THE SACRAMENTS

LITURGY

• “Public work”, “People’s work”

• Church’s prayerful participation in and
celebration of God’s work – our
redemption and salvation
• The source of the Church’s power
 SACRAMENTS

• The sacrament is an “efficacious

symbol” – an effective or powerful sign
that causes what it points to.
• Jesus is the primordial sacrament of
God
TRUTHS ABOUT THE
SACRAMENTS
 1. THE SACRAMENTS ARE SIGNS

• Christ uses many signs and symbols to

help us celebrate his Paschal Mystery
of love and to communicate God’s life
to us.
• The saving effect of the Paschal
Mystery are communicated through the
sacraments.
 2. THE SACRAMENTS ARE EFFECTIVE

• Christ himself works through the

sacraments. Their power comes from
God in the Holy Spirit, not by the
personal holiness of either the minister
or those of us who receive them.
 3. THE SACRAMENTS CONVEY GRACE

• All the sacraments convey sanctifying grace

– God’s free and underserved favor and help
and a participation of God’s own life.
• Sanctifying grace makes the Church holy
and pleasing to God, adopts us into God’s
family, and makes us temples of the Holy
Spirit and heirs of eternal life.
 4. EACH SACRAMENT CONVEYS
SACRAMENTAL GRACE

• Example, the Eucharist represents the

sharing of a common meal in Christ. At
the same time, it actually and really
causes union with the risen Lord.
 5. BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION AND HOLY
ORDERS CONFER A SACRAMENTAL CHARACTER

• Seals and configures the recipient to Christ

in a special way.
• Baptism makes us a child of God;
Confirmation makes us a witness of Jesus
Christ; Holy Orders permanently designates
a man as a bishop, priest or deacon.
• These sacraments can only be received only
once.
 6. SACRAMENTS REQUIRE PROPER
DISPOSITION ON OUR PART

• If we want the Sacraments to bear fruit

in us, we must receive them worthily.
We must have faith and use the gifts
God gives us through the sacraments.
 7 SACRAMENTS

• Baptism
• Confirmation Sacraments of Initiation
• Holy Eucharist
• Holy Orders
Sacraments of Vocation
• Marriage
• Confession
Sacraments of Healing
• Anointing of the Sick