Sacraments
What is a sacrament?
A sacrament is a visible sign of invisible grace, instituted by God for our sanctification. In a sacrament, we must distinguish between what we see and what we receive. We see the external sign, but at the same time, we receive an interior and supernatural grace, which constitutes the effectiveness of the sacrament.
How many sacraments are there?
There are seven sacraments, instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ, passed down by the Apostles, always preserved in the Catholic Church, and handed down to us. They are Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Marriage.
Why should we venerate the sacraments and hold them in the highest esteem?
We should value and respect the sacraments:
Because they were instituted in the New Law by our God and Lord Jesus Christ;
Because they not only signify the grace of God, which is necessary for us, but they also contain it, like sacred vessels of the Divine Spirit, and abundantly communicate it to those who receive them worthily;
Because they are excellent and divine remedies against sin, given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Good Samaritan in the Gospel foreshadowed;
Finally, because they preserve, strengthen, and increase grace in the soul of those who already possess it.
Why does the Church use solemn ceremonies in administering the sacraments?
The Church employs solemn ceremonies in the administration of the sacraments for several important reasons:
So that those present at the administration of the sacraments understand that there is nothing profane in them, but rather a sacred and divine mystery that demands special reverence;
To increase in those approaching the sacraments the inner piety that God asks above all, for which the ceremonies serve as a sign, testimony, and exercise;
To ensure that those administering the sacraments fulfill their function with greater dignity and effectiveness by faithfully adhering to the ancient institutions of the Church and the practice of the Holy Fathers, since most of these ceremonies have existed uninterruptedly in the Church from the time of the Apostles to the present;
Finally, to maintain wise and religious discipline and to preserve among the faithful a peace that is often seriously disturbed by changes or alterations in external ceremonies.
What is Baptism?
Baptism is the first and most necessary sacrament of the New Law; its matter is water, and its form, according to Christ’s command, is in these words: I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism can only be received once; it grants us a new spiritual birth, the full remission of our sins, and makes us adopted children of God and heirs of eternal life.
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation, conferred by the bishop on those who have received Baptism, is a sacrament in which, through the anointing with holy chrism and the power of sacred words, we receive grace and a new increase in the strength of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to believe firmly and boldly confess the name of the Lord when necessary.
What are the main doctrinal points to know about the Eucharist?
There are five main doctrinal points to know about the Eucharist:
The truth of this sacrament;
The change of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ;
The adoration due to it;
The oblation made of it;
Finally, the manner of receiving this sacrament.
What does the truth of this sacrament consist of?
The truth of the sacrament of the Eucharist consists in the fact that Jesus Christ, true God and true man, is really and entirely contained in this sacrament and becomes present as soon as a validly ordained priest consecrates the bread and wine by pronouncing the mysterious words taught to us by Jesus Christ.
What change occurs by the priest’s words at the moment of consecration?
By the power of Jesus Christ, the priest’s words at the moment of consecration effect transubstantiation, that is, the change of the substance of the bread and wine into the substance of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, so that after the consecration, there remains neither bread nor wine in the Eucharist.
What adoration do we owe to this sacrament?
We owe the sacrament of the Eucharist the same adoration as to the person of Jesus Christ, our Lord and eternal God, since we recognize Him as truly present in the Eucharist. Therefore, we humbly express, both outwardly and inwardly, our just reverence for this divine sacrament.
Why is this sacrament also considered an oblation?
The sacrament of the Eucharist is considered an oblation because it is the sacrifice of the New Law, the unblemished and bloodless oblation that succeeds the bloody sacrifices of the Jewish law. It is offered during the celebration of the Mass for the living and the deceased faithful. Thus, the Eucharist is not only a sacrament received by the faithful but also a daily immolation in the Church of God by the ministry of priests, for the expiation of our sins and the perpetual commemoration of the Passion and death of Our Lord.
What should be observed regarding the reception of this sacrament?
Regarding the reception of the Eucharist, we must observe what our faith and the authority of our Holy Mother, the Church, teach us:
That for ordinary laypeople, it is sufficient to receive Jesus Christ under the species of bread alone, in which He is wholly present;
That by receiving the Eucharist worthily, one finds an abundant source of heavenly grace and the pledge of eternal life; for this is the true and complete fruit of this sacrament, and we experience its effects all the more when we receive this holy and beneficial communion frequently, with the right dispositions.
What is Penance?
Penance, called by the Holy Fathers “a second plank after shipwreck,” is a sacrament necessary for those who have fallen into mortal sin after Baptism. In this sacrament, the priest grants forgiveness to the sinner who sincerely seeks it.
How many acts does Penance require from the penitent?
Penance requires three acts from the penitent:
Contrition, which is sorrow for sin and detestation of the sins committed, accompanied by the resolution to lead a better life;
Confession, which is the declaration of one’s sins to a priest;
Satisfaction, which is the penance by which the sinner atones for his faults and produces worthy fruits of repentance.
What is Extreme Unction?
Extreme Unction is a sacrament that, through the power of holy oil and the words of Jesus Christ, strengthens the sick in their sufferings so that they may pass more happily from this life or even recover bodily health if it is expedient for their salvation.
What is Holy Orders?
Holy Orders is a sacrament that confers on priests and other ministers of the Church the power to lawfully and properly fulfill ecclesiastical functions.
What is Marriage?
Marriage is a sacrament by which a man and a woman lawfully contract an indissoluble union and receive divine grace, either to live together and raise their children according to the laws of morality and Christianity or to avoid the shameful sin of incontinence and licentiousness.
Are there differences between the sacraments?
Yes, there are several notable differences between the sacraments:
Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, once conferred, cannot be repeated like the others;
Baptism is necessary for all men, the Eucharist for those who have the use of reason, and Penance for those who have fallen into sin after Baptism;
For the other sacraments, it is not absolutely necessary to receive them, provided that none are despised and that they are sought when circumstances require.