Ss. Nereus, Achilleus and Domitilla the Virgin and Pancras, Martyrs

The Catechism teaches that the liturgy is the action of the whole Christ: Christ the Head united with his Body, the Church. When the Church celebrates the sacraments, the Spirit enables us to share in the eternal heavenly liturgy, where all creation gives praise to God. This can encourage our families to approach the Church’s worship with reverence and gratitude, knowing that we join a celebration greater than ourselves.

Liturgical services are celebrations of the whole Church, not private functions. The baptized form the celebrating assembly and share in Christ’s common priesthood, while bishops, priests, and deacons serve the community in ordained ministry. Other members also have genuine liturgical functions, such as serving, reading, commenting, and singing. In the unity of the Spirit, each person is called to carry out the part entrusted to him or her according to the rite and the Church’s norms.

The Catechism teaches that sacramental celebrations are woven from signs and symbols rooted in creation, human culture, the Old Covenant, and fully revealed in Christ. Because we are body and spirit, we express and perceive spiritual realities through visible signs, including words, gestures, and actions. Creation itself—from light and water to trees and fruit—speaks of God’s greatness and nearness, while human actions such as washing, anointing, breaking bread, and sharing the cup can express God’s sanctifying action and our worship. The signs of the Old Covenant foreshadowed the sacraments, and Jesus gave these signs their fullest meaning. Since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit continues the work of sanctification through the sacramental signs of the Church, which make present Christ’s saving work and anticipate the glory of heaven.