WHAT IS A SACRAMENT

Sacraments are visible, sensible and effective signs of grace

instituted by Jesus Christ and entrusted by him to the church, in
order to sanctify human beings, build up the body of Christ, and
give worship to God. They are the channels through which God
makes his abundant grace flow to us his sons and daughters.

The 7 Sacraments

1. Baptism gives our souls new life of sanctifying grace by

which we become children of God

2. Confirmation makes us strong and mature Christians,

witnesses and apostles of our Lord

3. Holy Eucharist nourishes us and augments our union

with Christ transforming us in him

4. Penance and Reconciliation

5. Anointing of the Sick

6. Holy Orders

7. Matrimony

3 Groups of the Sacraments

1. Sacraments of Christian Initiation

a. Baptism

b. Confirmation

c. Holy Eucharist

2. Sacraments of Healing

a. Penance or Reconciliation

b. Anointing of the Sick

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 3. Sacraments in the Service of Community/Commitment

a. Holy Order

b. Matrimony

SACRAMENTALS

These are sacred signs instituted by the Holy Mother

Church which bears a resemblance to the sacraments; they
signify effects, particularly of a spiritual kind, which are obtained
through the churchs intercession. By them, men are disposed to
receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions
in life are rendered holy.

Very common among the sacramental are blessings.

People believe that they obtain spiritual and temporal favors
when they ask a priest to bless them, their houses, cars, objects
of devotion, etc. Priest impart blessings by invoking the name of
Jesus, usually by making the sign of the cross.

WHAT IS BAPTISM

Baptism is a sacrament of Christian initiation that gives our

souls the new life of sanctifying grace by which we become
children of God, members of the church and heirs of heaven. The
principal effects of baptism are:

1. It takes away original sin and all actual sins, together with
all the punishment due to them;

2. It gives us the grace of rebirth and the infused virtues;

3. It raises us to the dignity of adopted children of God;

4. It incorporates us into Christ and his Church; and

5. It confers on us the baptismal character and the right to

heaven

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What does the character imprinted on the soul by baptism do to
us?

1. It marks us forever Christians, disciples and followers of

Christ who have received a call to holiness;

2. It makes us members of the church, with the right and

duty to spread Christs kingdom through the apostolate;

3. It imparts to us a likeness to Christ in his priesthood; and

4. It enables us to receive the other sacraments

Who administers baptism?

The ordinary minister of Baptism is the bishop, the

priest, and deacon

How?

Baptism is administered by immersing the person to be

baptized in water or pouring water on his head while pronouncing
the words: I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Why is Baptism necessary for Salvation of all human beings?

Baptism is necessary for the salvation of all human beings

because Christ said: Unless a man is born through water and the
spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5)

When should children be baptized?

Children should be baptized within the first week after birth.

Children in danger of death should be baptized without delay.
Catholic parents who neglect or unreasonably put off for a long
time the baptism of their children commit a mortal sin

Commitment of Parents of baptized children

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 The parents accept the responsibility of training them in the
practice of faith, and duty to bring them up to keep Gods
commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our
neighbour.

Godparents of baptized infants should be ready to help

parents bring up their children to profess the faith and to show
this by living it and to instruct their godchildren in their religious
duties.

Who should be chosen as Godparents for baptism?

As much as possible, only Catholics who have received the

sacraments of Baptism, confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist, and
who are mature enough to undertake the responsibility.

CONFIRMATION

Confirmation is a sacrament of Christian initiation through

which the Holy Spirit endows the baptized person with special
strength, conforms him more perfectly to Christ, and binds him
intimately to the Church, obliging more strictly to spread and to
defend the faith both by words and by deeds as a true witness of
Christ.

The ordinary minister of Confirmation is the Bishop. But the

priest can validly administer Confirmation if they have received
the faculty or permission to do so. Any priest can confirm those
who are in danger of death.

How?

The sacrament of confirmation is conferred through the

anointing with chrism on the forehead, which is done by laying on
the hand, and through the words Be sealed with the gift of the
Holy Spirit.

What is chrism?

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 Chrism is a mixture of olive oil (or according to
circumstances other plant oil) and balsam (or other sweet-
smelling matter) consecrated by the Bishop on Holy Thursday.

What does the anointing with chrism signify?

The anointing with chrism signifies the spiritual anointing by

the Holy Spirit who is given to the faithful.

What is necessary to receive Confirmation properly?

To receive Confirmation properly, one must be baptized; In

addition, if the baptized person has the use of reason, he should
be in the state of grace, be properly instructed on the chief truths
and duties of our religion, capable of renewing his baptismal
promises.

Effects of Confirmation

Confirmation increases sanctifying grace, confers actual

graces and special sacramental grace, and imprints a lasting
character on the soul.

What does the indelible character of Confirmation do to us?

The indelible character of confirmation marks us forever as

mature followers of Christ, more perfectly bound to him and to his
church, and more deeply obliged to spreads the Lords presence
among human beings.

HOLY EUCHARIST

The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament which really, truly and

substantially contains the body and blood, soul and divinity of our
Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.

When did Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist?

Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the

night before he died. How? Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist in

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this way: While they were at supper, he took bread, and when he
had said the blessing, he broke it and gave it to the disciples
take it and eat he said this is my body. Then he took a cup and
he had returned thanks he gave it to them. Drink all of from this,
he said for this is my blood (Matt. 26: 26-28)

When Christ said This is my body the bread was changed

into his body, and when he said This is my blood, the wine was
changed into his blood. This marvellous conversion is called
Transubstantiation. How was our Lord did it? Its conversion was
by his Almighty power.

The change of bread and wine into the body and blood of
Christ continues to be made in the Church by Jesus Christ,
through the ministry of his priest when he made the Apostles
priest at the Last Supper by saying to them: Do this in memory
of me. How? The priest exercise their power to change bread and
wine into the body and blood of Christ by repeating at the
Consecration of the Mass the words of Christ: This is my body . . .
this is my blood.

Jesus Christ is present whole, entire and alive, with his body,
blood, soul and divinity, under the appearance of bread as well as
under the appearance of wine in all and each part of the sacred
species.

Yes, Jesus Christ is present in all the consecrated hosts, all

over the world.

When the host is divided, only the species or appearances of

the bread are divided, the body of Jesus Christ remains whole and
entire in each of the portions into which a host is divided.

Why does Christ give his own body and blood in the Holy
Eucharist?

Christ gives us his own body and blood in the Holy Eucharist

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 1. First to be offered as sacrifice commemorating and
renewing for all time the sacrifice of the cross;

2. Second to be received by the faithful in Holy

Communion; and

3. Third to remain forever on our altars as proof of his love

for us, and to be worshipped by us.

The Holy Eucharist is the most excellent of all the

Sacraments because it contains Christ himself. All the other
sacraments are channels of grace but they do not actually
possess Christ, the Author of grace. Besides, all the other
sacraments are directed towards the Holy Eucharist as their
purpose or end. The Holy Eucharist reveals Gods infinite power,
wisdom and goodness.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: Root and Center of Christian Life

What is the Holy Mass?

The Holy Mass is the sacrifice of the New Law, in which

Christ, through the ministry of the priest offers himself to God in
an unbloody manner under the appearance of bread and wine.

A sacrifice is the offering of some precious gifts to God and

the destruction of it in some way to acknowledge his dominion
over us as Creator and our total dependence on him as our Lord.

The mass is the same sacrifice as the sacrifice of the cross

because in the mass the victim is the same, and the principal
priest is the same, Jesus Christ.

The manner in which the sacrifice is offered is different. On

the cross, Jesus really shed his blood while in the mass, which is a
memorial of Calvary, Jesus Christ is the victim without shedding
his blood, or suffering and dying. Besides, on the cross Christ

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gained and merited our Redemption, while the mass merits are
applied to us.

How does Christ offer the sacrifice of the mass?

Christ offers the sacrifice of the mass as Head of the Mystical

body, united with the faithful/members of his church. Hence, the
mass is the sacrifice of Head and members of the Mystical body of
Christ.

Purposes for which the mass is offered?

1. First To adore God as our creator and Lord;

2. Second To thank God for the gifts we have received from him;

3. Third To satisfy Gods justice for the sins committed against

him;

4. Fourth To ask God for graces and blessings for the faithful on
earth and the souls in purgatory.

How should we attend mass?

We should attend mass with reverence, attention and

devotion, with proper attire, by receiving Holy Communion
worthily. By joining in mind and heart with Christ, the principal
priest and victim, by attentively following the ceremonies and
prayers of the Mass, and by reciting or chanting the responses.

Holy Communion: Participation in the Paschal Banquet

What is Holy Communion?

Holy Communion is the receiving of Jesus Christ in the

sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

What is necessary to receive Holy Communion worthily?

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 To receive Holy Communion worthily, it is necessary to be
free from mortal sin, have the right intention, and obey the laws
of the church on fasting before holy communion.

He who knowingly receives holy communion in mortal sin

receives the body and blood of Christ, but he does not receive the
graces. He even commits a grave sin of sacrilege.

The right intention in receiving holy communion is the good

purpose of the recipient: to please God, to achieve greater union
with him through charity, and to apply this divine remedy to ones
moral weaknesses. The sacrament should not be received out of
routine vainglory, or human respect.

The Eucharistic fast requires abstaining from eating and

drinking, except water and medicine for one hour before actual
communion time. The sick and elderly, as well as those who take
care of them, may receive Holy Communion even if they have
taken something within the hour.

We are bound to receive Holy Communion under serious

obligation at least once a year ordinarily in Easter time and
when we are in danger of death.

It is good to receive Holy Communion often, even daily,

because this close union with Jesus Christ is the greatest aid to a
holy life.

Holy Communion maybe received again on the same day

when one attends Holy mass again on that day and when one
receives the Blessed Sacrament as when in danger of death.

We should prepare ourselves for Holy Communion by

thinking of our divine redeemer whom we are about to receive
and by making fervent acts of faith, hope, love, and contrition.

After Holy Communion we should spent some time adoring

our Lord, thanking him, renewing our promises of love and

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obedience to him, and asking him for blessings for ourselves and
others.

The Chief effects of a worthy Holy Communion

1. A closer union with Jesus Christ and the entire people of

God with the consequent building up of Christs body which is his
church;

2. An increase in sanctifying grace;

3. Preservation from mortal sin and the remission of venial

sin; and

4. The lessening of our inclinations to sin and the help to

lead a holy life.

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE OR RECONCILIATION

What is the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation?

The sacrament of penance or reconciliation is the sacrament

in which sinners obtain from God the forgiveness of sins
committed after baptism through the absolution of the priest, and
achieve reconciliation with the church they have wounded by
sinning.

Who gave the priest the power to forgive sins?

Jesus Christ gave the priest the power to forgive sins when
on Easter Sunday he said to the apostles and their successors in
the priesthood: Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you
forgive, they are forgiven; for those sins you retain, they are
retained. (John 20: 22-23)

Why did Christ institute the two sacraments of Healing?

Christ instituted the two sacraments of healing so that his

Church endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit, may continue
his work of healing and salvation even among the faithful.

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For whom is the sacrament of Penance necessary?

The sacrament of Penance is necessary for all who have

committed mortal sin after baptism.

Effects of the worthy reception of the Sacrament of Penance

1. The restoration or increase of sanctifying grace;

2. The forgiveness of sins;

3. The remission of the eternal punishment due to mortal sin,

and at least part of the temporal punishment remaining to be paid
after the forgiveness of sins;

4. Reconciliation with the church whom we have harmed by

our sins;

5. The help to avoid sin in the future; and

6. The restorations of the merits of our good works if they

have been lost through mortal sin.

What must we do to receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily?

1. First, examine our conscience;

2. Second, be sorry for our sins;

3. Third, have the firm purpose of not sinning again;

4. Fourth, confess our sins to the priest; and

5. Fifth, be willing to perform the penance the priest gives

us.

What is the examination of Conscience?

The examination of conscience is a sincere effort to

remember all the sins we have committed since our last
confession.

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 Before our examination of conscience, we should ask the
Holy Spirits help to know our sins and to confess them with
sincere sorrow.

We can make a good examination of conscience by calling to

mind the commandments of God, the laws of the church and the
particular duties of our state in life, and asking ourselves how we
may have sinned with regard to them.

What constitutes the matter and form of the Sacrament of

Penance?

The acts of the penitent, namely, Contrition, Confession, and

Satisfaction, constitute the matter of the sacrament of penance,
while words of the absolution I absolve you from your sins in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
constitute the form of the sacrament.

A. Contrition is a heartfelt sorrow and aversion for the sins we

have committed, with a firm purpose of sinning no more.

We should have contrition for mortal sin because it is the

greatest of all evils, gravely offends God, keeps us out of heaven
and condemns us forever to hell.

Likewise, we should also have contrition for venial sin

because it is displeasing to God, merits temporal punishment, and
may lead to mortal sin.

B. Confession

It is the telling of our sins to an authorized priest to obtain

forgiveness. Why confess our sins? We must confess our sins
because Jesus Christ, who established the way to obtain divine
forgiveness of sins, obliges us to do so. Christ gave his apostles
and their successors in the priesthood the power to forgive as well
as to retain sins implying that the faithful had to tell their sins so
that the priest could judge whether they should be absolved.

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 It is necessary to confess every mortal sin which has not yet
been confessed and forgiven; it is not necessary to confess our
venial sins, but it is better to do so.

Qualities of a Good Confession

The chief qualities of a good confessions are: it must be

Contrite , Clear, Concise, and complete.

Clear When try our best to confess our sins just as they
are, in order to disclose to the priest the real state of our soul;

Concise When we straight to the point and avoid

mentioning matters which really have little or nothing to do with
our sins;

Complete When we confess, as far as we are able, at least

all our mortal sins, mentioning their kind, the number of times,
and any circumstances changing their nature.

If we forget to confess a mortal sin through no fault of our

own, we may receive Holy Communion, because we have made a
good confession and the sin is forgiven. However, we must
confess the sin in our next confession.

If we deliberately conceal a mortal sin in confession, the sins

we confess are not forgiven. Moreover, we commit a mortal sin of
sacrilege

A sense of shame and fear of telling our sins to the priest

should never lead us to conceal a mortal sin in confession. Why?

1. First, because we are before God, our loving Father, who is

all-knowing and all-merciful;

2. Second, because concealing a mortal sin in confession is a

grave sacrilege

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 3. Third, because the priest, who represents Christ himself, is
bound by the seal of the sacrament of penance never to reveal
anything that has been confessed to him.

Absolution It is the judgment by which the priest, in the name of

Jesus Christ, forgives the sins of the penitent.

C. Satisfaction

True conversion in the sacrament of penance is completed

by acts of penance or satisfaction for the sins committed, by
amendment of conduct, and also by the reparation of injury.

Sacramental satisfaction is the penitential work imposed by

the confessor on the penitent in order to make up for the offense
committed against God and atone for the temporal punishment
due to sins already forgiven. This act of penance or satisfaction
shall also help the sinner begin a new life and provide him with an
antidote to weakness.

Penitential works which maybe suitably imposed for

sacramental satisfaction are prayer, self-denial, and specially
service of ones neighbour and works of mercy which underline
the social aspect that sin and its forgiveness have

Two kinds of Punishment due to Sin

1. Eternal punishment of hell, due to unforgiven mortal sins

2. Temporal punishment, lasting only for a time, due to

venial sins and also mortal sins after they have been forgiven.

God requires temporal punishment for sin to satisfy his

justice, to teach us the great evil of sins and to warn us not to sin
again.

We pay the debt of our temporal punishment either in this

life3 or in purgatory. Besides the penance imposed after

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confession, the chief means of satisfying the debt of our temporal
punishment are:

a. Prayer b. Attending mass c. Fasting

d. Almsgiving e. the works of mercy f. indulgencies

g. the patient endurance of suffering

Indulgence is the taking away of the temporal punishment due

to sins already forgiven. Two kinds of indulgencies:

1. Plenary is the remission of all the temporal punishment

due to our sins

2. Partial is the remission of part of the temporal

punishment due to our sins

Requirements for gaining Plenary indulgence

1. First the exclusion of all the attachment to sin, even

venial sin;

2. Second the performance of the indulgenced work;

3. Third the fulfillment of 3 conditions, namely

a. sacramental confession

b. Eucharistic communion

c. Prayer for the Popes intentions

If all these requirements are not satisfied, an otherwise

plenary indulgence becomes only partial. We cannot gain
indulgences for other living persons, but we can gain them for the
souls in purgatory, applying them either in general or to anyone in
particular.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

What is anointing of the sick?

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 Anointing of the sick is the sacrament which gives health
and strength to the soul and sometimes to the body when we are
dangerously ill.

All Catholics who have reached the use of reason and who
begin to be in danger of health from sickness, accident, or old age
should receive the sacrament.

We should not wait until we are in extreme danger or death

before we receive Anointing of the Sick; we should see to it that,
as far as possible, we receive the sacrament while we are still in
full possession of our faculties.

Effects of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

1. An increase in sanctifying grace or at times the restoration

of the life of the grace;

2. The forgiveness of venial sins and even mortal sins if the

repentant sick person is unable to confess them;

3. The remission of the temporal punishment still due for

unremitted sins;

4. The strength to suffer sickness with patience and resist

temptations;

5. The recovery of bodily health when it is good for the soul

Who can validly administer Anointing of the Sick?

Only a priest can validly administer anointing of the sick. It is

advisable to call the priest to visit the sick at the beginning of any
serious illness, even without imminent danger of death, and when
a person advanced in age begins to be notably weakened in
physical strength, since it is the duty of the priest to visit the sick
and to administer to them the sacrament they need.

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 The same sick person maybe anointed again if he falls into a
serious sickness again after his physical recovery, or if during the
same illness his conditions become more serious.

Sick Catholics who have lost the use of their faculties should
be given Anointing of the sick if they have at least implicitly asked
for it while they were still in control of their faculties.

Anointing of the sick should not be conferred on those who

obstinately persisted in manifest serious sins.

HOLY ORDERS

Holy orders and Matrimony are called sacraments in the

service of community because they contribute to the salvation of
those who receive them through the service that they render to
others.

As sacraments in the service of the community, Holy Orders

and Matrimony confers on their recipients a specific mission in the
church and contribute to the building up of the People of God

What is Holy Orders?

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which men are marked

with an indelible character and constituted sacred ministers
bishop, priest, and deacons to teach, sanctify, and govern the
faithful in the person of Christ the Head.

Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Orders at

the Last Supper when he conferred on the Apostles and their
successors in the priesthood the power to consecrate and offer his
body and blood in the sacrifice of the mass.

Effects of Ordination to the Priesthood

1. An increase in sanctifying grace;

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 2. Sacramental grace through which the priest receives
Gods constant help in his sacred ministry; and

3. A lasting indelible character, which is a special sharing in

the priesthood of Christ and which gives the priest special
supernatural powers.

The Chief supernatural powers of the priest are:

1. To change bread and wine into the body and blood of

Christ in the holy sacrifice of the mass

2. To forgive sins in the sacrament of Penance

The bishop is the minister of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

Conditions required to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders

1. First, the candidate must be in the state of grace and be of

excellent character;

2. Second, he must have the prescribed age and learning;

3. Third, he must have the intention of devoting his life to

the sacred ministry; and

4. Fourth, he must be called to Holy Orders by his bishop or

proper ecclesiastical superior.

Catholics should show reverence and honor to the priest

because he is representative of Christ himself and the dispenser
of his mysteries.

MATRIMONY

It is a sacrament which establishes a sacred and indissoluble

union between a baptized man and a baptized woman and gives
them the grace to love each other in a holly way and to educate
their children in a Christian manner.

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 A baptized man and a baptized woman cannot be united in a
lawful marriage in any other way than by the sacrament of
Matrimony because Christ raised marriage to the dignity of a
sacrament.

The chief duties of husband and wife in the married state are
to be faithful to each other and to provide in every way for the
bodily and spiritual welfare of the children God may give them.

By the unity of marriage is meant that the covenant

established is between one man and one woman; hence, the
husband cannot marry another woman during the lifetime of his
wife, nor the wife marry another man during the lifetime of her
husband.

When we say that marriage is indissoluble, we mean that the

marital bond of a sacramental marriage cannot be broken except
by the death of either husband or wife.

The Church alone has the right to make laws regulating the
marriages of Catholics because the church alone has authority
over the sacraments and over sacred matters affecting the
catholic faithful.

Regarding the marriages of Catholics, the state has the

authority to make laws concerning only the civil aspect of these
marriages.

To receive the sacrament of Matrimony worthily, it is

necessary to be in the state of grace, to know the duties of
married life, and obey the marriage laws of the church.

Chief effects of the Sacraments of Matrimony

1. First, an increase in sanctifying grace;

2. Second, the indissoluble bond of marriage; and

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 3. Third, the special help of God for husband and wife to love
each other faithfully, to bear each others fault, to bring up their
children properly, and to cooperate in the sanctification of other
soul, specially those other members of their household and other
families with whom they have close ties of friendship.

SACRAMENTALS

Sacramentals are objects or actions the church uses to

confer spiritual and temporal favors upon the faithful through her
intercession.

They are called sacramental because they resemble the

sacraments as external signs by which blessings, specially
spiritual ones, are obtained.

Sacramentals differ from sacrament in the following ways:

1. Sacraments were instituted by Christ while sacramental

were instituted by the church;

2. Sacraments Christ confers grace through the sacrament

itself. Whereas, sacramental are form of prayers that obtain grace
through the merits of the church and depend on the dispositions
of the person who uses sacramental.

3. Sacraments produces really the grace they signify.

Sacramentals are the occasion for receiving some blessing from
God through the church when a person uses them with faith.

Chief benefits obtained by the use of Sacramentals are:

1. Actual graces;

2. forgiveness of venial sins;

3. the remission of temporary punishments;

4. health of body and material blessings; and

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 5. protection from evil spirits

Some of the some commonly known sacramental are

blessings normally given by priest and blessed objects of
devotion. The blessed objects of devotion most used by Catholics
are: holy water, candles, ashes, palms, crucifixes, medals,
rosaries, scapulars, and images, of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin
and his saints.

We should make use of sacramental with faith and devotion,

and never make them objects of superstition.

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