Page 4 - The Sacraments

Sacraments at the Service of Communion
MATRIMONY & HOLY ORDERS
are sometimes called sacraments
of vocation. They call Christians to dedicate their lives both in communion with God and by loving service to others in specific ways.
MATRIMONY: While the Church’s minister witnesses this sacrament, Matrimony is the only sacrament whereby
the ministers of the
sacrament are the
couple themselves.
The man and woman
join their hands and their
lives, giving their free
consent, and exchanging
vows and rings. The wedding
rings symbolize their vows of loving self-sacrifice, in imitation of Christ’s love for the Church, as symbolized by the Cross in this icon.
HOLY ORDERS: This icon portrays the stole worn by priests in their ministry, especially for hearing confessions, praying
the Mass, offering anointings and blessings, and other sacramental duties. The Cross is a reminder that a priest offers his ministry in persona Christi, as he is working as the
person of Christ in his role in the sacraments offered through his
words and actions.
PENANCE/RECONCILIATION: Jesus gave Peter and the Apostles the power to “bind” and “loose” (Mt 16:19). This power includes forgiving sins and offering absolution. We receive those
same graces through the ministry of priests, by entering the confessional (symbolized here) when we go to Confession.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK: This vessel of oil represents the Oil of the Sick. Traditionally, this sacramental anointing with holy oil is given near death, along with Viaticum, or final holy Communion. But it is also administered to the
very sick in mind or body
or to persons infirm or elderly. It is both a healing and strengthening by Christ for what is to come.
Sacraments of Healing
PENANCE/RECONCILIATION & ANOINTING OF THE SICK are sacraments through which Christians experience God’s mercy and forgiveness of sins, as well as graces to help heal persons who may be suffering physically and/or spiritually.
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