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Daily Feed The Sacraments of the Catholic ChurchThe Seven Sacraments are Signs of God's Love For UsThe Sacraments as Signs of God's Love For the ChurchThe sacraments are visible signs of God's love for the Church. Through the 7 sacraments that are instituted by Christ, God's sanctifying love is poured out for the salvation of man and for the graces needed to live a life according to Christ. Before, in the history of the Church, there were many sacraments that were being given to the people. However, as the theology of sacraments became more defined, the sacraments were reduced to an official number of 7 sacraments. The other sacraments that were formerly used are now called sacramentals. Examples of these sacramentals are holy water and many religious articles. What are the 7 sacraments of the Catholic Church? The 7 sacraments of the Catholic Church are divided into three main categories: the sacraments of initiation, the sacraments of healing and reconciliation, and the sacraments of communion and commitment. The sacraments of initiation are: baptism, confirmation, and eucharist. The sacraments of healing are: anointing of the sick and the sacrament of reconciliation (or penance). The sacraments of communion are: marriage and holy orders. The sacrament of baptism In the sacrament of baptism, we become members of the Catholic Church and become part of God's family. Infant baptism is usually the common way of receiving the sacrament. However, there are also many receiving the sacrament of baptism as adults. If an adult were to receive the sacrament of baptism, he or she will undergo the RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. This is a program that is given by the Catholic parish where your residence is located. If you are interested to become a member of the Catholic Church, you can request a Catholic friend or acquaintance to help you in the process of getting to know the Catholic parish in your neighborhood. learn more The sacrament of confirmation After infant baptism, confirmation is usually given to boys and girls who have attained an age of reason. Whereas in the sacrament of baptism, it is the deacon or the priest who baptizes, in the sacrament of confirmation, it is the bishop who is the one who administers the sacrament. The sacrament of confirmation is a sacrament that initiates the Christian to full Christian maturity. If an adult where to receive the sacrament of baptism, he usually enters into a spiritual program whereby he will receive also the sacrament of confirmation and the sacrament of the eucharist. learn more The sacrament of the eucharist The sacrament of the eucharist is where the Christian receives the body and blood of the Lord Jesus in the form of bread and wine. Usually, only the bread is administered in the sacrament. However, for special occasions in a small group celebration or for certain special liturgical occasions like Holy Week, the sacrament is sometimes administered by the priest and his communion ministers in both species. This is done by dipping the host in a chalice of wine and is then given to the communicant who receives it in his tongue. If however, the eucharist is given only in the form of bread, the communicant has the option to receive it either in his tongue or in his hands. learn more The sacrament of reconciliation This was formerly called the sacrament of confession or penance. It is still referred to as that way but there is a new way of calling it: the sacrament of reconciliation. It is named thus because when we approach the priest-confessor, he hears our confession and then gives the absolution and penance whereby we are reconciled back to God and with the Catholic Church. Before, the sacrament of reconciliation involved going to a boxed-type confessional wherein there is a screen that privately divides the priest and the one who goes to confession. However, with the present and new ways of celebrating the sacrament, there are reconciliation rooms whereby the one who desires to receive the sacrament will be able to confess his sins directly to the priest face-to-face and in a more personal manner. learn more The sacrament of the anointing of the sick This sacrament is given everytime a sick person reaches a serious stage in his illness. This sacrament used to be called extreme unction and was administered once and only when the sick person will inevitably die. However, with the new way of administering the sacrament, it is given when the sick person becomes seriously ill. If he gets well but then get seriously ill again to the point of death, the sacrament can be administered again. This way of administering the sacrament is individually. In these modern times, there are liturgical celebrations meant for the sick especially so that they may receive both the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and the sacrament of the eucharist. This way of administering to a group of sick people is usually done in the context of a eucharistic celebration. learn more The sacrament of marriage The sacrament of marriage is a sacred bond instituted by God that can never be broken. When a man and a woman decide to enter into marriage they are promising to make their marriage both unitive and procreative - meaning that they will be united in the flesh and start raising a family under the guidance of the Catholic Church. These unitive and procreative elements must be present in the marriage. Otherwise, the goal of the marriage is not one according to divine law. Those who enter into marriage are entering into a lifelong commitment. Therefore before entering into such a commitment, a certain maturity is required and a certain stability in terms of livelihood and domicile must be present. learn more The sacrament of holy orders The sacrament of holy orders is the sacrament that ordains a man into God's service through the Catholic Church. There are three levels of ordination in the sacrament of holy orders: the diaconate (deacon), the presbyterate (priest), and the episcopate (bishop). Before, the diaconate was seen as a temporary stage towards ordination to the priesthood. Now the Church again reinstated the tradition of the permanent deacon. When a man is married and he becomes a deacon, he retains his marriage. However, when a man is single and he becomes a deacon, he cannot be married. A priest and a bishop is celibate and cannot marry once he makes the commitment to holy orders at his ordination. Those who are called to the ordained ministry commit their whole life at the service of Christ and His Church. learn more Summary: All the 7 sacraments are signs of God's love for the Church. With baptism, confirmation, and the eucharist, God makes us His children, helps us to grow more and mature into Christ, and continually nourishes us with His Body and Blood that we may be strengthened in our Christian journey. And whenever in our Christian journey we may fall out of grace and commit sin, he helps us to be reconciled with Him through confession. And when we get sick, he helps us to gain graces that we may be healed of our sickness and be restored back to the Christian community where we give of ourselves in service. Also, He shows how much He loves us by instituting love, service, and communion in our Church through the sacrament of marriage and holy orders. These 7 sacraments are visible signs of God's love for us. They are meant to help us experience His love throughout our whole life as a Christian committed to Him in love, charity and service. |