The sacraments of initiation (also called the “ mysteries of initiation”) are the three sacraments of

Baptism Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost ...

Confirmation In Christian denominations that practice infant baptism, confirmation is seen as the sealing of the covenant created in baptism. Those being confirmed are known as confirmands. For adults, it is an affirmation of belief. It involves laying on ...

, and

Eucharist The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was institu ...

. As such, they are distinguished from the sacraments of healing ( Anointing of the sick and

Sacrament of Penance The Sacrament of Penance (also commonly called the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church (known in Eastern Christianity as sacred mysteries), in which the faithful are absolved from si ...

) and from the sacraments of service (

Marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

and

Ordination Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...

Eastern and Western approaches

In the

Eastern Church Eastern Christianity comprises Christian traditions and church families that originally developed during classical and late antiquity in Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Northeast Africa, the Fertile Crescent and ...

all three sacraments are usually administered at the same time, even in the case of infants. In the

Latin Church , native_name_lang = la , image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt = Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran , caption = Archbasilica of Saint Jo ...

and other Western denominations, the rite of

infant baptism Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. Infant baptism is also called christening by some faith traditions. Most Christians belong to denominations that practice infant baptism. Branches of Christianity that ...

was developed for use with babies. In these traditions the

and

are postponed until the child achieves the age of self-awareness. Adults are normally baptized after enrollment as a '' catechumen'', either formally, as in the Latin Rite, or more informally, as in some Eastern Catholic Churches. In his apostolic constitution ''Divinae consortium naturae'' on the sacrament of Confirmation,

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...

declared: "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life."

Celebration

According to

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...

, the way the sacraments of initiation are celebrated is meant to bring a

neophyte A neophyte is a recent initiate or convert to a subject or belief. Neophyte may also refer to: Science * Neophyte (botany), a plant species recently introduced to an area As a proper noun Arts and entertainment * Neophyte, a character class ...

to experience and know, through visible sacramental signs and gestures, eternal life and

grace Grace may refer to: Places United States * Grace, Idaho, a city * Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois * Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office * Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uninc ...

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and relig ...

has brought into this world. They are always accompanied by the Word of God. Particular focus is placed on the paschal mystery of Christ's death and resurrection. The privileged time of celebrating them is

Easter Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samue ...

, and by the 4th century it was accepted as the normal time of administering them, although it was also allowed on

Pentecost Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers ...

.Edward Yarnold SJ, (1971), ''The awe inspiring rites of initiation'', p. 7.

References

Bibliography

Raniero Cantalamessa Raniero Cantalamessa (born 22 July 1934) is an Italian Catholic cardinal and priest in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and a theologian. He has served as the Preacher to the Papal Household since 1980, under Pope John Paul II, Pope Bened ...

OFMCap, (1993) ''Introduction'', in: ''Easter in the Early Church. An Anthology of Jewish and Early Christian Texts'', J.M. Quigley SJ, J.T. Lienhard SJ (translators & editors), Collegville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, pp. 1–23, *Fisher, J.D.C., (1970) ''Christian initiation. The Reformation period. Some early reformed rites of Baptism and Confirmation and other contemporary Documents'', London: SPCK, p. 273. *Kenan B. Osborne, OFM, (1987), ''The Christian Sacraments of Initiation. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist'', New York-Mahwah: Paulist Press, *Liam G. Walsh OP, (1988) ''The Sacraments of Christian Initiation. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist.'' London: Geoffrey Chapman, , p. 317. *Edward Yarnold SJ, (1971) ''The awe inspiring rites of initiation. Baptismal homilies of the fourth century'', Slough: St. Paul Publications, p. 292 {{DEFAULTSORT:Sacraments Of Initiation Rites of passage Sacraments of the Catholic Church

Eastern and Western approaches

Celebration

See also

References

Bibliography