7 SACRAMENTS

The Roman Catholic Church has seven holy sacraments that

are seen as mystical channels of divine grace, instituted by 
Christ. Each is celebrated with a visible rite, which reflects the
invisible, spiritual essence of the sacrament. Whereas some
sacraments are received only once, others require active and
ongoing participation to foster the "living faith" of the
celebrant. 
 3 DIVISION OF SACRAMENTS
• SACRAMENT OF INITIATION
• BAPTISM
• EUCHARIST
• CONFIRMATION
• SACRAMENT OF HEALING
• RECONCILIATION
• ANOINTING OF THE SICK
• SACRAMENT OF VOCATION
• MATRIMONY
• HOLY ORDERS
 BAPTISM
• Baptism is seen as the sacrament of admission to the faith, bringing
sanctifying grace to the person being baptized. In Catholicism the baptism
of infants is the most common form, but unbaptized children or adults who
wish to join the faith must also receive the sacrament. A person is to be
baptized only once in their life, and the Catholic Church recognizes
baptisms done by most other Christian denominations as valid. In the rite of
baptism holy water is usually sprinkled or poured on the head by a priest
who simultaneously invokes the Trinity with the words, "I baptize you in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The old self is
said to die in the waters, and a new self emerges, mirroring the death and
resurrection of Christ. Given that the sacrament is understood as a
requirement for salvation, anyone, even non-baptized persons, can baptize
someone as the situation requires.
EUCHARIST
• The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is another
sacrament of initiation and can be received daily if
desired. It is the central rite of Catholic worship. A
baptized child's First Communion is usually
celebrated around age seven or eight and is
preceded by their first confession (the sacrament of
Reconciliation). During the mass the priest
consecrates bread and wine, the elements of the
Eucharist, which are transubstantiated into the body
and blood of Christ. As a memorial of Christ’s
sacrifice on the cross and in a reflection of his 
Last Supper with his disciples, the congregation then
shares in the sacred meal. Special lay ministers (i.e.,
non-priests) are trained to bring the consecrated
elements to the ill or otherwise homebound so that
all Catholics can participate. 

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CONFIRMATION

• Confirmation is the third sacrament of initiation and serves

to "confirm" a baptized person in their faith. The rite of
confirmation can occur as early as age 7 for children who
were baptized as infants but is commonly received around
age 13; it is performed immediately after baptism for adult
converts. A bishop or priest normally performs the rite,
which includes the laying on of hands in prayer and
blessing and the anointing of the forehead with chrism
(holy oil) with the words, ”Be sealed with the gifts of the
Holy Spirit.” In so "sealing" that person as a member of the
church, the outward rite of confirmation signifies the inner
presence of the Holy Spirit, who is believed to provide the
strength to live out a life of faith. At confirmation a Catholic
may symbolically take the name of a saint to be his or her 
patron.

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RECONCILIATION
• Also known as Confession or Penance, the sacrament of
Reconciliation is seen as an opportunity for renewal and can
be done as often as needed. Some Catholics participate
weekly before receiving the Eucharist, whereas others may
seek the sacrament only during the penitential seasons of 
Lent or Advent. Reconciliation is a means of obtaining pardon
from God for sins for which the sinner is truly remorseful, and
brings the sinner back into communion with God and the
Church. The sacrament is an opportunity for self-reflection
and requires that the person take full responsibility for his or
her sins, both those in thought and in action. During the rite,
sins are recounted privately to a priest, who is seen as a
healer aiding the process, and the priest commonly assigns
acts of penance, such as specific prayers or acts of restitution,
to complete in the following days. A prayer of contrition is
offered at the end of the confession, and the newly absolved
 Catholic is urged to refrain from repeating those sins.

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ANOINTING OF THE SICK

•Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Extreme Unction,

is a sacrament that is administered to give strength and
comfort to the ill and to mystically unite their suffering with
that of Christ during his Passion and death. This sacrament
can be given to those who are afflicted with serious illness
or injury, those who are awaiting surgery, the weakened
elderly, or to ill children who are old enough to understand
its significance. A person can receive the sacrament as
many times as needed throughout their life, and a person
with a chronic illness might be anointed again if the disease
worsens. The rite can be performed in a home or hospital
by a priest, who prays over the person and anoints their
head and hands with chrism (holy oil). The priest may also
administer the sacrament of the Eucharist if the person has
been unable to receive it and can hear a confession if so
desired. If a person is at the point of death, the priest also
administers a special Apostolic blessing in what is known as
the Last Rites. 
MATRIMONY

• In Catholicism marriage is a sacrament that a

baptized man and a baptized woman
administer to each other through their
marriage vows and lifelong partnership. Given
that to a Catholic sacramental marriage
reflects the union of Christ with the church as
his mystical body, marriage is understood to
be an indissoluble union. The rite commonly
takes place during a mass, with a priest
 serving as the minister of the mass and as a
witness to the mutual consent of the couple.
The marriage union is used to sanctify both
the husband and wife by drawing them into a
deeper understanding of God’s love and is
intended to be fruitful, with any children to be
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HOLY ORDERS
• Ordination, in Christian churches, a rite
 for the dedication and commissioning
of ministers. The essential ceremony
consists of the laying of hands of the
ordaining minister upon the head of the
one being ordained, with prayer for the
gifts of the Holy Spirit and of grace
required for the carrying out of the
ministry. The service also usually
includes a public examination of the
candidate and a sermon or charge
concerning the responsibilities of the
ministry.

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