Reed 6

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Table of Contents
Module Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Gospel Reading (15th Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Formative Assessment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . … . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(… Continuation of the Seven Sacraments) . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

A Christian Way of Life
(Marriage/ Matrimony) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

(Holy Orders) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

C. Sacraments of Vocation/ Commitment. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

6. The Sacrament of Marriage/ Matrimony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . 19
Enabling Assessment 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Gospel Reading (16th Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Formative Assessment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . … . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Starting Activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . … . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
7. The Sacrament of Holy Orders. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . 37

Five Steps for Giving Your Mind to Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 42

SYNTHESIS . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 46
(THE SACRAMENTS IN THE LIFE OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE) . . . . . . . . . 48

Summative Assessment 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Learning References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
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Module Markers
MEANING
GOSPEL READING
Each module starts with a Gospel activity. Bible verses are presented in text and
you should write a reflection about it. Guide questions for reflection are provided.
(Your respective teacher will determine if this will count towards your assessment grade).
MODULE OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES
You will see here the expected Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) and Topic Learning
Outcomes (TLO). This will provide an overview of what you should learn in the
module.
MODULE REQUIREMENTS
This section will show you the required activities/tasks that you need to
submit/accomplish.
STARTING ACTIVITY
This activity is designed to stir up your interest in the lesson to be discussed.
(Your respective teacher will determine if this will count towards your assessment grade).
LESSON PROPER
Contains the bulk of the learning activity. This will provide you with the content to
address the learning outcomes which are divided into subheadings.
ENABLING AND SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS

These assessments will allow you to deepen your understanding of the lesson. The
different assignments and quizzes will assure you of a quality teaching-learning
experience.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
This activity is an opportunity (optional) to deepen one’s faith journey through a
guided reflection-based on the Gospel.
LEARNING REFERENCES
These are the materials used (sources of information) in the lessons. You may refer
to them to learn more about the topics discussed.
LESSON TIME
This will provide you an idea of how long the lesson and activities will take. DO NOT
BE ALARMED, this is simply a guide. There is no problem if you exceeded the time or
if you finished the lesson and activities ahead of time.
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Leader: Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
(Pause in a moment of silence.)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(15th Week)
GOSPEL READING
John 8:12-20. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also."
Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ Then the Pharisees
said to him, ‘You are testifying on your behalf; your testimony is not valid.’ Jesus
answered, ‘Even if I testify on my behalf, my testimony is valid because I know
where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come
from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet
even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and
the Father who sent me. In your law, it is
written that the testimony of two witnesses is
valid. I testify on my behalf, and the Father
who sent me testifies on my behalf.’ Then they
said to him, ‘Where is your Father?’ Jesus
answered, ‘You know neither me nor my
Father. If you knew me, you would know my
Father also.’ He spoke these words while he
was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but
no one arrested him, because his hour had not
yet come."
Opening Prayer: Dear God, extend our horizons,

widen our vision, and remind us how inter-connected
we are as your sons and daughters. Breathe your Spirit
into us that we may live more truly as brothers and
sisters of one another. Amen. (Our Father… Hail
Mary… Glory be).
St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!
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FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (Optional)
Student’s Name: _________________________ Student ID Number: _____________

Instruction: Write your Gospel reflection here.
Thoughts for reflection:

1. The gospel today reminds us of how Jesus tries to share with others the meaning of
His life. We should hear it today, as if He is speaking to you now and trying to help
you. A couple of His sentences might help you to think – (1) “I am the light of the
world”.
2. Does Jesus figure among the guides of your lifestyle? Are you aware of anything in
your life that doesn’t fit well with you? (2) “I know where I have come from and
where I am going”. Later he says “I have come from the Father and I am going back
to the Father”. Everything that happened to Him as seen in this context. If we follow
the light of Christ we are privileged to be brought on the same journey in the safety of
His companionship.
Reflection
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CLO4. Participate actively and get involved in different Church ministries/activities as
Lasallians in the celebration of the sacraments.
CLO5. Design a plan for any community outreach activity that manifests the life of
discipleship in the modern world.
TLO6. Understand the Meaning and significance of the seven sacraments

TLO7. Appreciate and value the role of every Christian as Christ’s disciple by zealously
embracing the church’s mission and the sacramental life
TLO8. Live and nourish their membership in their respective Christian communities.
TLO9. Design an infographic material portraying personal commitment to action.
In this module, you are expected to:

a) Have a copy of the D-REED 002 syllabus
b) Use New Testament Bible
c) Keep in touched with your Journal (for spiritual enrichment)
d) Read the lessons; and
e) Submit the activities/assessment tasks required by your respective teacher in SB,
these may include:
 Gospel Reflection
 Starting Activity
 Enabling Assessments
 Summative Assessments
-oOo-
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(… Continuation of the Seven Sacraments)
There are two sacraments of vocation in

Catholic life, marriage, and the ordained
ministry. Both vocations, though lived
differently, have the same goal of leading
people to union with God which is the
Kingdom of God.
“By giving yourself to God,

you not only receive Himself in exchange
but, eternal life as well!”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Doctor Caritatis
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A CHRISTIAN WAY OF LIFE
Sacrament of Marriage/ Matrimony

It is the bond of love lived out daily between a husband and wife as they journey together
through life as friends, partners, lovers, and companions. In addition to supporting one another
in loving care, a married couple joins in the creative power of God by bringing forth children
into the world. As parents, the husband and wife are called to love, nurture and educate their
children in the life of the Catholic faith so that one day these children will be intelligent,
responsible, and loving adults.
Christ himself elevated the natural institution of marriage

to the dignity of a sacrament during his public ministry.
He worked his first miracle at a wedding (John 3:1-11) and he taught that marriage in the
New Covenant is permanent and holy (Matthew 19:3-9). The apostles taught on the beauty
and significance of marriage throughout the New Testament (1 Peter 3:1-12). St. Paul
even taught (Ephesians 5:21-33) on the mystery of the relationship between the members
of the Church and Christ the bridegroom as analogous to the relationship between
husband and wife in the sacrament of Marriage.
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Christian Marriage is a sacrament that
orders the husband and wife to serve one
another. This service is based on the
Christian virtue of charity and is done in a
spirit of care and concern for the good of
the spouse and child(ren) following the
example of Christ. If this sacrament
provides grace for salvation to the
individual, it is only a secondary fruit. The
principal effect of the grace of the
sacrament SERVES TO STRENGTHEN THE
COUPLE’S UNITY AND DEEPEN THEIR
LOVE AND AFFECTION so that their loving
service assists them in growing closer to
God. The ultimate goal of marriage is the
same as Christian life; to respond to God’s
grace and be happy with Him in heaven forever.http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/cana.htm
Made to love … made for family

God is the source of love and so his role in the family is irreplaceable. In fact, “man
would not exist were he not created by God’s love and constantly preserved by it.”
(Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 19) What is a family? More
importantly WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY? It is the loving union of one man and one
woman with the purpose of the procreation and upbringing of children. In the Christian
view marriage is a sacrament, instituted by Christ.
Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, ‘Is it lawful for a man to
divorce his wife for any cause whatever?’ He said in reply, ‘Have you not read that from
the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason, a
man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall
become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has
joined together, no human being must separate.’ They said to him, ‘Then why did Moses
command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss [her]?’ He said to
them, ‘Because of the
hardness of your hearts
Moses allowed you to
divorce your wives, but
from the beginning, it
was not so. I say to you,
whoever divorces his
wife (unless the
marriage is unlawful)
and marries another
commits adultery.” -
Matthew 19: 3-9
The purpose of
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marriage serves not only the care of children but also the “communion and good of the
couple.” (Compendium of the Catechism, 338) The institution of the family has been the
foundation of society throughout human history. The family passes on culture, customs,
and faith to each generation. Put simply, where the family goes, there goes society.
Members of the modern family face an uphill battle to remain faithful to the sacred
trust they have received from God to be a living school of love. As Vatican II emphatically
stated: “The well-being of the person and human and Christian society is intimately
linked with the healthy condition of… marriage and family.” (Vatican II, Pastoral
Constitution on the Church, 47).
The Church is God's family in the world.”

- Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 25
The Catholic family and fidelity

In this family, there
are four units. The
largest unit is the
universal Church led
by the pope. Then
there is the diocese
with the bishop as
its head. Next is the
parish with the
pastor as its ‘father’.
The smallest unit is
the domestic church;
the Catholic family
is led by the mother
and father who work
together to lead
each other and their https://www.immigrationgurus.com.au/definition-change-member-family-unit/
children in striving
for holiness. “Christians and all men who hold [the family] in high esteem sincerely
rejoice in the various ways by which men today find help in fostering this community of
love and perfecting its life, and by which parents are assisted in their lofty calling”
(Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church, 47). SUPPORT FOR FAMILY LIFE IS OF
HIGHEST IMPORTANCE FOR CATHOLICS.
Marriage requires mutual fidelity for life. The permanence of the marital bond gives
spouses the freedom of marital life lived without fear of abandonment and helps them
to persevere in fidelity to one another and God.
The key to understanding the indissoluble (permanent) character of a marriage is not to

see it as a rule imposed from the outside, but instead, as an essential promise which
flows from the vows and nature of marriage. “To opt for a marriage in this way
expresses a genuine and firm decision to join paths, come what may. Committing
oneself exclusively and definitively to another person always involves a risk and a bold
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gamble.” (Pope Francis, The Joy of Love, 132) In this sense marriage may be the riskiest
thing one can do in the course of one’s life. However, it is worth the risk because “this
‘yes’ tells them that they can always trust one another and that they will never be
abandoned when difficulties arise or new attractions or selfish interests present
themselves.” (Pope Francis, The Joy of Love, 132)
Difficult situations: the family under attack

As it has been since the beginning when
after “the two became one flesh” they were
tempted by the serpent; marriage remains
Satan’s favorite target. Today the beauty of
family life “is not everywhere reflected with
equal brilliance, since polygamy, the plague
of divorce, so-called free love, and other
disfigurements have an obscuring effect.
Also, married love is too often profaned by
excessive self-love, the worship of pleasure,
and illicit practices” like contraception,
sterilization, and abortion (Vatican II,
Pastoral Constitution on the Church, 47).
God’s plan for the family

Vatican II expresses the beauty of marital
love and family life which “are ordained for
the procreation and education of children
and find in them their ultimate crown
“(Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the
Church, 48). St. John Paul II helped write https://www.freeimages.com/photo/family-
The Pastoral Constitution of the Church in-hands-1619017
(Gaudium et Spes), the Second Vatican
Council document which teaches about the truth of the Catholic family as the ‘domestic
church’. In his work to implement the council, he wrote an Apostolic Exhortation where
he said: “The Church is deeply convinced that only by the acceptance of the Gospel are
the hopes that man legitimately places in marriage and in the family capable of being
fulfilled.” (Familiaris Consortio, 3) God’s plan for the Catholic family is to participate in
the work of the Church “becoming a saved community… called upon to communicate
Christ's love to their brethren, thus becoming a saving community.” (Familiaris Consortio,
49).
We discover the meaning of life through contact with God’s revelation and we learn
what it means to be human in the family because “the family is a kind of school of
deeper humanity” (Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church, 51). Seen in this light
the family is the school and love is the lesson. We normally first learn to love God and
one another as we grow up in our family. And even though our families are not perfect,
they nevertheless are true schools of love. In fact, “authentic married love is caught up
into divine love and is governed and enriched by Christ's redeeming power and the
saving activity of the Church so that this love may lead the spouses to God with powerful
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effect and may aid and strengthen them in the sublime office of being a father or a
mother” (Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church, 48). As a ‘school’, “the family
has the mission to guard, reveal and communicate love” (Familiaris Consortio, 17).
The family: a school of prayer and faith

As a school of love, the family is also a school of prayer where, “inspired by the example
and family prayer of their parents, children… will more easily set out upon the path of a
truly human training, of salvation, and holiness” (Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the
Church, 48). In the letter to the Philippians, St. Paul offers a prayer fitting for the family:
“it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all
discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and
blameless for the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1: 9-10) For families beset by difficulties,
prayer in the home has the power to change things for the better.
As the now-famous saying goes: The family that prays together, stays together.”
Because of this truth, “parents have the specific responsibility of educating their
children in prayer, introducing them to gradual discovery of the mystery of God and
personal dialogue with Him” (Familiaris Consortio, 60). Parents should also “eagerly
carry out their duties of education, especially religious education, which is primarily
entrusted to them” (Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church, 48). And because,
“there is no family that does not know how selfishness, discord, tension and conflict
violently attack and at times mortally wound its own communion” familial religious
formation must focus on “family communion [which] can only be preserved and
perfected through a great spirit of sacrifice. It requires, in fact, a ready and generous
openness of each and all to understanding, to forbearance, to pardon, to reconciliation”
(Familiaris Consortio, 21).
CLOSING PRAYER: I will continue, O my God, to do all my actions for the love of you.

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(15th Week)
GOSPEL READING
Luke 12:32-48. “Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work
when he arrives."
‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell
your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing
treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also. ‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who
are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door
for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert
when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will
come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them
so, blessed are those slaves.
But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would
not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at
an unexpected hour.’ Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or everyone?’ And the
Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of
his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom
his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all
his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he
begins to beat the other slaves, men, and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master
of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not
know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his
master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating.
But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From
everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much
has been entrusted, even more, will be demanded.
Opening Prayer: Dear God, When I grow old, I just want to be a happy person. Please teach
me how to be happy. Help me how to find happiness today in the simple
things of life. Amen. (Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be).

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1. Once more, Jesus reminds us to be watchful, making sure we are awake when the
master comes. I ask for his help not to live a distracted life, so that when Jesus comes
into my life, in a way and at a time I do not expect, through events and persons, he
finds me ready to welcome him.
2. I look at my day so far, at yesterday, and see how aware I have been of God’s coming
into my life, in so many ways. I ask for the grace not to be deaf to his call, and always
ready to respond to the best of my ability.
Reflection
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Sacrament of Holy Orders
The mission of ordained ministry in the Catholic Church is to serve the Christian community by
helping to order its communal life in such a way that the community can be living witnesses of
Jesus Christ in the world. Deacons, priests, and bishops, called by God for service to the People
of God, dedicate themselves to the building up of the community of Christ who is Himself the
head of the Church which is His Mystical Body.
All Christians share in Christ's priesthood.

All Catholics, indeed all Christians,
share in the priesthood of Christ
through their baptism into his death
and resurrection.
In the New Covenant, we have two

kinds of priests. Those who have
received the sacrament of Holy Orders
and those who belong to the
priesthood of the faithful (also called
laity).
Priests offer sacrifice. That is their job:

to be a mediator between God and
man by offering sacrifice. This is very
clear in the Old Covenant where the
sacrifice offered is the blood of
animals. In the New Covenant, Christ,
the Lamb of God “entered once for all
into the Holy Place, taking not the
blood of goats and calves but his blood” (Hebrews 9:12). The revelation of the Cross of
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Christ is that true love is sacrificial. In this way, Christ has offered an acceptable sacrifice
to God the Father making it possible for the sacrifices of the faithful to participate in his
one saving sacrifice.
Sacrifice is the center of the Christian life

because joined to the sacrifice of Christ...
“the lives of the faithful, their praise, sufferings, prayer, and work are united with those of
Christ and with his total offering, and so acquire a new value.” (Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 1368)
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In the Church, there are two different kinds of the priesthood which “differ from one
another in essence and not only in degree” (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the
Church, 10). They are not two levels of priesthood but are different kinds of priesthood.
Jesus gave a profound gift to the eleven disciples who, except for John, had all betrayed
Jesus at his passion. Jesus … “breathed on then and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.’ (John
20:22-23)
At the Last Supper Jesus had given these men the office of the priesthood also called Holy
Orders. “THE MINISTERIAL
PRIEST, by the sacred power
he enjoys, teaches and rules
the priestly people; acting in
the person of Christ, he makes
present the Eucharistic
sacrifice, and offers it to God in
the name of all the people”
(Vatican II, Dogmatic
Constitution on the Church, 10).
Priests offer their entire lives in
service and speak the words of
absolution to forgive sins in the
sacrament of confession.
Holy Orders describes the

sacrament which has three
degrees: BISHOP, PRIEST, AND
DEACON. The fullness of Holy
Orders rests in the office of the
bishop. Consecration as a
bishop makes him a real and
legitimate successor of the
apostles. Priests are ordained
to serve the entire Church and
like the bishop exercise this
ministry through the
forgiveness of sins. Deacons
are ordained either
transitionally (as part of the
path to priestly ordination) or https://www.pinterest.ru/pin/24488391694757522/?amp_client_id=CLI
ENT_ID(_)&mweb_unauth_id={{default.session}}&simplified=true
permanently to serve at the
altar and exercise the ministry
of the word (preaching and teaching). They also take on specific efforts of charity, service
to the sick, and pastoral care. Deacons are not ordained to forgive sins (except in the
administration of Baptism) and so they cannot confect the Eucharist, hear confessions, or
anoint the sick.
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The mass then is the source of life for the Catholic Christian. It is our hope for heaven and
the source of our strength and union with God here on earth. As Pope Benedict XVI
recently wrote: “The Eucharist, since it embraces the concrete, everyday existence of the
believer, makes possible, day by day, the progressive transfiguration of all those called by
grace to reflect the image of the Son of God” (Sacramentum Caritatis, 71).
Bishops, Priests, and Deacons help the laity in

their vocation to holiness
With such a “powerful means of salvation, all the
faithful, whatever their condition or state, are
called by the Lord, each in his way, to that
perfect holiness whereby the Father Himself is
perfect” (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the
Church, 11). On our own, our sacrifices have no
power to save, but Christ made them powerful.
The laity especially is given the great gift of the
Holy Eucharist through the words and at the
hands of the priest at Mass. Our participation in
Mass is important because “the faithful must
come to it with proper dispositions… that they
cooperate with heavenly grace lest they receive it
in vain” (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred
Liturgy, 11).
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2019/05/holy-orders.html
Everyone wants to go to heaven… but nobody wants to die to get there

Each member of the faithful has a role to play in offering this “acceptable sacrifice” to God
the Father. In wealthy countries, many of the faithful tend to be lazy about the faith. Since
Vatican II the distinctly Catholic spirituality of sacrifice has largely disappeared among the
faithful. This is not what the Council intended. If we seek to live forever in heaven, WE
MUST BECOME PEOPLE WHO LIVE LIKE GOD DOES, loving unselfishly both God and
neighbor. There is no room for selfishness in authentic Christian life. This is the “why”
behind such Catholic practices as abstinence from meat, fasting, almsgiving, and even
prayer. The spiritual power behind these practices is not rooted in a hatred of the person or
the goods of the world. It is rooted in love. CHRISTIAN LIFE ISN’T ABOUT WHAT CAN I GET
FROM GOD. IT IS ABOUT WHAT I CAN GIVE AS AN “ACCEPTABLE OFFERING.” Christ died
for our sins and we must respond to this gift by dying to ourselves as Jesus taught that
“whoever loses his life for my sake, will save it.” (Luke 9:24) This is the logic of Holy Orders
through which a rich offering is given in service to God and His people. This same logic
applies to all the faithful as well who are called according to their state in life to offer their
life in loving service in their homes, workplace, school; wherever God places them in the
world.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever! 16
(16th Week)
GOSPEL READING
Matthew 6:33-34. “Do not worry about your life."

'No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the
other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
wealth. 'Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or
what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than
food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither
sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are
you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single
hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell
you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so
clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry,
saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear?" For
it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed, your heavenly Father
knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and
his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 'So do not
worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble
is enough for today.
Opening Prayer: Dear God, increase my

faith, bless my efforts and work, now and
for evermore. Amen. (Our Father… Hail
Mary… Glory be).
17
https://zeenews.india.com/health/five-ways-for-a-stress-
free-happy-life-1906190


1. What does ‘set your heart on his kingdom first’ mean for me? Am I a worrier? What do
I worry about? Can I talk to Jesus about my worries?
2. Do I wish I could ‘hand them over’ to him to take care of them and take care of me?
What might my life be like if I ceased to worry?
3. How do I come to a balance between the kind of trust the Gospel invites me to and the
need to work and provide for myself and my family?
4. O you of little faith? Do I long for a deeper more radical faith in God’s care?
Reflection
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C. Sacraments of Vocation/ Commitment
6. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE/ MATRIMONY
Sacred Scriptures
1. Genesis 2:18-25. The covenant that imitates God’s faithfulness to His People.
The Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for
him. So, the Lord God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of
the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the
man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the
birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for
the man.
So, the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one
of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the
rib that He had taken from the man. When He brought her to the man, the man said:
“This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called
Woman, for out ‘of man’ this one has been taken.
That is why a man shall leave his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of
them become one body. The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame.
2. Mt. 19:3-9. Unity and Indissolubility of Marriage

Jesus teaches that a man can marry only one woman at a time and vice versa. And their
marriage cannot be dissolved by any reason
whatsoever except death.
Some Pharisees came up to Him and said to test

Him, “May a man divorce his wife for any reason
whatever? He replied: “Have you not read that the
Creator from the beginning made them male and
female and declared: For this reason, a man shall
leave his father and mother, and cling to his wife,
and the two shall become as one? Thus, they are
no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, let no man
separate what God has joined.
They said to Him, ‘Then why did Moses command

divorce and the promulgation of a divorce decree?
http://clipart-
library.com/clipart/8iA6EKnoT.htm 19
Because of your stubbornness Moses let you divorce your wives, He replied; but at the
beginning, it was not that way. I now say to you: whoever divorces his wife (lewd conduct
is a separate case) and marries another commits adultery, and the man who marries a
divorced woman commits adultery.’
3. Eph. 5:22-33. Christian Wives and Husbands

St. Paul exhorts married Christians to a strong mutual love. Holding with Genesis 2, 24,
that marriage is a divine institution, he sees Christian marriage as taking on a new
meaning symbolic of the intimate relationship of love between Christ and the Church. The
wife should serve her husband in the same spirit as that of the Church’s service to Christ
and the husband should care for his wife with the devotion of Christ to the Church.
Wives should be submissive to their

husbands as if to the Lord because the
husband is head of his wife, just as
Christ is head of His body, the Church,
as well as its Savior. As the Church
submits to Christ, so wives should
submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ

loved the Church. He gave Himself up
for Her to make Her holy, purifying her
in the bath of water by the power of the
word, to present Himself a glorious
Church, holy and immaculate, without
https://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/713813079/bride-groom-
stain or wrinkle or anything of that sort. wedding-dress-man-woman
Husbands should love their wives as they do their bodies. He who loves his wife loves
himself. Observe that no one ever hates his flesh; no, he nourishes it and takes care of it
as Christ cares for the Church – for we are members of His body. “For this reason, a man
shall leave his father and mother, and shall cling to his wife. And the two shall be made
into one”. This is a great foreshadowing; I mean that it refers to Christ and the Church. In
any case, each one should love his wife as he loves himself, the wife for her part showing
respect for her husband.
Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World

(Gaudium et Spes, 48)
Church Teaching
For, God Himself is the Author of matrimony, endowed as it is with various benefits and
purposes. All of these have a very decisive bearing on the continuation of the human race,
on the personal development and eternal destiny of the individual members of a family, and
on the dignity, stability, peace, and prosperity of the family itself and of human society as a
whole. By their very nature, the institution of matrimony itself and conjugal love are ordained
for the procreation and education of children and find in them their ultimate crown. Thus, a
man and a woman, who by their compact of conjugal love “are no longer tow, but one flesh”
(Mt. 19:23), render mutual help and service to each other through an intimate union of their
20
persons and their actions. Through this union, they experience the meaning of their oneness
and attain it with growing perfection day by day. As a mutual gift of two persons, this
intimate union and the good of the children impose total fidelity on the spouses and argue
for an unbreakable oneness between them.
1. The Catechism of the Sacrament of Matrimony

a. For, God Himself is the Author of matrimony, endowed as it is with various benefits and
purposes. All of these have a very decisive bearing on the continuation of the human
race, on the personal development and eternal destiny of the individual members of a
family, and on the dignity, stability, peace, and prosperity of the family itself and of
human society as a whole (GS 48). The vocation to marriage is written in the very
nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not
a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through
the centuries, social
structures, and spiritual
attitudes. These differences
should not cause us to forget
their common and permanent
characteristics. Although the
dignity of this institution is not
transparent everywhere with
the same clarity some sense
of the greatness of the
matrimonial union exists in all
cultures. ‘The well-being of the
person and both human and
Christian society is closely
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/458804280779417260/
bound up with the healthy
state of conjugal and family
life (CCC, 1603).
b. By their very nature, the institution of matrimony itself and conjugal love are ordained
for the procreation and education of children and find in them their ultimate crown (GS,
48). Children are the supreme gift of marriage and contribute greatly to the good of the
parents themselves…God blessed man and woman with the words: ‘Be fruitful and
multiply.’ Hence, true married love and the whole structure of family life which results
from it, without diminishment of the other ends of marriage, are directed to disposing
the spouses to cooperate valiantly with the love of the Creator and Savior, who through
them will increase and enrich his family from day to day.
The fruitfulness of conjugal love extends to the fruits of the moral, spiritual, and
supernatural life that parents hand on to their children by education. Parents are the
principal and first educators of their children. In this sense, the fundamental task of
marriage and family is to be at the service of life (CCC, 1652-53)
c. Thus, a man and a woman, who by their compact of conjugal love “are no longer tow,
but one flesh” (Mt. 19:23), render mutual help and service to each other through an
21
intimate union of their persons and their action (GS, 48). Holy Scripture affirms that
man and woman were created for one another: “It is not good that the man should be
alone.” (Gen 2:18). The Woman, ‘flesh of his flesh,’ i.e., his counterpart, his equal, his
nearest in all things, is given to him by God as a ‘helpmate’; she thus represents God
from whom comes our help. (Cf. Gen 2:18, 25). Therefore, a man leaves his father and
his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.’ (Gen 2:24). The Lord
Himself shows that this signifies an unbreakable union of their two lives by recalling
what the plan of the Creator had been ‘in the beginning’: ‘So they are no longer two,
but one flesh’ (Mt. 19:6) (CCC, 1605).
d. Through this union they experience the meaning of their oneness and attain it with
growing perfection day by day. As a mutual gift of two persons, this intimate union and
the good of the children impose total fidelity on the spouses and argue for an
unbreakable oneness between them (GS, 48). In His mercy, God has not forsaken
sinful man. The punishments consequent upon sin, ‘pain in childbearing’ and ‘toil in
the sweat of your brow,’ (Gen 3:16, 19) also embody remedies that limit the damaging
effects of sin. After the fall, marriage helps to overcome self-absorption, egoism, the
pursuit of one’s pleasure, and to open oneself to the other, to mutual aid and self-
giving (CCC, 1609)
2. Marriage as a Covenant
People treat the sacrament of matrimony as a contract where the bride and the groom
give only half of their share in the contract to make it 100%. But 50% for each couple is
not enough. The husband needs to give his 100% share as well as the wife her 100% to
make their marriage successful.
But marriage is more than a contract; it is a covenant where the couple makes a pact or
agreement between themselves and with God as the third party. God makes a covenant
with the couple, so they need to make it also a covenant between the two of them. In the
biblical sense, a covenant means a friendship agreement, a dynamic reality, an open-
minded commitment; it involves the effort of God, husband, and wife; it involves a
covenant love between husband and wife. To make their relationship last, the important
elements of love need to be present in their marriage: love, definitive commitment,
responsibility, trust, and fidelity. Hence, their marriage will succeed and they will love
each other ‘until death does them apart’.
This covenant is
patterned after
God’s fidelity to His
covenant with the
unfaithful Israelites
in the Old
Testament. This
also led us to the
New Covenant
made by our Lord
Jesus Christ with
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His passion and death on the cross, a covenant for all the people of the world sealed by
his blood. “The wedding day of the Lamb, (Rev 19:7), wherein, the Church is the bride and
Christ is the bridegroom. Furthermore, this new ‘covenant of love’ is confirmed in the
famous text from Ephesians (5:21-33): the covenant between man and woman is seen as
the image of the covenant between Christ and the Church. With this mage husbands and
wives, therefore, should love and act toward each other as Christ loves and treats us, His
Church. Hence, marriage partners are admonished: “Defer to one another out of
reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:21). All domination by one partner over the other is thus
directly rejected.
3. Marriage as a Sacrament
The sacrament of marriage is the matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman
establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered
towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring (CCC,
1601).
Marriage is seen as a) an ongoing saving symbolic action, b) grounded in the ministry of

Christ and continued in and through the Church, which c) when proclaimed, realized, and
celebrated in faith, d) makes present and shares in, God’s love and faithfulness in Jesus
Christ, in the pattern of His Paschal Mystery
The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other and intimate
communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its special laws by the
Creator. By its very nature is ordered for the good of the couple as well as for the
generation and education of children (also deepen the union of husband and wife as
purposes or ends of marriage). Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to
the dignity of a sacrament (CCC, 1660)
The promises made by the couple in the sacramental celebration of marriage do not
create love. The couple already loves each other, and they make it public in front of man
and God to love each other for better or worse, until death.
The sacramental graces that the couple receives are the deepening of their conjugal love
and indissoluble unity strengthened and perfected in Christ who is the source of this
grace. By this grace, they “help one another to attain holiness in their married life and in
welcoming and educating their children”. In Christian marriage, the couple is assured of
Christ’s guidance and inspiration. “Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/boris_pasternak_116658?src=t_sacrament
23
take up their crosses and so follow Him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one
another, to bear one another’s burdens, to ‘subject to one another out of reverence for
Christ’, and to love one another with supernatural, tender and fruitful love” (CCC 1641-42)
4. Responsible Parenthood
The Council brings together the unitive and procreative goals of marriage: conjugal and
offspring. Marriage and conjugal love are by their nature ordained toward begetting and
educating children. Indeed, children are the supreme gift of marriage and greatly contribute
to the good of the parents themselves (GS, 50). This union is based on the nature of
conjugal love, which: “while leading the spouses to (become) “one flesh” does not end with
the couple. It makes them capable of the greatest possible gift, the gift by which they
become cooperators with God for giving life a new human person… a living reflection of their
love, a permanent sign of conjugal unity and a living and inseparable synthesis of their being
a father and a mother (FC, 14).
Christian parents/spouses do not the

only minister to each other by
strengthening each other’s faith,
supporting, counseling, and easing
each other’s burdens in healing and
comforting. They also minister to
their children, most of all by having a
lasting loving relationship with each
other that establishes a sound family
atmosphere. In relating to their
children, parents must not only take
care of them physically but also
provide for their religious formation.
“The family is meant by God to be the
first school of discipleship where the
parents are the first catechists of
their children and where all the
members mutually evangelize each
other…and learn to share with others
the grace and light of Christ (PCP II,
576). In everyday actions, this demands that the parents accept and be present to each of
their children as unique persons, throughout the various stages of their growth (CFC 1932).
Family Planning: Many Catholics today are misled into thinking that the Church is
against all family planning. The Church teaches the need for responsible parenthood.
This means, among other things, that couples should bring into the world generously
only the children whom they can raise as good human beings. The decision on the
number of children rests solely on the parents – no one can make that decision for
them. But it is a decision they must make according to their formed Christian
conscience, “with a sense of their responsibility to each other, to their children already
born and still to be born, to God,” and given Church teaching (CFC 1923).
24
5. Family Relationships
a. Stable and Loving
Relationships between Husband
and Wife
Married couples should take
seriously each other and should
make every effort to see each
other as real persons and not as
love objects. We do not have a
magic formula for the required
number of qualities, but some are
important without which a
marriage is almost certain to fail
(Patambang, Salibay & Valera, pp.
176-177):
https://www.slideshare.net/akn4fotos/comm-1113-
chapter-1-lecture
There must be communication and meaningful conversation about their feelings.
One should be more conscious of his/her voice, choose the most appropriate time
to talk, be gentle and loving as possible. One should try to keep his/her temper, be
ready to listen, and above all be prepared to hear unpleasant things, too.
Each must try to understand what it means to be the ‘other person’. One ought to be
emphatic by trying to put one’s self in another’s shoes. Empathy requires that:
i. Firstly, one considers the surrounding facts that take place in the incident that
involve the person.
ii. Secondly, one tries to understand what these facts mean to the other.
iii. Thirdly, he/she reflects this understanding in a non-threatening way. Lastly,
he/she should open to whatever response is given to one’s reflection.
There must be honesty. One can never build a good relationship on lies. And one can
never solve a problem by simply pretending that it doesn’t exist.
The two must be real to each other. Many couples seeking counseling almost always
accuse each other of being non-genuine. This is an important notation because false
accusations can cause the relationship to crumble.
They must care for each other. It should be caring in such a way that neither feels
trapped by this caring, a non-possessively warm caring. Four values promote
interpersonal relationships.
i. First is Recognition: It helps counteract the tendency for spouses to take each
other for granted.
ii. Second is Kindness: It prevents partners from measuring each other’s
contribution to the relationship. Kindness creates a better relationship, however,
possessive kindness – an act is done to control a person – hinders closeness
and a good relationship.
iii. The third is Independence: It allows each of the partners to be uniquely himself/
herself in the relationship. It does not mean that either has the right to do
25
whatever one pleases. Each should make an effort to be open to the uniqueness
of others.
iv. Fourth is Responsibility: it means the fulfillment of obligations in a relationship.
One’s responsibility in marriage is to foster a more effective relationship between
each other, to express love through our behavior.
There must be commitment and permanence. Ceremonies, gifts, rings are external
signs of internal commitment to love and honor until death. Sorrows, disappointments,
pains, and joys await the couples as part of their lives. If there is true love, couples can
face and accept them; it is love that can make marriage endure forever.
Filial Respect for Parents
Filial respect for parents is demanded of children and adults by the Fourth
Commandment – “Honor your father and mother”. Honor means showing proper
gratitude, affection, respect, obedience, and care to parents (CCC 2214F). The act of
honoring is both a cultural act and a religious act for it extends to all who have
contributed to one’s care, and education like our lolo, lola, kuya, ate, aunties, uncles.
The Old Testament decreed extreme punishment for

transgressors: “Whoever curses his father and mother
shall be put to death” (Ex 21:17). “A blasphemer is he
who despises his father, accursed of his Creator, he
who angers his mother (Sir 3:16). Holy Scripture has it
when it exhorts the son: “Observe, my son, your father’s
bidding, and reject not your mother’s teaching” (Pr.
6:20). In honoring our parents, we honor God Himself.
“For the Lord sets a father in honor over his children; a
mother’s authority He confirms over her sons. He who
honors his father atones for sins; he stores up riches
who reveres his mother” (Sir3:2-3). “Honor your father
and mother” carries with it a promise, ‘that it may go
well with you, and that you may have a long life on
earth (Eph 6:1-3; cf. CFC 1021)
http://www.rosesplacesenioralf.com/blog/
get-a-head-start-with-your-aging-parents
b. Parental Respect and Responsibility for Children

Care and respect for their children as persons in their own right are enjoined by the
Fourth Commandment. St. Paul exhorts the parents: “Fathers, do not nag your children
lest they lose heart (Col 3:21). “Fathers, do not anger your children, bring them up with
the training and instruction befitting the Lord” (Eph 6:4). In His teaching, Christ Himself
offered a very positive picture of human parents: “What a father among you will give
his son a snake if he asks for a fish, or hand him a scorpion if he asks for an egg? If
you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will
the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Lk 11:11-13)
c. Duties of Christian Parents
26
The Church teaches that parents must provide so far as they can for their children’s
needs, guiding them in faith and morals, and creating for them an environment for
personal growth. The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is
almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute. The right and duty of parents to
educate their children are primordial and inalienable (CCC 2221). This role cannot be
relegated to ‘yayas’ or teachers in the school. Parents should deliberately give their
time for their children since first and foremost their children are also children of God to
whom due respect as human persons is demanded from them Parents bear witness to
their responsibility to educate their children by creating a home, a place for education
in the virtues, where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity and disinterested
service are the rules. Parents have a grave responsibility to give a good example to
their children. By knowing how to acknowledge their failings to their children, parents
will be better able to guide and correct them (CCC 2223).
In infancy and childhood, parents provide for the physical, emotional, and spiritual
needs of their children. As they grow older, the parents are called to promote their
growing autonomy and independence. Parents have the primary responsibility for the
education of their children, both secular and religious (CFC 1026). Through the grace
of the sacrament of Marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of
evangelizing their children. Parents should initiate their children at an early age into
the mysteries of the faith of which they are the “first heralds” for their children.
Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years. This
already happens when family
members help one another to grow
in faith by the witness of Christian
life in keeping with the Gospel.
Parents have the mission of
teaching their children to pray and
to discover their vocation as
children of God (CCC 2225-2226).
Responsible parents teach their
children self-love, assertive
behavior, healthy sexuality, sound
values, and good behavior,
personal responsibility, allow each
child to be unique, and to develop
interdependence (Patambang, M.,
Salibay, E. & Valera, 2001).
If problems do arise between the

parents and the children, first,
parents and children alike must
learn how to communicate with
one another openly and deeply, in
a loving, forgiving, mutually
supporting atmosphere that is
honest and truthful. Secondly,
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ent-walk-clipart-family-with-kids-png-png/
27
parents, as well as children, must be willing to admit errors, since a) no one is perfect
or sinless; b) loving forgiveness is what Christ asks of all, and c) truth and a proper
sense of right and wrong are the only bases for genuine forgiveness and interpersonal
relationships. Thirdly, the whole family must look beyond itself and strive to offer
Christian witness of the Gospel values of justice and protection of human rights to the
wider community of the town, province, region, and nation (CFC 1027)
6. Legal Matters Concerning Marriage: (Church Marriage, Civil Marriage, Impediments,

Divorce, Annulment and Legal Separation)
Church marriage follows the Canon Law of the
Catholic Church while civil marriage is guided
by the laws of the state that binds the couple
in contracting their vows and promises.
Impediments are legal obstacles that prevent
or hinder a sacrament from being performed
validly and licitly.
Twelve (12) diriment impediments hinder or

disqualify two persons for a valid and lawful
marriage:
 Age (Can 1083),
 Antecedent and perpetual impotence https://hirharang.com/is-your-partner-from-a-
(Can 1084), different-country-4-legal-matters-to-
 Prior bond or previous marriage remember-before-marriage.html
where the other party is still alive
(Can 1085),
 The disparity of cult (one person not being baptized) (Can 1086),
 Holy Orders (Can 1087),
 Perpetual vows of chastity in a religious institute (Can 1088),
 Abduction (to get married) (Can 1089),
 Crime (one person previously conspiring to marry upon the condition of death
of a spouse) while still married (crime committed in marriage) (Can 1090),
 Consanguinity to the fourth collateral line (1st cousin) (Can 1091),
 Affinity (relationship by marriage, example: brother-in-law) in the direct line (Can
1092),
 Public propriety/decency (Can 1093),
 And legal adoption to the second collateral line (Can 1094).
If any of these impediments happen the Local Ordinary (bishop) can dispense his subject
wherever they are staying. Dispensation reserved to the Apostolic See (Pope) is given
when impediments arise from the sacred orders or the public vow of perpetual chastity in
a religious institute and the impediment of crime. An impediment of consanguinity in the
direct line or the second degree of the collateral line has never given a dispensation
(Canon 1078)
28
The Church has always opposed divorce. It is the action of the court through which the
marital bond is broken due to a circumstance that arose after the celebration of a valid
marriage. It means that the husband and wife are no longer married to each other, thus
giving each other the freedom and the legal right to contract a new marriage. She teaches
that divorce is against the very nature of love, marriage, and family life, the content and
meaning of the vows and promises made in the contract and rites, and above all against
the explicit instructions of Christ. The sacrament of marriage is always indissoluble.
In 1 Cor. 7:10-11 Paul acknowledged Jesus' prohibition of divorce. Fidelity is a

command of the Lord. “Marriage arises in the covenant of marriage, or irrevocable
consent, which each partner freely bestows on and of the children impose total
fidelity on each of them the dignity of a sacrament so His unbreakable union with
His Church” (Rite of Marriage, Introduction, No. 2).
Marriage in the sense of

covenanted love-sacred,
solemn, serious – of itself
requires indissoluble union
after the model of God’s love.
“The intimate partnership of
married life and love has been
established by the Creator and
qualified by His laws and is
rooted in the conjugal covenant
of irrevocable personal
consent” (Gaudium et Spes,
48).
https://togetherforlifeonline.com/catholic-an
However, the church allows the
couple to file for an annulment if there are grounds for it. Annulment is the action of the
court through which a marriage is considered valid by law, is rendered null & void due to
a circumstance at the time of its celebration, due to which the law itself gives the court
power to nullify it. Declaration of nullity is an official pronouncement of a competent
tribunal on the nullity of a union, which from its beginning was already null & void due to
a circumstance hindering its validity existing at the time of the celebration of marriage.
Legal separation is the action of the court through which the marital bond is not broken
by any circumstance that arose after the celebration of a valid marriage. It means that
the husband and wife are still married to each other but living separately. Thus, they have
no freedom and the legal right to contract a new marriage.
7. Administration of Matrimony
a. The Minister – The bride and the groom are the ministers of the grace of Christ. They
mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their
consent before the Church.
b. The Formula or Words – The “I Do” pronounced by the bride and the groom indicate
their free mutual consent.
29
c. The Matter – is the mutual consent of the couple
8. Symbols and Meanings

In the Wedding Rite, there are several things used as symbols signifying something else
that we need to understand well.
a. The Bridal Procession. The Bridal
Procession symbolizes the ‘transfer’
of the parents’ rights over their
daughter to the groom. The groom
will now be the protector and
defender of the bride.
b. The White Gown. The white gown
and the veil are the traditional
vestments of the bride. The white http://clipart-library.com/wedding-doves-cliparts.html
symbolizes inner beauty and purity. The Bride received the unstained dignity as she
receives the sacrament of matrimony.
c. The Joining of Hands. After expressing their marital consent, the Bride and the Groom
are asked to join their hands and say: “Grant us, O Lord, to be one heart and one soul
from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in
health, until death do us part”. The joining of hands symbolizes their mutual self-
donation. They now belong to teach others as husband and wife and become one in
body, heart, and purpose.
d. The Rings. The rings, which the Bride and the Bridegroom give to each other, symbolize
their pledge for mutual love and faithfulness. They have to wear their wedding rings
throughout their lives as a sign of ‘mutual love and unbroken loyalty’.
e. The Arrhae. The arrhae signifies the “sufficiency of material possessions” that a family
should have to take care of its temporal needs. The Bridegroom must be the provider,
the breadwinner of the family as he promised this to the Bride: “I give you these arrhae
as a pledge of my dedication to your welfare.” The Bride, on receiving the arrhae says:
“And I accept them.”
f. The Candles. Candles represent Christ, the light sent by the Father to show us the way
to salvation. During the Wedding Mass besides the lighted candles on the altar, two
more candles are lit, one on either side of the couple. This signifies that Christ is the
guide of the couple’s married life. Secondly, the candles are reminders to the couple to
be lights in the world and witnesses to Christ. Their lives should be living examples to
their children. Then, because of being ‘lights of Christ’, their children, friends, and
relatives will praise God and feel attracted to the Gospel.
g. The Veil. The veil symbolizes union and mutual self-surrender of the couples to one
another. The veil is laid over the head of the Bride and the shoulders of the Groom.
h. The Cord. The word cord comes from the Latin ‘jugum’ which means ‘yoke’. That’s why
we hear the word ‘conjugal’, which means ‘of marriage’ – conjugal property, conjugal
rights, acts, etc. A yoke means two things: something that has to be carried, and also
something that unites those who carry it. Marriage is a yoke that binds together man
and woman and which has to be carried by both the husband and the wife. Here we
have the ‘Yoke of Matrimony’. The laying of the Cord over the Bride and the Groom in
the form of an 8 symbolizes the ‘yoke’ in marriage. The sacrament of marriage is
sometimes referred to as a ‘knot’ or ‘tie’.
30
i. The Nuptial Blessing. The Church gives to the newly-wed the Nuptial Blessing so that
they may be reminded of their duties and prays for help from the Lord so that they may
keep them from all dangers. The Nuptial Blessing is given before Holy Communion
j. Matrimony and the Eucharist. All sacraments are oriented towards the Eucharist
because all sacraments come from and lead to Christ, and Christ is above all in the
Eucharist. It is the Eucharist, as Bread from heaven, that provides the newly-weds the
food to make their spiritual life grow, and with the strength, they need to keep their
duties imposed upon them by the sacrament of Matrimony. as the newly-wed receive
Christ in the Communion, they identify themselves with Christ who offered up for our
salvation. They are now one with Christ who unites Himself with his Church because of
His love for Her. So, now the newly-weds must love each other as Christ loves His
Church. The union of Christ with His Church is now most profoundly expressed in the
Eucharist that couples receive.
9. The Rite of Marriage

Christian marriage is always celebrated within the
community of the Church. A priest or deacon presides at
the celebration in an official capacity for the Church but he
is not the minister of the sacrament. The bride and the
groom are the ministers of the sacrament of Holy
Matrimony. Marriage may be celebrated at any time of the
year and at any time of the day unless local regulations
limit it. The ordinary place of marriage is the parish church
or other sacred place with the special permission required
for marriage. Christian marriage can be celebrated within
or outside the Mass. The Church states that Matrimony is
normally to be celebrated within the Mass after the reading
of the Gospel and the homily before the prayer of the
faithful. Indeed, matrimony should be celebrated within the
Eucharist, the sacrament of unity, because by sharing the
samehttps://www.pinterest.ph/pin/635430447
Body of Christ the newly married couple also grows in
oneness with one another. 28771254/
a. Entrance Rite – The priest meets the bride and the groom in a friendly manner,
showing that the Church shares their joy. According to the local custom, at least their
parents and two witnesses may escort the couple. Meanwhile, the entrance song is
sung.
b. Liturgy of the Word – There should be three readings. The priest gives a homily drawn
from the sacred texts especially from the gospel reading. He talks about the mystery of
Christian marriage and the duties and responsibilities of married people.
c. Rite of Marriage – The priest questions the couple about their freedom of choice,
faithfulness to each other, and the acceptance and upbringing of children. Each
answers the questions separately.
 Consent – the priest invites the couple to declare their consent publicly
 Blessing and exchange of rings and arrhae
d. Liturgy of the Eucharist
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 Nuptial blessing – after the Lord’s Prayer, the priest faces the couple and
blesses them while the couple join hands
 Final blessing – Before blessing the people at the end of the Mass, the priest
blesses the bride and the bridegroom (Ines, J., & Salibay, E., 2007)
Conclusion
Christian marriage is the union of two baptized, man and woman, who freely give
himself/herself to each other in a lifelong covenant of love. Their relationship imitates the
love of Christ for His Church (Eph. 5:2ff), and manifests that love, for others to see. When
couples fail to imitate the example set by Christ chances are their marriages will fail.
However, there are no magic formulas for establishing and sustaining a stable loving
relationship in Catholic marriage that is very possible to exist.
It must be kept in mind that couples do not reach troubled stages in their marriage overnight.
Problems start from simple differences. Areas of conflict may center on money, in-laws,
children, sex, vices, etc. A couple in trouble should look for remedies before the problem
becomes any worse. The most important is to adopt the right attitude, and have the
determination to make their marriage work; then settle little differences, participate in the
marriage enrichment program. A couple should never overlook the power of prayer and the
sacraments. “The family that prays together stays together”.
The breakdown of many marriages nowadays and even in the past is mainly due to the
inability of the couple to work beyond their personal needs because marriage is a
relationship wherein one must forget himself/herself and think more of the other. This is a
very difficult thing to do. Before one can do it, he/she has to develop a sense of maturity
and should try to know the essence of marriage, its foundation, and its importance in
his/her personal life as a married person.
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(For the professor to decide)
Option 1:
1. Why matrimony, not a civil wedding?
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2. As a son/daughter, how can you enrich the dignity of the sacrament of marriage and the
honor of your parents?
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Option 2:
1. How did the sacraments shape the life of St. John Baptist de la Salle? (p.48)
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2. As a Lasallian, what is your most significant learning about the sacraments in the life of
our Patron Saint? (p.48)
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33
(16th Week)
GOSPEL READING
Luke 9:57-62. “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit
for the kingdom of God.”
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you
wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air
have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another, he said,
"Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus
said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the
kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say
farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the
plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Opening Prayer: Dear God, enfold me in my speaking, in my thinking, in my sleeping, in my

waking, in my watching, in my hoping. in my life, in my lips, in my soul, in my heart. in my
ever-living soul, and mine eternity. Amen. (Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be).

34
https://www.fadajbcezeonwumelu.com/no-one-who-puts-his-hands-to-the-plough-
and-looks-back-is-fit-for-the-kingdom-of-god-luke-962/


1. Today's gospel reading sees Jesus 'sifting' some of the applicants who wish to follow
him, much as an employer evaluates candidates for a job or position. Does the
candidate 'have what it takes'? Jesus here puts his finger on a number of attitudes
which might be a reason for rejection!
2. For Jesus, the task is urgent and all-embracing. The bar has been set very high. The
urgency of preaching the Kingdom requires an immediate response from the candidate,
who has no time to bury relatives, or even to say goodbye properly. For a Jewish
culture which took burial of the dead seriously, and which held the family in high
respect, these are strong words from Jesus.
3. What about my own call to be a disciple? Does my own story reflect anything of Jesus'
dramatic style? Perhaps my call to follow Jesus has been costly, in terms of my family
and other close relationships?
Reflection
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Before we discuss the Sacrament of Holy Orders, here is a poem entitled, “A Priest is Always
Wrong Because …”. Let us read and reflect on its content.
A Priest is Always Wrong Because...
If he begins his mass on time, his watch is advanced;

If he begins a minute later, he keeps people waiting;
If he preaches too long, he makes people get bored;
If his homily is too short, he is unprepared;
If he owns a car, he is luxurious.
If he does not own one, he does not go with the times;

If he goes out to visit families, he is always out;
If he does not, he has no time for them;
If he asks for donations, he is a moneymaker;
If he does not do it, he is too proud and lazy.
If he takes time in the confessional, he is too slow;

If he makes it too fast, he has no time for his penitents;
If he renovates the church, he throws away money;
If he does not do it, he allows everything to rot away;
If he is with the youth, he forgets the old.
If he is seen with women, he is a playboy;

If he goes with men, he is not normal;
If he is young, he has no experience;
If he is old, he should retire.
As long as he lives,
there are always people who are better than him.
https://depositphotos.com/vector-
images/ksiadz.html
Guide Questions:
36
 What does the poem tell us?
 How do you understand the life and ministry of a priest?
7. SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
Let us connect the activity to the lesson:

All baptized people share in the priesthood of Christ. This is the common priesthood we
share with Christ and the whole Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. However, there is
another kind of priesthood in which an ordained minister lives as he responds to a special
vocation of serving God and His people. This is called the ministerial priesthood.
“Many are called but few are chosen…” (Mt. 22:14). All of us are called to love, serve,
and live a holy life. However, only a few among the many are chosen to serve God and
his people in a special ministry. This is a special ministry that necessitates
perseverance, prayers, and sacrifice for there are many temptations and obstacles
that may be encountered along the way as an ordained minister responds to this
special vocation.
Scripture
a. Old Testament
 Exodus 19:6 - God constituted the Chosen People as “a kingdom of priests and a holy
nation.”
 Leviticus 8:1-12 - God chose one of the twelve sons of Israel, Levi, and his
descendants, and set them apart for liturgical service where He was their inheritance.
 Malachi 2:7-9 – The priesthood was instituted to proclaim the Word of God, to discern
his will, and to restore communion with God by sacrifices and prayer.
b. New Testament
 1 Timothy 2:5 – “the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the one mediator between God and
men.”
 Hebrew 5:10 – “Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, is a prefiguration of the
priesthood of Christ, the unique “high priest after the order of Melchizedek”
 Hebrew 7:26 - “holy, blameless, unstained”.
 Hebrew 10:14 - “by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are
sanctified, that is, by the unique sacrifice of the cross.”
 Mark 1:16-20 - It was on the shore of Galilee where men were fishing that Jesus
called His first disciples. The call of Jesus was so compelling that they set to follow
Him and left everything behind. A relationship with Jesus always begins with Jesus’
call.
Responses of two pairs of brothers:

Simon & Andrew - stresses the promptness with which they responded;
37
James & John – stresses giving up everything – nets, boats, father – to follow Jesus
without hesitation.
Apostle (means “one who is sent”) – the apostles were sent forth by Jesus to baptize
and make disciples of all nations (Matthew
28:16-20); they continued the ministry of Jesus.
History of Holy Orders

 Early Church: There were a variety of ministries:
1. Overseers (bishops) - a group of men who led the
Local Church.
2. Elders or Presbyters (priests) - helped the apostles;
were appointed to help the mission Churches (Acts
14:23), and directed Local Churches in teaching and
praying.
3. Deacons – served the early Christian communities in
many ways, like serving at the Eucharist and
preaching God’s Word.
 Fifth Century: Ordination was seen conveying a special

“sacramental character,” which meant that once
ordained a priest, a man remains a priest forever.
 Middle-Ages: The role of the deacons declined, as they
were only assistants at liturgies; gradually the
diaconate was only considered as one of the steps on https://nl.pinterest.com/pin/8233211797837354/
the way to priesthood.
 Council of Trent (16th century): The Church Fathers re-affirmed that Holy Orders is a
sacrament; stressed especially on the powers to exercise the ministry of the Eucharist
and the forgiveness of sins.
 Today: The ministerial priesthood is often seen in terms of the images of the prophet,
priest, and king – three roles fulfilled by Jesus the Lord.
The vocation to Celibate Love

1. A RELIGIOUS is a man or woman who has taken vows of poverty, chastity, and
obedience. He/ she is a member of a community of men and women dedicated to
the common pursuit of the personal union with God through a life of prayer and
loving service to others.
2. A PRIEST is a man who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. He is empowered
to represent Christ as celebrant of the Eucharist and to absolve sins in the
Sacrament or Reconciliation.
There are two kinds of ministerial priesthood:

- an ordained minister is either a Secular (Diocesan) or a Religious.
Ministry and Charism

The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) identifies three aspects of our sharing
in the priesthood of Christ:
38
1) Consecration - committing everything we do to God;
2) Mediation - allowing one’s self to be God’s
instrument in transforming the world; and
3) Sacrifice - offering ourselves as a sacrifice,
together with the sacrifice of Christ in the
Eucharist.
The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church considers

the ordained ministers as the “servants of the
servants of God”. They function as:
1) Mediators between God and His People;
2) Leaders who build up the community by
guiding them to live out the Word and the sacraments;http://www.4catholiceducators.com/saints/j
and
ohn-paul-ii.htm
3) Witnesses through a life of total commitment to God and His Kingdom.
The Gift of CELIBACY requires an ordained minister not to marry. And a life of SIMPLICITY is
a reflection of Christ who was born poor, who lived poor, and who manifested a preferential
love for the poor and needy.
Four things summarize the life and ministry of the Ordained. An ordained minister is a:
1) Disciple, who is called to follow Jesus in total commitment;
2) Apostle, who is “sent” to serve in the mission of Jesus and of the Church;
3) Presbyteroi (Elder, who takes care of the needs of the people; responsible for the pastoral
care of the Church members; and
4) Presider at the Eucharist, who leads the community prayers, especially in the celebration of
the Eucharist.
Signs and Symbols of Holy Orders

The symbolic sign (matter) is the holy oil & laying on of
hands; the symbolic words (Form) is the Prayer of
consecration in Holy Orders, and the ordinary minister is
the Bishop.
Conclusion
The sacrament of Holy Orders is the sacrament of the
ministerial priesthood. It is a special vocation and
ministry in which a man is incorporated to an order:
diaconate, presbyterate, or episcopate. An ordained
minister has a special function of teaching, governing,
and sanctifying that each corresponds to the threefold
mission of the Church that we share with Christ and all
the baptized: prophetic, kingly, and priestly, respectively. https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/258253359868472088/
39
(17th Week)
GOSPEL READING
John 14:15-21. “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you."
‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and
he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of
truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him.
You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while, the world will
no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that
day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who
have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who
love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to
them.’
Opening Prayer: Dear God, I

acknowledge my sinfulness. I
ask you to empower me with
your Holy Spirit, that I may
resist temptation and “choose
life rather than death”, good
rather than evil - in the
ordinary circumstances of my
daily life. Amen. (Our
Father… Hail Mary… Glory
be).
St. John Baptist de la Salle,

pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts,
forever!
40
https://www.godsongs.net/2016/09/i-will-be-with-you-
wherever-you-go-now-throughout-the-world.html


1. Again today Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit, whom he calls the Spirit of Truth. This is
the Spirit who reveals to me the truth of who I am - a child of God within whom God
lives. I hold within myself a spark of the Divine! I sit quietly with this thought in the
presence of God.
2. How does this knowledge make me feel about myself? How does it affect my
relationships – because within everyone is that same spark of the Divine. How does it
affect my relationship with God? I talk to Jesus about these things.
Reflection
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FIVE STEPS FOR GIVING YOUR MIND TO CHRIST
Saint Teresa of Avila stated that the mind is the Loca de la casa — the madwoman of the
house! Meaning? IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OUR THOUGHT WORLD, MOST
ESPECIALLY OUR IMAGINATION. DESPITE THE DIFFICULTY OF THE CHALLENGE, STILL, WE
MUST PUT FORTH THE MOST NOBLE OF EFFORTS!
Our Dynamic Thought Life

There is a dynamic in the human person, the way the Creator constructed us! And this is the
way it unfolds. What goes into our eyes, ascends to our mind; from the mind, it is archived in
the memory. From the memory, the image can easily descend into emotions. Then from the
emotions into the heart. From the heart, a decision is made that transforms into action. If
the action is good, then it is virtuous; if bad, then vicious or sinful. Many repeated actions
form the person’s character—either a virtuous person or a bad person. Then finally the
person’s eternal destiny is determined—either condemnation or salvation. How then can we
work on cultivating a rich, deep, noble thought life? All of us should accept the challenge
because the formation of our character, and the influence that we have on others, depends
largely on the cultivation of our mind, our thought life.
St Paul and the Mind

The great Apostle to the Gentiles, Saint Paul, makes
reference to the mind on various occasions. He says
that we should have a fresh way of thinking and not
conform our minds and thoughts to those of the world.
Still more, this fiery missionary saint who loved Jesus
so much asserted: “Put on the mind of Christ!” Then
Saint Paul stated: “You have the mind of Christ…” And
of course, he said: “It is no longer I who live, but it is
Christ who lives in me.”
Therefore, this being the case, how then can we

cultivate one of the noblest gifts that God has
bestowed upon us? The following are certain practices
that we hope will be helpful in the battle to give your
mind to the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, Jesus the
Lord. May Jesus as King reign over your whole being
and that, of course, means your mind too!
https://www.biographyonline.
net/spiritual/st-paul.html
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1. Watch What Goes In
Therefore, a primary step in controlling our thought world is to control our visual world; what we
take into ourselves comes through the gateway of the senses. This proverb rings so true: The
thought is the father of the deed. In other words, we carry out in action what has already been
conceived in our minds through what we have previously seen. Every day we should be
exceedingly vigilant over those wandering eyes that can get us into so much trouble! Not only
does curiosity kill the cat, but worse yet, the curiosity of King David led to adultery and the
murdering of an innocent man.
2. Find Good, Solid Reading

In such a fast-paced modern electronic world, many have lost the habit of spending quality time in
silence, immersing themselves in the world of the noblest ideas by reading! We can start to
cultivate a very noble mind by reading the classics. In the spiritual life, there is a plethora, an
immense and vast sea of good literature. Just to mention a few: The Bible—the Word of God, the
lives of the saints (God’s heroes), the writings of the saints, the writings of Saint Pope John Paul II,
the Fathers of the Church, and the Doctors of the Church, including Saint Augustine and Saint
Thomas Aquinas, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and of course, it is always good to
nourish our mind by reading a good book on the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Suggestion: Our Lady of
Fatima by Thomas Walsh). As stated earlier, noble thoughts will be translated into actions,
character, and one’s eternal destiny!
3. Good Friends, Good Conversations

Many of the saints formed the habit of establishing good, solid friendships. Good friends maintain
good, vibrant, noble, enriching, and stimulating conversations. This we see in the lives of the
saints. You are called to be a saint and part of the labor is the cultivation of your mind! Why not
follow the exhortation of Saint Paul: “Put on the mind of Christ… you have the mind of Christ!” The
Bible says that a true friend is a treasure of infinite value. Good friends help each other mutually
to keep on track by keeping their thoughts focused on Christ.
4. The Most Holy Eucharist

It is indeed true that when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, we receive the total Christ. This
of course includes receiving the mind of Christ! Upon receiving Jesus, we should humbly implore
the Lord Jesus to purify our mind of all useless thoughts, lift our mind to all that is most pure and
noble, and beg Him for the grace to have our thoughts lifted on high to the noblest realm—the
Kingdom of God!
5. Pray the Psalms

It is so true that we become like those with whom we associate. Now if you can get into the habit
of spending some time with Jesus, who is truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament, then He
will gradually transform you. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who was faithful to his daily
Holy Hour for more than 50 years, called this The Hour of Power.
If we spend quality time in the presence of a good person, even a saint, then there is a transformation; so
much the more, if we spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Open your Bible and pray the Psalm
of the Good Shepherd: “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want…” (Psalm 23) May the Good
Shepherd, and Our Lady the Mother of the Good Shepherd, attain for you the renewal of your mind, the
renewal of your thought processes, the renewal of your affections, the renewal of your heart, and the
renewal of your entire life! May it be said of you by the end of your life: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ
who thinks and lives in me!”

43
(17th Week)
GOSPEL READING
John 15:1-5. “to all those who have, more will be given; but from those
who have nothing, even what they have will be taken
Jesus said, 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every
branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit prunes to make it
bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to
you. Abide in me as I abide in you.
Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by
itself unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches.
Those who abide in me and I in them
bear much fruit because apart from me
you can do nothing.
Opening Prayer: Dear God, inspire me to

live in such a way that my choices each day
and my commitment to live positively may
transform the negative into something
positive, and the ordinariness of daily life
into something extraordinary. Amen. (Our
Father… Hail Mary… Glory be).

44
https://brentkuhlman.wordpress.com/2018/04/29/j
esus-is-the-vine-you-are-the-branches/


1. The closeness of the relationship with ourselves and Jesus is like branch and tree. One
gives life to the other and draws life from the other. A real relationship with Jesus is
life-giving - it is loving, healing and challenging. It brings life to the soul and energy to
the body. The relationship itself bears fruit and brings to each of us a loving and
energetic quality of life.
2. Lord, I have learned this well: it is only if I bring you to others that I can be of any
help to them. If I bring myself, my contact is barren and sterile. Let me abide in you.
Reflection
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_
Synthesis
WHAT MAKES YOU THEN A DISCIPLE OF JESUS?
A disciple would follow someone in hopes of eventually becoming what they are. A Christian
disciple is a believer who follows Christ and then offers his IMITATION OF CHRIST as a model
for others to follow (1 Corinthians 11:1). A disciple is first A BELIEVER WHO HAS EXERCISED
FAITH (Acts 2:38).
The Seven Sacraments

Jesus touches our lives through the sacraments. Our celebrations of the sacraments are
signs of Jesus’ presence in our lives and a means for receiving his grace. The Church
celebrates seven sacraments, which are divided into three categories.
Sacraments of Initiation.
These sacraments lay the foundation of every Christian life.
1. Baptism
In Baptism we receive new life in Christ. Baptism takes away original sin and gives
us new birth in the Holy Spirit. Its sign is the pouring of water.
2. Confirmation
Confirmation seals our life of faith in Jesus. Its signs are the laying on of hands on
a person’s head, most often by a bishop, and the anointing with oil. Like Baptism,
Confirmation is received only once.
46
3. Eucharist
The Eucharist nourishes our life of faith. Its signs are the bread and wine we
receive—the Body and Blood of Christ.
Sacraments of Healing
These sacraments celebrate the healing power of Jesus.
4. Reconciliation or Penance
Through Penance, we receive God’s forgiveness. Forgiveness requires being sorry
for our sins. In Penance, we receive Jesus’ healing grace through absolution by the
priest. The signs of this sacrament are our confession of sins and the words of
absolution.
5. Anointing of the Sick

This sacrament unites a sick person’s suffering from that of Jesus and brings
forgiveness of sins. Oil, a symbol of strength, is the sign of this sacrament. A
person is anointed with oil and receives the laying on of hands from a priest.
Sacraments of Vocation/ Commitment

These sacraments help members serve the community.
6. Matrimony
In Matrimony a baptized man and woman are united with each other as a sign of
the unity between Jesus and his Church. Matrimony requires the consent of the
couple, as expressed in the marriage promises. The couple and their wedding
rings are the signs of this sacrament.
7. Holy Orders
In Holy Orders, men are ordained as priests, deacons, or bishops. Priests serve as
spiritual leaders of their communities, and deacons serve to remind us of our
baptismal call to help others. Bishops carry on the teachings of the apostles. The
signs of this sacrament are the laying on of hands and anointing with oil by the
bishop.
47
https://ofm.org/blog/our-vocation-leaving-or-remaining-faithful/
THE SACRAMENTS IN THE LIFE OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE
John Baptist de la Salle was born on April 30, 1651, and received the sacrament of baptism
that same day. Jean Moet de Brouillet and Perrette Lespagnol, his grandparents were also
his godparents who gave him the name Jean Baptiste. The chosen name seemed to foretell
that the child was meant to be a great announcer (like the prophet John the Baptist) of the
Good News: Christ’s coming
especially to the poor and
uneducated children of his
times.
The grace of baptism filled

his life. The youthful de la
sale was never childish in
his acts and was not
fascinated by the usual
things that attracted
ordinary children. His
interests were directed
https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/april-7-saint-john-baptist-de-la-salle-priest/
toward virtue and piety,
which developed him even before the age of reason. He loved to pray, preferred to read
good books (especially the Lives of the Saints), was always delighted to visit the church,
enjoyed arranging chapels, took pleasure in decorating little altars, singing hymns, and
imitating religious ceremonies. The Eucharistic celebration attracted him most strongly and
delightfully.
There was no direct mention of the sacrament of confirmation. But it was very evident that a
mature Christian was emerging in the person of John Baptist. The three characteristics of his
youth (wisdom, docility, and piety) were marks of mature, strong, faithful, and spirit-filled
followers of Jesus Christ. He was cited to be a paragon, a model of students. As he
progressed in knowledge, he also grew in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, most especially in
wisdom.
As mentioned earlier, the young de la Salle was most attracted to the celebration of the Holy
Mass. He developed so great a love for this sacrament that it would be a very painful
sacrifice for him to miss a Eucharistic celebration. He was very eager to learn how to serve
mass and longed to take part in this sacred ministry. His delight in serving Holy Mass and
his deep respect and reverence for the Church enhanced a religious attitude which later on
made him so distinguished-looking and so venerable when he approached the altar.
“Young de la Salle, like a new Samuel, seemed to have been born for the sacred ministry. He
was made for the Church. Indeed, his greatest ambition was to consecrate himself to her
service. His vocation appeared evident in all his actions, inclinations, pastimes, and
interests. Everything about him proclaimed that he was destined for the service of the altar.”
48
At the early age of 11, John Baptist received the tonsure. This ceremony of cutting some hair
off the top of the head symbolized that a young boy was destined to become a priest. At 16,
his uncle handed on to him a canonry, the job of reciting publicly the official prayer of the
Church. Canonry was more of a diocesan scholarship than a job because such an honor was
frequently given to a young man to encourage him into the priesthood and to give him some
financial assistance while he studied in the seminary. Thus, he became more and more
diligent in the performance of his clerical duties, in his prayer life, and the recitation of the
Divine Office. He imbibed to the greatest extent an attitude of detachment from all the
earthy inclinations and showed a stronger sense of modesty, devotion, and diligence to the
canonical office.
On Holy Saturday, April 9, 1678, at the age of 27, John Baptist de la Salle received the
sacrament of Holy Orders at the Metropolitan Church of Rheims. He celebrated his first
mass the following day. At last, it was a dream turned into reality. You can imagine how
happy he must have been, now that he was no longer imitating but was performing the
functions of a priest himself. For Fr. De La Salle, saying the Holy Mass was the principal and
essential duty of his priesthood. It became a devotion which
he renewed every day. His love for the ministry was like a fire
that consumed his whole being. And to keep it burning, he
lived a life of retreat, mortification, prayer, and recollection.
His love and devotion to the Holy Eucharist drew many

people into a deep sense of prayer and inspiration to live a
good life. People used to attend his mass because they
wanted to be edified and touched to share in his piety. De La
Salle who manifested modesty, a deep sense of religiosity,
reverence, and devotion while exercising his sacred ministry
constantly caught them in awe.
https://www.dlsfootsteps.org/bio/
He was born into a world of riches, prestige, and power. Yet,

how did he discover the road to holiness that was characterized by poverty, humility, and
powerlessness? Was it easy to sell his inheritance and distribute them to the poor? Was it
easy to leave his family and his mansion to be with his newly found brothers? How much
courage did it take for him to give up such a prestigious and luxurious post as his canonry?
He must have struggled a lot; things must have been very difficult. But one thing is sure, his
immense love for prayer especially his devotion to the Holy Eucharist must have been the
source of wisdom and strength in making the most crucial decisions of his life.
What about the sacrament of reconciliation, did he ever go to confession? Again. There
were no definite dates mentioned as regards receiving this particular sacrament. But with
the kind of life that he lived, with his constant desire to do what is right and proper, his strict
sense of sacrifice, his constant efforts to achieve discipline, his faithful observance of his
duties-all these suggest that he must have sought constant reconciliation with the Lord.
Thus, the virtues he lived by wouldn’t have been imbibed had he not denounced the vices
(sins) of this world.
49
Fr. De La Salle performed his sacred duty of hearing confessions in total submission to the
Spirit of God. His brothers insisted to have him as a minister of the sacrament of
reconciliation. They justified how the Founder could have the dual function of a confessor
and superior of the community (which was not usually allowed then). Hence, with great
kindness and tenderness, Fr. De La Salle to all their confessions once or twice a week. He
did everything he can to help his brothers live a life pleasing to God.
De La Salle was a fruit of beautiful marriage. Certainly, the sacrament of matrimony had
been the firm foundation of the family brought up by Louise De La Salle and Nicole De Moet.
They were responsible for the upbringing of a God-fearing man that De La Salle was. Their
piety must have created so great an impact on him that resulted in his deep sense of
commitment to the Lord. When his parents
died, our Founder successfully managed their
properties and lovingly took care of his
siblings.
Fr. De La Salle also suffered a lot from a

complication of sickness. He experienced the
worst of rheumatism, asthma, and violent
headache caused by the blow of the falling
door. Yet he never complained. When he felt https://www.delasalle.org.au/blog/three-hundred-
his life was coming up to an end, this holy years-since-the-death-of-john-baptist-de-la-salle
priest spent the rest of his days preparing his

soul. In the early days of 1719, his condition
was getting worse, yet he managed to fast and observed the Lenten season with the usual
strictness. Perhaps St. La sale was one of those bravest souls who prepared very well and
was happy to die. He considered dying as going home to the Father in heaven. He requested
to receive the holy viaticum on Holy Wednesday. In his deathbed, he spent the entire night in
preparation and receive Holy Communion with so
great and eagerness. On Holy Thursday, extreme
unction (now called anointing of the sick) was
granted unto him. Those who were present attest
that he received the sacrament with complete
presence of mind as he responded very well to all
the prayers. It was said that he remained in deep
silence for many hours thereafter. At the dawn of
that Good Friday, April 7, 1719-he woke up,
prepared himself, and got ready as if an important
visitor was about to come. Looking up, he welcomed
his most awaited visitor. There, our beloved Founder
was finally granted the peace he had been longing
for. He went home. His last words were: I adore in all
things, the will of God in my regard.
50
(18th Week)
GOSPEL READING
Luke 19:11-28. “to all those who have, more will be given; but from those
who have nothing, even what they have will be taken
Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that
the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. So, he said, 'A nobleman went to a distant
country to get royal power for himself and then return. He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave
them ten pounds, and said to them, "Do business with these until I come back." But the citizens
of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, "We do not want this man to
rule over us."
When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given
the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. The first
came forward and said, "Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds." He said to him, "Well
done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten
cities." Then the second came, saying, "Lord, your pound has made five pounds." He said to him,
"And you, rule over five cities." Then the other came, saying, "Lord, here is your pound. I
wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you because you are a harsh man; you take
what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow."
He said to him, "I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that
I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did
you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with
interest." He said to the bystanders, "Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten
pounds." (And they said to him, "Lord, he has ten pounds!") "I tell you, to all those who have,
more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them bring them here and
slaughter them in my presence." 'After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem
51
Opening Prayer: Dear God, there are days when I am too busy or too tired to pray to you. On
those days, I hope you will understand that I still love you. Please do not grow tired of listening
to me. Amen. (Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be).



1. Today we are asked to reflect on the special gifts that God has given to each one of us
and how we are using them for the benefit of our brothers and sisters in need. Where
do we invest our gifts and our talents?
2. The message is clear: the more we invest, the more we will gain. We cannot stand still
or just cling to what we have. The only way to gain is to let go, to give and to share.
Good examples of this would-be St Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa. This is not a
popular way of thinking, when many feels that life consists of amassing more and that
security is in having. But the Gospel way says that it is not collecting but sharing that
generates wealth, the wealth that really matters – freedom, security and peace. Is this
true for me?
Reflection
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FINAL EXAM
FINAL OUTPUT: Make an Infographic entitled MY COMMITMENT RENEWAL: A Call to
Discipleship. This shall be illustrated in three parts which are: Identity (Self), Home (Family),
and Service (Community/Environment), patterned from the Christogram IHS which is a
monogram symbolizing Jesus Christ. From Greek, it is an abbreviation of the name IHΣΟΥΣ
(Jesus). The concept of this project shall include the things you want
to change in life. Be creative and live life to the fullest. (Kindly refer
to Module 5 for the detailed instruction).
What is an infographic?
It is a collection of imagery, charts, and minimal text that gives an
easy-to-understand overview of a topic. As in the example below,
infographics use striking, engaging visuals to communicate
information quickly and clearly.
You may consider the following questions to develop your ideas:

These are the things I want to change …
Identity Home Service
(Self) (Family) (Community/Environment)
1. How do you see yourself 1. How do you become a 1. What are the skills and
outside yourself? good listener to your talents you want to
2. What are the habit/s parents and siblings? share?
associated with the thing 2. How do you pay attention 2. In what manner you want
you want to change? to the things your to serve your church?
3. How do you plan to parents want you to do? 3. How do you plan to get
practice them, no matter 3. How do you do the right involved with the
what? thing? outreach program in your
4. How do you set your 4. How do you handle your community (i.e., GO
goals? emotions? GREEN!)
5. Who are the people 5. Do you have the courage 4. How do you set an
whom you think could to open up yourself with example as a Christian
help you? your parents and Lasallian to others?
6. What are the risks you siblings? 5. Are you generous enough
are ready to take? 6. How do you show your to provide material
53
genuine love, assistance (as a way of
confidence, humility, life) to those in need? If
trustworthiness, so, to whom and what
positivity, and fondness would that be?
to them?
LEARNING REFERENCES
Primary Sources:
New American Bible (NAB)
Christian Community Bible, Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. (2005). Catechism
for Filipino Catholics. Makati: Word and Life Publications.
Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines
(PCP II)
Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education.
(1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church (newsprint edition).
Manila: Word and Life Publication
Evangelii gaudium (Joy of the gospel).
Patambang, Salibay, and Valera. (2001). Sacraments, marriage, and
family life. Manila: National Bookstore.
Alonsozana, De Leon, Domingo, Ellema, Ramirez, Regis, Salibay,
Talamera, Valera. (Workbook) Christian Discipleship in the
Modern World. Pan Asia Book Exchange Inc., Quezon City,
Philippines
Additional Online Sources:

http://seminarista.heavenforum.org/t32-a-priest-is-always-wrong-
because
https://catholicexchange.com/five-steps-giving-mind-christ
https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/sacraments/the-
seven-sacraments/the-seven-sacramentsarticle2/
https://www.sacredspace.ie/scripture/
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(… Continuation of the Seven Sacraments) . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Gospel Reading (15th Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Gospel Reading (16th Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

C. Sacraments of Vocation/ Commitment. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Gospel Reading (16th Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

7. The Sacrament of Holy Orders. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . 37

Gospel Reading (17th Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Gospel Reading (17th Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Gospel Reading (18th Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

ENABLING AND SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS

Opening Prayer: Dear God, extend our horizons,

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (Optional)

Student’s Name: _________________________ Student ID Number: _____________

Thoughts for reflection:

TLO6. Understand the Meaning and significance of the seven sacraments

In this module, you are expected to:

There are two sacraments of vocation in

“By giving yourself to God,

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

A CHRISTIAN WAY OF LIFE

Sacrament of Marriage/ Matrimony

Christ himself elevated the natural institution of marriage

Made to love … made for family

The Church is God's family in the world.”

The Catholic family and fidelity

The key to understanding the indissoluble (permanent) character of a marriage is not to

Difficult situations: the family under attack

God’s plan for the family

The family: a school of prayer and faith

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (Optional)

Student’s Name: _________________________ Student ID Number: _____________

Thoughts for reflection:

All Christians share in Christ's priesthood.

In the New Covenant, we have two

Priests offer sacrifice. That is their job:

Sacrifice is the center of the Christian life

Holy Orders describes the

Bishops, Priests, and Deacons help the laity in

Everyone wants to go to heaven… but nobody wants to die to get there

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

Matthew 6:33-34. “Do not worry about your life."

Opening Prayer: Dear God, increase my

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (Optional)

Student’s Name: _________________________ Student ID Number: _____________

Thoughts for reflection:

6. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE/ MATRIMONY

2. Mt. 19:3-9. Unity and Indissolubility of Marriage

Some Pharisees came up to Him and said to test

They said to Him, ‘Then why did Moses command

3. Eph. 5:22-33. Christian Wives and Husbands

Wives should be submissive to their

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ

Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World

1. The Catechism of the Sacrament of Matrimony

Marriage is seen as a) an ongoing saving symbolic action, b) grounded in the ministry of

Christian parents/spouses do not the

The Old Testament decreed extreme punishment for

b. Parental Respect and Responsibility for Children

Student’s Name: _____________ Student ID Number: _

Student’s Name: _____________ Student ID Number: _

Student’s Name: _____________ Student ID Number: _

Student’s Name: _____________ Student ID Number: _

Student’s Name: _____________ Student ID Number: _

Student’s Name: _____________ Student ID Number: _

Student’s Name: _____________ Student ID Number: _