232. What is the relationship between the sacraments and everlasting life?
(Comp
232) In the sacraments the Church already receives a foretaste of eternal life,
while “awaiting in blessed hope, the appearing in glory of our great God and
saviour Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13).
“In brief”
(CCC 1131) The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace,
instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is
dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated
signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit
in those who receive them with the required dispositions.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1130) The Church celebrates the mystery of her Lord
"until he comes," when God will be "everything to everyone"
(1 Cor 11:26; 15:28). Since the apostolic age the liturgy has been drawn toward
its goal by the Spirit's groaning in the Church: Marana tha! (1 Cor 16:22). The liturgy thus shares in Jesus'
desire: "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you… until it
is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Lk 22:15). In the sacraments of
Christ the Church already receives the guarantee of her inheritance and even
now shares in everlasting life, while "awaiting our blessed hope, the
appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus" (Titus
2:13). The "Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come… Come, Lord Jesus!"' (Rev
22:17, 20). St. Thomas sums up the various aspects of sacramental signs:
"Therefore a sacrament is a sign that commemorates what precedes it -
Christ's Passion; demonstrates what is accomplished in us through Christ's
Passion - grace; and prefigures what that Passion pledges to us - future
glory" (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh
III, 60, 3).
On reflection
(CCC 2817) This petition is "Marana tha," the cry of the Spirit and the Bride: "Come,
Lord Jesus." Even if it had not been prescribed to pray for the coming of
the kingdom, we would willingly have brought forth this speech, eager to
embrace our hope. In indignation the souls of the martyrs under the altar cry
out to the Lord: "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you
judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?" For their
retribution is ordained for the end of the world. Indeed as soon as possible,
Lord, may your kingdom come! (Tertullian, De
orat. 5: PL 1, 1159A; cf. Heb 4:11; Rev 6:9; 22:20).
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