The Seven Sacraments
Of Catholicism
Ashley McClain
Catholicism is the oldest religion in the western world. The members are bound together through Jesus Christ and their obedience to the papacy. The Pope is the head of the church and is believed to be the successor to Saint Peter. Christ appointed Saint Peter as the first head of the Church. Although the Catholic Church is based out of Rome, there are more than a billion members spread across all five continents. All Catholics have a faith that revolves around the Seven Sacraments – baptism, reconciliation, Eucharist, confirmation, anointing of the sick, marriage, and holy orders. A man by the name of Peter Lombard first enumerated the sacraments and they …show more content…
Baptism is believed to be the entrance into the Church and may only be received once. It cleanses one of original sin and allows one to receive the life (grace) of God into their souls. By receiving the grace of God, one is then prepared for the reception of other sacraments. The second Sacrament of Initiation is confirmation. Like baptism, confirmation may only be received once. It is believed to strengthen and “seal” the grace of God received from Baptism. The essential element of this sacrament is when a bishop anoints one with chrism (an aromatic oil that has been blessed by a bishop) and says, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit” or in Eastern Churches, “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Eastern churches confirm infants immediately following baptism, while western churches believe that one must grow in the faith before being confirmed. Therefore western churches delay confirmation until the teenage years. The third and final Sacrament of Initiation is Eucharist. It is also called the Blessed Sacrament or Communion and it is the sharing of bread and wine. Catholics believe this sacrament is a sacrifice and a meal. Communion is a way of receiving Christ’s body and blood, which nourishes one spiritually and brings them closer to God. Communion is a very important day in the lives of Catholic children and is celebrated by the entire …show more content…
Holy Orders are a sacrament also known as ordination and like baptism and confirmation it may only be received once because their effect is permanent. By taking this sacrament a man is made bishop, priest, or deacon. He is then dedicated to be an image of Christ. The minister for this sacrament is a bishop. Many Catholics do not ever receive this sacrament. The last sacrament is marriage, also known as Holy Matrimony. Marriage gives a man and a woman the grace to love one another just as Christ loves the church. This is a ceremony performed in a Catholic Church by a Catholic priest in front of the congregation because it is suppose to establish a couple in a public state of life in the church. In order to receive this sacrament both the man and the woman must be baptized Christians (at least one of them must be Catholic). The two must not be closely related and this must be their first marriage unless their first marriage ended with the death of their spouse or the Church has granted a declaration of
Of Catholicism
Ashley McClain
Catholicism is the oldest religion in the western world. The members are bound together through Jesus Christ and their obedience to the papacy. The Pope is the head of the church and is believed to be the successor to Saint Peter. Christ appointed Saint Peter as the first head of the Church. Although the Catholic Church is based out of Rome, there are more than a billion members spread across all five continents. All Catholics have a faith that revolves around the Seven Sacraments – baptism, reconciliation, Eucharist, confirmation, anointing of the sick, marriage, and holy orders. A man by the name of Peter Lombard first enumerated the sacraments and they …show more content…
Baptism is believed to be the entrance into the Church and may only be received once. It cleanses one of original sin and allows one to receive the life (grace) of God into their souls. By receiving the grace of God, one is then prepared for the reception of other sacraments. The second Sacrament of Initiation is confirmation. Like baptism, confirmation may only be received once. It is believed to strengthen and “seal” the grace of God received from Baptism. The essential element of this sacrament is when a bishop anoints one with chrism (an aromatic oil that has been blessed by a bishop) and says, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit” or in Eastern Churches, “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Eastern churches confirm infants immediately following baptism, while western churches believe that one must grow in the faith before being confirmed. Therefore western churches delay confirmation until the teenage years. The third and final Sacrament of Initiation is Eucharist. It is also called the Blessed Sacrament or Communion and it is the sharing of bread and wine. Catholics believe this sacrament is a sacrifice and a meal. Communion is a way of receiving Christ’s body and blood, which nourishes one spiritually and brings them closer to God. Communion is a very important day in the lives of Catholic children and is celebrated by the entire …show more content…
Holy Orders are a sacrament also known as ordination and like baptism and confirmation it may only be received once because their effect is permanent. By taking this sacrament a man is made bishop, priest, or deacon. He is then dedicated to be an image of Christ. The minister for this sacrament is a bishop. Many Catholics do not ever receive this sacrament. The last sacrament is marriage, also known as Holy Matrimony. Marriage gives a man and a woman the grace to love one another just as Christ loves the church. This is a ceremony performed in a Catholic Church by a Catholic priest in front of the congregation because it is suppose to establish a couple in a public state of life in the church. In order to receive this sacrament both the man and the woman must be baptized Christians (at least one of them must be Catholic). The two must not be closely related and this must be their first marriage unless their first marriage ended with the death of their spouse or the Church has granted a declaration of