Sacraments of the Catholic Church
While we believe that human life is infused with the sacramental goodness of God, the Catholic Church has defined seven sacraments - instituted by and through the life of Jesus Christ. It is through the experience of the sacramental ritual that we are infused with God’s grace. The Sacraments nourish and strengthen us as they express and build up our faith.
Restored Order of Sacraments of Initiation - Diocese of Saginaw
Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are the three Sacraments of Initiation. When new people come into the Church at the Easter Vigil, you see them celebrate, according to Church Law, Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. It is more than good order.
The decision of restoring the order of the sacraments of initiation was made by Bishop Untener after a lengthy series of study sessions and consultations throughout the diocese from 1987 to 1991. Bishop Untener took an unprecedented step in establishing this direction. The restoration meant seeing faith formation as a life-long commitment of helping prepare young people for life, not for a specific event.
Often we use the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist to mark steps of growth in maturity rather than as seeing them as the roots needed for the faith of young people to flourish. Confirmation is the sacrament through which the Church celebrates the gift of the Spirit given to the Church in and through each of its members. This gift of the Spirit strengthens the member for the journey of faith. Roman Rite, Canon Law (#891, #914) states that children must reach the age of reason (approx. 7 years old) before the sacraments of eucharist and confirmation be celebrated at the same time when the child is prepared for them at the age allowed by law. In fully initiating the children of our community at an early age, we then can focus on the journey of faith which continues throughout the life of the Christian.
While we believe that human life is infused with the sacramental goodness of God, the Catholic Church has defined seven sacraments - instituted by and through the life of Jesus Christ. It is through the experience of the sacramental ritual that we are infused with God’s grace. The Sacraments nourish and strengthen us as they express and build up our faith.
Restored Order of Sacraments of Initiation - Diocese of Saginaw
Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are the three Sacraments of Initiation. When new people come into the Church at the Easter Vigil, you see them celebrate, according to Church Law, Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. It is more than good order.
The decision of restoring the order of the sacraments of initiation was made by Bishop Untener after a lengthy series of study sessions and consultations throughout the diocese from 1987 to 1991. Bishop Untener took an unprecedented step in establishing this direction. The restoration meant seeing faith formation as a life-long commitment of helping prepare young people for life, not for a specific event.
Often we use the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist to mark steps of growth in maturity rather than as seeing them as the roots needed for the faith of young people to flourish. Confirmation is the sacrament through which the Church celebrates the gift of the Spirit given to the Church in and through each of its members. This gift of the Spirit strengthens the member for the journey of faith. Roman Rite, Canon Law (#891, #914) states that children must reach the age of reason (approx. 7 years old) before the sacraments of eucharist and confirmation be celebrated at the same time when the child is prepared for them at the age allowed by law. In fully initiating the children of our community at an early age, we then can focus on the journey of faith which continues throughout the life of the Christian.
