Sacraments
Baptism
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.”
This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to “plunge” or “immerse”; the “plunge” into the water symbolizes the catechumen’s burial into Christ’s death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as “a new creature.”
This sacrament is also called “the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one “can enter the kingdom of God.”
“This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding… ” Having received in Baptism the Word, “the true light that enlightens every man,” the person baptized has been “enlightened,” he becomes a “son of light,” indeed, he becomes “light” himself.
Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift. We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship.
Cathechism of the Catholic Church #1213-1216
Baptism Registration
To schedule your child’s baptism, please submit the application below or call the Rectory Office at 305-294-1018 Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The donation for scheduling and registration is $50.00
- English: Baptisms are the first Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m.
- Spanish: Baptisms are the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m.
- Creole: Baptisms are the second Saturday of each month at 11:00 a.m.
Baptism classes are required, if outside the Basilica boundaries, please contact your Church and send us the certificate of completion, along with birth certificate, consent form, and sponsors forms.
Classes at the Basilica will be the last Sunday of each month, immediately after the 9:00 a.m. mass at the Klaus Murphy Center.
Penance
Confessions are heard Saturdays: at 5:30 pm and Sundays, 30 minutes prior to each mass (7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 6:00 pm).
If you prefer to schedule an appointment for confession, please call the Rectory at (305) 294-1018.
First Holy Communion
THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST
The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.
Cathechism of the Catholic Church #1322
Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ increases the communicant’s union with the Lord, forgives his venial sins, and preserves him from grave sins. Since receiving this sacrament strengthens the bonds of charity between the communicant and Christ, it also reinforces the unity of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ.
Cathechism of the Catholic Church #1416
The Church draws her life from the Eucharist. This truth does not simply express a daily experience of faith, but recapitulates the heart of the mystery of the Church. In a variety of ways she joyfully experiences the constant fulfilment of the promise: “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20), but in the Holy Eucharist, through the changing of bread and wine into the body and blood of the Lord, she rejoices in this presence with unique intensity.
Pope St. John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia §1
At the Last Supper, on the night when He was betrayed, our Saviour instituted the eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is eaten, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration. They should be instructed by God’s word and be nourished at the table of the Lord’s body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn also to offer themselves; through Christ the Mediator, they should be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God and with each other, so that finally God may be all in all.
Sacrosanctum Concilium §47-48
Please prepare yourself to receive the Lord in Holy Communion by first receiving the Sacrament of Penance (also known as Reconciliation or Confession).
For First Holy Communion, please fill out the following form and bring all necessary documents to the rectory.
Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”
Cathechism of the Catholic Church #1285
THE EFFECTS OF CONFIRMATION
It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:
- it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”;
- it unites us more firmly to Christ;
- it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
- it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:
Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God’s presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.
Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.
This “character” perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and “the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi Ex officio).”
Cathechism of the Catholic Church #1302-1305
WHO CAN RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT?
Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that “the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time,” for without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.
For centuries, Latin custom has indicated “the age of discretion” as the reference point for receiving Confirmation. But in danger of death children should be confirmed even if they have not yet attained the age of discretion.
Although Confirmation is sometimes called the “sacrament of Christian maturity,” we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, nor forget that the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need “ratification” to become effective.
Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit – his actions, his gifts, and his biddings – in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.
To receive Confirmation one must be in a state of grace. One should receive the sacrament of Penance in order to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit. More intense prayer should prepare one to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and readiness to act.
Cathechism of the Catholic Church #1306-1310
For Confirmation, please fill out the following form and bring all necessary documents to the rectory.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
These informal sessions lead to a more formal commitment of time called the Catechumenate. Those who have not been baptized will be received (Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion) into the Church at Easter Vigil. Those who have been baptized will be fully initiated when the Archbishop administers the Sacrament of Confirmation (usually in early March).
For more information, click here.
For more specific information, or to answer any questions you may have, please call the Rectory at (305) 294-1018.
Marriage & Anniversaries
CLICK HERE FOR AN ONLINE MARRIAGE APPLICATION
The Parish community of the Basilica of Saint Mary Star of the Sea congratulates you on your forthcoming nuptials and desires to assist you in preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage.
If you are planning to be married at the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea, we ask you to adhere to the marriage guidelines and information listed below.
Wedding Information & Guidelines
Anniversaries
If you are in Key West on you anniversary please let us help you celebrate this special day with a blessing at one of the Masses. Please submit your Catholic Wedding Certificate to our office prior to the mass.
Please call the Rectory Office at 305-294-1018 to make arrangements.
Anointing of the Sick
The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects ([The Catechism of the Catholic Church #1532]
- the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church;
- the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;
- the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;
- the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
- the preparation for passing over to eternal life.
Please call the Rectory at (305) 294-1018 if anyone is homebound, critically ill, or wishes to receive the Eucharist or the Anointing of the Sick.
Holy Orders
The following sites may be very helpful in your discernment:
Vocations Office of the Archdiocese of Miami
Ministry to Deacons of the Archdiocese of Miami