These Are the Sacraments, by Fulton J. Sheen
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The Catholic Primer’s Reference Series: These Are the Sacraments Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Ph.D., D.D., LL.D., Litt.D. Caution regarding printing: Before you print, please check the page count of this document after it is fully loaded. Many Catholic Primer eBooks and documents are hundreds or even thousands of pages in length, depending upon individual printer settings. These Are the Sacraments Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Ph.D., D.D., LL.D., Litt.D. Copyright 1962 by Hawthorn Books, Inc., 70 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. The Scripture translations throughout are from The Holy Bible, translated by Ronald Knox, copyright 1944, 1948, 1950 by Sheed and Ward, Inc., New York. Nihil Obstat: William F. Hogan, S.T.D., Censor Librorum Imprimatur: James A. Hughes, J.C.D., LL.D., P.A., Vicar General, Archdiocese of Newark October 22, 1962 The Catholic Primer Copyright Notice The content of These Are the Sacraments is in the public domain. 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The Catholic Primer: www.catholicprimer.org 2 CONTENTS THE SACRAMENTS ....................................................................................................................... 5 A Divine Sense of Humor............................................................................................................ 5 The Bible Is A Sacramental ........................................................................................................ 6 What the Sacraments Bring to Man .......................................................................................... 8 Seven Conditions of Life ............................................................................................................. 9 The Power and Efficacy of the Sacraments........................................................................... 10 The Application to the Sacraments ......................................................................................... 11 I. THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM........................................................................................... 12 Water: The Material Sign of Baptism ...................................................................................... 12 Baptism and the Life of Christ .................................................................................................. 13 The Blessing of Baptismal Water............................................................................................. 14 Baptism in the Early Church..................................................................................................... 15 The Dialogue............................................................................................................................... 15 Sponsors...................................................................................................................................... 16 Exorcisms .................................................................................................................................... 17 The Body in Baptism.................................................................................................................. 18 The Baptism Itself....................................................................................................................... 20 The Lighted Candle and Baptism ............................................................................................ 20 The White Robe of Baptism...................................................................................................... 21 Effects of Baptism ...................................................................................................................... 21 The Infusion of Virtues............................................................................................................... 23 II. THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION............................................................................. 26 Administration of the Sacrament.............................................................................................. 28 The Sacrament of Combat........................................................................................................ 29 Confirmation Both Personal and Social.................................................................................. 31 The Sacrament of the Lay Apostolate .................................................................................... 31 III. THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST .......................................................................... 34 The Eucharist: Sacrifice and Sacrament ................................................................................ 34 Relation of Baptism and the Eucharist.................................................................................... 35 The Old Testament and the Eucharist .................................................................................... 36 The Eucharist as a Sacrifice, or the Mass.............................................................................. 36 The Eucharist as a Sacrament, or Holy Communion ........................................................... 40 Union with the Life of Christ...................................................................................................... 41 Second Effect: Union with the Death of Christ ...................................................................... 42 Third Effect: Communion with the Mystical Body of Christ.................................................. 42 The Tabernacle........................................................................................................................... 43 IV. THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE....................................................................................... 44 Contrast of Psychoanalysis and Confession ......................................................................... 44 Two Basic Requirements for the Sacrament ......................................................................... 46 The Sacrament Deals with Sins............................................................................................... 46 Instituted by Christ ..................................................................................................................... 47 Confession to a Priest ............................................................................................................... 49 The Examination of Conscience .............................................................................................. 50 3 Sorrow for Sin: Contrition.......................................................................................................... 52 Satisfaction.................................................................................................................................. 54 V. THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK ................................................. 59 Sickness and the Soul............................................................................................................... 61 How the Sacrament Is Administered....................................................................................... 63 The Viaticum ............................................................................................................................... 66 VI. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS............................................................................. 68 The Call from God...................................................................................................................... 68 The Priest and Celibacy ............................................................................................................ 68 The Ordination of the Priest...................................................................................................... 69 The Call from the Bishop........................................................................................................... 70 The Prostration ........................................................................................................................... 72 The Laying on of Hands ............................................................................................................ 72 Investiture of Priesthood ..........................................................................................................