{"id":209,"date":"2023-06-14T21:54:12","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T21:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=209"},"modified":"2024-09-28T16:55:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-28T16:55:41","slug":"the-sacraments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=209","title":{"rendered":"The Sacraments"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"209\" class=\"elementor elementor-209\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-83a4cea elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"83a4cea\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ce4546\" data-id=\"6ce4546\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7bebbe elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d7bebbe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 08-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1663\" src=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_335819579.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-219\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_335819579.jpg 2500w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_335819579-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_335819579-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_335819579-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_335819579-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_335819579-2048x1362.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-23db55c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"23db55c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-48afea2\" data-id=\"48afea2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4294eb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4294eb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 08-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-xxl\">The Sacraments<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a90ad24 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a90ad24\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-551c638\" data-id=\"551c638\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8143af5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"8143af5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 08-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-44b753f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"44b753f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5676ac8\" data-id=\"5676ac8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-63da125\" data-id=\"63da125\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1add0f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1add0f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 08-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0px;\">They are &#8220;the masterworks of God&#8221; in the new and everlasting covenant.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0px;\">~ Catechism, #1116<\/span><br><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f69c6f9\" data-id=\"f69c6f9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6b2c556 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6b2c556\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2d4bd17\" data-id=\"2d4bd17\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d05d89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"6d05d89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-76aea8e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"76aea8e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b23977a\" data-id=\"b23977a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3045b45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3045b45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In faith, we are called to look for and discover the goodness of God.\u00a0 We see as it is reflected in the unfolding of our own human lives &#8211; in the love we share, in relationships of friendship and family\u00a0 and in moments both big and small.\u00a0 We experience it in both the grandeur and fragility of the natural world, as well as\u00a0 in the simplicities of bread, oil, wine and water, in word and gesture.\u00a0 We discover it in beauty and truth.\u00a0 Most extraordinarily we see the God&#8217;s goodness and mercy in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, the Word made flesh. It is him we hear, see with our own eyes, watch and touch with our hands in the sacramental life of the Church. It is his life we share when we participate in the sacraments of the Church.<\/p><p>God&#8217;s life is our life.\u00a0 \u00a0The life of the Church and the sacraments are the means through which we can experience this. We all know how life-giving and transforming it is to hear good news and more so when it is delivered in a way that helps us feel that we are part of that good news and is celebrated with joy and affection. The sacraments of the Church are among greatest means through which we hear the best of \u2018good news\u2019 and are touched and embraced by God in ways which lead us to life.<\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5690f10 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5690f10\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-44eff42\" data-id=\"44eff42\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7b46471\" data-id=\"7b46471\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a94000d elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"a94000d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/NDLPPpMjMwo&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 08-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-video .elementor-widget-container{overflow:hidden;transform:translateZ(0)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper{aspect-ratio:var(--video-aspect-ratio)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper iframe,.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper video{height:100%;width:100%;display:flex;border:none;background-color:#000}@supports not (aspect-ratio:1\/1){.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper{position:relative;overflow:hidden;height:0;padding-bottom:calc(100% \/ var(--video-aspect-ratio))}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper iframe,.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper video{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0}}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-open-inline .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;background-size:cover;background-position:50%}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{cursor:pointer;text-align:center}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay:hover .elementor-custom-embed-play i{opacity:1}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{display:block;width:100%;aspect-ratio:var(--video-aspect-ratio);-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;-o-object-position:center center;object-position:center center}@supports not (aspect-ratio:1\/1){.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:relative;overflow:hidden;height:0;padding-bottom:calc(100% \/ var(--video-aspect-ratio))}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0}}.elementor-widget-video .e-hosted-video .elementor-video{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-video,.e-con>.elementor-widget-video{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b25da83\" data-id=\"b25da83\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c659624 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c659624\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e6512d0\" data-id=\"e6512d0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ab610d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2ab610d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e86c6fe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e86c6fe\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-80d0f3c\" data-id=\"80d0f3c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3aadc69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3aadc69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>St. Augustine gave us the classic understanding of our belief in the sacraments when he spoke of sacraments as <strong><em>outward and visible signs of inward and invisible grace.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Outwardly, the sacraments involve words, physical symbols and actions, while inwardly they are direct means by which we experience God&#8217;s grace &#8211; gift of salvation &#8211;\u00a0 in our lives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>Of course, human experience of God comes about not solely through the sacraments. All sorts of experiences convey God\u2019s presence and love and hence are in a sense \u2018sacramental\u2019. Some of these include:<\/p><ul><li>the beauty and order of the world,<\/li><li>human relationships; our friendships, our families,<\/li><li>joyful, sorrowful experiences,<\/li><li>generosity, self-giving.<\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><p>Simple things like candle light, a sunrise, the scent of a rose, the laughter of a child all speak to us of God who is the Giver of all good things. These experiences allow us to \u2018touch the face of God\u2019 and to experience our connection to something much bigger, mysterious, yet\u00a0inherent in our ordinary lives.<\/p><p>Yet the sacraments we celebrate are more than simple ritual or symbols and memories of events that happened long ago, they are a vital source of help that God freely offers us in our faith.\u00a0 \u00a0Each of the seven sacraments was instituted by Jesus Christ, and they are the primary way for us to engage in our faith and to grow in our relationship with God.\u00a0 The Father gave his Son out of absolute and perfect love for us, and in the sacraments we encounter the Son&#8217;s self-giving and saving love.\u00a0 As we participate in the life of the Church and receive the sacraments, the Holy Spirit\u00a0 works in us to make us more life Christ.\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-style: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-style ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-text-letter-spacing ); text-transform: var( --e-global-typography-text-text-transform );\"> This is what it means to say that <\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-text-letter-spacing ); text-transform: var( --e-global-typography-text-text-transform );\"><i>Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace instituted by Christ for our salvation.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-96103f3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"96103f3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dc20246\" data-id=\"dc20246\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac0fddc elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ac0fddc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c0b07d0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c0b07d0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-14712f9\" data-id=\"14712f9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3671e7e\" data-id=\"3671e7e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23d2b06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"23d2b06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/hB3dFrZ5THs&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-eab60f4\" data-id=\"eab60f4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-406adbe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"406adbe\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d767d0d\" data-id=\"d767d0d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67ea8df elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"67ea8df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e2c3b6c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e2c3b6c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fd225ad\" data-id=\"fd225ad\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ae392f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9ae392f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Sacraments at Divine Mercy <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-65061bd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"65061bd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fb12e63\" data-id=\"fb12e63\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0561620 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0561620\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1214447791-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-822\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1214447791-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1214447791-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1214447791-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1214447791-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1214447791-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f72319 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1f72319\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Through faith you are all children of God in Jesus Christ.&nbsp; For all of you who were baptized in Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n<h3>~ Galatians 3:26-27<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-078c5f5\" data-id=\"078c5f5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abeb1df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"abeb1df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-style: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-style ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-text-letter-spacing ); text-transform: var( --e-global-typography-text-text-transform );\">In Baptism, we are born into and made sharers in the life of God and the Church.\u00a0 Through baptism we become God\u2019s sons and daughters.\u00a0 Not only is Christ present to us, but He lives His own life within us.\u00a0 We become configured to Christ and participate in his mission of redemption.\u00a0 A baptized person belongs forever to Christ.<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-style: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-style ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-text-letter-spacing ); text-transform: var( --e-global-typography-text-text-transform );\">Baptism, as the first sacrament we receive,\u00a0 the &#8220;gateway to the whole Christian life,&#8221; forgives all sins and opens the way to live and grow with God and the Church through the other sacraments.<\/span><\/h3><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ead6cb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ead6cb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5e9a0ec\" data-id=\"5e9a0ec\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d73545f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"d73545f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07f55e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"07f55e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Sacrament Preparation &amp; Celebration at Divine Mercy<\/h4><p><a title=\"Elementor #717 Baptism: infants to children age 7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=717\">Baptism for Infants and young children to the age of 7<\/a><\/p><p><a title=\"Sacramental Preparation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=1243\">The Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion)\u00a0 for Older Children (ages 7 and up) and Teens<\/a><\/p><p><a title=\"Elementor #359 \u2013 RCIA \u2013 New to Faith\" href=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=359\">Sacraments of Initiation for Adults<\/a><\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea18a22 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea18a22\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b25f173\" data-id=\"b25f173\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bf800cf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bf800cf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-04d723e\" data-id=\"04d723e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e6c080 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2e6c080\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_417676585.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-811\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_417676585.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_417676585-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_417676585-768x508.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da99680 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"da99680\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace\u00a0as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3><h3>~ Romans 15:13\u00a0<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d2b1657\" data-id=\"d2b1657\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4473216 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4473216\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The second Sacrament of Initiation, Confirmation is deeply tied to the Sacrament of Baptism.\u00a0 In the Catechism we learn that &#8220;by the sacrament of Confirmation, the connection of the baptized to the Church is rendered more perfect and they are enriched by a special force of the Holy Spirit and thus obliged more strictly to spread and defend the faith by word and by action as true witnesses of Christ.\u201d\u00a0<\/p><p>If in Baptism we are drawn into and immersed in the inner life of God, Confirmation \u201cstrengthens that relationship and stirs it up.\u201d\u00a0 This is so the baptized believer can spread and defend the faith by word and action.<\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-afe0a83\" data-id=\"afe0a83\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e76e57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1e76e57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-639ec4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"639ec4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Sacrament Preparation &amp; Celebration at Divine Mercy<\/h4><p><a title=\"Sacramental Preparation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=1243\">Children&#8217;s Confirmation Program<\/a><\/p><p><a title=\"Elementor #359 \u2013 RCIA \u2013 New to Faith\" href=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=359\">Sacraments of Initiation for Adults<\/a><\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b25e949 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b25e949\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4d1849f\" data-id=\"4d1849f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae90019 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ae90019\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9447666 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9447666\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-853110a\" data-id=\"853110a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c4760d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c4760d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1716613966-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-823\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1716613966-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1716613966-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1716613966-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1716613966-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1716613966-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a286aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9a286aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love; It signifies Love, It produces love. The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life.<\/h3><h3><cite>~ St. Thomas Aquinas<\/cite><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-297eb73\" data-id=\"297eb73\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56f98d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"56f98d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the Eucharist we come to the &#8220;heart and summit of the Church&#8217;s life.\u00a0<span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-style: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-style ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-text-letter-spacing ); text-transform: var( --e-global-typography-text-text-transform );\">When we receive the Holy Communion, we are nourished by Christ\u2019s own being, present to us in the bread and wine.\u00a0 This sublime expression of divine intimacy and love transforms us into what we are given to share \u2013 the Body of Christ.\u00a0 It transforms us into what we are celebrating \u2013 into the Body that will be broken and poured out.\u00a0 In it we remember Christ\u2019s saving work \u2013 his mission \u2013 his total self-emptying, out of love for the Father, for the world \u2013 for us.\u00a0 \u201cI have longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, because I tell you I shall not eat it again, until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.\u201d (Luke 22:15-16)<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f2d0149\" data-id=\"f2d0149\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-95f13a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"95f13a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11cd21b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"11cd21b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Sacrament Preparation &amp; Celebration at Divine Mercy<\/h4><p><a title=\"Sacramental Preparation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=1243\">Children&#8217;s 1st Holy Communion Program<\/a><\/p><p><a title=\"Elementor #359 \u2013 RCIA \u2013 New to Faith\" href=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=359\">Sacraments of Initiation for Adults<\/a><\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-512072e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"512072e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-04a761b\" data-id=\"04a761b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3058bb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3058bb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7bb2d68 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7bb2d68\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-16442a3\" data-id=\"16442a3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90150a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"90150a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1029843109-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-812\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1029843109-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1029843109-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1029843109-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1029843109-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1029843109-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229b59d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"229b59d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Confession is an act of honesty and courage \u2013 an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to<br \/>the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.<\/h3><h3>~ St. John Paul II<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-282eaa0\" data-id=\"282eaa0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e2c594 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8e2c594\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Because of human weakness, we can sometimes fail as baptized believers to live up to our dignity as sons and daughters of God.\u00a0 The Sacrament of Reconciliation celebrates the forgiveness and mercy of God as the sinner humbly acknowledges and confesses his or her sins.\u00a0 The sacrament also repairs or reestablishes a person&#8217;s unity with and membership in the Church.\u00a0 In the sacrament, the priest represents both Christ and the Church, and speaks consoling words of absolution in the name of both.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1c0c9e\" data-id=\"c1c0c9e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e5a120 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1e5a120\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a85d61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a85d61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Sacrament Preparation &amp; Celebration at Divine Mercy<\/h4><p><a title=\"Sacramental Preparation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/?page_id=1243\">Children&#8217;s 1st Confession Program<\/a><\/p><p>Adults Returning to the Sacrament or Experiencing the Sacrament for the First Time<\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-55f1bdd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"55f1bdd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-348949d\" data-id=\"348949d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6b924f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e6b924f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-95efb01 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"95efb01\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-29cab46\" data-id=\"29cab46\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec145ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ec145ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2000110499sos-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-816\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2000110499sos-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2000110499sos-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2000110499sos-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2000110499sos-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2000110499sos-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdd6d90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fdd6d90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.\u00a0<\/h3><h3>~ James 5:14-15<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-226e6bd\" data-id=\"226e6bd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-417715f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"417715f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-style: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-style ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-text-letter-spacing ); text-transform: var( --e-global-typography-text-text-transform );\">From our earliest tradition, outreach to those suffering from illness was understood as an important element of Christian community.\u00a0 Significant to healing is the support and prayers of the faith community as well as the reintegration of the sick person into the fullness of community.\u00a0 In both the Sacrament of the Sick and in the corporal act of mercy to visit the sick, we experience the intertwining of our human experience with the saving love of God.<\/span><\/p><p>In the celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick, there is a laying on of hand \u2013 a ancient gesture which symbolizes and confers the giving of the special grace of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 In the sacrament, the anointing with the Oil of the Infirmed marks the individual out for the Holy Spirit\u2019s special care.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-411d6ae\" data-id=\"411d6ae\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6dc2ed0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"6dc2ed0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45e452d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"45e452d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Sacrament Preparation &amp; Celebration at Divine Mercy<\/h4><p>Are you in need of the Sacrament of the Sick, or know someone who could benefit from the sacrament?\u00a0 Please contact the Parish Office, 709-726-9924.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>A Communal Celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick takes place at Divine Mercy Parish annually near February 11 &#8211; the World Day of Prayer for the Sick.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-819bfcf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"819bfcf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c298b09\" data-id=\"c298b09\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1eb8e6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1eb8e6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6d1b61d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6d1b61d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae6a4d0\" data-id=\"ae6a4d0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2dda7f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2dda7f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2288579373-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-817\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2288579373-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2288579373-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2288579373-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2288579373-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2288579373-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42db9b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"42db9b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Love is the most beautiful sentiment the Lord has put into the souls of men and women.<\/h3><h3>~ St. Gianna Molla<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-87770fc\" data-id=\"87770fc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1565880 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1565880\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\">The Sacrament of Matrimony, or marriage, is a unique sacrament because it is the man and the woman that mutually administers the sacrament upon each other in the presence of a priest or deacon and other witnesses.\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">It is a sacred covenant, a public promise made by the husband and the wife to be true to each other until death parts them. In order for a marriage to be valid, the couple must be entering into the covenant out of their own free will, without fear or coercion. They are also asked to honour and be true to each other for the rest of their lives, as well as to accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and His Church.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-956293c\" data-id=\"956293c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dbfe51c elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"dbfe51c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2623670 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2623670\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\"><h4>Sacrament Preparation &amp; Celebration at Divine Mercy<\/h4><p>Information and Requirements for the Sacrament of Marriage<\/p><p>Marriage Preparation Program<\/p><p>Information on Previous Marriages and the Annulment Process<\/p><\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29a3683 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"29a3683\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ba3260b\" data-id=\"ba3260b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3c7a64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e3c7a64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a32b3a6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a32b3a6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-83c11ac\" data-id=\"83c11ac\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce81741 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ce81741\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_633002753-1024x724.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-818\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_633002753-1024x724.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_633002753-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_633002753-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_633002753-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_633002753-2048x1448.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e407d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e407d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>He made them, the vicars of his love.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n<h3>~ St. Ambrose<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-88f43d1\" data-id=\"88f43d1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b46663 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9b46663\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Sacrament of Holy Orders continues in the Church the apostolic ministry that the Lord gave to the Apostles. This sacrament, also called Ordination, consists of three degrees: diaconal (deacons), presbyteral (priests) and episcopal (bishops). Men who are ordained receive from God the grace to carry on the mission entrusted by Christ to his Apostles \u2013 bishops and priests participating in the priesthood of Christ and deacons in his ministry of service. While it takes years of formation and experience to prepare priests and deacons for Ordination, ultimately it is Christ who works in and through them.<\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-08d26c2\" data-id=\"08d26c2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec26744 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ec26744\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c0d5e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c0d5e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Sacrament Preparation &amp; Celebration at Divine Mercy<\/h4><p>If you or someone you know is interested in discerning a call to the priesthood, the permanent diaconate or other consecrated vocations, please speak with our pastor or contact the parish office 709-726-9924 or email <a href=\"http:\/\/info@divinemercyparishnl.com\">info@divinemercyparishnl.com<\/a>.<\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c85e918 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c85e918\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7a5ed37\" data-id=\"7a5ed37\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4a9754 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e4a9754\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f615a1b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f615a1b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b5a7aa4\" data-id=\"b5a7aa4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59183c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"59183c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin-top: 0cm; background: white;\"><span style=\"color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt; letter-spacing: 0px;\">The sacraments are at the heart of our Catholic faith, and we want to encourage you to receive the sacraments as often as you are able. If you have any questions or would like to receive any of the sacraments, please contact the parish office at 709-726-9924 or email <a href=\"mailto:info@divinemercyparishnl.com\">info@divinemercyparishnl.com<\/a> and we would be happy to assist you.<\/span><\/p><div id=\"934E94AF_BA50_8F82_0796_A6C6DCC5005F\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Sacraments They are &#8220;the masterworks of God&#8221; in the new and everlasting covenant.&nbsp; ~ Catechism, #1116 In faith, we are called to look for and discover the goodness of God.\u00a0 We see as it is reflected in the unfolding of our own human lives &#8211; in the love we share, in relationships of friendship [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-209","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=209"}],"version-history":[{"count":146,"href":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2995,"href":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/209\/revisions\/2995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.divinemercynl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}