus.
The priest invites us to recall our sins & ask Gods
forgiveness.
We sing the Gloria to praise & honor God the
Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
The priest lifts our prayer to God through our Lord
Jesus Christ.

1. First Reading

FIRST PART OF THE MASS

(Listening to Gods Word & Messages)
Taken from the Old Testament or New Testament.

2. Responsorial Psalm

Our answer to Gods word.

3. Second Reading

On Sundays & Feast days taken from the New

Testament.

4. Alleluia

This means Praise God and is sung before the

Gospel, but not in Lent.

5. Gospel Reading

The priest reads the message of Jesus from one of

the Gospels.

6. Homily

The priest explains to us the message of Jesus based

on the Scripture readings.

7. Creed
8. Prayers of the Faithful
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

We profess our faith by reciting the Apostles Creed.

This closes the Liturgy of the Word. Together with
the priest we lift up our needs to God.
SECOND PART OF THE MASS

1. Procession of the gifts

A symbol of the communitys willingness to give of

itself.

2. Presentation of the gifts at the altar

These gifts are a symbol of Gods gift, and are the

result of human labor.

3. Prayer over the gifts

The priest asks God to accept the gifts of the bread

& wine that will be turned to the Body & Blood of
Christ.

4. Eucharistic Prayer

This is our prayer of praise & thanksgiving to God,

the center of our celebration. We join our prayer to
Jesus prayer.

5. Memorial Acclamation

We proclaim what we believe that Jesus has died, is

risen & will come again.

6. The Great Doxology and Amen

We conclude the Eucharistic Prayer by praising God

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

COMMUNION RITE
1. The Lords Prayer

We Receive the Body and Blood of Christ

We pray as Gods family the prayer Jesus taught us.

2. Prayer for peace, sign of peace

The priest prays for peace and then we exchange a

sign of peace.

3. Breaking of the Bread

It symbolizes of unity so all may share in the same

body.

4. Communion

We become one in the Lord so that we can be one in

loving others.

5. Concluding Prayer

Petitions the Lord that union with Him will bear fruit
in daily life.

CONCLUDING RITE
1. Final Blessing
2. Dismissal

The priest gives us Gods blessing & sends us on a

mission.
We are now sent to follow, serve, and love Christ in
others.

Prepared by: Mr. Gerald Cabrestante@DBTC2011