The readings this morning remind me of a recent discussion at St. John’s Seminary in Boston on the topic of sacramentals. Todays readings show how God directly in the Gospel, and indirectly in the reading from Kings calls us to be a sacramental.

What is a sacramental?

I recently had the pleasure of visiting my daughter in Washington, D.C. prior to the birth of her first child. Our family attended Mass together at St. Peter’s, a Catholic Church on Capitol Hill.

As if on cue for this course, the priest spoke about the Church and its position in Washington. Initially, he talked of its geographic position, situated high on Capitol Hill, near the seat of the US Government, the most powerful nation in the world. Then he talked of the bell tower of the Church, audibly announcing forthcoming services and sacraments to the surrounding community. Yet, when he arrived at the parish he felt something was missing. Looking up one day at the bell tower, he realized what it was. A light.

The Church was in a great position of visibility, yet it was invisible as soon as darkness fell, hidden amongst the street lights and activities of the area.

A fundraising effort ensued and within a short period of time a light was installed in the bell tower. One that was not just bright enough for it to be seen from the streets of Washington DC and the government buildings, but one of the first things that arriving passengers would see on an airborne approach to the Washington DC National airport.

What the priest was getting at was that not only had the light on the top of the Church become a symbol, but it was a “sacred sign” a sacramental. Not a sacrament in itself, but if you like a guidepost that would lead others to the Church, which would lead them to Christ. Supporting our mission to save souls.

So the nature of a sacramental is invitational to bring someone into union with God. This light had changed its form from that of just being an illuminating device to one of an invitation to visit, to notice, to attend to God. The Church was the host of that invitation, and all the more meaningful because of the location of the Church, high on a hill in a city of great importance.

1670 of the catechism “Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church’s prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it.”

For well-disposed members of the faithful, the liturgy of the sacraments and sacramentals sanctifies almost every event of their lives with the divine grace which flows from the Paschal mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ.

From this source all sacraments and sacramentals draw their power. There is scarcely any proper use of material things which cannot be thus directed toward the sanctification of men and the praise of God.” 1670 Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition.

Can I be a sacramental?

The real power of the homily continued to build on this theme, having established the light as a sacramental or invitational sign, the priest brought home a theme this class has been bringing to my mind. That each of us can be a sacramental.

The role of the Laity[1] is our invitation to sanctify the world, and to achieve this role we can do so by living our own life in everyday sanctification. There are so many ways to achieve this, it appears that Christ and his bride (the Church) has given us unlimited opportunities to achieve this through the graces of sacraments and opportunities to show His love for us.

In a book written by Fr. Mullady speaks to this in Light of the Nations though our role in marriage and our right as adults to teach children based on divine and natural law[2].

Each of us are given different charisms. We are expected to use these gifts for the glory of God, and to share them with others around us.

Consecration to God and the World

We are moved and called to consecrate our lives to the world through the Holy Spirit by carrying out the saving work of Christ[3]. If we consider the Church itself as a sacrament, we can consecrate ourselves to God and become a part of His grace that flows through the world[4].

“The Church’s true end is human interior perfection,[5]” which can only occur through the life of grace and can only be completed in the vision of God in heaven.

Our consecration means leaving our old self behind. In a way the Church’s ancient tradition of the anchorite is a model for us to retreat into a fulfilling interior life while at the same time being in pursuit of the common good as Blessed John Paul II recounts.

By using the ordinary virtues, we become part of the priesthood of the laity in pursuing holiness[6]. This is achieved by self-surrender to God and keeping the goals and missions of the Church aligned with those of society in our active engagement with the world.

By acting in this way, we become part of the Church; His bride doing the work intended here on earth. Recognizing the truth and acting upon the knowledge and wisdom contained within makes us a part of the sacramental Church.

This marks us a sacramental, an instrument to help others see the grace of God by doing His will, and at the same time deepening our own faith.

Our universal call is the act of the Church and we are the Church individually created to do this loving work. Pilgrims with our own light on that hill, lit up for others to see and share in His love.

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[1] Mullady, Brian. Light of the Nations, New Hope Publications, 2006. 87.

[2] Ibid. 93.

[3] Ibid., 90

[4] Ibid., 94

[5] Ibid., 106

[6] Ibid., 97