Sacraments: God's Gifts To Us - Garland of Roses Media

So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to
receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
Hebrews 4:16

WHAT ARE THE SACRAMENTS?

Jesus Christ instituted the sacraments of the Catholic Church. God knows that humans are physical beings, so he created ways for us to make contact with him through these outward signs that convey his grace. There are seven sacraments. Baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist are the sacraments of Christian initiation, which bring us into the fullness of Christian life. Reconciliation and the anointing of the sick are the healing sacraments. Holy orders and matrimony are the sacraments of ministry. The sacraments are usually received in the following order: baptism, reconciliation, Eucharist, confirmation, holy matrimony or holy orders, and anointing of the sick.

BAPTISM: BECOMING A CHILD OF GOD

The sacrament of baptism is the door to becoming children of God and members of the Body of Christ. The Church bestows baptism at the earliest possible point in life, in infancy or after conversion to Christ and instruction in the faith. Baptism cleanses us of sin, makes us adopted children of God, and incorporates us into the Church, the family of God (see CCC, 1213).

The visible sign of baptism is water, signifying cleansing and rebirth. The water is poured over the head, or the person is immersed in the water, with the words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Baptism seals the Christian with an indelible spiritual mark, which not even sin can erase from the soul. “Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated” (CCC, 1272).

Bishops, priests, and deacons are the ordinary ministers of baptism. But anyone, even an unbaptized person, can baptize in cases of necessity. This is because the Church recognizes baptism as necessary for salvation. Jesus said, “No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5). At the same time, the Church entrusts the unbaptized to God’s mercy. “God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments” (CCC, 1257, emphasis original).

When an ordained person baptizes, he also anoints the person with sacred oil. This signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We can look at infant baptism this way: if a child was dying of a serious illness, we would certainly take him to the doctor for treatment. We would not wait until the child was old enough to understand the illness or make a decision for himself on treatment; this would be absurd. Baptism is a spiritual treatment for our souls, uniting us to God’s family, which is the most important relationship of our lives.

Baptism in Scripture

I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean; from all your impurities and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” (John 3:5)

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name. (Acts 22:16)

God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:20-21)

Let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)

RECONCILIATION: CONFESSING OUR SINS

Confession is a powerful and healing sacrament for soul, mind, and body. It is a necessary step in the process of sanctifying our souls. For “all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Why do we go to a priest to be forgiven of sins? Jesus gave authority to his apostles to forgive sins on his behalf. “‘Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’” (John 20:22-23).

The priest is not the one forgiving us. Rather, Jesus works through the priest to bestow grace and mercifully cleanse us from our sins. The only condition for receiving forgiveness is a sincere desire to amend our lives and to try our best not to fall into those sins again. Frequent visits to the confessional, even for minor sins, are beneficial in growing closer to God.

Remember that God created this sacrament for us and wants us to use it. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). Check your local church bulletins or website, or look under the “confessions” tab on masstimes.org, to see when and where confession is offered in your area.

After telling the priest your sins, he will ask you to say an Act of Contrition (see chapter 12, “Catholic Prayers”; often a copy is available in the confessional). Then the priest will give you a penance, usually some prayers or a specific act of mercy, and absolve you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. He will say, “Go in peace”; a suitable response is “Thank you, Father.”

Five Aspects of a Good Confession

1. Examine your conscience. (Chapter 10, “Living the Fullness of the Catholic Faith,” includes an examination of conscience based on the Ten Commandments.) A nightly examination of conscience (reviewing the day and pinpointing moments of despair, weakness, and temptation) is helpful.

2. Be truly sorry for your sins.

3. Tell your sins to the priest. Include all sins of which you are aware and their frequency.

4. Resolve not to commit these sins again.

5. Do the penance the priest gives you.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation in Scripture

Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18)

[Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:21-23)

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. (James 5:16)

THE EUCHARIST: THE REAL PRESENCE IS REAL!

Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is fully present—body, blood, soul, and divinity—in every particle of the consecrated bread and every drop of wine of Holy Communion. This is the greatest gift God gives us in the Church. Through the Holy Eucharist, God heals and sanctifies our souls. As we give ourselves to God at Mass, he gives us his only Son.

Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, and he told the apostles, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). Thus Jesus gave his priests the power to consecrate the bread and wine into his Body and Blood. This power is passed on to other men through priestly ordination. (See the section “Holy Orders: A Special Calling” in this chapter.)

At the consecration during Mass, the physical aspects of the bread and wine (taste, smell, and so on) remain, while the substance of the bread and wine (what they actually are) is changed to the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Every particle of the bread and every drop of the wine are forever changed into the glorified and risen Christ. This is referred to as transubstantiation.

The consecrated hosts that remain after Mass are kept in a tabernacle in the church. A red candle burns near the tabernacle, to remind us of Jesus’ presence. We genuflect reverently whenever we enter the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Many churches offer adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, in which the host is displayed in a windowed receptacle called a monstrance.

If you struggle to believe in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, ask God for help. Start by praying, “Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

The Eucharist in Scripture

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. (Luke 22:19-20)

But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. (Luke 24:29-31)

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. (John 6:35)

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. (John 6:53-57)

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

CONFIRMATION: COME, HOLY SPIRIT

Confirmation is an essential sacrament that completes the grace of baptism in us. As with baptism, we receive confirmation only one time in our lives, as our souls are sealed forever with the Holy Spirit. Through confirmation, we are given “a special strength of the Holy Spirit” (CCC, 1303), as were the apostles at Pentecost, to fearlessly spread the message of Jesus Christ by word and action. Confirmation also roots us more deeply in our role as children of God, unites us more closely to Christ, increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit within us, and makes our bond with the Church more perfect (see CCC, 1303).

In the Latin Rite, confirmation is administered at “the age of discretion” (CCC, 1307). The American bishops administer the sacrament to children between seven and sixteen years of age.

The bishop usually administers this sacrament to people of his diocese, which demonstrates that the sacrament’s effect is to unite the recipient “to the Church, to her apostolic origins, and to her mission of bearing witness to Christ” (CCC, 1313). The bishop may delegate this faculty to a priest. The minister anoints the candidate’s forehead and lays his hands on the candidate while praying, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Confirmation is vital for Christian formation. The candidate must carefully prepare by studying the faith in order to fully profess it, and by receiving the sacrament of reconciliation. The recipient is taking on the role of an intentional disciple of Jesus Christ.

What if you are confirmed but have never known what the sacrament means? God always meets us where we are. His Spirit is at work in you, perhaps bringing you to this point of understanding. If your lack of appreciation of the sacrament lays heavily on your conscience, you can address it the next time you go to confession. Know that through God’s merciful love, we are forgiven for our past shortcomings.

Let us thank God for the extraordinary gift of this sacrament, through which we receive even more grace from the Holy Spirit to aid us in our vocation.

Confirmation in Scripture

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid [his] hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:5-6)

But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

MARRIAGE: THE TWO BECOME ONE

God created man and woman as complements to one another. The two become one flesh when they enter into the sacrament of holy matrimony.

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate. (Matthew 19:6)

Christ instituted this sacrament as an indissoluble union. The couple enters a sacred covenant with one another, just like God’s covenant with man and Christ’s covenant with his Church. The giving of the entire self to the other is ordered toward the procreation of children, the blessed fruits of this union.

Marriage creates rights and duties between the man and woman and toward their children. Spouses are responsible for the holiness of one another, and as parents they are expected to educate their children in the Catholic faith. Remember that sacraments are founts of grace. Through holy matrimony, God infuses us with grace to live out this covenant in conformity with his will. “[T]he spouses receive the Holy Spirit as the communion of love of Christ and the Church. The Holy Spirit is the seal of their covenant, the ever-available source of their love and the strength to renew their fidelity” (CCC, 1624; see Ephesians 5:32).

This grace results in love flowing within the marriage and family, which reflects God’s love for us and is a tangible sign of Christ’s presence:

“[Christ] encounters Christian spouses through the sacrament of Matrimony.” Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another’s burdens, to “be subject to one another out of reverence to Christ,” and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. In the joys of their love and family life he gives them here on earth a foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb:

“How can I ever express the happiness of a marriage joined by the Church, strengthened by an offering, sealed by a blessing, announced by angels, and ratified by the Father? . . . How wonderful the bond between two believers, now one in hope, one in desire, one in discipline, one in the same service! They are both children of one Father and servants of the same Master, undivided in spirit and flesh, truly two in one flesh. Where the flesh is one, one also is the spirit.” (CCC, 1642)

Given the indissoluble nature of a valid and sacramental marital union, the Catholic Church does not recognize divorce as a way to dissolve this union. In certain cases, however, civil divorce might be necessary for legal reasons. There are marriages that would be considered invalid for various reasons, and a decree of nullity can be sought in such circumstances.

Marriage is between one man and one woman. Partnerships of other types—same-sex, multiple parties, and so on—cannot be considered marriages. Loving, loyal, and chaste friendships among people of the same or opposite sex are, however, an integral part of life. Please see more about chastity in chapter 7.

Holy Matrimony in Scripture

He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)

“For this reason a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:31-33)

For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. (Ephesians 5:23-30)

HOLY ORDERS: A SPECIAL CALLING

Christ entrusted to his apostles the mission of going out and making disciples of all peoples. Through the sacrament of holy orders, this mission continues in his Church.

Jesus is the one and only High Priest, yet his priesthood is made present in the three degrees of holy orders: episcopate (bishops), presbyterate (priests), and diaconate (deacons). In the service of the men who receive the sacrament of holy orders, “it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth” (CCC, 1548).

Bishops hold the chief position among the ministers, as their office is in direct succession to that of the apostles. Priests are coworkers of bishops, taking on supporting roles and sharing in the bishops’ consecration and mission. Deacons can minister the sacraments of baptism and holy matrimony. They preach, teach, administer, and support the bishops and priests. Transitional deacons are preparing for the priesthood; permanent deacons are, well, permanently deacons.

The sacrament of holy orders is administered by a bishop with the laying on of hands and prayer, following the example of the apostles in sacred Scripture. Through this action, God’s grace is given to the ministers being ordained.

The presence of Christ in a minister does not preserve him from human weakness, error, and sin, but the power of the Holy Spirit through the sacraments administered by the minister is still guaranteed (see CCC, 1550).

Only baptized men are candidates for the sacrament of holy orders. Jesus specifically selected men to be his apostles, and they in turn selected men as their successors. The Church is bound by this decision of Jesus Christ, making the ordination of women impossible. This in no way takes away from the invaluable place of women in the Church and in salvation history. God created the Blessed Virgin Mary as a perfect creature, spared her from original sin, and chose her to give birth to and raise Our Lord. Women are held in high regard within the Church, as St. John Paul II proclaims in his writings. (See his encyclical “On the Dignity and Vocation of Women” [“Mulieris Dignitatem”] and his “Letter to Women”, both posted on the Vatican website, Vatican.va.)

The sacrament of holy orders is crucial to the life of the Church, as it is through ordained ministers that we receive the other sacraments and their accompanying graces. Ordained ministers are Christ’s instruments.

Holy Orders in Scripture

Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. (Acts 6:2-6)

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2-3)

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. (2 Timothy 1:6-8)

ANOINTING OF THE SICK: NOT JUST FOR THE DYING

Jesus Christ is our divine physician. He instituted the sacrament of anointing of the sick in order to heal us, body and soul. God often uses illness as a way to convert our hearts and show us how to lean on him. With his merciful love and forgiveness, God is the ultimate healer. He teaches us that our suffering through illness can have meaning and redemptive value.

The graces received through the sacrament of anointing of the sick include strength, peace, and courage to overcome the difficulties of both body and soul. God forgives sins through this sacrament. He often restores health. He also offers through this sacrament preparation for passing into eternal life. The Holy Spirit renews hope and faith in us, that we may reject temptation and unite ourselves more closely to Christ. Our suffering can yield redemption for ourselves and others.

Anointing of the sick is not just for the dying. Anyone with a serious illness (physical or mental), an upcoming surgery, or weakening caused by old age can receive this sacrament. God wants to give grace to renew us and heal us according to his will.

Anointing of the Sick in Scripture

They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (Mark 6:13)

Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15)

Sacraments: God’s Gifts To Us