Sacraments
The Sacraments are visible signs instituted by Christ in order to transmit and confer grace on a willing soul. They are divine helps to aid the human soul on its journey through life, so that the soul can become closer to God, participate in His divine life, and ultimately attain heaven.
The Sacraments are arranged in a definite order—Baptism to meet and help the child soon after birth, Confirmation to strengthen them through the difficult time of puberty, and the Holy Eucharist to give them frequent spiritual sustenance during the whole of their life.
Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament by which the recipient is solemnly admitted to membership of Christ’s holy church and ‘grafted into his mystical body.’
Confirmation
Confirmation, always performed by a bishop is, the making of the person firm or strong in the life in Christ begun at baptism. It has the two-fold effect of strengthening the soul and giving it greater power to express itself through the body.
Communion
The Holy Eucharist is the central act of Christian worship. Designed to help those who take part, it is also intended to pour out a great flood of spiritual power upon the surrounding world. It summons the congregation to intelligent and energetic participation in spiritual work.
Read more about the Holy Euchsrist (pdf)
Absolution
Absolution is a sacrament by which persons may be restored to a state of spiritual health after the commission of sin. It is a spiritual process, a loosening from the bondage of sin, a process of at-one-ment with the higher self, a restoration of that inner harmony of being which is disturbed by wrongdoing, so that the man can make a fresh effort towards righteousness, fortified by the uninterrupted flow of the divine power within him.
Holy Matrimony
If you wish to married at St. Francis we require a legal license and adherence to the written vows and rules contained in our Liturgy as dictated by our Nuptial Eucharist or abbreviated form of Marriage. Individuals who are legally divorced can also be married by our clergy.
Membership is not required, nor is a ceremony at our site. Our church (or any reasonable church substitute) must be used for the Nuptial Eucharist. The simple Marriage ceremony can take place virtually anywhere, including outdoors. With the simple ceremony however, the celebrant will attend in cassock, surplice, and stole. For either, the music can be selected by any appointed members of the wedding party. We suggest that interested parties call the telephone number of the church (630.834.3320) to inquire about availability (and pricing) so that a celebrant may reply.
Healing
The purpose of the Service of Healing is twofold: first, to bring spiritual upliftment to those who are need of it; secondly, to give some relief, when possible, to those who are suffering from various physical ills. It is intended to aid the normal process of nature by freeing the body from lower influences and opening it to spiritual influence.
There is also a form of Healing Service which is intended to be used in ministering to the sick in their home, in hospitals or privately in the church at times when the public Service of Healing is not to be held.
Extreme Unction
Unction is the act of anointing, with consecrated oil, including the Baptism and Confirmation rituals. The last of the these is Extreme Unction. This form of unction is the giving of Holy Communion, in the case of a person who appears to be about to die. This final administration is called the viaticum, from the Latin, meaning “provision for the journey.”
