Sacraments
Baptism
Parents wishing to have their child baptized should be practicing Catholics for 6 months prior to the Baptism. Each person being baptized needs at least one Godparent (if there are two, there is a Godfather and a Godmother) who is older than 16 years old, Confirmed, and is practicing and living the Catholic Faith. A non practicing Catholic cannot be a Godparent. Please contact the parish office.
What is Baptism?
Unless, says our Lord, a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God; and, speaking of the Church, the Apostle says, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life. Thus it follows that Baptism may be rightly and accurately defined: The Sacrament of regeneration by water in the word. By nature we are born from Adam children of wrath, but by Baptism we are regenerated in Christ, children of mercy. For He gave power to men to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name, who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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Confession
Confession is scheduled Saturdays at 12:00-1:00, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30-7:50AM, and anytime upon request. It is also available First Fridays, 7pm at St Anne (205 Woodstown Hwy, Davidsville, PA)
What is the Sacrament of Confession?
In the first place, however, it will be well to explain why it is that Christ our Lord was pleased to number Penance among the Sacraments. One of His reasons certainly was to leave us no room for doubt regarding the remission of sin which was promised by God when He said: If the wicked do penance, etc. For each one has good reason to distrust the accuracy of his own judgment on his own actions, and hence we could not but be very much in doubt regarding the truth of our internal penance. It was to destroy this, our uneasiness, that our Lord instituted the Sacrament of Penance, by means of which we are assured that our sins are pardoned by the absolution of the priest; and also to tranquilize our conscience by means of the trust we rightly repose in the virtue of the Sacraments. The words of the priest sacramentally and lawfully absolving us from our sins are to be accepted in the same sense as the words of Christ our Lord when He said to the paralytic: Son, be of good heart: thy sins are forgiven thee.
In the second place, no one can obtain salvation unless through Christ and the merits of His Passion. Hence it was becoming in itself, and highly advantageous to us, that a Sacrament should be instituted through the force and efficacy of which the blood of Christ flows into our souls, washes awayall the sins committed after Baptism, and thus leads us to recognise that it is to our Saviour alone we owe the blessing of reconciliation. more…
First Holy Communion (Eucharist)
At the Mass the bread and wine are consecrated by the priest and are transformed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Traditionally First Holy Communion is given at about 7 years old to Baptized Catholics.
What is the Eucharist?
Three things, then, are signified by this Sacrament. The first is the Passion of Christ our Lord, a thing past; for He Himself said: Do this for a commemoration of me, and the Apostle says: As often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until he come.
It is also significant of divine and heavenly grace, which is imparted at the present time by this Sacrament to nurture and preserve the soul. Just as in Baptism we are begotten unto newness of life and by Confirmation are strengthened to resist Satan and openly to profess the name of Christ, so by the Sacrament of the Eucharist are we nurtured and supported.
It is, thirdly, a foreshadowing of future eternal joy and glory, which, according to God’s promises, we shall receive in our heavenly country. more…
Confirmation
Confirmation is a strengthening and sealing of Baptism. One is made a soldier of Christ and is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, students are Confirmed in the 11th grade.
What is Confirmation?
Since, then, by the grace of Baptism we are begotten unto newness of life, whereas by that of Confirmation we grow to full maturity, having put away the things of a child, we can sufficiently understand that the same difference that exists in the natural life between birth and growth exists also between Baptism, which regenerates, and Confirmation, by virtue of which growth and perfect spiritual strength are imparted to the faithful.
Besides, as there should be a new and distinct kind of Sacrament when the soul has to encounter any new difficulty, it may easily be perceived that as we require the grace of Baptism to form the mind unto faith, so is it also of the utmost advantage that the souls of the faithful be strengthened by a different grace, to the end that they be deterred by no danger, or fear of pains, tortures or death, from the confession of the true faith. This, then, being accomplished by the sacred chrism of Confirmation, it is hence clearly inferred, that the nature of this Sacrament is different from Baptism. more…
Holy Matrimony (Marriage)
Holy Matrimony, between one man and one woman, witnessed and blessed by the Church, is a Sacrament that binds the couple for life. for couples wishing to enter into the Sacrament of Matrimony at Saint Andrew, contact the parish 1 year in advance and prior to making any reservations at other venues for the day.
What is Matrimony?
The conjugal union of man and woman, contracted between two qualified persons, which obliges them to live together throughout life…The faithful, therefore, are to be taught in the first place that marriage was instituted by God. We read in Genesis that God created them male and female, and blessed them, saying: “Increase and multiply”; and also: “It is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a help like unto himself.,’ And a little further on: But for Adam there was not found a helper like himself. Then the Lord God cast a deep sleep upon Adam; and when he was fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it. And the Lord God built a rib which he took from Adam. into a woman, and brought her to Adam; and Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man: wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall be two in one flesh,” These words, according to the authority of our Lord Himself, as we read in St. Matthew, prove the divine institution. of Matrimony. more…
Anointing of the Sick
For those who are in danger of death or experiencing the decline of health due to age, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a powerful means of grace. Please call the parish office for the priest.
What is the Anointing of the sick?
The Anointing of the sick is sometimes called Extreme Unction. A classic definition is given in the Roman Catechism, but the Sacrament may now be given under more circumstances and multiple times.
From the Roman Catechism:
That Extreme Unction is strictly speaking a Sacrament, is first to be explained; and this the words of St. James the Apostle, promulgating the law of this Sacrament, clearly establish. Is any man, he says, sick amongst you ? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick man; and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him. When the Apostle says that sins are forgiven, he ascribes to Extreme Unction the nature and efficacy of a Sacrament.
That such has been at all times the doctrine of the Catholic Church on Extreme Unction, many Councils testify, and the Council of Trent denounces anathema against all who presume to teach or think otherwise. Innocent I also recommends this Sacrament with great earnestness to the attention of the faithful. more…
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick as defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
The Anointing of the Sick “is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.”If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced. more…
Holy Orders
What is Holy Orders?
According to the Roman Catechism, “hat Sacred Ordination is to be numbered among the Sacraments of the Church, the Council of Trent has established by the same line of reasoning as we have already used several times. Since a Sacrament is a sign of a sacred thing, and since the outward action in this consecration denotes the grace and power bestowed on him who is consecrated, it becomes clearly evident that Order must be truly and properly regarded as a Sacrament. Thus the Bishop, handing to him who is being ordained a chalice with wine and water, and a paten with bread, says: Receive the power of offering sacrifice, etc. In these words, pronounced along with the application of the matter, the Church has always taught that the power of consecrating the Eucharist is conferred, and that a character is impressed on the soul which brings with it grace necessary for the due and proper discharge of that office, as the Apostle declares thus: I admonish thee that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee, by the imposition of my hands; for God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sobriety.” more…
After the Second Vatican Council the minor orders of Lector and Acolyte remained. A man is instituted a Lector, then an acolyte, ordained a deacon, and ordained a priest.
Are you looking to become part of the Catholic Church?
Please contact the parish office. Catechesis for adults is given on an “as needed” basis. Each person’s background and Sacramental life are different, so it is helpful to arrange a personal meeting to discern the best form of Catechesis and what Sacraments are needed.