Index to Pages
on
The Sacraments
VATICAN CITY, December 17, 2001 - The Church's
answer to Modern Man's thirst for Transcendence, is in the Sacraments,
a Video-Conference of Theologians concluded.
The Video-Conference, the Fourth such Event, organized by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy,
involved Theologians from around the World.
"The World needs Transcendence, it longs to Know and Experience that Human Life is grafted into Divine Life", the
Prefect for the Vatican Congregation, Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, said when introducing the speakers.
"The Sacraments of the New Covenant give Man this Capacity: to Transcend what is Limited and Contingent, to be Integrated
in the Immensity and Eternity of God, and to recover ´the Sacred meaning´ of his own Existence, by Living a ´New Life´ of Grace", he said.
The Topic addressed by the Theologians was "Sacramental Theology from Vatican Council II to Our Days".
The Colombian Cardinal explained the importance of the Sacraments in the
Church, quoting the Testimony of the Martyrs of Abitine, in Roman Africa,
Punished with Death at the Time of Diocletian, for Celebrating
Mass:
"We who Profess the Resurrection of Christ, as the Foundation of the Whole of the Sacramental Liturgy, repeat: We cannot
Live without the Lord´s Sacraments!" the Martyrs told their Executioners.
Bishop Angelo Scola, Rector of the Lateran University, also speaking from Rome, said that the Sacraments
are an Authentic Encounter of Man with Christ "as his contemporary".
The Bishop added: "The Truth is effectively Communicated in the Sacraments, as it is a Living and Personal Event that continues
to be so in the Living Reality of the Church, which is made up of Concrete Persons".
"In fact, Jesus Christ, a Living Reality, can only Communicate Himself through another Living Reality: the
Church", he concluded.
In Him we have Redemption through His Blood, the Forgiveness of our Trespasses, according to the Riches of
His Grace
from the Small Catechism of the Catholic Religion, by Bishop John Neumann of the Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer, Fourth Bishop of Philadelphia
from a Book by Father Arthur Tonne
by Theologian, Father William G. Most
A Synopsis of Church Teachings on the Sacraments
by Theologian, Father William G. Most
Part I of a Three Part Series by Father Paul K. Raftery, O.P.
Part II of a Three Part Series by Father Paul K. Raftery, O.P.
Part III of a Three Part Series by Father Paul K. Raftery, O.P.
by Theologian, Father William G. Most
by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen - Ph.D., D.D., LL.D., Litt.D.
by Father Paul A. Duffner, O.P.
A Series of Thirteen (13) Reflections, of about Thirty Minutes each, by Father Pablo Straub, CSSR,
a long-time contributor to Prime Time EWTN Television
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The Sacraments bring Divine Life or Grace. Christ's Reason for taking upon Himself a Human Nature, was to Pay for Sin, by Death on the
Cross, and to bring us a Higher Life: "I have come so that they may have Life, and have it more Abundantly" (John 10:10). But, it may be said, that Man
already has Life. Indeed he does; he has a Biological, Physiological Life. He once had a Higher Divine Life, which he Lost. Christ came to bring that Life
back to Man. This Higher Life, which is Divine, distinct from the Human, is called Grace, because it is 'Gratis' or a Free Gift of God.
