DISCOVERING THE CATHOLIC SACRAMENTS salvation.

We now connect and take a look at the Seven

Ritual Sacraments of the Church.

1. Introduction to Catholic Sacraments

The sign of the Father to us is the Lord Jesus

Christ himself. Christ then is our First Sacrament (Ur
Sacrament) or the visible symbol of the Father to us.
The Church is the Fundamental Sacrament (Grund
Sacrrament) in which through, with, and in her, the
work of salvation of the Father, through Christ (the
Son), guided by His Spirit, and continues. That is why
the Church cannot sustain herself in existence without
the practice or administration of what the Lord Jesus
Christ himself had started during his earthly life,
i.e., preaching (teaching), sanctifying (healing),
and governing (way of life). And this became explicit
when He boldly proclaimed that “He is
the Way (Sacrament of Initiation), the Truth (Sacrament
of Vocation), and the Life (Sacrament of Healing).
The Church continues the work of God through
Jesus Christ by imitating her founder. She shares the
functions of governance (governing office – Christ is our
Way), preaching (teaching office – Christ is our Truth),
and healing (sanctifying office – Christ is our Life).
In our previous undertakings, studying the brief
history of the Church and trying to absorb in
understanding its nature and mission, belonged only to
the realm of the mind if what we learn cannot be
integrated through the practice and observance of the
Sacraments. In a word, and in the end, the liturgical
aspect of the Church as to its involvement and
participation in the active renewal of our Christian life
is necessary in our entire pursuit for holiness – our
1. Definition of the Sacraments (Why Seven?)
The word “sacrament” is taken from the Latin
word sacramentum, meaning something sacred, or holy.
The word used in the original Greek is mysterion. It is use
to refer to the deep and secret purposes (the mystery) of
God’s work in the world through Jesus Christ.
The mysterion/sacramentum indicates that through the
created universe, we enter into a close relationship with
God; we experience the mystery of God’s presence.
Sacraments are saving symbolic acts or visible signs,
arising from the ministry of Christ and continued in, by and
for the Church, which, when received in faith, fashion us
into likeness to Christ in his Paschal Mystery, through the
power of the Holy Spirit.(cf. CFC 1576)
1.1 Three Elements of a Sacrament
1.1.1 Sacraments are signs. They represent particular
actions and values of Jesus. These signs re-enact
and re-present what has taken place in the past.
They make present and real today what Jesus has
accomplished by his saving deeds. For instance,
the Eucharist is a symbolic re-enactment of the
Last Supper. These seven signs also reflect Jesus’
basic values: reconciliation (forgiveness),
anointing of the sick (healing) and Eucharist
(unity of the communion).
1.1.2 Sacraments have been instituted by Christ. They
are ultimately traceable to Jesus for he alone can
confer upon material signs a spiritual efficacy;
besides, being our Redeemer, He alone can
determine in what way the life of grace should
flow into our souls. Jesus “instituted” the
sacraments by first being the sacrament of his
Father through his whole life of word and action,
and then by establishing the Church to be his
basic sacrament. The Church makes Christ
present to all persons in every age first, by being
his body, and second, by celebrating those
actions that continue Christ’s own ministry.(cf.
CFC 1525)
1.1.3 Sacraments give or increase grace. Grace is a
living relationship with God. Very simple, Jesus is
grace. Grace is the gift of God’s friendship for us.
Grace is the story of God’s constant love for us.
Grace is God’s free invitation to us to live in
union with Him. In a sense, a sacrament is a
promised meeting of Jesus and through Him the
Father. Our Lord promised that He would be with
us; the seven sacraments are guaranteed
moments of encountering Him. They are grace -
filled moments. Each sacrament has its own
proper effect. St Thomas says each sacrament
meets one of our seven basic spiritual needs
(corresponding to our seven basic material
needs).
But how exactly do the sacraments communicate
grace?
 They do so ex opere operato’ that is, they of
themselves give grace, not depending intrinsically on
either the minister or the recipient for their efficacy.
For they are actions of Christ, and it is from Him, and
Him alone, that they draw proper.
But because He has willed that these material
elements should give grace, they do so, provided are
administered properly [right matter and form are used]
and are united in their administration by the authorized
minister who has the intention to do so as the church
does. The minister may be in the state of sin, but will
not affect the validity of the sacrament though the
minister himself commits the sacrilege, unless it is a
matter of life and death.
The recipient’s state of soul, on the other hand,
has a definite effect of Sacrament’s efficacy, not
intrinsically but practically. The sacrament in
themselves give grace, but the recipient has the power
of blocking their effects in his soul if he so chooses. This
because Sacraments are encounters with Christ, which
means that the recipient must give his cooperation to
Christ’s sanctifying actions. Those actions themselves
are efficacious, cannot work out in the individual’s
sanctification actually without correspondence on man’s
part.
 Why Seven?
 “Canon I. – If any one saith, that the
sacraments of the New Law were not all
instituted by Jesus Christ, our Lord; or,
that they are more, or less, than seven, to
wit, Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist,
Penance, Extreme Unction, Order, and
Matrimony; or even that any one of these
seven is not truly and properly a
sacrament; let him be anathema.” Council
of Trent, On the Sacraments in General
 “Canon IV. – If any one saith, that the
sacraments of the New Law are not
necessary unto salvation, but superfluous;
and that, without them, or without the
desire thereof, men obtain of God, through
faith alone, the grace of justification;
through all (the sacraments) are not
necessary for every individual; let him be
anathema. Council of Trent, On the
Sacraments in General
 “Canon VI. – If any one saith, that the
sacraments of the New Law do not contain
the grace which they signify; or, that they
do not confer that grace on those who do
not place an obstacle thereunto; as though
they were merely outward signs of grace
or justice received through faith, and
certain marks of the Christian profession,
whereby believers are distinguished
amongst men from unbelievers; let him be
anathema.” Council of Trent, On the
Sacraments in General
 “These five sacraments – Confirmation,
Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders
and Matrimony – are on that account called
sacraments of the living, because those
who receive them must be free from
mortal sin, that is, already alive through
sanctifying grace. Q: What sin does he
 commit who, conscious that he is not in a
state of grace, receives one of the
sacraments of the living? A: He who
conscious that he is not in a state of grace,
receives one of the sacraments of the
living, commits a serious
sacrilege” Catechism of St. Pius X, The
Sacraments
 “However, let not the faithful imagine
that it is enough to receive the body of the
Lord once a year only, in obedience to the
decree of the Church. They should
approach oftener; but whether monthly,
weekly, or daily, cannot be decided by any
fixed universal rule. St. Augustine,
however, lays down a most certain norm:
Live in such a manner as to be able to
receive every day” Catechism of Council of
Trent, The Sacrament of the
Eucharist (Sacraments of Confirmation,
Holy Orders and Matrimony are received
only one time in a person’s life, and
Extreme Unction only when in danger of
death. The Sacrament of Penance is the
only other Sacrament beside the Eucharist
which is received regularly).
Church Teaching on Changing of any Sacraments:
 “It is well-known that to the Church there
belongs no right whatsoever to innovate
anything on the substance of the
Sacraments” Pope St. Pius X, Ex quo nono,
1910
 “The Church is forbidden to change, or
even touch, the matter or form of any
Sacrament. She may indeed change or
abolish or introduce something in the non-
essential rites or “ceremonial” parts to be
used in the administration of the
Sacraments, such as the processions,
prayers or hymns, before or after the
actual words of the form are recited
…” Pope Leo XIII, Apostolicae Curae, 1896
 Thus, Christ instituted seven Sacraments
through which we receive graces. The
Catholic Church teaches there are seven
Sacraments and that these cannot be
added to, remove from, or changed.
2. Purpose of the Sacraments
The Sacraments are visible signs instituted by Christ
in order to transmit and confer grace on a willing soul.
Thus, they are divine helps to aid the human soul on its
journey through life, in order that the soul can become
closer to God and participate in His divine life, and
ultimately attain heaven.
There are three important factors which are integral
to our life and self-understanding as human beings and
therefore integral to the working of the principle of
sacramentality. If our relationship to God is to be truly
sacramental, then this relationship is going to be entered
into and expressed by:
2.1 Symbols and Symbolism
 2.1.1 Symbols are signs which point beyond give us a sense of security and comfort and thus
themselves to an unseen reality. make life easier and more meaningful.
2.1.2 Symbols grow out of the experience of life, 2.3.2 Rituals are integral to celebration; they
they are not arbitrarily invented. “regulate” celebration. In religious celebration,
they lead us out of ourselves and put us in
2.1.3 Symbols engage our consciousness deeply, they
touch with the transcendent.
stir our thinking, imagination, emotions, they
shape the way we think and feel. 2.3.3 We must actively participate in ritual, not
simply be passively led by someone.
2.1.4 Symbols not only point beyond themselves but
share in the power of that to which they point, 2.3.4 Ritual which has lost its roots in the symbolic,
and thus “make present” that reality. Symbols which is emptied of meaning, becomes mere
make us present to one another in human magic.
communication and make God present to us in
the depth of religious symbolism.
The Sacraments as Privileged Moments of Meeting God at
High Points of Human Life.
2.2 Celebration
2.2.1 Celebration is an integral part of being human,
Since living life to the fullest is a continuous
hence an integral aspect of our approach to
struggle, there are high points in life that need to be
God. We share the important moment of life
catered and the person must understand the process of
with others to enhance our community
his/her growth in relation to the spiritual aspects offered
togetherness, to add meaning to life and to
to us by the Church through the practice and
bring us into contact with the living God.
administration of the Sacraments as privileged moments of
meeting God. They are in order the following:

2.2.2 Celebration and worship are different facets of
our human approach to God. They are not at
odds with one another but are complementary.
Good liturgy must be a delicate balance of
celebration and worship.
2.3 Ritual
2.3.1 Rituals are integral to who we are as humans;
they are set patterns of ordering our lives which
Baptism – our spiritual rebirth
Confirmation – our spiritual maturity
Holy Eucharist – our soul’s nourishment
Penance – healing of spiritual wounds
Anointing of the Sick – our spiritual emergency
help
Holy Orders – provide spiritual leaders
 Matrimony – provide new citizens of the Kingdom  Form – consists of prescribed
words that accompany the
application of the
Furthermore, with regards to our Christification;  Minister – is a person
authorized by Christ and the
Church to administer the
Baptism – grafts us into Christ’s mystical Body sacrament in the name of
Confirmation – makes us Christ’s mature witness Christ. He should have the
on earth intention to do what the
Church does in applying the
Holy – Eucharist – unites us to Christ in love sacraments.
Penance – reconciles us one with him in hatred
for sin
Of course, there must be a Recipient of the
Anointing of the Sick – unites us with the dying Sacrament with the necessary requirements
Christ namely:
Holy Orders – unite with Christ the high Priest First, must be willing and able to
receive the sacrament,
Matrimony – elevates the love of the spouses by
making it partake in Christ’s love for Second, must be in the state of
His church. grace.

Thus, the actual participants (Christ, the

3. Requirements for a Valid Celebration of the
minister, the church congregation,
Sacraments
and the recipient) in the sacramental
celebration will be complete.
The external Sign of Any Sacraments is made up
of 3 Elements:
4. Classification of Sacraments
 Matter - may be a material
thing [bread & wine] or an
action [the imposition of
hands] or combination of both  Sacraments of the Dead and of the Living
[pouring of water].
4.1.1 Sacraments of the Dead [Baptism, Penance, and
Anointing for exceptional cases] infuse divine
 Sacraments of Vocation/ Ministry [Holy
life into a soul dead because of sin.
Orders and Matrimony] call recipients to
 Sacraments of the Living [Confirmation, minister in Christ’s to the needs of others
Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Matrimony, and of the Church itself, in its mission of
Anointing of the Sick] increase sanctifying drawing all persons to life-in-Christ.
grace but have to be received in the state  Holy Orders – the mission entrusted by
of grace. Christ’s to His apostles is continued and
be exercised in the Church until end of
time
 Sacraments of Initiation, Healing and Vocation
 Matrimony – signifies the union of Christ
and the Church
4.2.1 Sacraments of Initiation [Baptism, Confirmation
and Eucharist] empower us to carry out our
mission as Christians in both the church and the
world.
 Baptism – the beginning of the new
life
 Confirmation – strengthening of the
new life
 Holy Eucharist – nourishment of
disciple’s soul with Christ Body and the
Blood for His transformation in Christ

 Sacraments of Healing [Penance and

Anointing of the sick] continue Christ work
of healing and salvation through the power
of the Holy Spirit who brings God’s healing
and love.
 Penance – forgiveness of sins
committed after baptism
 Anointing of the Sick – Christ’s healing
grace by bringing the whole man back
to health