The Catholic Church has seven sacraments. Sacraments are signs of God’s nearness. According to Catholic teaching, the sacraments were instituted by Jesus. The moment you receive a sacrament you can experience very strongly that God plays an active role in your life. But whether you experience it or not, something happens to you in those moments. What are the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and what do they mean?
Three types of sacraments
To begin with, we can distinguish between three types of sacraments. There are three so-called initiation sacraments. These are sacraments for reception into the Church: the sacrament of baptism, the sacrament of the Eucharist and the sacrament of confirmation. Then there are two sacraments for support in difficult times, namely the sacrament of confession and the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. These two sacraments are also called the sacraments of healing. Finally, there are two sacraments that involve a way of life, the sacrament of matrimony and the sacrament of ordination. Below is a list with a brief explanation of each sacrament.
The sacrament of baptism
Baptism is the fundamental sacrament of Christian initiation. To baptize means to immerse. During baptism, the person being baptized is doused with water. Baptism makes us children of God. A person is also accepted into the church through baptism. Baptism is administered by a priest or deacon. He hereby speaks the words: I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In case of emergency, anyone may administer baptism. The condition is that he or she has the sincere intention to do what the Church does. The sacrament of baptism can only be received once in a lifetime.
The Sacrament of the Eucharist
The word Eucharist literally means thanksgiving. An important moment during the Eucharist is Communion, the moment when one takes in the Sacred Host, the Sacred Bread. Jesus can be experienced very closely. First Communion is usually celebrated around the age of 7 or 8.
A Eucharistic celebration is always led by a priest. The people in the church come together as a community to share bread and wine and to commemorate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. When the priest says the Eucharistic prayer over the bread and wine, they are transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Eucharistic prayer contains the words spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper: Take and eat of this, all of you, for this is my body which is given for you. And ‘Take this cup and drink from it, all of you, for this is the cup of the new and everlasting covenant; this is my blood, which is shed for you and for all men for the forgiveness of sins. Continue to do this in remembrance of Me. Every time Christians celebrate the Eucharist, they do what Jesus commanded his disciples. The Eucharist can be celebrated every day, which means that the sacrament of the Eucharist can be received daily.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
Baptism often happens when one is still a small child. It is a choice made by parents/educators. When receiving the sacrament of Confirmation, the confirmed person chooses to continue on the path of faith. People usually receive this sacrament around the age of 12. This sacrament is the completion of Christian initiation. During the sacrament of Confirmation, the Confirmer (usually the Bishop) strengthens the Confirmation with the power of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. He also gives the confirmed person a cross on the forehead with consecrated oil (anointing) and thus seals that he/she resembles Christ. The Holy Spirit helps people to follow the way of Jesus in faith. Just like baptism, confirmation can only be received once.
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation – Confession
Confession is also called the sacrament of forgiveness. In life, people are constantly faced with choices. We also sometimes find ourselves in difficult situations. We don’t always make the right choices. Sometimes it’s about very small things, but sometimes things go quite wrong and we get into trouble with other people, ourselves and God. The sacrament of penance and reconciliation is about restoring a relationship with God and the church community that has been damaged by sin. In this sacrament the priest can forgive sins in Christ’s name.
After the greeting in a confessional interview, the penitent confesses his sins. It is important that the penitent tells the whole story, actually repents of his or her sins and has the intention to change his or her life. The priest then imposes an appropriate penance, usually in the form of prayers or good works. The priest then grants the penitent acquittal and peace. He uses the words: I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. At the end of the confession, the penitent receives the priest’s blessing.
The priest is also bound by strict confessional secrecy. Violation of the secrecy of confession is punishable. If someone confesses to a serious crime, the priest may try to persuade that person to make it public and accept appropriate legal punishment. However, the decision on this lies with the confessing person.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick aims to confer a special grace on the Christian who is faced with the difficulties associated with a serious illness or old age. This often happens when the believer is in mortal danger as a result of this illness or old age. Only a priest can administer the anointing of the sick. In the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, the priest anoints the head and hands of the sick person with oil. This oil is specially consecrated by the bishop for this sacrament. During the anointing, the priest says a liturgical prayer in which he prays for the special grace of this
sacrament.
This special grace can bear fruit in the following ways:
- the union of the sick person with the suffering of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church
- comfort, peace and encouragement to endure suffering in a Christian way
- forgiveness of sins, if this has not already been obtained through the sacrament of confession
- if possible, restoration of health
- preparation for the transition to eternal life
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick can be received several times in life.
The sacrament of marriage
Marriage is more than a cohabitation contract, it is a life choice in love for each other. For Catholics, marriage is not only a covenant with each other, it is also a covenant with God. Within the Christian tradition, church marriage is a union between a man and a woman that is sealed in the presence of God and his community. Within the Catholic Church, church marriage is considered the actual marriage ceremony and therefore equivalent to civil marriage. Civil marriage is often seen by Catholic couples only as an administrative act.
The sacrament of marriage, unlike all other sacraments, is administered to each other by the bride and groom , with the priest acting as a witness on behalf of the church. In the presence of the priest, the bride and groom officially say yes to each other. At that moment they are connected by God. The priest accepts the word of yes in the name of the church and pronounces the blessing. In most cases, the church wedding takes place within a Eucharistic celebration, but this is not mandatory.
A church marriage can only be dissolved in very exceptional cases. According to Catholic doctrine, what God has connected will not be separated by man. But the church can ask the question whether the original church marriage was validly concluded. If this was not the case, the marriage can be declared null and void by the church. According to the church, the marriage never existed.
The sacrament of ordination
A consecration is a ritual act by which persons, places or things are consecrated to a god, either to designate them for worship or to invoke the mercy of the God of Christianity on the persons or things involved. Someone who is called by God to become a deacon, priest or bishop, and who responds to that calling, chooses to dedicate his life to the service of Jesus Christ. In doing so, he follows in the footsteps of the twelve apostles: the disciples who were closest to Jesus, and whom He sent to preach the gospel everywhere after His death. Since the apostles, the ordination has taken place by the laying on of hands and is one-time and indelible.
An ordination as a deacon, priest or bishop is always administered by a bishop. During a priestly ordination, the bishop calls on God’s power over the new priest. The priest can proclaim the word of God and administer the sacraments in the name of Christ and as a collaborator with the bishop. During a diaconal ordination, the new deacon is appointed to serve within the religious community in the name of the bishop. He assists the priest in worship, pastoral duties and in the field of charity. He can baptize and invoke God’s blessing on a married couple. The sacrament of ordination in its fullness is that of the ordination of a bishop. It makes the ordinand a legitimate successor of the apostles. Bishops, together with the Pope, are responsible for the entire Catholic Church.
Because ordinands feel called to devote themselves wholeheartedly to God and His work, they live a celibate life. This means that they do not enter into marriage and do not have intimate relations with a woman. In this way the ordinand can give himself completely to God and people. The reason why only men can be ordained has to do with the choice of Christ himself, who chose only men as his apostles.