THE MEANS OF GRACE

The Seven Sacraments

The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is given and increased in souls.

The Sacraments of Christian initiation

1. Baptism

Baptism removes original sin and all personal sins in the recipient, gives sanctifying grace and makes the person a member of Christ’s Church. It is necessary for salvation by divine institution, while the Church also teaches about baptism of blood and desire.

2. Confirmation

Confirmation strengthens the baptized with the gifts of the Holy Ghost, perfects baptismal grace and marks the Christian with a sacramental character.

3. The Holy Eucharist

In the Most Holy Eucharist, Our Lord Jesus Christ is truly, really and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine. The Eucharist is the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ and the sacrificial memorial of Calvary made present sacramentally in the Mass.

The Sacraments of healing

4. Penance (Confession)

In the Sacrament of Penance, the contrite sinner who confesses sins with the proper dispositions receives absolution and reconciliation with God and the Church. Contrition, confession and satisfaction are traditionally taught as the acts of the penitent.

5. Extreme Unction (Anointing of the Sick)

This sacrament gives spiritual aid and strength to the faithful who are in danger of death from sickness or old age. It may bring bodily relief if conducive to salvation, but its principal effect is spiritual grace.

The Sacraments at the service of communion

6. Holy Orders

Holy Orders confers sacred power and grace for the service of the Church. Its degrees are the episcopate, priesthood and diaconate.

7. Matrimony

Matrimony is the covenant by which a man and a woman establish a partnership of the whole of life, ordered to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. Between the baptised it is a sacrament.

Further study

For the traditional treatment of the sacraments, consult the Catechism of the Council of Trent and the relevant liturgical and canonical sources. Requirements for valid and licit reception should be learned from an authorised priest or diocesan source.

Terminology and sacramental discipline have historical and canonical context. This introductory page is not pastoral advice for an individual case.