The life of St. John Francis Regis revolves around the celebration of the sacraments. The Second Vatican Council describes the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist as the "source and summit of the Christian Life." (Lumen Gentium 11). The other sacraments are oriented toward this Sacrament of the Eucharist. "For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch" (Pres. Ordinis 5).
Each of the sacraments also gives a special grace if we receive them with the right dispositions. Therefore, the people of St. John Francis Regis are encouraged to frequently receive the Sacrament of Confession in order that they might be well disposed to receive the other sacraments in a state of grace.
The Sacraments
"Since the Lord is no longer visible among us," wrote Saint Leo the Great about the year 450, "everything of him that was visible has passed into the sacraments."
Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life (CCC 1210).
- The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. These are the three sacraments that make a person a Christian—the sacraments that initiate someone into the Body of Christ.
- The Sacraments of Healing are Penance and the Anointing of the Sick. These two repair what is broken in the body and soul.
- The Sacraments in Service of Communion are Marriage and Holy Orders. These sacraments build up the Church, in number and in strength; they are directed toward the good of others rather than oneself.
Why does the Church have sacraments?
