Being Church

1
Being Church

• phenomenology of worship
• sacramentality
• the 7 sacraments

2
Phenomenology of Worship

• sabbath theology
• the mystery of transcendence revealed
• our response as historical encounter
• transcendent epistemology
• ritual
• symbol
• liturgical event
• re-enactment (event / celebration)
• appropriation

3
Sacramentality

• A sacrament, to use the classical definition, is
  "an outward sign instituted by Christ to give
  grace." The three parts of this definition reveal
  the phenomenon at work here.
•  
• instituted by Christ -- the salvific life and
  work of the Redeemer transforms human action
•  
• an outward sign -- as humans, we know by way of
  our senses we need concrete experiences in order
  to "connect" with reality
•  
• to give grace -- through these signs, the
  transforming work of Jesus enables us to realize
  the power of God in our lives.

4
Sacramentality

• In somewhat more theological terms, a sacrament
  is a dialogic and efficacious sign of grace.
•  
• sacraments are signs or symbols, wherein a
  visible something is used to point to and connect
  with an invisible reality
•  
• sacraments are dialogic signs, in that through
  them we encounter God a communication (on God's
  part) and a response (on our part) take place
•  
• sacraments are also efficacious signs, in as much
  as they really work, they really accomplish what
  they symbolize that is, they both contain grace
  and confer grace
•  
• sacraments dialogically and efficaciously
  communicate grace, that is, the life of God, a
  divine "force" beyond the merely human what is
  involved in sacraments is the self-communication
  of the divine how this is done is by means of
  created things

5
The 7 Sacraments

• This notion of "sacramentality" can be applied
  and extended in three stages
•  
• (a) Jesus is considered the sacrament of our
  encounter with God.
•  
• (b) the Church, in turn, is the sacrament of our
  encounter with Jesus
•  
• (c) The actual sacraments, then, are the symbolic
  and ritual enactment of a graced experience of
  Jesus through the Church. In these rituals,
  symbolic elements are used to really enact
  (efficaciously) God's presence and grace in the
  key experiences of human life. In other words,
  experiences essential to human life are
  transformed, by the grace of God, and raised to
  the "supernatural" level of a new experience of
  God's power in one's life.

6
The 7 Sacraments

• Baptism -- water (symbol of life) is poured the
  experience of human birth is transformed into
  one's birth as a child of God
• Confirmation -- oil (symbol of strength) is
  applied the experience of human growth is
  transformed into the growing life of faith in and
  by the Spirit
• Eucharist -- bread (symbol of nourishment) is
  shared the experience of nourishment needed for
  biological life is transformed into a communion
  in eternal life
• Reconciliation -- absolution (words of
  forgiveness) is spoken the experience of failed
  relationships is transformed into reconciliation
  with God through divine mercy
• Anointing of the Sick -- oil (symbol of healing)
  is applied the experience of sickness is
  transformed into the peacefulness of an undying
  life beyond this world with God
• Holy Orders -- hands (symbol of power) are laid
  on the head the experience of a "career" is
  transformed through consecration into a life by
  which God's presence is empowered in the cult of
  the Church
• Matrimony -- consent (symbol of the will) is
  spoken the experience of intimacy is transformed
  into a participation in the eternal and unifying
  love of God.

7
The Sacrament of RECONCILIATION

• God, the Father of mercies, through the death
  and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the
  world to himself and send the Holy Spirit among
  us for the forgiveness of sins.
• Through the ministry of the Church, may God
  grant you pardon and peace. And I absolve you
  from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of
  the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN

• examination of CONSCIENCE
• public CONFESSION
• expression of CONTRITION
• words of ABSOLUTION
• imposition of PENANCE