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The Sacraments
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What are the Sacraments?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches that "the purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the Body of Christ and, finally, to give worship to God" [CCC 1123]. The sacraments are not merely symbolic, but actually confer the grace they signify. When we are baptized, the water symbolizes a renewal and washing, but it also truly and really purifies us from sin and restores our souls into communion with God. Because of this, "the Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation" [CCC 1129]. We should make every effort, therefore, to frequent the sacraments frequently and worthily for the salvation of our souls and for the true worship of our Father in heaven. Moreover, this knowledge should impel us to share our faith with others so that they too may come to know and love our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life" [CCC 1210].
The Sacraments of Initiation:
"The sacraments of Christian initiation . . . lay the foundations of every Christian life. . . The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life" [CCC 1212].
The Sacraments of Healing:
"The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health, has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members" [CCC 1421].
The Sacraments at the service of Communion:These final two sacraments "are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God" [CCC 1534].