The Mass, Salvation and the Sacraments – Baptism, Part 1

On September 5, 2009July 25, 2020 By Lee (@disciple96)In Baptism, Catholic Doctrine, Economy of Salvation, Eucharist, Liturgy, Liturgical Prayer, Sacraments, SeriesLeave a comment

Journeying Toward God in the Barque of Peter

The following is part of a continuing series on the Church, salvation and the Sacraments. We’re beginning our exploration of the Sacraments themselves and where better to begin than with Baptism, the Sacrament by which we become members of the Body of Christ.

In the series to follow this one we’ll be looking more closely at the Old Testament background of the Church and the Sacraments, but I want to spend some time reflecting on the Church as the Barque of Peter, carrying the faithful safely across the crashing waves of the world, guiding them on their journey home to the Father. I’ll base these reflections mostly on the sources listed below in the acknowledgements. I offer the drawing below in the hopes that it will help you to visualize what I’m saying and will help me too.

Let’s look first at the entry into the Church, the Sacrament of Initiation par excellence: Baptism.

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Diagrams for the audio of the Mass workshop, revised set

On August 25, 2009July 25, 2020 By Lee (@disciple96)In Baptism, Catholic Doctrine, Economy of Salvation, Eucharist, Liturgy, Liturgical Prayer, Sacraments, Updates2 Comments

Update: Oct 19 2012: A long while back I started a series of posts on the Mass and made these graphics to go with that series. I hope to get back to it and delve into the other sacraments, too, at some point. I thought I’d point these out again for anyone who hadn’t seen them before, thinking that someone might perhaps find them somewhat useful in the Year of Faith. I have found them helpful for my own contemplation. Maybe you will, too. One word: that is not a typo in the graphic below where the word is spelled creatio in Latin. So there. For once, it’s not a typo. ;)

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Diagrams, revised set on the way

On August 25, 2009July 25, 2020 By Lee (@disciple96)In Baptism, Eucharist, Sacraments, UpdatesLeave a comment

I took the day off and didn’t get online all day yesterday. I was thinking about Part 2 of the Mass, Salvation and the Sacraments series and I got an idea for a revision of the diagrams I made for that and for Fr. Nolan’s workshop audio (available from Una Voce’s site in a zip file, updated link Oct 19 2012, link broken again May 22 2019). I’ll post them as soon as they’re finished.

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Diagrams for the audio of the Mass workshop

On August 24, 2009July 12, 2020 By Lee (@disciple96)In Baptism, Catholic Doctrine, Economy of Salvation, Eucharist, Liturgy, Liturgical Prayer, Sacraments1 Comment

(Update May 22 2019: Links to the Una Voce audio of the workshop are currently broken, again.)

Fr. Nolan drew some diagrams on the whiteboard during his presentation last week (a workshop for the Mass in the Extraordinary Form). I’ve made some graphics of my own based on his drawings. If you’re reading the series on the Mass and salvation that began in the last post, or if you’re planning on downloading and listening to his talks, you might find these useful. I still have a couple more to go, but I’m posting what I’ve got so far. Just trying to be helpful, don’t you know. We’ll explore this more fully in the other posts, but here are some things to think on the next time you’re preparing for Mass:

At Baptism we enter the Church (both figuratively and literally) and then we are on the way to becoming eligible to receive the other sacraments, as far as we are able. We enter the long boat of the Church, the Barque of Peter, and start out on our journey toward God.

As members of the Body of Christ we participate in His Death and Sacrifice on the Cross and receive the grace (and graces) we need for salvation. As Fr. Nolan said, this is how it works. This is how we are saved. By the action of Christ on the Cross. And by His grace allowing us to participate in His action by allowing us to unite with Him in His sufferings and death. We die to ourselves and offer ourselves along with Him as He offers His sacrifice throughout all time and beyond all time as our Eternal High Priest.

Diagrams, revised set.