Christian Living

• Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church


  Mystical channels of divine grace, instituted by Christ
• Sacraments


  • Celebrated with a visible rite, which reflects the invisible, spiritual essence of the sacrament
  • Some are received only once, others require active and ongoing participation to foster the "living faith" of the celebrant
• Baptism


  Sacrament of admission to the faith, bringing sanctifying grace to the person being baptized
• Rite of Baptism


  1. Holy water is usually sprinkled or poured on the head by a priest who simultaneously invokes the Trinity

  2. The old self is said to die in the waters, and a new self emerges, mirroring the death and resurrection of Christ
• Baptism is a requirement for salvation, so anyone, even non-baptized persons, can baptize someone as the situation requires
• Eucharist (Holy Communion)


  Central rite of Catholic worship, a sacrament of initiation that can be received daily
• Eucharist Rite


  1. Priest consecrates bread and wine, which are transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ

  2. Congregation shares in the sacred meal
• Special lay ministers are trained to bring the consecrated elements to the ill or otherwise homebound so that all Catholics can participate
• Confirmation


  Third sacrament of initiation, serves to "confirm" a baptized person in their faith
• Confirmation Rite


  Bishop or priest performs the rite, which includes the laying on of hands in prayer and blessing and the anointing of the forehead with chrism (holy oil)
• At confirmation a Catholic may symbolically take the name of a saint to be his or her patron
• Reconciliation (Confession or Penance)


  Sacrament of renewal, opportunity for obtaining pardon from God for sins for which the sinner is truly remorseful
• Reconciliation Rite


  1. Sins are recounted privately to a priest, who assigns acts of penance

  2. A prayer of contrition is offered at the end of the confession, and the newly absolved Catholic is urged to refrain from repeating those sins
• Anointing of the Sick


  Sacrament that gives strength and comfort to the ill and mystically unites their suffering with that of Christ
• Anointing of the Sick Rite


  1. Priest prays over the person and anoints their head and hands with chrism (holy oil)

  2. Priest may also administer the sacrament of the Eucharist and hear a confession
• If a person is at the point of death, the priest also administers a special Apostolic blessing in what is known as the Last Rites
• Marriage


  Sacrament that a baptized man and a baptized woman administer to each other through their marriage vows and lifelong partnership
• Marriage Rite


  Commonly takes place during a mass, with a priest serving as the minister of the mass and as a witness to the mutual consent of the couple
• Marriage is understood to be an indissoluble union, and any children are to be raised within the teachings of the church
• Ordination (Holy Orders)


  Sacrament available only to men who are being ordained as deacons, priests, or bishops
• Ordination Rite


  1. A prayer and blessing is offered as a bishop lays his hands on the head of the man being ordained

  2. This act confers the sacramental power to ordain (for bishops), baptize, confirm, witness marriages, absolve sins, and consecrate the Eucharist
• Deacons can baptize, witness marriages, preach, and assist during the mass, but they cannot consecrate the Eucharist or hear confessions
• With the exception of married deacons, all ordained men are to be celibate