224 CHRIST SEEKS THE LOST AND HEALS THE SICK

YOUCAT Lesson 224

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

224  Why did Christ give us the sacrament of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick?

Christ’s love is shown in the fact that he seeks the lost and heals the sick.  That is why he gave us the sacraments of healing and restoration, in which we are freed from sin and strengthened in our physical and spiritual weakness.  [1420-1421]

Stained glass: ….. Christ the Good Shepherd  St John the Baptist's Anglican Church, Ashfield, New South Wales, 20th century stained glass depiction.  “Christ’s love is shown in the fact that he seeks the lost and heals the sick.” – YOUCAT …..224

“For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”  Luke 19:20

THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING

…….1420   Through the sacraments of Christian initiation, man receives the new life of Christ. Now we carry this life "in earthen vessels," and it remains "hidden with Christ in God." (2 Corinthians 4:7; Colossians 3:3. )¹    We are still in our "earthly tent," subject to suffering, illness, and death.(2 Corinthians 5:1.)²    This new life as a child of God can be weakened and even lost by sin. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1421   The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health,(compare  Mark 2:1-12.)³   has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

223 SEEING YOU, OUR GOD, AS YOU ARE, WE SHALL BE LIKE YOU FOR ALL THE AGES

YOUCAT Lesson 223

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

223  In what way is the Holy Eucharist an anticipation of eternal life?

Jesus promised his disciples, and us with them, that we will one day sit at table with him.  Therefore every Holy Mass is a “memorial of the blessed Passion” (Eucharistic Prayer I, called the Roman Canon), the fullness of grace, and a pledge of future glory.  [1402-1405]

Statue: …... Saint John Gabriel Perboyre, priest and martyr. “So that I may truly say,with St. Paul, I live - now not I – but Christ lives in me," wrote Saint John Gabriel Perboyre, C.M.,, a French priest, who served as a missionary in China, where he became a martyr. He was canonized in 1996 by Pope John Paul II.

“We break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ.”  St. Ignatius of Antioch (?-107/117)

“There (in your kingdom) we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory, when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes.  For seeing you, our God, as you are, we shall be like you for all the ages and praise you without end.”  Eucharistic Prayer III

  

THE EUCHARIST - "PLEDGE OF THE GLORY TO COME"

…….1402   In an ancient prayer the Church acclaims the mystery of the Eucharist: "O sacred banquet in which Christ is received as food, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace and a pledge of the life to come is given to us." If the Eucharist is the memorial of the Passover of the Lord Jesus, if by our communion at the altar we are filled "with every heavenly blessing and grace,"(Roman Missal, EP I (Roman Canon) 96: Supplices te rogamus.)²⁴²   then the Eucharist is also an anticipation of the heavenly glory. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1403   At the Last Supper the Lord himself directed his disciples' attention toward the fulfillment of the Passover in the kingdom of God: "I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."(Mt 26:29; compare Luke 22:18; Mark 14:25.)²⁴³    Whenever the Church celebrates the Eucharist she remembers this promise and turns her gaze "to him who is to come." In her prayer she calls for his coming: "Marana tha!" "Come, Lord Jesus!"(Revelation 22: 20; 1 Corinthians 16:22.)²⁴⁴    "May your grace come and this world pass away!"(Didache 10,6:Sources Chrẻtiennes 248,180.)²⁴⁵ –CCC

…….1404   The Church knows that the Lord comes even now in his Eucharist and that he is there in our midst. However, his presence is veiled. Therefore we celebrate the Eucharist "awaiting the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ,"(Roman Missal 126, embolism after the Our Father: expectantes beatam spem et adventum Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi; compare Titus 2:13.)²⁴⁶   asking "to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away. On that day we shall see you, our God, as you are. We shall become like you and praise you for ever through Christ our Lord."(Eucharistic Prauer III 116: prayer for the dead.)²⁴⁷ –CCC

…….1405   There is no surer pledge or dearer sign of this great hope in the new heavens and new earth "in which righteousness dwells,"(2 Peter 3:13.)²⁴⁸   than the Eucharist. Every time this mystery is celebrated, "the work of our redemption is carried on" and we "break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ."(Lumen Gentium 3; St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Eph. 20,2:Sources Chrẻtiennes 10,76.)²⁴⁹ --CCC

222 THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM, A SHARED FAITH, AND LIVING IN UNION WITH THE CHURCH

YOUCAT Lesson 222

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

222  May the Eucharist be administered to non-Catholic Christians also?

Holy Communion is the expression of the unity of the Body of Christ.  To belong to the Catholic Church, one must be baptized in her, share her faith, and live in union with her.  It would be a contradiction if the Church were to invite to Communion people who do not (yet) share the faith and life of the Church.  It would damage the credibility of the sign of the Eucharist.  [1398-1401]

Photo: …..Chalice displayed (held aloft by the priest in the center of the photo) at the consecration at Mass in Lourdes  France. …..222

Individual Orthodox Christians may ask to receive Holy Communion at a Catholic liturgy, because they share the Eucharistic faith of the Catholic Church, although their Church is not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church.  In the case of members of other Christian “ecclesial communities” or denominations, Holy Communion may be administered to an individual if there is a grave necessity and evidence of faith in the Real Presence in the Eucharist.  Joint celebrations of the Eucharist/Lord’s Supper by Catholics and Protestants are the goal and the wish of all ecumenical efforts; to anticipate them, however, without having established the reality of the Body of Christ in one faith and in the one Church is dishonest and therefore not allowed.  Other ecumenical liturgies, in which Christians of various denominations pray together, are good and are also desired by the Catholic Church.

THE PASCHAL BANQUET

…….The fruits of Holy Communion

…….1398   The Eucharist and the unity of Christians. Before the greatness of this mystery St. Augustine exclaims, "O sacrament of devotion! O sign of unity! O bond of charity!"( St. Augustine, In Jo. ev. 26,13:Patrologia Latina 35,1613; compare Sacrosanctum Concilium 47.)²³⁷    The more painful the experience of the divisions in the Church which break the common participation in the table of the Lord, the more urgent are our prayers to the Lord that the time of complete unity among all who believe in him may return. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1399   The Eastern churches that are not in full communion with the Catholic Church celebrate the Eucharist with great love. "These Churches, although separated from us, yet possess true sacraments, above all - by apostolic succession - the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in closest intimacy." A certain communion in sacris, and so in the Eucharist, "given suitable circumstances and the approval of Church authority, is not merely possible but is encouraged."(Unitatis Redintegratio 15 § 2; compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 844 § 3.)²³⁸ --CCC

…….1400   Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, "have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders."(Unitatis Redintegratio 22 § 3.)²³⁹    It is for this reason that, for the Catholic Church, Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible. However these ecclesial communities, "when they commemorate the Lord's death and resurrection in the Holy Supper . . . profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and await his coming in glory."(Unitatis Redintegratio 22 § 3.)²⁴⁰ –CCC

…….1401   When, in the Ordinary's judgment, a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own will, provided they give evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possess the required dispositions.(compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 844 § 4.)²⁴¹ --CCC

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 29, 2017

…….Painting: …..Sermon On The Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch 1834-1890

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 29, 2017
Lectionary: 70

The first reading is from Zephaniah 2:3: 3:12-13

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility;
perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.

But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD: the remnant of Israel.  They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; they shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

  

Responsorial Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

  

R. (Mt 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.

R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.

R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.

R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

  

The second reading is from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

 Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.  Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.  It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written,

"Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord."

  

Alleluia Matthew 5:12a

 R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad;
your reward will be great in heaven.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

  

The Gospel according to St. Matthew 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."

221 GROWING IN THE LORD

YOUCAT Lesson 221

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

221  How does Holy Communion change me?

Every Holy Communion unites me more deeply with Christ, makes me a living member of the Body of Christ, renews the graces that I received in Baptism and Confirmation, and fortifies me for the battle against sin.  [1391-1397, 1416]

Portrait: ….St. .Ignatius Loyola:  Examination of conscience is the single most important spiritual exercise. …..221

“Our sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ has no other purpose than to transform us into that which we receive.”  Pope St. Leo the Great (ca. 440-461)

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.  Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”  1 Corinthians 11:27-28

Examination of conscience is a review of one's past thoughts, words, actions, and omissions for the purpose of ascertaining their conformity with, or deviation from, the moral law. Among Christians, this is generally a private review. In the Catholic Church penitents who wish to receive the sacrament of penance are encouraged to examine their conscience using the Ten Commandments as a guide, or the Beatitudes, or the virtues and vices"The excellence of this practice and its fruitfulness for Christian virtue," preached Pope St. Pius X, "are clearly established by the teaching of the great masters of the spiritual life.

THE PASCHAL BANQUET

…….The fruits of Holy Communion

…….1391   Holy Communion augments our union with Christ. The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus. Indeed, the Lord said: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him."(John 6:56)²²⁶    Life in Christ has its foundation in the Eucharistic banquet: "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me."(John 6:57)²²⁷

On the feasts of the Lord, when the faithful receive the Body of the Son, they proclaim to one another the Good News that the first fruits of life have been given, as when the angel said to Mary Magdalene, "Christ is risen!" Now too are life and resurrection conferred on whoever receives Christ.(Fanqith, Syriac Office of Antioch, Vol. I, Commun., 237a-b.)²²⁸ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1392   What material food produces in our bodily life, Holy Communion wonderfully achieves in our spiritual life. Communion with the flesh of the risen Christ, a flesh "given life and giving life through the Holy Spirit,"(Presbyterorum Ordinis 5)²²⁹   preserves, increases, and renews the life of grace received at Baptism. This growth in Christian life needs the nourishment of Eucharistic Communion, the bread for our pilgrimage until the moment of death, when it will be given to us as viaticum. --CCC

…….1393   Holy Communion separates us from sin. The body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion is "given up for us," and the blood we drink "shed for the many for the forgiveness of sins." For this reason the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins:

For as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the death of the Lord. If we proclaim the Lord's death, we proclaim the forgiveness of sins. If, as often as his blood is poured out, it is poured for the forgiveness of sins, I should always receive it, so that it may always forgive my sins. Because I always sin, I should always have a remedy.(St. Ambrose, De Sacr. 4,6,28:Patrologia Latina 16,446;compare 1 Corinthians 11:26)²³⁰ --CCC

…….1394   As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins.(compare Council of Trent (1551): Denzinger-Schönmetzer 1638.)²³¹

 By giving himself to us Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in him:

Since Christ died for us out of love, when we celebrate the memorial of his death at the moment of sacrifice we ask that love may be granted to us by the coming of the Holy Spirit. We humbly pray that in the strength of this love by which Christ willed to die for us, we, by receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, may be able to consider the world as crucified for us, and to be ourselves as crucified to the world. . . . Having received the gift of love, let us die to sin and live for God.(St. Fulgentius of Ruspe, Contra Fab. 28,16-19: Corpus Christianorum Series Latina 19A,813-814.)²³² --CCC

…….1395   By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins. The more we share the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from him by mortal sin. The Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins - that is proper to the sacrament of Reconciliation. The Eucharist is properly the sacrament of those who are in full communion with the Church. --CCC

…….1396   The unity of the Mystical Body: the Eucharist makes the Church. Those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely to Christ. Through it Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body - the Church. Communion renews, strengthens, and deepens this incorporation into the Church, already achieved by Baptism. In Baptism we have been called to form but one body.(compare 1 Corinthians 12:13.)²³³    The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread:"(1 Corinthians 10:16-17.)²³⁴

If you are the body and members of Christ, then it is your sacrament that is placed on the table of the Lord; it is your sacrament that you receive. To that which you are you respond "Amen" ("yes, it is true!") and by responding to it you assent to it. For you hear the words, "the Body of Christ" and respond "Amen." Be then a member of the Body of Christ that your Amen may be true.(St. Augustine, Sermo 272:Patrologia Latina 38,1247.)²³⁵ --CCC

…….1397   The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren:

You have tasted the Blood of the Lord, yet you do not recognize your brother,. . . . You dishonor this table when you do not judge worthy of sharing your food someone judged worthy to take part in this meal. . . . God freed you from all your sins and invited you here, but you have not become more merciful.(St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Corinthians 1: 27,4:Patrologia Graeca 61,229-230; compare Matthew 25:40.)²³⁶ --CCC

…….IN BRIEF

…….1416 Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ increases the communicant's union with the Lord, forgives his venial sins, and preserves him from grave sins. Since receiving this sacrament strengthens the bonds of charity between the communicant and Christ, it also reinforces the unity of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ. --CCC