The Christian Faith
This section of the website provides more extended teaching on larger content areas, such as the Creed and the Sacraments. It begins with Introduction·to the Christian Faith. More content will be added in due course.
The section entitled Short Talks comprises stand-alone talks and articles on different aspects of the Christian Faith, including the teaching of Jesus, the seasons of the Church’s Year and Feasts and Festivals.·
The Sacraments: Minister, matter, form and grace
Last week we saw how the gifts of God’s grace come to us through the outward signs of the Sacraments of the Church. Now we are going to look at this in more detail, and the example we shall take is the Sacrament of Confirmation. As you know, in the Sacrament of Confirmation Jesus gives to us the Holy Spirit of God.
The Seven Sacraments
God is very thorough and methodical. We see this, for example, in the countryside. There is a regular round of seasons of the year, each with its own purpose – the spring for growth, the summer for ripening, the autumn for harvest, and then the winter for rest as Nature pauses before the growth and activity of another spring. Everything works according to a careful plan.
Holy Baptism: The Sacrament
Today we are going to talk about the first Sacrament, Holy Baptism or christening, as it sometimes called. As you know, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is usually administered at the font in church, and the font itself is near the church door. This is because, just as we enter the church, God’s House, by the door, so we enter the Church, God’s Family, by Baptism. In other words, we become members of the Church by being baptised, though we do not become full members until we are confirmed.