T H E S A C R A M E N T S
SACRAMENTS
The Sacraments are visible, tangible signs of God’s grace in our lives. God created us as physical beings, and He desires to share His love and mercy with us in a way that is experiential, not just spiritual. Thus, God comes to us through these holy Sacraments to engage our hearts, minds and souls, through our physical senses. We see the beauty of a Marriage ceremony; we feel the cleansing waters of Baptism; we smell the aroma of the chrism oil at Confirmation; we taste the bread which is Christ in the Eucharist; and we hear the words of absolution during Reconciliation.
The Sacraments have both a visible and invisible reality -- a reality open to all the human senses and only fully understood with the eyes of faith. When parents hug their children, for example, the visible reality we see is the hug. The invisible reality the hug conveys is love. We do not "see" the love the hug expresses, though we often see its nurturing effect in the child. It is the same with God's grace in us.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church recognizes the existence of seven sacraments instituted by Jesus.
Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation
Sacraments of Healing: Confession and Anointing of the Sick
Sacraments at the Service of Communion: Matrimony and Holy Orders
Through the Sacraments, God shares His grace and holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier. We hand on what we receive from the Lord.
To learn more about the Sacraments or how to prepare for them, visit the specific page for each Sacrament below.
