Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church recognizes seven sacraments, which are essential for spiritual growth and development. These sacraments are often classified into three categories: the sacraments of initiation, the sacraments of healing, and the sacraments of service. The sacraments of service are Holy Orders and Matrimony. Holy Orders refer to the ordination of priests and deacons, while Matrimony is the sacrament of marriage, where a man and woman are joined together in a lifelong commitment of love and service.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Sacraments | 7 |
| Sacraments of Service | Holy Orders and Matrimony |
| Holy Orders | Ordination of priests and deacons |
| Matrimony | Marriage between a man and a woman |
| Purpose | To serve and build up the People of God |
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What You'll Learn
Holy Orders
The sacrament of Holy Orders is the act that integrates a man into the order of bishops, presbyters, or deacons. It confers a gift of the Holy Spirit that permits the exercise of a "sacred power" that can only come from Christ himself through his Church. Ordination involves the laying on of hands by the bishop, along with a prayer of consecration. These constitute the visible signs of ordination.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "In the Eastern rites the Christian initiation of infants also begins with Baptism followed immediately by Confirmation (Chrismation) and the Eucharist, while in the Roman rite it is followed by years of catechesis before being completed later by Confirmation and the Eucharist, the summit of their Christian initiation" (CCC 1233).
Deacons may be either permanent, ordained to serve as deacons for life, or transitional, ordained to serve as deacons as a step toward priesthood. Some deacons are studying to become priests, while others include married men who are called to remain deacons for life. Priests receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Rite of Ordination.
The Catholic Church teaches that the sacraments are "efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ." The efficacy of sacraments does not depend on the celebrant's state of grace but on God's power, and it is held that Christ himself is at work in the sacraments.
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Matrimony
The Catholic Church has seven holy sacraments, which are seen as mystical channels of divine grace, instituted by Christ. One of these is matrimony, or the Sacrament of Marriage.
The Catholic Church defines matrimony as a covenant, which is more than a contract. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between a husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is a liturgical act, held in public within a church.
The Catholic Church has always opposed marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic, seeing it as "degrading the holy character of matrimony". Marriage with a non-Christian is considered invalid, while marriage with a non-Catholic Christian is seen as valid but illicit unless a dispensation has been obtained. The Catholic Church recognises marriages between two non-Catholic Christians, and marriages between non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians, as sacramental. However, in the latter case, consent from the diocesan bishop must be obtained.
Adultery and polygamy are opposed to the sacrament of matrimony because they contradict the equal dignity, unity, and exclusivity of married love. Divorce also goes against the indissolubility of marriage. The Church permits the physical separation of spouses when living together becomes practically impossible, but as long as one spouse lives, the other cannot contract a new union.
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Baptism
The sacrament of baptism is carried out by a priest, who begins by anointing the child's head with holy oil, making the sign of the cross. This is followed by sprinkling or pouring holy water on the child's head three times. The priest invokes the Trinity with the words, "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit", as instructed by Jesus in Matthew 28:19. The old self is said to die in the waters, and a new self emerges, mirroring the death and resurrection of Christ. The baby is usually dressed in white, symbolising purity.
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Confirmation
In the early Church, Baptism and Confirmation were celebrated in a single ceremony, and this remains the practice in the Eastern Churches. In the Roman Catholic Church, the two sacraments gradually separated. As the Church grew, bishops could not be present for every baptism, so the custom arose of gathering groups of baptised Catholics together later so that the bishop could confirm them all at one time.
> Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church warns that, although Confirmation is sometimes called the "sacrament of Christian maturity", adult faith should not be confused with the adult age of natural growth. The grace of baptism is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need "ratification" to become effective.
The designated age for Confirmation varies. 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 a different age is decided upon. In the United States, Confirmation typically takes place between the ages of discretion and 16.
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Eucharist
The Eucharist, also called the Blessed Sacrament, is the third sacrament of initiation in the Catholic Church. It completes Christian initiation and is considered the "source and summit" of the Christian life. The term Eucharist comes from the Greek word "eucharistia", meaning thanksgiving.
The Eucharist is a sacred ritual where Catholics partake of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The sacramental bread, either leavened or unleavened, and sacramental wine are consecrated on an altar or communion table and consumed thereafter. The bread and wine are believed to be transformed into the body and blood of Christ through transubstantiation, while their physical form and appearance remain unaltered. This change at the level of substance is what Catholics refer to as the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is a central rite of Catholic worship and can be received daily. It is often a child's first sacrament after baptism and is usually celebrated around the age of seven or eight. During the mass, the priest consecrates the bread and wine, which are then shared by the congregation as a sacred meal, reflecting the Last Supper.
The Eucharist is an essential way for Catholics to sustain their relationship with God and unite with other Christians in their faith. It is a time when prayers are said, and sins are confessed. The consecrated elements are treated with the utmost reverence during and after the celebration.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic sacraments are classified into three categories: initiation, healing, and service. The sacraments of service are Holy Orders and Matrimony.
Holy Orders is the sacrament by which a priest or deacon is ordained.
The sacrament of Matrimony is the Catholic marriage between a man and a woman, joined together in a lifelong commitment of love and service.
The sacraments of service contribute to ecclesial communion and the salvation of others. They are a means of receiving God's grace and are integral to the Church's sacramental system.
