• I give you something, you give me something

  • Exchange goods & services for, say, money

• Establishes a partnership

• Contracts can be broken 

  • If either one fails to fulfil their part, they can both walk away

• Based on a promise - I give you my word and you give me your word

  • Signified by using your name, usually signed on contract like a credit card receipt

• I give myself to you, you give yourself to me

  • Exchange of persons - God says to the Hebrews, "I will be your God and you will be My people"

• Establishes sacred kinship bonds or family bonds

  • • Ex: Salt covenant

• Covenants aren't broken, rather, they break you!

  • • Salt Covenant

    • Ex: "breaking" the Law of Gravity

• Based on Swearing a oath using God's Name

  • • • "So help me God"

      • "In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit"

    • When you swear an oath using God's Name, you are asking for all of the Graces He offers for the situation.

    • However, if you swear an oath using God's Name but choose not to avail yourself of the Graces he offers, then you call down the curses associated with doing so!  This is the definition of using "God's Name in vain"

      • • Lying under oath

        • "by God!

        • "swear to God!"

  • The Latin word for this Oath Swearing is "Sacramentum"

We are going to talk more about covenants in future sessions

Compendium 250

How are the sacraments of the Church divided?

CCC(1210-1211)

The sacraments are divided into: 

the sacraments of Christian initiation 

(Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist); 

the sacraments of healing 

(Penance and Anointing of the Sick);

and the sacraments at the service of communion and mission 

(Holy Orders and Matrimony). 

The sacraments touch all the important moments of Christian life. All of the sacraments are ordered to the Holy Eucharist “as to their end” (Saint Thomas Aquinas).

CCC1212

The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life. 

"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. 

By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity."3

Compendium 266.

Why is this sacrament called Chrismation or Confirmation?

1289

It is called Chrismation (in the Eastern Churches: Anointing with holy myron or chrism) because the essential rite of the sacrament is anointing with chrism. 

It is called Confirmation because it confirms and strengthens baptismal grace.

Compendium 267.

What is the essential rite of Confirmation?

1290-1301

1318

1320-1321

The essential rite of Confirmation is the anointing with Sacred Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop), which is done by the laying on of the hand of the minister who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite. 

In the West this anointing is done on the forehead of the baptized with the words, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”. 

In the Eastern Churches of the Byzantine rite this anointing is also done on other parts of the body with the words, “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit”.

Compendium 268.

What is the effect of Confirmation?

1302-1305

1316-1317

The effect of Confirmation is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit like that of Pentecost. 

This outpouring impresses on the soul an indelible character and produces a growth in the grace of Baptism. 

It roots the recipient more deeply in divine sonship, binds him more firmly to Christ and to the Church and reinvigorates the gifts of the Holy Spirit in his soul. 

It gives a special strength to witness to the Christian faith.

CCC1316

Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.

CCC1317

Confirmation, like Baptism, imprints a spiritual mark or indelible character on the Christian's soul; for this reason one can receive this sacrament only once in one's life.

1. 1. • James is seventeen years old and serving a life sentence in prison for murder. He lost his temper and shot a man who was disrespecting him. For a while James thought he was the victim of one bad decision. Over time he came to the realization that he was not the victim of a bad decision; he was the author of that bad choice. As a few more months passed, he came to understand that it was not one bad decision that led to that life-altering event; it was a long series of choices. 

      • He chose to hang out with gang members. He chose to join the gang. He chose to steal a gun. He chose to spend time in places where drugs and alcohol were used and abused. He chose not to go to school some days. He chose to start drinking. He chose to go out late at night. Then, one night, all these choices exploded together to change his life forever. He chose to lose his temper. He chose to pull the trigger. 

Little choices matter. 

1. 1. • Jessica is an incredible athlete and is about to graduate Harvard at the top of her class. She chose to be a conscientious student. She chose not to stay out late at parties. She chose to wake before sunrise and go to training. She chose not to smoke or drink. She chose to eat food that fueled her body. She chose not to hang out with people who were a bad influence. She chose to push herself harder than anyone else at training. 

      • And all these choices have transformed her and her life. 

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. – Saint Thomas Aquinas 

From <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-thomas-aquinas/>

It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a man’s progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken. – Saint Francis Xavier

From <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-francis-xavier/>

You are not a mistake!

Think about God’s Creation.  

(Trick Question) Can you think of the list of mistakes that God has made in His Creation?  

Can you list all of them? 

Or just a few of them?

Trick question, right?  God, by the very definition of Who and What He is, He cannot make mistakes, even if for some crazy reason He might want to.  If He ever made mistakes, then He would not be God!

So, even if you can’t get your head around it right now, let’s just agree that God cannot and will not make mistakes.

So, what did God create?  

Everything – right.  

And everything He created includes you – you -- part of the pinnacle, the greatest point of His Creation.

So, if God created everything, which includes you, and God has never made and never will make a mistake, what does that say about you?

             YOU ARE NOT A MISTAKE!

YOU WERE CREATED ON PURPOSE!

YOU ARE WANTED BY GOD!

If anyone in your life - in your past or maybe in your life right now - has told you that you are mistake or that you are not wanted - that is a lie!

If you have ever told yourself that you are a mistake - that is a lie!

This Jesus whom we have been talking about - this is the God who would rather die than live without you!

He freely, constantly gives Himself to you and all He askes is that you freely, completely, constantly give yourself to Him!

Is life going the way you planned?

Life is a journey, and from time to time we need to think about where we are and where we’re going. Discover how to get back on track when you lose your way. 

How do you make your choices?

Every choice we make in life builds upon another, and our choices define who we become. Learn the importance of even the littlest choices you make in your everyday life. 

Are you the best-version-of-yourself?

We all want to know the best way to live. Discover the three principles that will help you live life to the fullest.

God has a dream for you!

God wants good things for you—even better things than you want for yourself. It’s time to encounter God and discover his dream for your life.

Are you the best-version-of-yourself?

We all want to know the best way to live. Discover the three principles that will help you live life to the fullest.

It's time to decide 

- are you willing to become the best-version-of-yourself?

You have the power to choose the kind of life you live. Will you believe the empty promises of the world or let God show you his incredible plan?