catholicsphere

Last night, I presented a teaching on Baptism to a group of Confirmation students at our parish. In relating teaching on the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation), I made a bit of an oops …

So, why am I blogging about it? Because I think that, after contemplating it a bit more, it may be an oops that others would make too, and hopefully it will help. (Or maybe it’s a penance)
After pondering the sacrament and its effects, etc I really did see that it is not the choice to make to receive the Sacrament. Rather, not until we receive the graces from the Sacrament do we really have the ability, as full members of the Body of Christ, to make such a choice for God.

This is something I hadn’t necessarily considered before. Many object to Catholic things like infant baptism because they say that infants cannot make a choice. But, as we read from the Catechism, our choice requires a first movement by God’s grace, to stir in us a response which our natural selves might not otherwise choose …

2001 The preparation of man for the reception of grace is already a work of grace. This latter is needed to arouse and sustain our collaboration in justification through faith, and in sanctification through charity. God brings to completion in us what he has begun, “since he who completes his work by cooperating with our will began by working so that we might will it:”

Indeed we also work, but we are only collaborating with God who works, for his mercy has gone before us. It has gone before us so that we may be healed, and follows us so that once healed, we may be given life; it goes before us so that we may be called, and follows us so that we may be glorified; it goes before us so that we may live devoutly, and follows us so that we may always live with God: for without him we can do nothing.

Therefore, the fullness or completion of Baptismal graces that we receive in the Sacrament of Confirmation are necessary for us to be able to exercise our rights and responsibilities as full-fledged member of the Body of Christ, the Church, the People and Family of God.

For me, the graces received in the Sacraments of Initiation did not manifest themselves explosively in my life until after college. I am thankful that I was not given the choice to follow God on my own, without receiving the grace of God, to bring me to a deeper understanding of faith, life, the Creed and other aspects of God and theology. I feel certain that had this grace and the Spirit of God not been sent, I would not have chosen on my own because I would not have been properly equipped to assume and accept my Christian identity.

[tags]catholic, confirmation, baptism, sacrament, doctrine, faith, catholic sphere, catholicsphere, christian[/tags]