(newly planted) from Greek neos New phytos Planted (a new convert )

Holy Thursday Good Friday Easter Sunday

 4 distinct stages : Service of the Light Liturgy of the Word Liturgy of Baptism Liturgy of the Eucharist

Blessing of the new fire

The Celebrant blesses the new fire: the celebrant and faithful gather around it and experience the flames dispelling the darkness and lighting up the night.

 Central symbolic object of the Vigil because it represents the Risen Lord in His glory.

It is blessed and inserted with the 5 grains of incense now. The Easter candle is lighted from the new fire.

It is a majestic proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ, a dramatic invitation to heaven and earth to join with the Church in joy and jubilation. It is the rite of sanctification of light and night, of place and time, of priest and faithful for the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord

The Exsultet

The Easter proclamation has survived nearly 2000 years of Christian music and stands as one of the finest of liturgical poetry. It captures the whole Easter mystery placed within the context of the economy of salvation and celebrates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Liturgy of the Word

5 Readings and 4 Psalms 4 from the Old Testament 2 from the New Testament including the Gospel Reading
Each reading is followed by an invitation to pray in silence, which is followed by a special prayer designed for that reading. These readings help us meditate on the wonderful works of God for his people since the beginning of time. The Gloria is sung before the reading of the Epistle of the Romans, and the Alleluia is sung before the Gospel.

Liturgy of Baptism litany of the saints

A prayer in to and in honour of the saints, appealing to them for help and divine protection.

Blessing of water

The baptismal water is consecrated by a prayer of epiclesis. The Church asks God through his Son the power of the Holy Spirit may be sent upon the water, so that those who will be baptised in it may be born of water and the spirit.

Rite of baptism

The copious use of water during baptism is the most expressive outward sign of Gods gift of sanctifying grace in abundance: the water not only signifies the removal of but actually washes away original and all personal sins. Baptism makes the neophyte an adopted child of God and partaker of the divine nature.

 The white garment symbolises the purity of a soul cleansed from all sin: the person baptised has put on Christ, has risen with Christ. The Godparents will light their candle from the Paschal candle for the neophytes. It signifies that Christ has enlightened the neophyte. In Him, the baptised are light of the world.

Effects of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation - Baptism

Through Baptism we are freed from sin .... all sin, original sin & personal sin and reborn as children of God; .... we become members of Christ, .... an identity Christian - sharers in the prophetic, priestly and kingly mission of Christ. are incorporated into the Church .... as a baby is born into a family, so is the whole Church our family and made sharers in her mission....

Confirmation

LAYING OF HANDS AND ANOINTING

The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. (CCC1324)

The Sacraments of Christian Initiation Holy Eucharist

Baptism is necessary to obtain a share in the life of God. The Eucharist is equally necessary to remain spiritually alive.
(..unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you willl have no life in you for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. John 6: 52, 55)

Holy Eucharist
Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of Penance. CCC 1415 (..Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Cor 11:28)

NEOPHYTE

To summarise
The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life. "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. the faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. - CCC 1212

Sharing
Recall the night of your baptism. What was your experience like? What lingers in your memory? How did you feel? What touched you? Engaged you? Disengaged you? What did you hear, smell, see, taste?

The Period of Mystagogia

Mystagogia: an ancient Greek word meaning "education in the sacred mysteries". It describes the life of a Christian believer after baptism and the first initiation rites - that is, the growth of the mind and heart in the ancient Christian faith.

The Fourth Phase: The Period of Mystagogia

The period of mystagogia is a time for: living a sacramental life living out the gospel way of life becoming more involved in the parish

Living out the faith Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. John 15:4

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

Hosea 4:6

If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 JOHN 1: 8

If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 JOHN 1 :10

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal. 1 John 5:17

GROWTH IN THE SPIRIT (VERTICAL DIMENSION)

SACRAMENT; STUDY; SERVICE; SUPPORT GROUP & COMMUNITY; SOLITUDE & PRAYER. MASS RECONCILIATION

What is sacramental living?

Living out of a normal Catholic spiritual life; a life within the Church in which the Christian fulfills his/her vocation. (vocare Latin to call)

SACRAMENTAL LIVING
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of Godwhat is good, acceptable and perfect. Rom 12:2

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The point of all the sacraments is to make us holy, to make us radiate with God's own life, and to bring us to heaven. That is the great mission of the Holy Spirit.
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Gods ultimate plan for us that we may: ...attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13) "Our greatest wish and prayer is that you will become mature Christians." 2 Cor 13:9 press on to maturity (Heb 6:1)
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The Charismatic Gifts empowers the "Doing to build the Church

The Sanctifying Gifts roots the "Being 41 to bear fruits

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At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.
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"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."
1 Corinthians 13:1

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing
1 Corinthians 13:2

 Charisms are therefore graces bestowed by the Holy Spirit on certain members of the faithful to prepare them to contribute to the common good of the Church.
Pope John Paul II

Address to participants in the Second International Conference of Ecclesial Movements, 2 March 1987, L'Osservatore Romano English edition, 16 March 1987,

45

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well. 46 Matt 6:33

Here am I, the servant of the Lord; Let it be with me according to your word"
(Luke 1:38)
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You say: "It's impossible

All things are possible

(Lk18:27)

God says:

I will give you rest

(Matt11:28-30)

You say: "I'm too tired" God says:

You say: "Nobody loves me"

(Jn3:16 & Jn13:34)

I love you

God says:

You say: "I can't go on"

My grace is sufficient
(2Cor12:9)

God says:

You say: "I can't forgive myself"

I FORGIVE YOU
(1Jn 1:9 & Rm8:1)

God says:

You say: "I can't manage"

I will supply all your needs.

(Phil 4:19)

God says:

You say: "I can't do it"

You can do all things

(Phil4:13)

God says:

You say: "I'm not able" God says:

(2Cor9:8)

I am able

You say: "It's not worth it"

It will be worth it
(Rm8:28)

God says:

You say: "I'm afraid"

I have not given you a spirit of fear

(2Tim1:7)

God says:

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"

Cast all your cares on ME

(1Pet5:7)

God says:

You say: "I don't have enough faith"

I've given everyone a measure of faith

(Rom12:3)

God says:

You say: "I feel all alone"

I will never leave you or forsake you

(Heb 13:5)

God says: