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Sacraments
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Introduction to the SacramentsA sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer an inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to an individual, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Latin word, sacramentum, means “a sign of the sacred.” The seven sacraments point to what is sacred, significant, and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God’s saving presence and God’s grace.
Sacraments are celebrations of special moments of encounter between God and human beings. They are not, obviously, the only occasions when human beings consciously respond to God, who is forever offering His love and friendship. They are, however, special times when our relationship with God is initiated, deepened, strengthened, or healed.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph #1210, it states that:
"Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance/Reconciliation, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life. They give birth and increase healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of spiritual life."
