As a catechist, you should be creative and use symbols to help people understand better, said Fr Paul Beukes OMI. This is exactly what he did when he made a presentation on the sacraments of the church in September.
Sacraments are an outward sign of an inward grace instituted by Christ, he said. The seven sacraments of the church are baptism, confirmation, Holy Eucharist/communion, penance/reconciliation/confession, anointing of the sick, holy matrimony/marriage and holy orders/priesthood.
“In addition to the seven, I would like to add two other sacraments – Jesus – because the seven sacraments flow from Him – and the church because it dispenses sacraments,” said Fr Paul.
Symbols of the sacrament of baptism are water, oil of chrism, oil of catechumens and paschal candle.
Sacraments make us better Christians. They were instituted by Jesus and are meant to bring us back to God, he said.
It is important to be able to give a scripture verse when talking about sacraments, Fr Paul said. All sacraments can be found in the Bible. One might not find the terminology as we know it, however, when you read John 6 where Jesus says: ‘This is my body… this is my blood. …’, the church came up with the term Eucharist to make it easier for people. When we refer to the Eucharist everybody knows what we are talking about.
Sacraments can be clustered into three groups:
-Sacraments of initiation: baptism, Eucharist and confession
– Sacraments of healing: reconciliation and anointing of the sick
– Sacraments of service: holy orders and marriage
Only a bishop can administer all seven sacraments because he has the fullness of priesthood. A priest can administer six save for priesthood/holy orders.
A deacon can only administer the sacraments of baptism and marriage.
Teaching catechesis is a labour of love, he said.
Fr Paul took the opportunity to thank and commend catechists for being “our hands and feet”.
“We know you are not paid, however, without you, our faith would not be handed down from generation to generation. I came to know Jesus and what sacraments are through a catechist. Keep up the good work,” he said.
Lerato Mohone
