THE P RTAL
April 2013 Page 10
The A - Z of the Catholic Faith
by Fr Stephen Wang
C is for …
Church
The Church is the community of those united by their faith in Jesus Christ , their love for God , and their sharing in the life of the Holy Spirit through the sacraments . It encompasses the visible Church on earth , the souls of purgatory , and the angels and saints in heaven .
Christ himself founded the Church , so that men and women – despite their differences – could become one People , one Body , no longer divided by suspicion or sin .
The mission of the Church is to witness to the love of Jesus Christ and help build the Kingdom of God . She is a sign of our salvation - of our reconciliation with God and with each other ; and she helps bring about this salvation , by handing on God ’ s Word and celebrating his sacraments . She is a home for sinners and a school for saints .
The Church is one , across time and space , through her unity of faith and the bonds of sacramental belonging . She is holy , through the holiness of Jesus Christ , her Head , and through the ways that her members share in his holiness , despite their weaknesses . She is catholic (‘ universal ’), because she is a home for all and a place where the fullness of God ’ s blessings can be discovered . And she is apostolic , by holding to the apostolic faith and the apostolic succession that continues in her bishops .
This unity can be found today in the Catholic Church , which preserves the fullness of the gifts Christ offers us for our salvation .
Confirmation
Confirmation is often called ‘ the sacrament of the Holy Spirit ’ because there is a special outpouring of the Spirit , as there was on the disciples at Pentecost . But we shouldn ’ t think that the Holy Spirit is somehow absent from the other sacraments . In baptism , we are transformed by the Holy Spirit . In confirmation , the graces we received at baptism are strengthened and confirmed , and our ‘ preparation ’ to share in the Holy Eucharist is complete .
We can only be confirmed once . We are anointed with the oil of Sacred Chrism and hear the words , ‘ Be sealed with the Holy Spirit ’. Confirmation gives us a special link with the wider Church , because it is normally celebrated by the bishop . The Chrism has been consecrated by the bishop , and provides another link with him , even if he is not present .
Confirmation can take place at different ages . In the Eastern Churches , it is celebrated immediately after the baptism of infants . In the West it is often celebrated in early adolescence , or sometimes by children just before they make their First Holy Communion .
Confirmation helps Christians in a special way to witness to their faith : to live it joyfully and share it with courageously with others . It gives them ‘ the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit ’: wisdom , understanding , right judgment , courage , knowledge , reverence , and the spirit of wonder and awe in God ’ s presence .
Consecrated Life
All Christians are consecrated to Christ in baptism ; all are called to holiness , to the perfection of love , and to share in the mission of Jesus Christ in the world . Some , however , are consecrated to him in a special way , by professing the ‘ evangelical counsels ’ of poverty , consecrated celibacy and obedience , and entering into a life-long commitment that is recognised by the Church .
This kind of consecrated life is a response to a special call from Christ . By imitating the life of Christ himself ( who was poor , chaste and obedient ), it gives someone a greater freedom to follow him and be at the service of others with an undivided heart . It becomes a sign to the Church of the unconditional love that characterises the Kingdom of God , which will reach fulfilment in the world to come .
In a practical sense , it allows people to pray , to build community , and to give themselves in mission and service in ways that might be difficult for those who have commitments to family life or secular work .
Consecrated life takes many different forms : it can be lived alone or with others ; in enclosed monasteries or in communities open to the world ; in contemplation and prayer or in active service to others . It can be followed by both lay people and clergy . The witness of consecrated people is a great gift to the Church .