I. The Nature of the Sacraments

COMPENDIUM

A Sacrament is an outward and efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Jesus Christ for the sanctification of our souls; and every Sacrament signifies, by means of outward things, the divine grace which it effects in the soul. Thus, in Baptism, the pouring of water on a person's head, and the words: "I baptize thee (i.e., I wash thee) in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," are an outward sign of what Baptism effects in the soul; because, as the water washes the body, so does the grace conferred by Baptism cleanse the soul from sin.

There are Seven Sacraments, i.e.:

1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Eucharist
4. Penance
5. Extreme Unction
6. Holy Orders
7. Matrimony

To make a Sacrament, three things are needed: the matter, the form, and the minister, who must have the intention of doing what the Church does. The matter is the outward thing used in order to celebrate a Sacrament, as, for instance, the water in Baptism, or the oil and balsam in Confirmation. The form consists of the words employed. The minister is the person who performs or celebrates the Sacrament.

CATECHISM

517. What is treated of in the fourth part of the Christian Doctrine?

In the fourth part of the Christian Doctrine, the Sacraments are treated of.

518. What is meant by the word Sacrament?

By the word Sacrament is meant a sensible and efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ to sanctify our souls.

519. Why do you call the Sacraments sensible and efficacious signs of grace?

I call the Sacraments sensible and efficacious signs of grace because all the Sacraments signify, by means of sensible things, the divine grace which they produce in our souls.

520. Show by an example how the Sacraments are sensible and efficacious signs of grace.

In Baptism, the pouring of water on the head of the person, and the words: "I baptize thee," that is, I wash thee, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," are a sensible sign of that which Baptism accomplishes in the soul; just as water washes the body, so in like manner does the grace given in Baptism cleanse the soul from sin.

521. How many Sacraments are there, and what are they called?

There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders and Matrimony.

522. What is necessary to constitute a Sacrament?

To constitute a Sacrament, it is necessary to have the matter, the form, and the minister, who must have the intention to do what the Church does.

523. What is the matter of the Sacraments?

The matter of the Sacraments is the sensible thing made use of in effecting the sacrament; such as, for example, natural water in Baptism, oil and balsam in Confirmation.

524. What is the form of the Sacraments?

The form of the Sacraments is the words which are pronounced in order to effect the sacrament.

525. Who is the minister of the Sacraments?

The minister of the Sacraments is the person who administers or confers the Sacrament.

II. The Principal Effect of the Sacraments, which is Grace

COMPENDIUM

Grace is an inward and supernatural gift of God, and it is given without any merit of our own, but through the merits of Jesus Christ, in order to gain eternal life.

Grace is of two kinds: sanctifying or habitual, and actual grace. Sanctifying grace is a supernatural gift, inhering in the soul and making it just, an adopted child of God and an inheritor of Paradise. Further, it is of two kinds: first and second. First grace is that by which a man passes from the state of mortal sin to the state of being just. Second grace is an increase of first grace. Actual grace is a supernatural gift which enlightens the mind and moves and fortifies the will, so that we may do what is right and avoid what is wrong. We can, indeed, guiltily resist the grace of God, because it does not destroy our free will, without which we could get no merit from good or demerit from what is ill. Moreover, without the aid of the grace of God, by our own strength we cannot do anything which would help us to attain eternal life.

Grace is given us by God principally by means of the Sacraments, and these Sacraments, in addition to sanctifying grace, confer sacramental grace. Sacramental grace consists in the power, which is obtained by receiving any Sacrament, of getting the actual graces necessary for fulfilling the obligations implied by the Sacrament which has been received. Thus, Baptism conveys the power of securing graces to lead a Christian life.

Grace is always given by the Sacraments, provided that they are received with the proper dispositions, and this power of conferring grace is imparted to them by Jesus Christ through His life and death. The Sacraments which confer the first grace of sanctification, which makes us the friends of God, are two in number, Baptism and Penance, and they are called sacraments of the dead, because they were mainly instituted in order to restore the life of grace to souls dead through sin. The Sacraments which increase grace in those who possess it are the remaining five: Confirmation, the Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony, which confer second grace; and these Sacraments are called sacraments of the living, because those who receive them must be free from mortal sin, i.e., already living in sanctifying grace.

Whoever receives one of the Sacraments of the living, knowing that he is not in the grace of God, commits a grave sacrilege.

The Sacraments most necessary for salvation are two: Baptism and Penance; Baptism being necessary for all, and Penance for all who have sinned mortally since Baptism.

The greatest of all the Sacraments is that of the Holy Eucharist, because it not only contains grace, but also Jesus Christ Himself, the Author and Giver of the grace of the Sacraments.

CATECHISM

526. What is grace?

Grace is an inward and supernatural gift given to us without any merit of our own, but through the merits of Jesus Christ in order to gain eternal life.

527. How is grace divided?

Grace is divided into sanctifying grace, which is also called habitual grace, and actual grace.

528. What is sanctifying grace?

Sanctifying grace is a supernatural gift inherent in our soul, and rendering us just, adopted children of God and heirs to Paradise.

529. How many kinds of sanctifying grace are there?

Sanctifying grace is of two kinds: first grace and second grace.

530. What is first grace?

First grace is that by means of which one passes from the state of mortal sin to the state of justice.

531. What is second grace?

Second grace is an increase of first grace.

532. What is actual grace?

Actual grace is a supernatural gift which enlightens the mind, moves and strengthens the will in order to enable us to do good and avoid evil.

533. Can we resist the grace of God?

Yes, we can resist the grace of God because it does not destroy our free will.

534. By the aid of our own powers alone can we do anything available to life eternal?

Without the help of the grace of God, and by our own powers alone, we cannot do anything helpful to life everlasting.

535. How is grace given us by God?

Grace is given us by God chiefly through the Sacraments.

536. Do the sacraments confer any other grace besides sanctifying grace?

Besides sanctifying grace, the sacraments also confer sacramental grace.

537. What is sacramental grace?

Sacramental grace consists in the right acquired in the reception of a Sacrament, to have at the proper time the actual graces necessary to fulfill the obligations arising from the Sacrament received. Thus, when we were baptized, we received the right to have the grace to live a Christian life.

538. Do the Sacraments always confer grace on those who receive them?

The Sacraments always confer grace provided they are received with the necessary dispositions.

539. Who gave to the Sacraments the power of conferring grace?

Jesus Christ by His passion and death gave to the Sacraments the power of conferring grace.

540. What Sacraments confer first sanctifying grace?

The Sacraments which confer first sanctifying grace, and render us friends of God, are two: Baptism and Penance.

541. How are these two Sacraments called on that account?

These two Sacraments, Baptism and Penance, are on that account called Sacraments of the dead, because they are instituted chiefly to restore to the life of grace the soul dead by sin.

542. Which are the Sacraments that increase grace in those who already possess it?

The sacraments which increase grace in those who already possess it are the other five: Confirmation, Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders and Matrimony, all of which confer second grace.

543. On this account, how are they called?

These five Sacraments — Confirmation, Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders and Matrimony — are on that account called sacraments of the living, because those who receive them must be free from mortal sin, that is, already alive through sanctifying grace.

544. What sin does he commit who, conscious that he is not in a state of grace, receives one of the Sacraments of the living?

He who conscious that he is not in a state of grace, receives one of the Sacraments of the living, commits a serious sacrilege.

545. What Sacraments are most necessary for salvation?

The Sacraments most necessary to salvation are two: Baptism and Penance. Baptism is necessary to all, and Penance is necessary to all who have sinned mortally after Baptism.

546. What is the greatest of all the Sacraments?

The greatest of all the Sacraments is the Eucharist, because it contains not only grace, but also Jesus Christ the Author of Grace and of the Sacraments.

III. The Characters Impressed by Some of the Sacraments

COMPENDIUM

There are three Sacraments - Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders - which can be received once only, because each of them imparts a character. The character, impressed by each of these three Sacraments on the soul, is a spiritual mark that can never be obliterated. In Baptism, the soul is marked as a member of Christ; in Confirmation, as His soldier; in Holy Orders, as His minister.

CATECHISM

547. What Sacraments can be received only once?

The Sacraments that can be received only once are three: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

548. Why can the three Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders be received only once?

The three sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders can be received only once, because each of them imprints a special character on the soul.

549. What is the character that each of the three Sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders imprints on the soul?

The character that each of the three Sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders imprints on the soul is a spiritual mark that is never effaced.

550. What is the purpose of the character that these three Sacraments impress on the soul?

The character that these three Sacraments imprint on the soul serves to mark us as members of Jesus Christ at Baptism, as His soldiers at Confirmation, and as His ministers at Holy Orders.