SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION (Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist)

"The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1212).

1. Christian Initiation of Adults - R.C.I.A.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults involves preparation for and celebration of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, which reveal the intimate relation of these sacraments to one another. The Rite is designed primarily for the initiation of unbaptized adults. The Rite also provides for the initiation of unbaptized children of catechetical age (approximately 7 to 14 years of age), as well as for welcoming baptized Catholics and non-Catholics into full communion with the Catholic Church.

R.C.I.A. consists of four distinct periods of formation: Period of Inquiry; Period of the Catechumenate; Period of Enlightenment and Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis (mystagogy).

In June, 1996, the Archdiocese of Toronto issued a revised Pastoral Guide for the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children in the Archdiocese. The document contains the following information:

principles of Christian Initiation
how to implement the Rite with adults (the various ministries, responsibilities)
how to handle special circumstances
a suggested initial interview format
a suggested pre-admission inquiry form
marriage situations that need to be referred to the Chancellor for Spiritual Affairs before a person may begin the initiation process
a suggested ritual for celebrating the convalidation ("blessing") of a marriage within a celebration of the Word of God
a registration form for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children.

If you wish a copy of this publication, telephone the Catholic Office of Religious Education: 416-934-0606 ext. 507 or 510 or fax: 416-934-3444.

If you are interested in becoming a Catholic, contact your local Catholic parish.

2. The Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism is the first of the sacraments of initiation into the Catholic church. It makes us adopted children of God, incorporates us into Christ, pardons all our sin, and forms us into God's people. It confers a permanent relationship ("character") with Christ and his Church which lasts even should one cease to be an active member of the Catholic community. For this reason a validly baptized Christian is never re-baptized and has the right to a Christian funeral.

Bishops, priests and deacons are the ordinary ministers of baptism, although anyone with the right intention may administer the sacrament in case of imminent death. The words for conferring baptism in the Latin Church are: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".

Christian Initiation of Children

Baptism of infants takes place within the first few weeks after birth in the parish Church. It is highly desirable that baptisms take place during Sunday Eucharist when the parish community is assembled for worship. Otherwise, baptisms are scheduled by the parish staff, as required. It is important to recall that this sacrament is a church and not a family celebration, that the parents must have the intention of raising the child in the Catholic faith and that both parents and godparents are to be instructed on the serious responsibility they take upon themselves when they present their children for baptism.

3. The Sacrament of Confirmation

"... by the Sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285).

All baptized persons who have not been confirmed and only they are capable of being confirmed. It is required, if the person has the use of reason, that he/she be suitably instructed, properly disposed and able to renew his/her baptismal promises (canon 889).

In the Archdiocese of Toronto, the Cardinal Archbishop has recently delegated authority to pastors to confirm their parishioners due to the large size of the diocese and to enable young people to be Confirmed on or close to the Feast of Pentecost.

Sponsors for this sacrament are ideally, the same persons who served as one's baptismal sponsors. They are intended to be models of faith and so must be Confirmed themselves, be practising their faith, and be mature enough (usually sixteen years or older) to carry out the role of sponsor. A sponsor can be either male or female. Parents cannot be sponsors for their own children (canons 874 and 893).

Young people in the Archdiocese of Toronto are ordinarily Confirmed in their grade eight year. This applies as well to children of catechetical age (7 to 14 years) who were not baptized as infants but as young children.

4. The Sacrament of Eucharist

"The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1322).

"The Eucharist is the 'source and summit of the Christian life'. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324)

If from the beginning Christians have celebrated the Eucharist and in a form whose substance has not changed despite the great diversity of times and liturgies, it is because we know ourselves to be bound by the command the Lord gave on the eve of his Passion: "Do this in remembrance of me."

We carry out this command of the Lord by celebrating the memorial of his sacrifice. In so doing, we offer to the Father what he has himself given us: the gifts of his creation, bread and wine which, by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the words of Christ, have become the body and blood of Christ. Christ is thus really and mysteriously made present.

We must therefore consider the Eucharist as:
thanksgiving and praise to the Father;
the sacrificial memorial of Christand his Body;
the presence of Christ by the power of his word and of his Spirit.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1356, 1357, 1358).

First Communion

The decision concerning an individual child's readiness to receive First Communion rests in the first place with the child's parents in consultation with the child's parish priest and teacher(s). However, it is the duty of the parish priest to see to it that children who have not yet reached the use of reason, or whom he has judged to be insufficiently prepared, do not come to Holy Communion (canon 914).

Adequate preparation (in the Archdiocese of Toronto) is understood to be the successful completion of the initial preparation for this sacrament (either in a Catholic school or in a parish) and of the immediate preparation provided by the parish for all First Communion candidates (e.g. enrolment of all candidates for First Eucharist and, where these exist, additional classes). (Norms for Sacramental Preparation, Archdiocese of Toronto, 76)

Viaticum

See "Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick".

The Eucharistic Fast

The regulation for fasting is considered a means of spiritual preparation for receiving the Eucharist and a symbol of reverence for the sacrament. The Eucharistic Fast is limited to one hour before actually receiving the Eucharist. It pertains to all solid food and all drinks, except water. Taking medicine does not break the fast. The fast applies to priests who celebrate the Mass and to the faithful, regardless of what time of day the Mass is celebrated and Communion is received. Those who are sick, in hospitals - even if not confined to bed - and those caring for the sick, may receive communion even if they have taken food during the previous hour.