What are the seven sacraments?
The seven Sacraments point to and are channels of God’s grace. They work as an effective means of communication between God and His people.
1. Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament of salvation and the door to all other sacraments. The person celebrating the sacrament (usually a priest) says “I baptise you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” while pouring water over the head of the person receiving the sacrament or dipping the person in water.
2. Reconciliation
Reconciliation (also called ‘confession’ or ‘penance’) is when a Catholic confesses his or her sins to a priest in the spirit of true repentance and receives forgiveness. The priest acts as a visible representative of Christ, who forgives sins through Him, when he says the words of absolution: “I absolve you of your sins in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
3. Eucharist
Those who take part in the Eucharist receive the real Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in what appears to be bread and wine. During Mass, regular bread and wine are consecrated by the priest, through God’s power, when he repeats Jesus’s words, ‘This is My Body” and “This is the chalice of My Blood.”
4. Confirmation
Confirmation provides a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which helps the confirmed Catholic witness to Christ and lead a mature Christian life. The rite of confirmation (usually performed by a bishop) involves the anointing with holy oil, the laying of hands and the words “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
5. Holy Orders In holy orders, men are ordained as bishops, priests and deacons through a bishop’s laying of hands and prayer. These men are given the grace to live out their lives in service to the Church and to God’s people.
6. Anointing of the sick
Anointing of the sick offers the comfort of God’s grace to those who are ill. The sacrament provides spiritual and sometimes physical healing, according to God’s will, but also allows the sick person to join his or her sufferings to Christ and prepare for death. The essential rite of this sacrament involves anointing with the oil of the sick and prayer.
7. Marriage
Marriage (or Matrimony) joins a man and a woman together in a life-long covenant of self-giving love. The two spouses give their consent to join together in marriage as the Church defines it. God gives special grace to the couple that they may live out their vow.
HOW IS MASS CONNECTED TO:
THE LAST SUPPER
AT MASS, THE EUCHARIST IS A RE-ENACTMENT OF THE LAST SUPPER, THE FINAL MEAL THAT JESUS CHRIST SHARED WITH HIS DISCIPLES BEFORE HIS ARREST, AND EVENTUAL CRUCIFIXION. AT THE MEAL, JESUS ATE BREAD AND WINE AND INSTRUCTED HIS DISCIPLES TO DO THE SAME IN MEMORY OF HIM.
