176 Marks of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders

YOUCAT Lesson 176

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

176  Which sacraments can be received only once in a lifetime?

Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders. These sacraments imprint an indelible mark on the soul of the Christian.  Baptism and Confirmation make him once and for all a child of God and Christlike.  Holy Orders similarly leaves an imprint on a Christian man.  [1121].

Photo: ….. Bishop Hamms of Superior administers the Sacrament of Confirmation to daughter Laurie Bragg (center) with her Aunt  Margaret (hand on Laurie’s shoulder) acting as sponsor.....176

Just as someone always is and remains a child of his parents and not just “sometimes” or “a little bit”), so also through Baptism and Confirmation one becomes forever a child of God, Christlike, and a member of his Church.  Similarly, Holy Orders is not a “job” that a man does until retirement; rather, it is an irrevocable charism (gift of grace).  Because God is faithful, the effect of these sacraments is maintained forever for the Christian—as receptivity to God’s call, as a vocation, and as protection.  Consequently these sacraments cannot be repeated.

When the goodness and loving kindness of our Savior appeared, he saved us…by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit.  Titus 3:4-5

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  1 Corinthians 4:1

…….THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

…….1121 The three sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders confer, in addition to grace, a sacramental character or "seal" by which the Christian shares in Christ's priesthood and is made a member of the Church according to different states and functions. This configuration to Christ) and to the Church, brought about by the Spirit, is indelible,( compare Council of Trent (1547: Danzinger-Schönmetzer 1609.)⁴⁰  it remains for ever in the Christian as a positive disposition for grace, a promise and guarantee of divine protection, and as a vocation to divine worship and to the service of the Church. Therefore these sacraments can never be repeated.