The Sacrament of the Present Moment

Have you ever really thought of the present moment as a sacrament? Of course it’s not one of the official seven sacraments of the Church, but if you think about the definition of a sacrament, it would certainly qualify. A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace. Aside from the fact that the present moment was really instituted by God the Father when He created heaven and earth, the definition of a sacrament fits. God gives us the present moment as an outward sign to help sanctify us and give us an opportunity to receive grace if only we cooperate with it. The present moment is the only one we can actually live in and take advantage of; the past is gone and the future hasn’t happened yet.

In his book Abandonment to Divine Providence, which has a translated version titled (guess what?) The Sacrament of the Present Moment, Father Jean Pierre de Caussade says “There is not a moment in which God does not present Himself under the cover of some pain to be endured, of some consolation to be enjoyed, or of some duty to be performed.” Every moment that we have is an opportunity to serve and glorify God in whatever we are doing, whether it is our work, leisure, or some trial we are undergoing. It is all an opportunity for grace. When we ask God to be with us at every moment of our day to help us cooperate with the graces He is offering us, we sanctify the present moment and take full advantage of this little sacrament that He has instituted for us.

For those who suffer with anxiety, reminding themselves that the moment they are currently in is the only one that matters and the only one they can make use of may help, as well as just telling Jesus, “I’m struggling with these thoughts, Lord. Help me bear this cross in a way pleasing to You and give me greater trust in Your plans.”

Just as with the official sacraments of the Church that we receive regularly, we need to be open and predisposed to receiving all that the sacrament of the present moment has to offer us in order to fully reap its benefits. Asking God to help us see Him in every moment of our day will open our hearts to see the graces He’s offering us and be able to cooperate with them fully.