Signed. Sealed. Delivered.

The overall theme reflects the richness and distinctiveness of our Catholic sacramental heritage. We experience Christ most profoundly and intimately in the sacraments, which are essentially communal experiences.

Signed

We are signed with the cross in Baptism. We are immersed into the death of Jesus and into an intimate, lifelong journey with the Christian community. Baptism reflects the reality of sin as part of the human condition, and the liberation from sin provided by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

“I claim you for Christ our Savior by the sign of the Cross…” [Rite of Baptism]

Sealed

Confirmation celebrates the gifts of the Holy Spirit and our willingness to accept their transformative power in our lives. We are sealed with the Spirit, commissioned as disciples and empowered to act as Christ in the world. In Confirmation we are not given the Spirit so much as given to the Spirit for the service of others.

“Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit…” [Rite of Confirmation]

Delivered

Jesus was delivered up to death and accepted that deliverance as an act of obedience and deep love. As a result, we are delivered from our sins and delivered into salvation. Jesus continues to deliver himself to us in the Eucharist and we deliver ourselves to one another in the reception of his Body and Blood – we take the one with whom we have been fed into a broken world in order to be Christ for one another.

“Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, . . . ” [Communion Rite]