Our Parish of Saint Patrick,
Roxbury
10
Magazine Street, Roxbury MA 02119
Rectory:
(617) 445-7645 Convent: (617) 442-0980
The Sacraments
Baptism
- The Roman Catechism offers the following definition: "Baptism is the
sacrament of regeneration by water in the word" (per aquam in verbo).
Baptism was instituted to confer upon us the beginnings of the spiritual
Life, to transfer us from the state of enemies of God to the state of
adoption as sons and daughters of God. Baptism is, therefore, the sacrament
by which we are born again of water and the Holy Ghost, that is, by which we
receive in a new and spiritual life, the dignity of adoption as sons and
daughters of God and heirs of God's kingdom.
- Baptism is conferred on the recipient when a Priest or Deacon pours water
over their forehead and recites the words of Baptism: I baptize you in the
Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
To schedule a baptism at Saint Patrick Church, please contact the
Rectory at (617) 445-7645.
Reconciliation / Penance / Confession
- The Sacrament of Confession is the manner in which we reconcile ourselves
with God after we commit the heinous act of sin and, having a contrite
heart, truly desire to be reunited fully with God.
- In order to obtain a valid confession, the penitent must have true sorrow
for committing their sins, and must confess all mortal sins which they are
aware of at the time of the Confession after examining their conscience. In
addition, one of the Precepts of the Church require that it is the duty of
the Faithful to confess one’s sins at least once a year. Although you are
only required to confess mortal sins, there is no reason why you shouldn’t
also tell God your sorrow for committing venial sins.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered at Saint Patrick Church 15
minutes prior to the beginning of each Sunday Mass. Special children's sessions
are held during Advent and Lent. Confession can also be scheduled by appointment
by contacting the Rectory at (617) 445-7645.
Holy Eucharist
- The Greatest Sacrament, the Holy Eucharist—the Body and Blood, Soul and
Divinity, of Jesus Christ—was given to us by Christ so that we may enter
into union with Christ Himself and His Love, as when Jesus says "He
that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in
him" (John, 6:57) The Eucharist removes our venial sins from our soul,
and is a great aid in avoiding the temptation to commit mortal sins. It is
because of this that many Saints have said that the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass (particularly the Eucharist) is "the perfect prayer".
- The Holy Eucharist is composed of two elements: the bread and the wine,
which are later Consecrated by the priest into the Body and Blood of Jesus.
The bread (in the Latin Rite) must be composed of only unleavened wheaten
flour and water, and then baked. The other Eucharistic element is wine,
which must be from grapes. Any other juice from fruits is not allowed. The
necessity of wine from grapes is not so much the result of the authoritative
decision of the Church, as much as it is based upon the example and command
of Christ, Who at the Last Supper converted the natural wine of grapes into
His Blood. Due to the extreme holiness of the Sacrament as well as its symbolism of
being in full communion with the Church, only Catholics may enter into the
Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is also a mortal sin to receive the Eucharist
while you knowingly have an unconfessed mortal sin on your soul.
You are invited to accept the Sacrament of Holy Communion at Saint
Patrick Church during each of our scheduled Masses. Should you need to receive
Communion outside of the church, please call the Rectory at (617) 445-7645 to
schedule a visit.
Confirmation
- Confirmation imparts an increase of sanctifying
grace which makes the recipient a "perfect Christian," a special
sacramental grace consisting in the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost and
notably in the strength and courage to confess boldly the name of Christ,
and an indelible character by reason of which the sacrament cannot be
received again by the same person. Confirmation
can be conferred only on those who have already been baptized and have not
yet been confirmed. In the early years of the Church, when only adults were
usually baptized, confirmation was administered immediately after; however,
when infant baptism was the predominate custom, confirmation was kept at the
"age of adulthood", which in the US is usually around age 14 / 8th
grade. Its reception is obligatory for all those who are able to understand
and fulfill the Commandments of God and of the Church.
- The bishop alone is the ordinary minister of
confirmation. Simple priests may be the extraordinary ministers of the
sacrament under certain conditions (during the Easter Vigil Mass). The
Bishop/priest takes Chrism, makes the sign of the Cross on the forehead of
the recipient, and says "Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit".
Matrimony
- Contrary to popular misconception, the priest does
NOT confer the sacrament of Holy Matrimony—the priest is merely the
‘witness’ to the man and woman making their vows before God. It is the
husband and wife who ‘minister’ the Sacrament to themselves from God.
However, the fact that a husband and wife make the sacrament between
themselves and God does not mean that they can ‘unmake’ this union, as
it is an agreement until the death of one of the parties.
Couples preparing for marriage must contact the
Rectory at (617) 445-7645 at least six months before the requested wedding
date. Marriage ceremonies are scheduled on Saturdays between 10 am and 3 pm.
No marriages can be scheduled on a Sunday, although ceremonies on other days
can be arranged.
Holy Orders
- The current discipline is for only non-married
Catholics to be ordained priests; however, converts to the Catholic Faith
who are married may later become ordained because the Church recognizes
their marriage as valid and does not want to deny them the opportunity to
serve the Church as a priest if they had previously joined in marriage in
another Church before knowing the fullness of the Catholic Faith.
Extreme Unction / Last Rites
- Administered to a person who is dying, it may be
given to both Catholics and non-Catholics who truthfully declare (in danger
of death) to have a desire to enter into the Catholic Church and profess the
Faith that the Catholic Church teaches.
- First, the Sacrament of Penance is administered,
then the anointing with the oil, and then the giving of the Eucharist.
- As administered in the Western Church today, the
sacrament consists (apart from certain non-essential prayers) in the unction
with oil, specially blessed by the bishop, of the organs of the five
external senses (eyes, ears, nostrils, lips, hands), of the feet, and, for
men; and in the following form repeated at each unction with mention of the
corresponding sense or faculty: "Through this holy unction and His own
most tender mercy may the Lord pardon thee whatever sins or faults thou hast
committed by sight [by hearing, smell, taste, touch]".
- To perform this rite fully takes an appreciable
time, but in cases of urgent necessity, when death is likely to occur before
it can be completed, it is sufficient to employ a single unction (on the
forehead, for instance) with the general form: "Through this holy
unction may the Lord pardon thee whatever sins or faults thou hast
committed."
In instances where Last Rites have not already
been arranged, please contact the Rectory at (617) 445-7645.
- Information regarding The
Sacraments has been excerpted from material published by The Newman Club at
Carnegie Mellon University
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