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Shanahan Religion August 19, 2013 Word Count: 681 Wk1d1 Grade:
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Mass and the Sacraments, Fr. John Laux, PG.1 Ibid. PG.2
The second requirement is that of producing inward grace. This is one of the differences between sacraments and prayer, because sacraments produce internal grace. When the priest absolves one from their sins, that person is actually cleansed from all that they confessed. During Baptism, as soon as the priest pours the water over the recipients head and pronounces the form, that person is cleansed of original sin and the seal of Christ imprinted upon their soul. The third requirement is that the institution be founded by Christ. Baptism was instituted by Christ at the river Jordan when John the Baptist poured water over his head and the Holy Ghost came down from Heaven with the blessing of God. Similarly, at the Last Supper, when Christ blessed the bread and wine, he was instituting the sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Christ instituted visible signs to impart his grace for several reasons. Since man is imperfect, he often needs a visible sign to believe that something invisible is happening. A physical sign can point ones attention towards the graces gained. All of the sacraments have a degree of ceremony attached to them. These ceremonies prepare us for the sacraments; they impress upon us the solemnity of the sacrament.3 The sacraments have several different parts, all of which are necessary. The requirements that make a sacrament a sacrament are all important. Without the institution by Christ, it would not have the same effect. The sacraments are one of Gods instruments by which we can get grace.
Bibliography: 1. Laux, Fr. John. Mass and the Sacraments. New York: Benziger Brothers: 1928, 1934