The Latin word sacramentum means "a sign of the sacred." The seven
sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant and
important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing
God's saving presence. That's what theologians mean when they say that
sacraments are at the same time signs and instruments of God's grace.
If you learn more about the sacraments, you can celebrate them more fully.
To learn more about the individual sacraments, please follow the links
below. You'll find easy-to-understand articles and a good sample of common
questions and answers.
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first
step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Whether we
are baptized as infants or adults, Baptism is the Church's way of
celebrating and enacting the embrace of God.
Catholics believe the Eucharist, or Communion, is both
a sacrifice and a meal. We believe in the real presence of Jesus, who
died for our sins. As we receive Christ's Body and Blood, we also are
nourished spiritually and brought closer to God.
The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known
as Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements:
conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God's
unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others.
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature
Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of
the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics. It is most often
associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy
Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally to this other
person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union of
husband and wife speaks of family values and also God's values.
In the
Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest being ordained
vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially
the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel, and by providing other means
to holiness.
The Catholic Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick,
formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is a ritual of healing
appropriate not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual
sickness.
