The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ THEOLOGY 11 FALL TERM REVIEW SACRAMENTS OF HEALING AND SERVICE The Scriptures offer several accounts in which Jesus shares a meal with a sinner. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick does not have to be celebrated in a church or chapel. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick may be received by any baptized Catholic above the age of reason (age seven) who is suffering from a serious illness. Since the Middle Ages, the Church has taught that only priests and bishops should be ministers of the Anointing of the Sick. Jesus gave the apostles the power to forgive sins in his name. Jesus didn t really try to explain why people suffer in this world. Council Fathers of Vatican II decided to revise the sacrament so that it both a sacrament of healing and a sacrament to prepare those who are dying. At one time in Church history, the penitent had to return to the confessor priest to receive absolution after the penance was completed. As the Son of God, Jesus has the authority to forgive sins. All humans inherited Original Sin and its consequences, including vulnerability to illness and death. Men can be ordained to three orders of ministry: bishop, priest, or deacon. Priests share in the universal mission of Christ, to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The People of God is a priestly people who participate in the one priesthood of Christ. The role of the bishop is to represent Christ himself as teacher, shepherd, and priest and to act as Christ s representative on earth. The role of the deacon is the ministry of service in the Church. Those in ordained ministry are called to teach the faithful; lead the liturgy and govern the Church. Through Baptism God calls each of us to ministry, to holiness, to Christian witness. In the Latin Rite, the ministers of the Sacrament of Matrimony are the bride and groom themselves, with the priest or deacon acting as a witness. Marriage in God s plan has two goods: the good of the man and woman, and the procreation and education of children. The Christian family is where children first learn the love of God through the love of their parents. The Church requires a period of preparation before the Sacrament of Marriage, often with some kind of assessment to determine a couple s readiness. The prophets went further by teaching that exclusive married love is a metaphor for God s covenantal love for his people. The Sacrament of Marriage is a lifelong covenant, modeled on that between Christ and the Church. Three elements are essential to Marriage: unity, indissolubility, and openness to children. A confessor might impose the following as a penance service to a neighbor and sacrifice or self-denial. The word reconciliation comes from a Greek word that means to rejoin or put back together. People who have been transformed by the sacrament of Penance often discipline themselves through almsgiving, prayer and fasting. All of these are names for the sacrament of Reconciliation Confession and Forgiveness. In the sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance, the most important act of the penitent is expressing and feeling true contrition. An inclination to sin that affects all human beings because of the inherited effects of Original Sin is called concupiscence. By the thirteenth century, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick had changed and became a sacrament for the dying only. Marriage must be open to childrem and accept them as gifts from God. A constraint is an obstacle that prevents free and full consent to marriage. The Church s declaration of nullity of a marriage is called an annulment. Each bishop is ordained in the line of Apostolic Succession that extends back to Saint Peter and, thus, to Christ himself. The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the Sacrament by which baptized men are ordained for permanent ministry in the Church as bishops, priests, or deacons. The ordination of a new bishop must be approved by the Pope.
The Sacraments Review HEALING AND SERVICE Page 2 The episcopate is the order of bishops. In the early Church, a person joined an order through a liturgical rite called ordination. Liturgy is another word for divine worship. A declaration of nullity of marriage declared by the Church is not the same as a civil divorce. God s People include the ordained, those in consecrated life, and the laity. The word deacon comes from the Greek word that means service. Adultery and polygamy are sins against the unity of marriage. Marriage unites the husband and wife in an unbreakable and exclusive union. Under the Old Covenant, the unity and indissolubility of marriage was a moral concept that developed gradually. Hell - The state of permanent separation from God, reserved for those who freely and consciously choose to reject God to the very end of their lives. conscience - the human ability to judge what is right and wrong, sometimes thought of as the voice of reason of the voice of God. examination of conscience - Prayerful reflection on, and assessment of, one s words, attitudes, and actions in light of the Gospel of Jesus. absolution - An essential part of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation in which the priest pardons the sins of the person confessing, in the name of God and the Church. Purgatory - A state of final purification or cleansing, which one may need to enter following death and before entering Heaven. Heaven - A state of eternal life and union with God in which one experiences full happiness and the satisfaction of the deepest human longings. concupiscence - The tendency of all human beings toward sin, as a result of Original Sin. Penance and Reconciliation - One of the Seven Sacraments the celebration of God s forgiveness of sin, through which the sinner is reconciled with both God and the Church. reparation - Making amends for something one did wrong that caused harm to another or led to loss. sin - Any deliberate offense, in thought, word, or deed, against the will of God. mortal sin - An act contrary to the will of God that results in complete separation from God and his grace. venial sin - A less serious offense against the will of God that diminishes one s personal character and weakens but does not rupture one s relationship with God. confession - an integral part of the Sacrament - We name our sins, take responsibility for them, and acknowledge God s holiness and mercy. forgiveness - through the priest s absolution in this Sacrament, we are pardoned for our sins and receive God s peace. reconciliation - through God s love, this Sacrament joins us to him and to our brothers and sisters in Christ. penance - the penitent, as the recipient of God s forgiveness, must perform to complete the Sacrament. conversion - means turning around - The Sacrament helps us to realize when we are going the wrong direction and to choose another path that will lead us back to God. Anointing of the Sick - the Sacrament of Healing for those who are seriously ill or in danger of death due to sickness or old age, consisting of prayers with oil for physical and spiritual healing and the forgiveness of sins. indulgence - The means by which the Church takes away the punishment that a person would receive in Purgatory. Oil of the Sick - Blessed olive oil used in the Sacrament of Anointing to anoint the forehead and hands of people who are seriously ill or near death. salvation - being saved from evil, whether physical or spiritual. repentance - An attitude of sorrow for a sin committed and a resolution not to sin again. It is a response to God s gracious love and forgiveness. viaticum - a traditional name for Communion that is given to a dying person, in the sense of "food for the journey" from this life to the next. ordination is the word used today when a man joins the order of deacons, priests, or bishops. marriage and the family are social institutions that must be supported and strengthened. Christ is the Head of the Church. Song of Songs is traditionally seen as a metaphor for God s covenantal love for his people.
The Sacraments Review HEALING AND SERVICE Page 3 A priest is one who has received the ministerial priesthood through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. A deacon is one who is ordained for service and ministry, but not for ministerial priesthood, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Marriage is an exclusive, permanent, and lifelong contract between a man and a woman in which they commit themselves to care for each other and to procreate and raise children. The one who is to be ordained is called an ordinand. The priests of a diocese form a presbyterium, around the bishop, to help and advise him. When a priest is ordained a bishop, he receives the fullness of Holy Orders. MATRIMONY - A lifelong covenant, modeled on that between Christ and the Church, in which a baptized man and a baptized woman make an exclusive and permanent commitment to each other. BISHOP - One who has received the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and is a successor to the Apostles. PRIEST - One who has received the ministerial priesthood through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. DEACON - One who is ordained for service and ministry, but not for ministerial priesthood, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. DIVORCE - The action or an instance of legally dissolving a marriage. PROCREATION - The begetting or bringing forth of offspring. The procreation and education of offspring is one of the ends (or purposes) of Marriage. ANNULMENT - The declaration by the Church that a marriage is null and void, that is, it never existed as a sacramental union. INDISSOLUBLE - The Marriage bond is a commitment to lifelong fidelity and can never be dissolved. HOLY ORDERS - The Sacrament by which baptized men are ordained for permanent ministry in the Church as bishops, priests, and deacons. UNITY - The state of being made one. The Sacraments of Healing Penance Review Questions Answer Key Section 4, Part 1 Give three other names for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and explain how each describes an essential element of the Sacrament. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is also called by other names: Sacrament of Conversion Conversion means turning around. The Sacrament helps us to realize when we are going the wrong direction and to choose another path that will lead us back to God. Sacrament of Confession Confession of sins is an integral part of the Sacrament. We name our sins, take responsibility for them, and acknowledge God s holiness and mercy. Sacrament of Forgiveness Through the priest s absolution in this Sacrament, we are pardoned for our sins and receive God s peace. Sacrament of Penance The penitent, as the recipient of God s forgiveness, must perform penance to complete the Sacrament. Sacrament of Reconciliation Through God s love, this Sacrament reconciles us to him and to our brothers and sisters in Christ. (Article 34, p. 184) Name and explain the three actions of the penitent in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. The penitent must perform three actions in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation: repent, confess, and intend to make amends for sin. When we repent, we express contrition or sorrow for our sin and show our intention to avoid future sin. Then we confess our sins, taking responsibility for our actions. By confessing our sins to a priest, we actually confess our sins to God. Confession helps us reconcile with God, strengthen our conscience, identify evil tendencies, open to Christ s healing, and progress in the life of the Spirit. Finally, we demonstrate our intention to make amends for sin through penance. Penance helps us both to repair the wrong we have done to others and to consider what disorder in ourselves led us to sin. (Article 34, p. 185; Article 36, pp. 193 195)
The Sacraments Review HEALING AND SERVICE Page 4 Name and explain the action of the priest in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. The priest offers absolution in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. In this action, which is essential to the Sacrament, the priest pardons the sins of the person confessing, in the name of God and the Church. This gift of pardon and peace is made possible because of the power Christ gave to the Church. (Article 34, p. 185; Article 36, p. 195) Explain the three conditions that must exist for a sin to be mortal, and the consequences of mortal sin. Three conditions characterize a mortal sin: (1) it must concern a serious and grave matter; (2) it must be committed with full knowledge that the action is sinful and is against God s Law; (3) it must be committed freely and deliberately. Mortal sin is called mortal, or deadly, because it destroys love (or charity) within us and thereby closes Heaven to us. An unrepented mortal sin leads to eternal separation from God. (Article 34, p. 185, sidebar) Why is the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation called the second conversion or the second plank? According to the Fathers of the Church, Baptism is the first plank of salvation for one who is drowning in sin. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is the second plank that will save us after we lose grace through sin. Likewise, Baptism is considered the first and most fundamental conversion because in Baptism we renounce sin, have our sins forgiven, and find new life in Christ. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is therefore the second conversion. We continue to struggle with sin after Baptism, but the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation draws us, by grace, to respond to God s merciful love and helps us continually to repent and believe in the newness of life. (Article 35, pp. 190 191, including sidebar) Name the six effects of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Choose two and explain their meaning. The six effects of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation are as follows: 1. The forgiveness of all sin 2. Reconciliation with God 3. Reconciliation with the Church 4. Remission of punishment for sin 5. Peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation 6. An increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle (Article 37, pp. 198 200) Anointing Review Questions Answer Key Section 4, Part 2 What is the purpose of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, and who may receive it? The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is intended to bestow special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties of serious illness or old age. Any gravely ill, aging, or dying person may receive the Sacrament, but one need not be dying to receive it. Serious illness may include addictions or mental illness. (Article 38, p. 204; Article 40, p. 214, sidebar) How can illness be a turning point in human life? Serious illness can be a turning point by serving as a wake-up call, alerting us to what is essential to life. Illness can force us to evaluate our lives, even to search for the cause of the illness, and to plan for change in the future. It can also bring about a change of heart (or metanoia), a conversion toward God and greater appreciation of his gifts. (Article 38, p. 204)
The Sacraments Review HEALING AND SERVICE Page 5 Of what is the Oil of the Sick a sign and what are its scriptural roots? The Oil of the Sick is a sign of healing, strengthening, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. People of ancient times, including the peoples of the Bible, used oil as a common healing agent. In particular, in his Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells us that the Samaritan used healing oil to help a man attacked on the road (see Luke 10:34). In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus advises the Apostles to anoint the sick with oil (see Mark 6:12 13). Accordingly, Saint James the Apostle wrote in his epistle that those who are sick should ask the priests to pray and anoint them with oil in God s name (see James 5:14). (Article 39, pp. 208 209) Where and with whom may the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick be celebrated? The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick may be celebrated in various places with various groups of people: in the home, in a hospital or assisted-living home, or in Church. In may be offered to one individual or to a group of people. Recipients may be seriously ill, elderly, or dying. The Sacrament can be offered inside or outside of the Mass. (Art 39, pp. 209 210; Art 40, p. 211) What are the essential elements of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick? Option 1. The integral elements of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick are the prayer of faith, the laying on of hands, and the anointing with the Oil of the Sick. (Article 40, p. 211) Option 2. The essential elements are the anointing with oil and the liturgical prayer in which the priest asks for the grace of the Sacrament (see CCC, 1531). (Article 40, p. 212) How can physical suffering be a way for us to take up our cross with Jesus and, in our own small way, participate in his redemptive suffering? Christ asks us to take up our own crosses, including the cross of physical suffering and illness, and to follow him as his disciples. Because of Christ s suffering, we know that earthly suffering is only temporary. We are called to use physical suffering to become closer to Christ. That is, by considering our suffering as a reminder of Christ s suffering, we unite ourselves more closely with Christ and his redemptive suffering. (Article 38, pp. 206 207) Among all of Jesus miracles of healing, why are his healings of lepers so significant in our understanding of the Sacraments of Healing? In biblical times lepers were forced to live on the outskirts of the community in perpetual quarantine. Jesus healing of lepers helps us understand the Sacraments of Healing because leprosy became a symbol for separation from God and the community a symbol for sin. Jesus showed us that even the worst separation from God and isolation from one s community can be overcome and healed, even the worst sin can be forgiven, and even the worst sinner can be restored to fullness of life. (Article 38, p. 205, sidebar) What three Sacraments prepare us for our journey into eternal life, and what is the work of each in our transition to eternal life? The three Sacraments that prepare us for eternal life are the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, and the Sacrament of the Eucharist received as viaticum. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation reunites us with God and confers his forgiveness. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick offers God s grace for spiritual strength and healing, forgives our sins, and completes our anointing as one belonging to Christ. Those who are in immediate danger of death may also receive the Eucharist as viaticum; the Eucharist is the sacrament of Christ s death and Resurrection, and so it is the sacrament of passing over from death to life, pledging life with God forever. These three Sacraments together help us complete our journey here on earth and prepare for our final transition into eternal life. (Article 40, pp. 210 211, 215 216; Article 41, p. 218)
The Sacraments Review HEALING AND SERVICE Page 6 In what ways has the Church, from the earliest days of Christianity, provided for the care of those who are ill? From its earliest days, the Church has always cared for the sick, especially when others did not do so, out of fear of contagion or death. Monastic guest houses became the first hospitals in the early Middle Ages. Religious orders were founded to address the needs of the sick. Today, local parishes pray for those who are ill and encourage parishioners to visit those who are ill in order to pray together, share the Word of God, and ensure that the ill person can receive the Eucharist. Finally, the Church s greatest gift to the sick is the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. (Article 39, p. 210, sidebar; Article 40, p. 210) Vocabulary for Sacrament of Healing absolution: An essential part of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation in which the priest pardons the sins of the person confessing, in the name of God and the Church. Anointing of the Sick, Sacrament of: One of the Seven Sacraments, sometimes formerly known as the Sacrament of the dying, in which a gravely ill, aging, or dying person is anointed by the priest and prayed over by him and attending believers. One need not be dying to receive the Sacrament. concupiscence: The tendency of all human beings toward sin, as a result of Original Sin. conversion: A change of heart, turning away from sin and toward God. examination of conscience: Prayerful reflection on, and assessment of, one s words, attitudes, and actions in light of the Gospel of Jesus; more specifically, the conscious moral evaluation of one s life in preparation for reception of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Heaven: A state of eternal life and union with God in which one experiences full happiness and the satisfaction of the deepest human longings. Hell: The state of permanent separation from God, reserved for those who freely and consciously choose to reject God to the very end of their lives. indulgence: The means by which the Church takes away the punishment that a person would receive in Purgatory. mortal sin: An action so contrary to the will of God that it results in a complete separation from God and his grace. As a consequence of that separation, the person is condemned to eternal death. For a sin to be a mortal sin, three conditions must be met: the act must involve grave matter, the person must have full knowledge of the evil of the act, and the person must give his or her full consent in committing the act. Oil of the Sick: Blessed olive oil used in the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick to anoint the forehead and hands of people who are seriously ill or near death. Penance and Reconciliation, Sacrament of: One of the Seven Sacraments of the Church, the liturgical celebration of God s forgiveness of sin, through which the sinner is reconciled with both God and the Church. Purgatory: A state of final purification or cleansing, which one may need to enter following death and before entering Heaven. reparation: Making amends for something one did wrong that caused harm to another person or led to loss. repentance (contrition): An attitude of sorrow for a sin committed and a resolution not to sin again. It is a response to God s gracious love and forgiveness. sin: Any deliberate offense, in thought, word, or deed, against the will of God. venial sin: A less serious offense against the will of God that diminishes one s personal character and weakens but does not rupture one s relationship with God. Sacrament of Reconciliation terms and phrases. 1. The new Rite of Penance emphasizes our call to an ongoing covenant of love. 2. Reconciliation is rooted in the forgiving actions of Jesus. 3. I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 4. Jesus revealed God primarily as Abba a Father of love and forgiveness.
The Sacraments Review HEALING AND SERVICE Page 7 5. The CCC states that the priest is not the master of God s forgiveness, but its servant. 6. Reconciliation is offered to us through the Church. 7. The Communion of Saints is the unity of all those living on earth, in Purgatory and in Heaven. 8. Purification after death for those who died in God s friendship but still need to be purified is done in Purgatory. 9. A serious penalty that means a baptized person is no longer in communion with the Catholic Church is known as excommunication. 10. Penance is a liturgical action consisting of several parts. 11. An Act of Contrition is a prayer penitents pray to express sorrow for their sins. 12. The Ten Commandments are rules God gave to the Israelites through Moses. 13. An inclination to commit sin as a result of Original Sin is known as concupiscence. 14. A mortal sin is one in which the person has full knowledge of the gravity of the action. 15. General absolution is reserved for cases of grave necessity. 16. Only God forgives sins. 17. Penance is imposed in line with the gravity and nature of the sin committed. 18. The Sacrament of Penance is a continuing conversion that occurs after Baptism. 19. The status of sinners who have been forgiven is known as righteousness. 20. Sexual intercourse between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman is known as fornication. 21. One way to celebrate the sacrament is private individual confession. 22. Sins that result in the loss of God s life in the soul of the sinner are mortal. 23. The moral object objectively determines if an action is right or wrong. 24. No sin is too terrible for God to forgive. The Sacraments of Service Holy Orders Review Questions Answer Key Section 5, Part 1 How does the priesthood of the men called to ordained ministry differ from the common priesthood of all the baptized? All the baptized are called to participate in the one priesthood of Christ. The uniqueness of the ministerial priesthood lies in its call and commitment to serve the entire Church and to help all Christians live a life of grace in union with Jesus Christ. This different priesthood gives men who are called to ordained ministry a unique responsibility that no layperson can fill. (Article 43, pp. 227 228) What are the three areas of responsibility for those in ordained ministry? The three areas of responsibility for those in ordained ministry are as follows: teaching the faithful; leading divine worship (the liturgy), especially the Eucharist; and governing the Church. How does a bishop or priest act in the person of Christ? (Article 44, p. 233) Any priest (including a bishop) acts in the person of Christ because he is consecrated to preach the Gospel, to guide the People of God, and to celebrate the liturgy of the Church as a priest of the New Covenant. This is especially true in the Eucharist, in which priests act in the person of Christ to make present again his one sacrifice, when he offered himself for all. What are the essential elements of the Sacrament of Holy Orders? The essential elements of the Sacrament of Holy Orders are the laying on of hands and the speaking of the prayer of consecration, in which the presiding bishop asks God to grant to the man being ordained the graces of the Holy Spirit necessary for his ministry. (Article 44, p. 231, sidebar)
The Sacraments Review HEALING AND SERVICE Page 8 What is the role of the bishop? the priest? the deacon? The role of the bishop is to represent Christ himself as teacher, shepherd, and priest and to act as Christ s representative on earth. He is a member of the college of bishops and is usually the visible head of the particular Church (or diocese) to which he has been assigned. Each ordained bishop is in the line of Apostolic Succession. The role of the priest is to be a coworker of the bishop, united with the bishop in priestly dignity and guided by the bishop in his pastoral assignment and duties. Priests share with their bishop the authority of Christ himself in building up, making holy, and ruling his Body, the Church. This includes acting in the person of Christ to preach the Gospel, to guide the People of God, and to celebrate the liturgy of the Church. The role of the deacon is the ministry of service in the Church. Deacons carry out important functions in the ministry of the Word, divine worship, pastoral governance, and the service of charity and good works. (Article 44, pp. 231 234) Describe the special grace the Sacrament of Holy Orders gives to bishops, priests, and deacons. The Sacrament of Holy Orders confers special grace on each of the three orders. On bishops, the Sacrament confers the special grace of strength: to govern and guide, to love all, and to proclaim the Gospel to all. This strength allows him to give his life for his sheep. The Sacrament fills priests with the Holy Spirit and confers the grace to approach the altar without shame, to proclaim the Gospel, to carry out the ministry of the Word, to offer spiritual sacrifice and gifts, and to renew God s People in Baptism. The sacramental grace for deacons is a whole-hearted commitment to the People of God, in cooperation with the bishop and priests. In this commitment deacons serve in the liturgy, proclaim the Word of God, and carry out works of love to all in need. (Article 45, pp. 236 237) Matrimony Review Questions Answer Key Section 5, Part 2 What is God s plan for marriage? God intended marriage as a loving way to bring happiness to us and to assure us that we need not be alone on our life s journey. Marriage, in God s plan, therefore has two goods: the good of the man and woman, and the procreation and education of children. (Article 46, pp. 241 242) What is the definition of the Sacrament of Matrimony? Choose two key elements from this definition and explain why each is important in Christian Marriage. The Sacrament of Marriage is a lifelong covenant, modeled on that between Christ and the Church, in which a baptized man and a baptized woman make an exclusive and permanent commitment to faithfully love each other and to cooperate in the procreation and education of children. (The students may choose any of these elements to explain further. Explanations are found throughout Section 5, Part 2.) (Article 47, p. 247, callout definition) How did the idea of the unity and indissolubility of marriage gradually develop in the Law of Moses, the teachings of the prophets, and finally, in the New Covenant established by Christ? The concept of the unity and indissolubility of marriage first developed in the Law of Moses. It did not explicitly reject the polygamy practiced by kings and patriarchs at the time, but the Law of Moses did protect a wife from being at her husband s mercy although it still allowed a husband to divorce his wife. The prophets went further by teaching that exclusive married love is a metaphor for God s covenantal love for his people (God is the Bridegroom and Israel is the Bride). These teachings led to the New Covenant, in which Jesus is the Bridegroom to all of humanity. (Article 46, pp. 242, 244)
The Sacraments Review HEALING AND SERVICE Page 9 Why is it important that consent in the Sacrament of Matrimony be free? What are some circumstances that may create constraint or pressure to marry, leading to a marriage contracted without free consent? In the Sacrament of Matrimony, consent must be freely given because the man and woman must willingly give themselves to each other in order to live a lifelong covenant of faithful love and openness to sharing that love with children. Without free consent, there is no Marriage bond. A variety of circumstances may pose obstacles to free consent, including pregnancy (and the pressure to marry), mental illness, a secret addiction, the existence of prior religious or marriage vows, or factors prohibited by natural law (such as marriage between family members). (Article 48, pp. 250 252) What three requirements are essential to Marriage? Three elements are essential to Marriage: unity, indissolubility, and openness to children. When might the Church issue a declaration of nullity, called an annulment, and what does this declaration mean? The Church might issue an annulment when a marriage has been entered into under constraint or in some other circumstance that prevented either or both spouses from giving free consent. An annulment is the Church s declaration that a true Marriage bond, as a Sacrament, never existed in the eyes of the Church. (Article 48, p. 252) Vocabulary for Sacraments of Service annulment: The declaration by the Church that a marriage is null and void, that is, it never existed as a sacramental union. Catholics who divorce must have the marriage annulled by the Church to be free to marry once again in the Church. bishop: One who has received the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and is a successor to the Apostles. deacon: One who is ordained for service and ministry, but not for ministerial priesthood, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Deacons are ordained to assist priests and bishops in a variety of liturgical and charitable ministries. divorce: The action or an instance of legally dissolving a marriage. Holy Orders, Sacrament of: The Sacrament by which baptized men are ordained for permanent ministry in the Church as bishops, priests, and deacons. indissoluble: Incapable of being undone or broken. The Marriage bond is a commitment to lifelong fidelity and can never be dissolved. Matrimony, Sacrament of: A lifelong covenant, modeled on that between Christ and the Church, in which a baptized man and a baptized woman make an exclusive and permanent commitment to faithfully love each other and to cooperate in the procreation and education of children. priest: One who has received the ministerial priesthood through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The priest serves the community of faith by representing and assisting the bishop in teaching, governing, and presiding over the community s worship. procreation: The begetting or bringing forth of offspring. The procreation and education of offspring is one of the ends (or purposes) of Marriage. unity: The state of being made one. Marriage unites the husband and wife in an unbreakable and exclusive union, and is one of the ends (or purposes) of Marriage. Thus adultery and polygamy are sins against the unity of Marriage.