What are the Sacraments?
A Sacrament has traditionally been defined as "an outward sign, instituted by Christ, designed to give grace." But what does this definition mean? How does this definition get expressed in our day to day faith life. Let us look at the various parts of each definition.
First, let us examine the phrase, "an outward sign". Primarily, a sign represents another reality. It points to something else. For instance, a stop sign points to power of the law which it represents. In an of itself, a sign has not power. But, when the reality it represents is given to it, it takes on powerful meaning. When the stop sign is given the reality of the force of law, traffic stops. So to, when the sacraments are given the reality of Christ, they take on new meaning.
This is the greatness of the sacraments. We believe that ordinary things, when changed by Christ, are given new meaning. For instance, water, essential for life, when given meaning by Christ in Baptism, becomes the very stuff of eternal life.
We call it outward, because the sacraments are celebrated in the context of the Christian Community. The sacraments are public, visible celebrations of the community.
The next part of the definition, "instituted by Christ", indicates we believe the sacraments to be given to the Church by Christ himself. For instance, in the gospel of Matthew, Chapter 28, verse 19, Jesus talks about baptism in the Church when he tells the disciples, "Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." And in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to the sacrament of the Eucharist when he calls himself as the "bread of life", and that whoever eats this bread will live forever. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." Further in the Acts of the Apostles, the "laying on of hands" was the act of commissioning and sending forth. It is obvious that Christ gave to the Church outward signs of His ongoing presence in the Church.
Lastly, "designed to give grace." We define grace as the help and presence of God, the free gift to us by God of Himself. While there are many ways we receive the gift and presence of God, the sacraments represent a significant and most excellent way for believers to experience the ongoing presence of God, for we believe that in the sacraments we encounter Christ himself.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: "Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life." (Paragraph 1210)
The sacraments are placed into groups: The sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation are referred to as the Sacraments of Initiation, because they lay the foundations of the Christian life. The sacraments of Penance (Confession) and Anointing of the Sick are referred to as the Sacraments of Healing, because they help heal us body and soul. The sacraments of Matrimony (Marriage) and Holy Orders are referred to as the sacraments of service, because they represent the way the faithful serve the Church.
What is the Sacrament of Baptism?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) calls Baptism "the Basis of the whole Christian life" and the "gateway to life in the Spirit". Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn into the life of the Spirit, and made members of the Church. The word Baptism literally means to "plunge" for through it was are plunged into the life of Christ. Further, Baptism is the gateway to the rest of the sacraments, for Baptism makes one a member of the Chruch.
Water is the key ingredient in Baptism. Water is both a necessity for life, and a threat to it. With water, we are able to live. Too much water, as in a flood, or a mudslide, and we die. Hence, water is a symbol of both death and life. It is this dual connotation that makes water such an appropriate symbol of this sacrament. Out of the death of Christ, we are able to enter into eternal life.
In the Bible, water is mentioned often. It was the Spirit of God that breathed on the waters at the dawn of creation. It was the waters of the flood that destroyed all except Noah and his family when humans had gone astray. It was through the parted waters of the Red Sea that God, through Moses, led Israel to the desert on their journey to the Promised Land.
"From the very day of Pentecost the Chruch has celebrated and administered holy Baptism. Indeed St. Peter declares to the crowd astounded by his preaching: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
From the earliest days of the Church, her mission has been to baptize believers. Indeed, to baptize was the command of Jesus to the disciples in the gospel of Matthew. And, since St. Paul recounts that entire households were brought to faith (Acts 16:31-33), the Church has long held the tradition of baptizing even infants, so important is the passing on of the faith.
Baptism is preceded in the Church by a period of instruction and preparation. For adults, it is a period of preparation that usually involves months of formal classes and involvement getting to know the community. With smaller children, the instruction is given to them, and also involves their parents. With infants, the instruction and preparation is given to parents.
With adults, the celebration of baptism usually occurs during the Easter Vigil. It is followed by the first reception of the Eucharist, and the celebration of Confirmation. For infants, the ceremony usually occurs in the context of a weekend liturgy, and when they reach the age of reason (age 7) they receive their First Communion, and as adults receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The ceremony involves a number of symbols, to remind us and bring to light the reality of the Christ, who bestows the grace in the sacrament.
The sign of the cross, is traced on the forehead of the one to be baptized, at the very beginning of the ceremony, to mark "with the imprint of Christ the one who is going to belong to him and signifies the grace of redemption Christ won for us by his cross." (CCC, paragraph 1235).
The ceremony is also distinguished by readings from the Bible. Usually, a reading from the Old and New Testament, and a gospel reading. "The proclamation of the Word of God enlightens the candidates (the ones to be baptized) and the assembly with the revealed truth and elicits the response of faith."
Faith is essential to baptism. In the case of adults, the candidate is anointed with the oil of cathechumens (for strength), and then makes the confession of faith. With infants, the candidate is anointed with the oil of catechumens, and the parents and community make the profession of faith.
"The baptismal water is consecrated by a prayer . The Church asks God that through his Son the power of the Holy Spirit may be sent upon the water, so that those who will be baptized in it may be born of water and the Spirit."
"The essential rite of the sacrament follows: Baptism properly speaking." With water, the recipient becomes a child of God and a member of the Chruch. The person is baptized with water, as the essential words of the rite are said: "[The name of the person], I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
After the Baptism, the baptized person is anointed with sacred chrism (perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop). This anointing "signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian, that is, one "anointed" by the Holy Spirit, incorporated with Christ who is anointed priest, prophet and king."
"The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has "put on Christ", has risen with Christ. The candle, lit from the Easter Candle, signifies that Christ has enlightened (the newly baptized). In him, the baptized are "the light of the world".
The Church believes a person may only be baptized once.
What is the Sacrament of Eucharist?
The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." (Lumen Gentium, paragraph 11) Put simply, the Eucharist is the real presence of Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine. Catholics believe that Christ, through the priest (who acts in the person of Christ), makes Himself really present. In fact, although the appearance of the bread and wine doesn't change, Catholics believe they undergo a change of substance (transubstantiation). The bread and wine become the real presence of Christ. The celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist is called Mass.
The celebration of the Eucharist dates back to the earliest days of the Church. Catholics believe Christ instituted this sacrament at His Last Supper, when he said to the disciples, "This is my body, take and eat; This is my blood, take and drink." Indeed so significant is this event it is recounted in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. And in the gospel of John, the words of Christ are clear: The eating of the body of Christ and the drinking of the blood of Christ are intimately connected to Christ's gift of salvation.
The Catechism reminds us that in the tradition of the Church, the Eucharist is referred to by a number of titles. The word Eucharist comes from two Greek words meaning "thanksgiving". Also, these two Greek words recall the "Jewish blessings that proclaim -- especially during a meal -- God's works: creation, redemption, and sanctification.".
It is referred to as The Lord's Supper, as recounted in the gospels and Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, "because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his Passion and because it anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.".
"The Breaking of Bread, because Jesus used this rite, part of a Jewish meal, when as master of the table he blessed and distributed the bread, above all at the Last Supper. It is by this action his disciples will recognize him after his Resurrection, and it is this expression that the first Christians will use to designate their Eucharistic assemblies." .
"The Eucharistic Assembly (synaxis), because the Eucharist is celebrated amid the assembly of the faithful, the visible expression of the Church." .
"The memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection.
The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ our Savior and includes thte Church's offering. The terms 'holy sacrifice of the Mass', 'sacrifice of praise,' 'spiritual sacrifice', 'pure and holy sacrifice' are also used, since it completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant.
The Holy and Divine Liturgy, because the Church's whole liturgy finds its center and most intense expression in the celebration of this sacrament; in the same sense we also call its celebration the Sacred Mysteries. We speak of the Most Blessed Sacrament because it is the Sacrament of sacraments. .
The Church continued to celebrate the Eucharist because it was commanded to do so by Christ, who said, "Do this in memory of Me."
Only baptized Catholics receive the Eucharist. Generally, Catholics make their First Communion (the celebration of the first reception of the Eucharist) at the age of 7 or 8, but many do make their First Communion as teenagers or adults.
With the exception of Eastern Churches most other Christian churches do not share the belief of Catholics that the Eucharist is the real presence of Christ. Because the Eucharist is the real presence of Christ for us, which represents our unity of faith in Christ, Catholics reserve reception of the Eucharist to those baptized Catholics who share completely the unity of the faith. Admitting only baptized believers to the Eucharist was the practice of the early Church.