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Books > Christianity > Christian life & practice > Christian sacraments
'This resource provides careful teaching in the very best
traditions of SPCK. It is both detailed and readable, and provides
a comprehensive introduction to the Christian faith as lived out
through the Church. I commend it to all those seeking to establish
deep foundations on which to build their faith.' John Sentamu,
Archbishop of York 'One of the joys of being a bishop is to preside
at a confirmation. The joy is greater when the candidates have been
well prepared and are full of expectancy and a desire to grow in
faith. Faith Confirmed will help produce confirmands like that. It
is a wonderful resource. ' Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester and
President of Affirming Catholicism Faith Confirmed is an
introduction to what Anglican Christians believe. It is written for
those preparing for confirmation in the Anglican Church and for all
those who want to know more about the essentials of the Christian
faith. This revised edition has been completely updated for the
twenty-first century.
A short, full-colour gift book which explains the baptism service
for parents. Aimed at those not familiar with church, this book
explains what baptism is and is structured around the service
itself. It includes questions to think about and follow-up
activities for parents and children.
Von Allmen's essay on the central sacrament of the Christian faith
examining from within the Reformed Tradition the truths enshrined
in the Lord's Supper, seeing the act as not only a "sign", "symbol"
or "memorial", but as the real presence of Christ. Von Allmen's
essay on the central sacrament of the Christian faith examining
from within the Reformed Tradition the truths enshrined in the
Lord's Supper, seeing the act as not only a 'sign', 'symbol' or
'memorial', but as the real presence of Christ.
Someone has decided to become a Catholic and you have been invited
to be the person's sponsor during the journey of conversion.
What does a sponsor do during the process of Christian
initiation?
In When You Are an RCIA Sponsor Rita Burns Senseman reflects on
the responsibility and significance of being chosen to share your
faith and personal experience with someone less familiar with the
path than you. She explains clearly and briefly the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults. Her explanation includes a
description of the rituals involved in the initiation process as
well as a description of the theology of Baptism, Confirmation and
Eucharist. She offers suggestions for being a companion and witness
on the RCIA journey, for introducing and welcoming the new Catholic
into the parish faith community, and for praying and worshiping
together. Each chapter provides questions for reflection or
discussion, and passages from the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults, Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church for
prayerful meditation. The author also includes guidance for
sponsoring families.
"The perfect guidebook for curious parents, enthusiastic newcomers,
and confused cradle Catholics. Frankly, this is the best book on
baptism I've ever read." --James Martin, S.J. author of the New
York Times Bestseller, "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything"
Baptism is the beginning of one's life in the community of the
church, and the "gateway" to the rest of the sacraments.
- Isn't it better to get baptized when you're older, and can
understand what you're doing?
- Does my baby have to be baptized immediately?
- Will my child go to hell, limbo or purgatory if--God forbid--he
or she dies before baptism?
- Why are so many baptisms done during the Mass these days?
- What's the role of the godparents? Do they have to be Catholics?
Christians? Believers?
These are questions from good Catholics that deserve good answers.
If people remain confused about baptism, they will be confused
about the sacramental life of the church, and, by extension, their
faith.
"Thomas Scirghi has written a fine book on baptism for the 21st
century church. Rooted deeply in Scripture, the authoritative
teaching of the Catholic Church, and the living tradition of
sacramental practice, Scirghi's book is laced with literary,
cultural, and everyday examples that allow readers to grasp (or
grasp anew) the continuing significance of baptism in the life of
the Church and in their own lives." -Timothy Brunk, Assistant
Professor of Theology, Villanova University
"From the foreword by James Martin, SJ:
"
Frankly, this is the best book on baptism I've ever read. It's wise
without being overly academic; inviting without being overly
informal; and concise without being slapdash. Fr.
Scirghi, a distinguished scholar, compassionate pastor, and popular
teacher at Fordham University, is the perfect guide to the history,
theology, and application of the sacrament.
Father Scirghi's book could easily become a standard introduction
to the sacrament, and is the perfect guidebook for curious parents,
enthusiastic newcomers, and confused cradle Catholics. After
reading it, you'll understand why we invite parents to have their
children baptized, and also why we baptize adults at the Easter
Vigil Mass. You'll know the significance of the oil (and the
candle) in the rite. And the next time you see a priest or deacon
pour water over a child's head and pronounce the ancient baptismal
formula, you'll have a richer appreciation for his words and his
actions.
General Principles of Sacramental Theology addresses a current
lacuna in English-language theological literature. Bernard
Leeming's highly respected book Principles of Sacramental Theology
was published more than sixty years ago. Since that time, there has
been a noted decrease, especially in English-language sacramental
theology, in treatments of the basic topics and principles-such as
the nature of the sacraments of signs, sacramental grace,
sacramental character, sacramental causality, sacramental
intention, the necessity and number of the sacraments, sacramental
matter and form, inter alia-which apply to all of the sacraments.
Rather than deconstruct the Church's tradition, as many recent
books on the sacraments do, Roger Nutt offers a vibrant
presentation of these principles as a sound foundation for a
renewed appreciation of each of the seven sacraments in the
Christian life as the divinely willed means of communion and
friendship between God and humanity. The sacraments bestow and
nourish the personal communion with Jesus Christ that is the true
source of human happiness. Recourse to the patrimony of Catholic
wisdom, especially St. Thomas Aquinas, can help to highlight the
sacraments and their significance within the plan of salvation.
This book will be of use in seminary, graduate, and undergraduate
courses. It is further offered as a source of hope to all those
seeking deeper intimacy with God amidst the confusion, alienation,
and disappointment that accompanies life in a fallen world. The
sacraments play an irreplaceable role in pursuing a Universal Call
to Holiness that is so central to Vatican II's teaching.
The Eucharist continues to be central to contemporary Christian
religious tradition and to be the focus for a wide range of
assumptions and disputes. Chief amongst these disputes is the role
of women in the theology and the ritual of the Eucharist.
Reinterpreting the Eucharist brings together a diverse range of
voices with each using their own marginalised experience to explore
other ways - indigenous culture, medieval and contemporary art,
social history, and environmental ethics - of engaging with the
Eucharist. Presenting new forms of theological and ethical
engagement, the book responds to the challenge of reconsidering the
meaning of the Eucharist today.
This series on the seven Sacraments provides readers with a deeper
appreciation of God's gifts and call in the Sacraments through a
renewed encounter with God's Word. In this volume, a leading
Catholic scholar offers a biblical theology of the priesthood
rooted in the Old and New Testaments. Half a millennium after the
Protestant Reformation and in the midst of an ongoing clerical
crisis in the Catholic Church, this book presents a comprehensive
biblical vision and defense of the sacramental priesthood and an
informed theological response to the problem of priestly sin. It
gives expression to the ministerial priesthood's biblically
grounded, sacramental share in the sacrificial ministry of Jesus
Christ. Series editors are Timothy C. Gray and John Sehorn. Gray is
president of the Augustine Institute, which has one million
subscribers to its online content channel, Formed.org. Gray and
Sehorn teach at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of
Theology, which prepares students for Christian mission through
on-campus and distance education programs.
The right words for the right occasion A pastor must be able to
step with ease into a number of different speaking venues. In
addition to a regular preaching schedule, you as a pastor face an
endless parade of special occasions at which you are asked to
speak. Some occasions are planned, others are unexpected, but for
all occasions you must be ready to communicate the Word of God in a
way that complements the liturgy and worship. Preaching for Special
Services gives you practical guidance on how to develop and deliver
clear, listener-sensitive sermons for special occasions such as
weddings, baptisms, and funerals. Each chapter examines the history
and theology of preaching for a particular occasion and then
centers on the development of the sermon for that event. Scott M.
Gibson's approach to sermon construction is based on Haddon W.
Robinson's central-idea preaching described in his Biblical
Preaching. Preaching for Special Services also offers an extensive
list of resources for each special occasion and specific exercises
to help you put the principles in this book into practice.
A short, simple and thoroughly biblical explanation of the meaning
and purpose of Holy Communion, designed to appeal to all ages.
Explains its biblical origins, the different ways in which
Christians have understood it over the centuries, and its crucial
place in the Christian life today.
How Baptism and the Eucharist Shaped Early Christian Understandings
of Jesus Long before the Gospel writers put pen to papyrus, the
earliest Christians participated in the powerful rituals of baptism
and the Lord's Supper, which fundamentally shaped their
understanding of God, Christ, and the world in which they lived. In
this volume, a respected biblical scholar and teacher explores how
cultural anthropology and ritual studies elucidate ancient texts.
Charles Bobertz offers a liturgical reading of the Gospel of Mark,
arguing that the Gospel is a narrative interpretation of early
Christian ritual. This fresh, responsible, and creative proposal
will benefit scholars, professors, and students. Its ecclesial and
pastoral ramifications will also be of interest to church leaders
and pastors.
A short, full-colour gift book that explores and unpacks the
meaning of baptism
Balthasar Hubmaier remains one of the most significant figures in
the radical reformation of the sixteenth century. A Pledge of Love
is close and thorough examination of Hubmaiers view of the
sacraments within the context of worship. This ground-breaking work
examines the distinctive theology of this important Anabaptist and
his possible influence upon others.
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