Sarah Mitchell
Catholics believe that there are seven sacraments, which are visible rites seen as signs and channels of the grace of God. These sacraments are Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. They are classified into three categories: initiation, healing, and service. According to Catholic theology, these sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sacraments | 7 |
| Examples | Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony |
| Instituted by | Jesus Christ |
| Importance | Vital to the Church |
| Nature | Spiritual and physical |
| Effectiveness | Not dependent on the celebrant's state of grace |
| Power | Comes from God |
| Recipient's disposition | Important for the liturgy to be fully effective |
| Purpose | To dispense divine life |
| Definition | An outward sign of an inward grace |
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What You'll Learn
Baptism
The newly baptised person becomes a member of the church and is incorporated into the body of Christ, thus becoming empowered to lead the life of Christ. The old self is said to die in the waters, and a new self emerges, mirroring the death and resurrection of Christ. This is signified by the outward sign of water, which is poured or sprinkled on the head of the person being baptised.
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Confirmation
In the early Church, the three Sacraments of initiation were celebrated in the same ceremony by adult catechumens at the Easter Vigil. The catechumens were baptised in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They were then clothed in a white robe, and the bishop laid hands on them and anointed them with oil. They then participated in the Eucharist for the first time.
In the Eastern rites, Christian initiation of infants begins with Baptism, followed immediately by Confirmation (Chrismation) and the Eucharist. In the Roman rite, it is followed by years of catechesis before being completed later by Confirmation and the Eucharist. In the Latin Church, the sacrament is to be conferred on the faithful above the age of discretion (generally taken to be about seven), unless the Episcopal Conference has decided on a different normal age, or there is a danger of death. In the mid-20th century, Confirmation began to be seen as an occasion for professing personal commitment to the faith on the part of someone approaching adulthood. The normative age for Confirmation and First Holy Communion is third grade.
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Eucharist
The Eucharist, also called the Blessed Sacrament, is the third sacrament of Christian initiation in the Catholic Church. It is instituted by Jesus Christ and is a memorial of his sacrifice on the cross and a re-enactment of his Last Supper with his disciples.
During the Eucharist, the priest consecrates bread and wine, which are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. This change is called "transubstantiation". The whole Christ is present – body, blood, soul, and divinity – under the appearances of bread and wine. This is what the Catholic Church means when it speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.
The Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is also known as Holy Communion, which can be received daily if desired. It is the central rite of Catholic worship. A baptised child's First Communion is usually celebrated around age seven or eight and is preceded by their first confession (the sacrament of Reconciliation).
In the Catholic tradition, the graces received from Holy Communion are called the fruits of Holy Communion. Each time Catholics receive Holy Communion, they have an opportunity to grow in holiness through their openness to the graces offered in this encounter with Jesus.
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Penance
The Sacrament of Penance, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It involves the forgiveness of sins committed after baptism, through the priest's absolution.
The penitent confesses their sins to a priest, expresses contrition, and receives absolution. The priest acts as a healer, aiding the process of reconciliation with God and the Church. The penitent is encouraged to take full responsibility for their sins and to refrain from repeating them. This sacrament is seen as an opportunity for self-reflection and spiritual growth, bringing the sinner back into communion with God and the Church.
The Catholic Church teaches that individual and integral confession and absolution is the only ordinary way for a person conscious of mortal sins committed after baptism to be reconciled with God and the Church. This sacrament has been a main setting for spiritual direction, enabling Christians to deepen their relationship with Christ and attend to the action of the Spirit in their lives.
A new approach to the practice of penance emerged in the 7th century at the Council of Chalon-sur-Saône (644–655). Bishops at this council prescribed penance for sinners, allowing them to be reconciled with the Church. The sacrament of Penance is seen as an opportunity for renewal, and Catholics may participate in it weekly or during penitential seasons like Lent or Advent.
The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) decreed that the "rite and formulas for the sacrament of penance" be revised to better express the nature and effect of the sacrament, reflecting its importance in the Catholic Church.
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Holy Orders
According to Catholic theology, there are seven sacraments, and these were instituted by Jesus Christ. The sacraments are seen as signs and channels of the grace of God, and they are: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
The word "holy" in "holy orders" means "set apart for a sacred purpose", while "order" designates an established civil body or corporation with a hierarchy. Ordination, therefore, refers to the legal incorporation into an order. The three orders of Holy Orders are collectively referred to as the clergy, with bishops at the top, then priests, and then deacons.
Deacons may be either permanent or transitional. Permanent deacons are ordained to serve as deacons for life, while transitional deacons are ordained as a step towards priesthood. Deacons can preach, perform baptisms, and witness marriages. They may also assist at services where Holy Communion is given, such as the Mass, and they are considered the ordinary dispenser of the Precious Blood (wine) during Communion. However, they may not celebrate the Mass.
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Frequently asked questions
There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Order, and Matrimony.
Yes, Catholics believe that the seven sacraments were directly instituted by Christ. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol of the reality of God, as well as a channel for God's grace.
The sacraments are often classified into three categories: the sacraments of initiation, consisting of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist; the sacraments of healing, consisting of the Sacrament of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick; and the sacraments of service: Holy Orders and Matrimony.
