Sacraments of the Catholic Church: Archdiocese of Southwark

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The Sacraments are sacred signs of divine origin, instituted by Jesus Christ, that reveal and communicate grace.

The Catholic Church accepts seven Sacraments which ‘touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1210) and can be grouped in this way:

Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist

Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick

Sacraments at the Service of Communion: Holy Orders and Matrimony

The Sacraments, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, are the means by which divine life is dispensed to humanity. When a child is baptised or a couple is married there is an effect, however, the sacraments are not ‘magic’ meaning that regardless of what we do or how we live they universally bear fruit. Rather, they truly bear fruit when received with the right dispositions, preparation and intention (CCC 1131).

Just as our Lord Jesus Christ put on human flesh to draw close to us, it is fitting that the Sacraments are also expressed through tangible things, such as bread, wine, water, oil, and the human voice. The Church – as the Body of Christ – dispenses these Sacraments for the life of her members (CCC 1117-1118).

Baptism

Baptism

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments – CCC 1213 Continue reading

Confirmation

By the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptised are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed - CCC 1285 Continue reading

Holy Communion

Eucharist

The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’ The other sacraments, [and indeed all other aspects of the Church’s life], are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself’ - CCC 1324. Continue reading

Confession

Penance and Reconciliation

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, Jesus showed himself to his apostles. He breathed on them, and said to them: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’ (John 20:19, 22-23) Continue reading

Anointing of the Sick

Illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God. It can also make a person more mature, helping him discern in his life what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is. Very often illness provokes a search for God and a return to him - CCC 1501 Continue reading

Marriage Mazur

Holy Matrimony

The Sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life - CCC 1661 Continue reading

Holy Orders

Through Holy Orders, the Church hands down from century to century the ministry entrusted by Jesus Christ to his apostles, until the end of time (CCC 1536). Continue reading