THE SEVEN CATHOLIC SACRAMENTS
The Sacraments are God’s action which He shows us the love that He gives for his sons and daughters. All them are established by God, and that is why He is the person who celebrates the Sacraments through different ways.
And why did God give seven Sacraments to us? Because He wants to give us grace. That is to say, He gives us His love and the strength to fight against and overcome life’s difficulties. Of course, that is, if we have a positive disposition and attitude towards wanting to please God.
And what are the seven Sacraments?
1. Baptism
When we are born, we all have sins. It’s called original sin. It was a sin that the first family committed – Adam and Eve. When baptized, we are washed our original sin and all the sins that we have committed before (in the case of a baptismal person of sufficient age, it means over the age of seven). And then, we became sons and daughters of God and a part of the Church. God is very happy, when the Priest says while pouring Holy water and baptizing for a person: “I now baptize you, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
2. Confirmation
It is as simple as God (His Holy Spirit) increasing our grace of faith so that we can have more certainty that He will be with us until we arrive in Heaven, because He also give us hope. Finally, He strengthens our charity to love Him and others more deeply. In this case, the Sacrament of Confirmation has to be by the Bishop who imposes his hands and anoints him or her with the Holy Chrism. And while the Sign of the Cross on the forehead of thee, He said: “Receive the seal of grace through the Holy Spirit.”
3. Holy Eucharist
Every day, Jesus transforms bread and wine into His Body and Blood during the Mass. This happens at the moment called Consecration. In this way, we can eat and receive Him into our souls. Jesus instituted this Sacrament at the Last Supper with twelve apostles. This Sacrament forgives all sins and strengthens us so that we can resist the actions leading to future death. It is Jesus who is within us.
4. Reconciliation
This sacrament is a great gift of God. Through the Priest, who listens to our sins when we come and confess them with him, God forgives all our actions and shortcomings that have made us offend Him. Once again, we have to truly repent of the bad things we have done, and the good things we have left. Besides, the Sacrament of Reconciliation brings us a great peace and strengthens us to become good Christians, good sons and daughters of God.
5. Anointing of the Sick
God loves the sick. When a person is sick or old and may die soon, he needs God’s help for that moment. Anointing is the help that brings strength, peace, and encouragement. In addition, it is also the forgiveness for all the faults of the sick and prepare them during the time of death. It is like a union with the Passion Christ on Calvary. In this way, the sick help Jesus carry the Cross through their pain and suffering. Simultaneously, Jesus also helps them in the last moments of their life.
6. Holy Order
This one is only received by those who have the Priestly vocation can receive the sacrament, who becomes administer to celebrate all these Sacraments. The Bishop imposes his hand and prays for the new Priest to consecrate the new Priest. The Sacrament of Holy Orders confer a special effusion of the Holy Spirit with an impression: to be a Priest forever, because he is consecrated to God.
Perpetual deacons and Bishops also “receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders”, distinguish in rites and duties of the Priests. The Bishop has already received the Sacramental ordination before being consecrated as a Bishop. And most Priests spend a year to be transitional deacon as a period before being ordained.
7. Holy Matrimony
The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is a permanent union of a man and a woman. When they marry in the Church, it is God who unites their bodies and souls. Those who get married will not break their marriage relationship: “What God has united, no one can separate”. The model that men and women have to follow is that of the Holy Family: Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. This Holy family is as an example of Christ’s nuptial bond to His bride, the Church.