Sacraments

A Sacrament is a symbolic rite in the Christian religion, in which an ordinary individual can make a personal connection with God—the Baltimore Catechism defines a sacrament as “an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.” That connection, called inner grace, is transmitted to a parishioner by a priest or bishop, who uses a specific set of phrases and actions in one of seven special ceremonies.

The Seven Sacraments—Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Confession, Holy Orders, Holy Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick—are the life of the Catholic Church. All of the sacraments were instituted by Christ Himself, and each is an outward sign of an inward grace. When we participate in them worthily, each provides us with graces—with the life of God in our soul. In worship, we give to God that which we owe Him; in the sacraments, He gives us the graces necessary to live a truly human life.

The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church

1. Baptism takes away Original Sin and all personal sin while uniting us to Christ and His people.
2. Confirmation deepens our union with Christ and helps us proclaim our faith in Him before others.
3. Holy Eucharist gives us the Body and Blood of Jesus as our daily spiritual food to nourish our union with Him.
4. Penance and Reconciliation (Confession) restores our union with Christ disrupted by personal sins.
5. Holy Orders gives a man the power of uniting or reuniting believers with God as a Deacon, Priest, or Bishop.
6. Holy Matrimony makes a man and a woman husband and wife and gives them grace to live with God, for God and each other.
7. Anointing of the Sick heals and strengthens our union with Christ during times of serious illness.