The Sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. A sacrament is a symbolic rite in the Christian religion, in which an ordinary individual can make a personal connection with God. That connection, called inner grace, is transmitted to a parishioner by a priest or bishop, who uses a specific set of phrases and actions in one of seven special ceremonies.
In a false person, sacraments do not produce any effect.” ― Saint Thomas Aquinas
The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church
- Baptism takes away Original Sin and all personal sin while uniting us to Christ and His people.
- Confirmation deepens our union with Christ and helps us proclaim our faith in Him before others.
- Holy Eucharist gives us the Body and Blood of Jesus as our daily spiritual food to nourish our union with Him.
- Penance and Reconciliation (Confession) restores our union with Christ disrupted by personal sins.
- Holy Orders gives a man the power of uniting or reuniting believers with God as a Deacon, Priest, or Bishop.
- Holy Matrimony makes a man and a woman husband and wife and gives them grace to live with God, for God and each other.
- Anointing of the Sick heals and strengthens our union with Christ during times of serious illness.
Why do the sacraments matter? (1:45)
The seven sacraments are integral to the spiritual life of Catholics, serving as channels of grace and markers of significant moments in a believer’s journey. They encapsulate the core beliefs of Catholicism, emphasizing the importance of community, forgiveness, service, and commitment to God’s will. Through active participation in the sacraments, Catholics seek to deepen their relationship with God and embody the teachings of Jesus in their daily lives.
