Sacraments & Rites
The Catholic Church teaches that the sacraments are “signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.” The visible rites through which the sacraments are celebrated both signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the proper dispositions.
There are seven sacraments, which “touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life.” They give birth to, strengthen, heal, and send forth the life of faith in every Christian.
Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist
Christian initiation is accomplished through the sacraments that lay the foundation of Christian life.
The faithful are born anew through Baptism, strengthened by Confirmation, and nourished along life’s journey by the Eucharist.
Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick
The new life received in Baptism does not remove human weakness or the tendency to sin. Because of this, the Church provides the Sacraments of Healing to restore and renew us. Through Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick, we receive God’s forgiveness, healing, and strength.
Sacraments at the Service: Marriage and Holy Orders
The Sacraments of Initiation form the basis of every Christian vocation. Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, are directed towards the salvation of others. While they also contribute to personal salvation, they do so through service. These sacraments confer a special mission in the Church and help to build up the People of God.