21. CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY

21.CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH BOTH SIGNIFY AND MAKE PRESENT GOD'S TRANSFORMING GRACE. Compendium 224-249 Revelation 7:9-11 All the events of Christ's life become a present reality through the Sacraments and liturgy. Baptism and Confirmation are indelible marks that make us adopted children of God are received only once. Holy Orders is also an indelible mark and is only received once and allows the ordained to act in the person of Christ in the celebration of the liturgy. The effectiveness of the Sacraments does not depend on the personal worthiness of the minister. It is a most serious obligation for both the minister and the recipient to pursue personal holiness through the sacraments. The sacraments do not act mechanistically. The Sacramental life of the Church has a logic and beauty all of its own that emerges when it is celebrated faithfully, prayerfully and joyfully.