Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church and Their Meanings |
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Sacraments of initiation
1. Baptism: The Catholic Church sees baptism as the first and basic sacrament of Christian initiation.
2. Confirmation: Confirmation or Chrismation is the second sacrament of Christian initiation. "It is called Chrismation because the essential rite of the sacrament is anointing with chrism. It is called Confirmation because it confirms and strengthens baptismal grace."
3. Eucharist: The Eucharist, also called the Blessed Sacrament, is the sacrament (the third of Christian initiation, the one that the Catechism of the Catholic Church says "completes Christian initiation") by which Catholics partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and participate in his one sacrifice. The first of these two aspects of the sacrament is also called Holy Communion.
Sacraments of healing
4. Penance and Reconciliation (Confession):The Sacrament of Penance is the first of two sacraments of healing. The Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions in the following order and capitalization different names of the sacrament, calling it the sacrament of conversion, Penance, confession, forgiveness and Reconciliation. It is the sacrament of spiritual healing of a baptized person from the distancing from God resulting from sins committed.
5. Anointing of the Sick: Anointing of the Sick is the second sacrament of healing. In this sacrament a priest anoints the sick with oil blessed specifically for that purpose. "The anointing of the sick can be administered to any member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger by reason of illness or old age". A new illness or a worsening of health enables a person to receive the sacrament a further time.
5. Anointing of the Sick: Anointing of the Sick is the second sacrament of healing. In this sacrament a priest anoints the sick with oil blessed specifically for that purpose. "The anointing of the sick can be administered to any member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger by reason of illness or old age". A new illness or a worsening of health enables a person to receive the sacrament a further time.
Sacraments of Service
6. Holy Orders: Holy Orders is the sacrament by which a man is made a bishop, a priest, or a deacon, and thus dedicated to be an image of Christ. A bishop is the minister of this sacrament. https://www.sbdiocese.org/vocations/index.html
7. Matrimony: Matrimony, or Marriage, is another sacrament that consecrates for a particular mission in building up the Church, and that provides grace for accomplishing that mission. This sacrament, seen as a sign of the love uniting Christ and the Church, establishes between the spouses a permanent and exclusive bond, sealed by God.
7. Matrimony: Matrimony, or Marriage, is another sacrament that consecrates for a particular mission in building up the Church, and that provides grace for accomplishing that mission. This sacrament, seen as a sign of the love uniting Christ and the Church, establishes between the spouses a permanent and exclusive bond, sealed by God.
Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P3E.HTM