| What We Believe or Sharing Our Catholic Faith Story |
QUICK FACTS
ASSUMPTION On August 15 we will celebrate the feast of the Assumption. The Assumption is the teaching of the Church that, after Mary’s life on earth ended, Mary, body and soul, was taken up to heaven. (Assumed into heaven.) It is a Holy Day of Obligation.
GRACE is the free and undeserved gift of God’s loving and active presence in our lives and in our world. Because God pours forth grace to each of us at every moment according to our needs and our situation in life, all through our day God is freely inviting us to share his life.
SACRAMENTALS are sacred symbols and objects that help us respond to the grace received in the sacraments. Sacramentals help us pray and remember God’s love. They include religious symbols (candles, cross etc.), and public and private devotions such as the Stations of the Cross or Rosary. See more on Sacramentals below
WHAT ARE SACRAMENTS?
A sacrament is an outward sign - By this we mean that a sacrament is a visible symbolic action. It is not something we have. It is something we do (break bread, anoint with oil)
Instituted by Christ Jesus did not make up symbols. He took symbols that were common to people and symbols common to his heritage and instituted meaning.
To give grace Sacraments help us to make ourselves present to God who is always with us. They help us to find the footprints of God in our life. They help us to enter into a friendship with God and that friendship is called grace.
The sacraments are celebrated at key moments in our lives- the birth of our children, marriage, giving and receiving forgiveness, times of sickness and death, , etc. The sacraments deepen and mark these special times and remind us of Christ’s presence in our lives.
Over the years the Church recognized seven sacraments which are sometimes grouped according to their function.
- The sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist fully initiate us into the life of Jesus and the Church..
- Sacraments of healing are Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation.
- Holy Orders and Marriage are known as sacraments of vocation or service.
Through the sacraments Jesus continues to feed us, forgive us, celebrate with us and heal us just as he did with the people of Gospel times. From birth to death the seven sacraments touch us at all the important moments of our lives.
Visit http://www.harcourtreligion.com/family.asp click on Catholic’s Believe for more on Sacraments
TO REVIEW MATERIALS ON EACH OF THE SACRAMENTS CLICK ON THE ARCHIVES IN THIS SECTION.
SACRAMENTALS
Our homes are filled with things we treasure. Things like gifts given to us by a loved one, favorite family recipes, photos, souvenirs from a vacation, children or grandchildren’s art work, or grandmother’s favorite chair; all remind us of special places, people or experiences. Our catholic faith is filled with similar things called sacramentals. Sacramentals have been part of Christian religious practice from the earliest centuries. When we walk in the doors of our parish churches we are surrounded by sacred things. We see a cross, candles, vigil light, statues, oil, and holy water. Sacramentals help us to build our relationship with God and put us in touch with Jesus.
WITH YOUR FAMILY
- Parents share with your children a sacramental that has meaning for you. Be sure to share why it is important to you and how it helps you feel close to God.
- Go on a Church scavenger hunt to find as many sacramentals as you can. Or go early to Mass and as you sit in your pew look around to find as many sacramentals as you can before Mass begins. Talk about what each person found on the way home from church.
- Look around your home. What religious objects do you see? Talk about what each one means or where they came from.
- Take a small container to church and fill it with holy water. Begin the practice of blessing yourselves before bed if you don’t already do so.
WHAT IS THE CREED?
A creed any creed, lists the basic beliefs of a group. Based on the Latin word credo the word. creed means “I believe” “I give my heart to it”.
In the early Church when Christians said I believe, they were willing to change their whole lives and make a commitment to follow Jesus. The first creeds were Baptismal formulas. The person to be baptized was asked three questions. Do you believe in God? Do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit? The person responded “I do believe” after each question and was submerged in water. By the fourth or fifth century the creeds had developed into a set of formulas we use today becoming statements of faith rather than questions that demanded a commitment.
In this creed we say:
We believe in God, who loves us like a parent. God creates all things and gives them to us as gifts.
We believe in God’s son Jesus who loves us like a brother and friend. Who lived and died for us. He rose to new life so that we might live more fully.
We believe in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is our helper and guide. The Spirit helps us love one another.
We believe in the Catholic Church as a community of God’s people. It is our home in the Christian family.
We believe we will rise from death to new life. We believe we will live with Jesus forever.
The Nicene Creed (Profession of Faith)
This is the creed we normally pray during Mass. When we pray the creed at Mass we repeat the statement of beliefs made at our Baptism. This creed based in part of the Council of Nicea 325AD is a fuller expression of our faith.
For a further explanation of what we believe about:
God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Communion of Saints, the Church, The Forgiveness of Sins, the Resurrection, Final Judgment and Life Everlasting, visit the Archives of this section
Take time to pray one of the creeds as a family throughout the summer months. Reflect on the meaning of each line of the prayer.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?
Several hundred years after Pentecost, in the city of Rome you would often find Christians gathering in homes to pray and read scripture. They would always renew their faith by praying the creed before they left for home. They believed it was important to pray the Creed to help them remember who and what they stood for.
With your household write your own creed.
- What do you believe about God, the Father?
- What do you believe about Jesus, God’s Son?
- What do you believe about the Holy Spirit?
- What do you believe about the Church?
Post a copy of your family’s creed on your refrigerator as a reminder of what you believe. Pray it often at meal time.
HOW DO YOU LIVE THE CREED?
- We believe that God created the universe and loves and cares for each of us. How does your family love each other as God loves you? How do you show your appreciation or respect for creation?
- We believe that Jesus is God’s son. Throughout his life Jesus taught us about God’s love by the way he lived. What he said and did. How do you live as followers of Jesus?
- We believe that the Holy Spirit is our helper and guide. Are you open to the Spirit’s guidance? When has the Holy Spirit helped your household?
- We believe that the Church is the People of God. Is your parish an important part of your family life? How does your household participate in the life and mission of the Church?
Visit the following websites for more on Catholic Traditions &Practices.
Questions Kids Ask