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The
Sacraments
of
Initiation
Baptism
Confirmation
Eucharist
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In this unit we will…
Look again at what happens in the Sacrament of Baptism and
deepen our understanding of the key actions and words
Look at the Sacrament of confirmation and see how it deepens
the effects of Baptism and strengthens us through the gifts of
the Holy Spirit
Reflect on how Jesus is really present during the celebration of
the Eucharist
Reflect on how these sacraments develop a person’s relationship with
Jesus (being born anew, strengthened and nourished)
Think about the importance of Mass in the Catholic Church particularly on
Sundays and Holy Days.
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SIGNS & SYMBOLS
Signs are all around us. The school is full of them. But if you look closely
you can see some symbols as well. In this lesson we are going to learn and
understand the difference between signs and symbols.
The sacraments of the Catholic Church are full of symbols that are used
to communicate with the people taking part.
These symbols have deep meanings that are sometime very obvious and
sometimes quite difficult to understand.
To begin with we will concentrate on learning the difference between a
sign and a symbol.
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CEREMONY & RITUAL
A Ceremony is a special part of a celebration
where set words, actions and symbols are used to
point to the deeper meaning or purpose of the
celebration.
For example…
The Olympic torch and flame; the parade of
athletes and flags; and the inspiring words at the
opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
When we talk about religious ceremonies (like
sacraments) we often use the word Ritual:
It basically means the same as ceremony but it always seems to
include the idea that the ceremony is a religious one.
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1 Name one event in your life that has been or will be marked by a
ceremony or ritual.
2 Finish the sentence:
This event is celebrated because
3 Explain how this is celebrated.
Actions
Words
Symbols
Remember to mention any special
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Joining Up
Think back to a time when you joined a sports club, or any other
organisation such as the Scouts or Girl Guides. Was there anything you
had to do to join or was there some kind of short ceremony in which you
had to take part (even if it was just saying a few words)?
Think and discuss
1. Why do you think organisations have such a ceremony?
2. What does this ceremony do for the person joining, for example
how does it make them feel?
3. Do such ceremonies involve some form of commitment or
determination to do something on the part of the person
joining? If so, what?
Very often, when we join a new group we have to go through some kind of
ritual of initiation. It means a special ceremony with words, actions and
symbols that we go through in order to join a certain group.
This process of entry can be done at one ceremony or can be undertaken
in stages over a period of time. When a person becomes a Catholic, a
series of entry ceremonies takes place, normally over a period of time.
A person becomes a member of the Catholic Church by receiving the
three Sacraments of Initiation.
Baptism
Confirmation
Eucharist
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The word we are going to focus on now is a very important word for
members of the Catholic Church because it is the name given to all
the important celebrations that take place.
sacrament
Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is present in the community which is
called the Church. They celebrate the presence of Jesus in their lives
using seven SACRAMENTS. In the celebration of the sacraments,
Catholics come together to hear the Word of God in their Scriptures and
to express their belief that Jesus is with them and give them strength to
live in his way. They do this by using symbols such as bread, wine, oil and
water.
We have already looked at how and why people celebrate different
events. We have seen how there have been and will be other times in our
lives when we celebrate things that have happened to us.
People celebrate special moments in their lives: the birth of a baby,
birthdays, getting married. In the sacraments, Catholics celebrate Jesus’
presence at special moments and that makes people feel strengthened in
their journey through life.
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Baptism
When a person wants to join the Church and
become a Christian (a follower of Jesus
Christ) he or she is baptised. In early
Christian times, those joining the Church
were also Confirmed and took part in the
Eucharist.
The word ‘Baptism’ comes from a Greek
word meaning ‘plunge’ or ‘dip’. In the early
Church the person to be baptised was
submerged in water, as a symbol of dying to sin and rising, washed and
refreshed, ready to start a new life as a member of the Family of God.
We believe that because of the sins of Adam and Eve (when mankind first
turns its back on God) we are all born with something of that fault in us ‘Original Sin’. For us, Baptism takes away that original sin and gives us
the chance to live life as God had intended from the beginning. For us, our
Baptism marks the beginning of our special relationship with Jesus and we
are joined in a particular way with the community that follows Jesus, the
Church.
Answer the following questions.
1. What does the word baptism mean?
2. Why do you think that the early Christians were ‘submerged in
water’ at Baptism?
3. What is it that Baptism washes away from anyone who is
baptised?
4. What is that Baptism marks the beginning of for people who are
baptised?
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The Symbols in Baptism
Each sacrament is celebrated using words, actions, and symbols.
These things are what make up the Ritual. In Baptism there are
four symbols.
Water
Water keeps us alive and makes things
graw. Without water we could not live.
We also use it for washing ourselves.
These things give us a clue about why we
use it in Baptism.
In Baptism the pouring of water is a sign
of the new life and growth that is taking
place in the heart of the child. It is also
a sign of washing away everything that
separates us from God. Through Baptism
the child begins the journey of becoming a member of the
Church.
Oil of Chrism
In Baptism, the anointing with oil of
chrism is a sign of being strong, being
healed and being marked as special. This
oil is used again for confirmation.
In the Old Testament, kings, priests and
prophets were anointed with oil. This
was a sign of being specially chosen to
work for God. When a person is anointed
with oil in Baptism it is a sign that they
are being specially chosen by God.
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Candle
The candle given to parents at Baptism is
lit from the Easter (Paschal) candle which
represents the risen Christ present in the
Church.
The light of a Baptismal candle represents
the light of Christ in the heart of the
person being baptised and is a reminder
that we have to be a light to others in the
world.
White Garment
When people take on a new job or
role in life they often change their
clothes. Uniforms on police, nurses
etc are a sign of what they are
about.
In Baptism the white garment is a
sign of a new beginning, of new life
and of the presence of the risen
Jesus.
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Story of a Baptism
Below is the story of the Baptism of a girl called
Maria Gomes being told to her by her mother
when she was about 12 years old. Copy and
complete the passage into your jotter using the
word list at the end of the passage.
“When you were born, Maria, your Dad and I
brought you home from hospital to join our
family. Your surname – Gomes – shows that you
_ _ _ _ _ _ to our family.
On the day of your baptism we were met at the door
of the church by the priest, Father Francis. That
was the way of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ you into a wider
family we call the Church. All the family traced the
Sign of the Cross on you forehead because the
cross is the badge of those who believe in Jesus and
a sign that we were
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ you to God.
Then we listened to the priest reading from the
gospel which means ‘the good news’ that Jesus is
always
_ _ _ _ his people.
I remember you wriggled a little bit when the priest
placed a dab of special oil on your chest. He said
wrestlers in ancient times used oil before a contest.
It made them look very fit and feel too slippery to
be grasped by their opponents. I suppose we were
praying for the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ you would need
to overcome any difficulties and be your true self.
WORD LIST
welcoming
speaking
with
courage
belong
chosen
happy
life
new members
listening
light
lame
strength
dedicating
Chrism
cleansing
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The main part of the baptism is when the priest pours
water over the head of the baby. Of course, water is a
symbol of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and of _ _ _ _.
At the same time you were called Maria, your
_ _ _ _ as a member of the Christian family.
WORD LIST
Father Francis then put the oil of _ _ _ _ _ _ on your
forehead, the sort they use to anoint a new king with in
ancient times, which shows you have been _ _ _ _ _ _
to serve God.
belong
welcoming
speaking
with
courage
chosen
happy
life
Then your ears and lips were blessed, a sign of
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _the gospel. The
early Christians used to dress all in white when they
were becoming _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the Church
and we put a white garment on you for the same reason.
new members
Your Dad then had to hold a lighted candle to show that
it is our responsibility to help you to see that Jesus is
the _ _ _ _ _ of the world. It all finished with a
blessing on everybody, praying that we would all be very
_ _ _ _ _”.
dedicating
listening
light
lame
strength
Chrism
cleansing
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Confirmation
Confirmation is another part of the initiation process. During this
sacrament, the gift of the Holy Spirit received at Baptism is
strengthened. Those being confirmed become more fully part of the
worldwide Church.
In the early Church the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation were
celebrated together. Later it was decided to celebrate the sacraments
separately. In most places children receive Eucharist and Confirmation in
the same year and often at the same service.
During the confirmation service the bishop puts his hand on the child’s
head and prays that they will ‘receive the Holy Spirit’. The bishop sees
himself as the successor of the apostles – so it is as if they are reaching
out to the young person through the hands of the bishop. The person is
accompnied by a sponsor who lays puts their hand on their shoulder as a
sign of support.
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Christians believe that receiving God’s Holy Spirit changes them slowly
but surely.
These show themselves through these charactersitics in the person…
Copy and complete the following sentences:
1. A person being confirmed becomes…
2. In the early church the sacraments of …………… and
………………………… were celebrated together.
3. In confirmation we pray that the person will receive the
…………………………………….
4. The bishop sees himself as a successor of the …………………….
5. A person making their confirmation is accompnanied by a
…………………………… who puts their hand on their schoulder as ……………… of
support.
6. Christians believes that receiving the ……………
………………………
stengthens them slowly but surely.
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Eucharist
Receiving the Eucharist for the first time (normally called first Holy
Communion) is the final stage in the process of initiation. Normally
Catholics receive the Eucharist during the celebration of Holy Mass.
When Catholics come together to worship they believe that God is
present
1. In the people gathered together to worship
2. In the Word of God
3. In the priest celebrating the Mass
4. And especially in the body and blood of Jesus in the form of bread
and wine
The Mass is made up of different parts
1. The Penitential Rite
This is when the people reflect on the sins they have committed
and the things they have done wrong
2. The Liturgy of the Word
In this part Catholics listen to God speaking to them through
specially chosen readings from the Bible. On a Sunday 4 readings
from the Bible are used
 One from the Old Testament
 A psalm – also from the Old testament
 One from the letters in the New Testament
 A reading from one of the 4 Gospels
When it comes to the Gospel the people stand as a sign of respect.
This is because the Gospels
 The Gospels contain Jesus words
 They believe Jesus is God
 So they really are God’s words to us
3. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
In this part Jesus becomes really present in the form of the bread
and wine. This is called Transubstantiation.
Key Word:
Eucharist (Greek) means Thanksgiving
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Gathering together to worship
Catholics gather together to worship for a purpose:
1. To maintain links with God (and each other)
2. To listen to God’s word
3. To be nourished by his body and blood to go out into the world and
proclaim the good news to others
Saying Sorry
Very often when we meet people we have not
spoken to for a while we begin by apologising
for not being in touch. The same thing happens
at the start of a Mass. The priest and people
begin by saying sorry to each other and to God
for their faults and failings. They do it using
this prayer…
I confess to almighty God
It starts with admitting that to
and to you, my brothers and sisters, God and others that we have done
that I have greatly sinned
wrong
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
By what we have thought and said
and done and not done
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
We admit it is our fault
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever- And we ask for help from everyone
Virgin, all the Angels and Saints,
to do better
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
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Listening to God
The Bible is one of the main things that Catholics use to learn more about
what God wants from them. They can read it on their own at any time but
at Mass selected readings are used so that all the main messages and
teachings can be heard over the course of the year. On a Sunday 4
readings from the Bible are used
 One from the Old Testament
 A psalm – also from the Old testament
 One from the letters in the New Testament
 A reading from one of the 4 Gospels
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Saying Thanks
As we have seen the word Eucharist
means Thanksgiving. At the Eucharist
or Mass we give thanks for God’s
creation. Part of that involves offering
something back to God. We do this
symbolically through the gifts of bread
and wine.
Bread is a symbol of human life and
human work. In the same way that
many grains make a loaf – many people come together to make up the
church community.
Wine is a symbol of joy and celebration. It is also a symbol of human
work.
But none of these things would be possible without God’s creation of the
wheat and the grapes and us.
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The Sacrifice of the Mass
The Eucharist is also known as the sacrifice of the Mass. This is because
Jesus is showing the apostles, in advance, how to commemorate his death
on the cross. The earliest writing we have of the first celebration of the
Eucharist is found in one of St Paul’s letters.
For this is what I received from the Lord and in turn passed on to you:
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread,
gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you.
Do this in memory of me.’
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, ‘This cup is
God’s new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in
memory of me.’
{1 Cor. 11:23–25}
This happened when Jesus was celebrating the Passover with the
apostles. At the time, the Apostles probably did not understand fully
what Jesus meant; but after his death and resurrection the words ‘This is
my body’ and ‘This is my blood’ became real for them.
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Jesus sacrificed himself to save us from our sins. The Eucharist
remembers and re-enacts this event in history.
Sacrifice is about…
 putting other people before yourself.
 giving without expecting anything
back
 love
Catholics believe not only that the
Eucharist
helps
us
remember
and
participate in Jesus’ saving sacrifice on the
cross, but also that Jesus is really present
in the Bread and Wine that we use at Mass.
Catholics think it is important to come
together as the Apostles did. That is why
Catholics are expected to go to church
every Sunday and celebrate the Eucharist.