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The Sacraments
"The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify all,
to build up the Body of Christ and, finally, to give worship to God. Because
they are signs, they also instruct. They not only presuppose faith, but by words
and objects they also nourish, strengthen, and express it. That is why they are
called 'sacraments of faith'" - (Catholic Catechism - 1123)
There are seven in all.
(Please Note: Clicking on the Sacrament headings
below will bring you to information from the Catholic Catechism. Use your
browser tools to return.)
Baptism
With the use of Holy Water and the recitation of special baptismal prayers, the
recipient is cleansed of original sin.
Confirmation
"By the prayer of the Bishop, the recipient receives the full outpouring of
the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
From this act, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal
grace:
It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which
makes us cry out "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."
Eucharist
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior, Jesus,
instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in
order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he
should come again, and so to entrust to his 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 consumed, the mind is filled with grace and
a pledge of future glory is given to us." (Catechism 1323)
The Eucharist is consecrated and distributed at every
Catholic Mass. All Catholics are encouraged to partake of it as often as
daily but at least once per week at the Sunday Service. The
Eucharist is also known to have great meaning and benefit to those who visit the
tabernacle regularly in adoration. Much church writing indicates Christ's
eagerness to meet us at the tabernacle.
Other related link: Real
Presence Website
Penance
"When we made our first profession of faith, while receiving the holy
Baptism that cleansed us, the forgiveness we received then was so full and
complete that there remained in us absolutely nothing left to efface, neither
original sin nore offenses committed by our own will, nor was there left any
penalty to suffer in order to expiate them... Yet the grace of Baptism delivers
no one from all the weakness of nature. On the contrary, we must still
combat the movements of our abnormally strong desires, that never cease
leading us into evil."
"In this battle against our inclination towards evil, who could be brave
and watchful enough to escape every wound of sin? If the Church has the
power to forgive sins, then Baptism cannot be her only means of using the keys
of the Kingdom of heaven received from Jesus Christ. The Church must be
able to forgive all penitents their offenses, even if they should sin until the
last moment of their lives."
In confession, we bring to God, represented by the
priest, our heartfelt remorse for our offenses to God and neighbor.
After receiving the priest's blessing and performing the required penance that
expresses our willingness to turn from our wrong ways, we can be certain that we
have been forgiven and that our relationship with God has been fully restored.
God holds no grudges and eagerly awaits for us to be in full communion with Him.
It is recommended that you receive the sacrament of
penance at least once per month and more often when you feel the need.
Related links: How
to Receive the Sacrament of Penance.
Cash in Your Ticket to Freedom
Anointing
of the Sick
"By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests
the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord,
that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to
contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the
Passion and death of Christ."
Holy
Orders
"Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission
entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church
until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It
includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate. . ."
Matrimony
"The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between
themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward
the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this
covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the
dignity of a sacrament. . ."
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