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 1. All the events of Christ's life become a present and living reality through the Sacraments and liturgy. As we celebrate the sacraments we grow in likeness to God. 2. Baptism and Confirmation are indelible marks that make us adopted children of God and are received only once. 3. 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. 4. The effectiveness of the Sacraments does not depend on the personal worthiness of the minister. If the medicine works, the character of the pharmacist is secondary. 5. It is a most serious obligation for both the minister and the recipient to pursue personal holiness through the sacraments. 6. The sacraments do not act mechanistically, they require assent. 7. When it is celebrated faithfully, prayerfully and joyfully, The Sacramental life of the Church has a logic and beauty all of its own that emerges and leads us to long to see God in heaven. 8. Water, bread, wine, oil and laying on of hands are necessary signs that accompany the words that give them sacramental power and grace. 9. The Church carefully distinguishes what is unchangeable and what can be adapted by culture in the liturgy. 10. The sacramental life of the church is the fast track to holiness and unity with God that Jesus gave us. To climb a mountain is difficult, arduous, and dangerous, the sacramental life gives us wings to fly to the top of the mountain.