Into the River of Life
The Catholic Passion, 110–112

In baptism we have forgiveness of sins, the original sin of Adam and Eve.

• John 3:5
• Acts 2:38
• Romans 6:3–8
• Colossians 2:12–14
• Catechism, nos. 1214–1215, 1257, 1263

Tradition
Theodore of Mopsuestia
St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Born of Divine Strain
The Catholic Passion, 112–114

Baptism joins us to Christ’s death and resurrection and makes us children of God.

• John 1:12–13
• Romans 8:14–17
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Galatians 2:20; 4:4-7
• 2 Peter 1:4
• 1 John 3:1
• Catechism, nos. 1265, 1270

Confirmation or chrismation is an anointing that gives us the strength to live as sons and daughters of God. 

• Acts 8:15–17, 19; 10:38; 19:5–6
• 2 Corinthians 1:1–22
• Catechism, nos. 1285–1289, 1302–1303

Tradition
St. Augustine
Blessed Columba Marmion
Pope Sixtus III
Pope St. Leo

Questions for Reflection

How does baptism make us children of God? Refer to a passage in Scripture to back up your answer.

How can you better live out your baptism and confirmation through witness and service?

Absorbing the Creator
The Catholic Passion, 114–116

The Eucharist is the source of divine life within us—uniting us to God, separating us from sin, and divinizing us.

• John 6:51, 54, 56
• Romans 12:1
• Galatians 2:20
• 1 Peter 2:5
• Catechism, nos. 460, 521, 1391–1392

Tradition
François Mauriac
St. Augustine
St. Yves of Chartres
St. Peter Chrysologus

Panis Angelicus
by Cesar Franck

Panis Angelicus
by St. Thomas Aquinas

The very angels' bread doth food to men afford;
The types have vanished, remains the truth adored:
O wondrous mystery! Their banquet is the Lord—
The poor and lowly, bond and free.

O God forever blest, O Three in One, we pray:
Visit the longin reast, enter this house of clay,
And lead us through the night unto the perfect day,
Where dwellest thou in endless light!

Una naver mercantil
que conduce pan del cielo
para bien del mundo todo,
busca tierra y pide puerto.

En el de Santa María había entrado primero más de esa escala
a Bethlem sigue viaje con buen viento.
Como solo es pan su carga y
Bethlem es casa
De ello allí hará su desembarco
y mañana lo veremos.

Llegue pronto una tal nave
en que nos viene el remedio,
Pues la hambre nos, acaba y nos consume el aliento.
Mas ya esa sola noticia
nos deja muy satisfechos.

The merchant ship
bringing bread from heaven
for the salvation of the world,
steers towards earth and a harbor.

It first entered that of Santa Maria,
and from thence favorable breezes
sped it to Bethlehem’s port.
As its cargo is bread, the staff of life alone,
And Bethlehem its warehouse,
There it will unload,
And we will see it tomorrow.

Oh that such a ship reaches us rapidly
for that is our only resource.
Hunger made us almost perish,
Apart from panting for breath;
But the news of its approach
already makes us rejoice.

Christ and the Adulteress,
Rocco Marconi,
c. 1525

Marriage: A Great Mystery
The Catholic Passion, 118–122

Marriage is the sign of God’s covenant love and is ordered to the creation of new life, the bringing into the world of new children of God.

• Genesis 1:26–27
• Matthew 19:4–9
• John 2:1–12
• Acts 11:14; 16:31
• Ephesians 3:14; 5:25–32
• Catechism, nos. 1533–1535, 1601–1605, 1612–1617, 1652–1654, 1661,  2360–2367, 2382–2386

Tradition
St. Gregory of Nazianzus
Coventry Patmore
Dorothy Day

The Wedding Feast at Cana
Julius Von Carolsfeld Schnorr,
1819

Questions for Reflection

Can you explain why marriage is a reflection of God’s love for men and women?

What does it mean that married couples should imitate the love of Christ for his Church?

Why is artificial contraception contrary to God’s design for marriage?

The Fatherhood of Priests
The Catholic Passion, 122–127

The Catholic priesthood is the earthly manifestation of Christ’s heavenly high priesthood; the power and authority of the priest flows directly from the power and authority that Christ gave to his twelve apostles.

• Isaiah 66:20–21
• Malachi 2:7
• Matthew 10:40
• Hebrews 7:25–26
• Catechism, nos. 874, 1544, 1555–1556, 1562–1566

Following the example of Christ and his apostles, the Catholic priesthood is open only to men who agree to lead a celibate lifestyle.

• Mark 3:14–19
• Luke 6:12–16
• 1 Timothy 3:1–13
• 2 Timothy 1:6
• Titus 1:5–9
• Catechism, nos. 1577–1580

Priestly ordination confers on the man an indelible new character, enabling him to serve in persona Christi, in the person of Christ.

• John 15:5
• 2 Corinthians 5:18–20
• Galatians 4:4
• Catechism, nos. 1548–1549, 1581–1582, 1589

Tradition
St. Augustine
Council of Carthage
Eusebius of Caesarea
St. Gregory of Nyssa
St. Cyprian
St. John Chrysostom

Questions for Reflection

What does it mean to say that the priest serves in persona Christi?

Can you explain why the priesthood is reserved for men alone? Refer to the witness of Jesus Christ in giving your answer.