To be Catholic is to recognize and respect God’s presence in all creation. The world is thus a reflection of God’s power and love for Catholics and this is what makes Catholics a sacramental people.  We believe that God has shown His love and presence to us in multiple ways and most especially by sending us His Son, Jesus to free us and make us right by God.

To be Catholic thus also means that we experience Jesus every time through the sacraments we celebrate.

We have been taught that “a sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give us grace” but this is sacrament in its restricted sense.  It’s also common for most people to limit their understanding of sacraments to “rituals”. Yet the Second Vatican Council considers them signs of Christ’s abiding presence and encounters with the risen Lord. These are encounters that give us His transforming strength and power and allow us to be drawn closer to Him and His goodness. “Graced spiritual opportunities” that take place in individual celebrations and mark a special presence of Jesus with those who approach the sacraments with faith.

When we participate in the sacramental life of the Church, we draw Christ into our human arena and make His presence part of our human existence. We make Christ more visible to our world today. We become Jesus’ expression of healing love and mercy to the world. Even as we continue His mission and make Him a part of our daily lives.