THE SACRAMENTS
By Giuseppe Monno The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, through which divine life is dispensed to the faithful. This definition, formulated by the Council of Trent and reiterated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, expresses several fundamental truths: They are visible signs God makes use […]
Question: Please provide the Scriptural foundations for the Seven Sacraments.
Answer: Baptism: Matt. 3:1-17 & 28:16-20; Mk. 1:1-11 & 16:14-17; Lk. 3:16-22; Jn. 1:19-34 & 3:1-24; Acts 1:1-10, 2:1-41, 8:26-40, 9:1-19, 10:1-48 & 19:1-7. Confirmation: Jn. 14:14-31 & 15:26-27; Acts 1:1-5, 2:1-4, 8:14-17, 9:1-19 & 19:1-7. Holy Eucharist: Jn. 6:22-71; Mt. 26:26-29, Mk. 14:22- 25; Lk. 24:13-35, 1 Cor. 10:14-22, 11:17-34. Reconciliation: Mt. 3:1-6, 4:17 & 16:13-19; Mk. 1:1- […]
What is the difference between a Sacrament and a Sacramental?
The seven Sacraments were all instituted by Christ, and the Church is powerless to change them; when worthily received, they infallibly confer grace of themselves. Sacramentals differ from the sacraments in not having been instituted by Christ in order to be perpetuated within the Church as divinely established means of conferring grace. For the most […]
The Bible on the Seven Sacraments
(RSVCE) Baptism “The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1213) defines baptism thus: Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration by water in the word (per aquam in verbo). St. Thomas (III:66:1) gives this definition: “Baptism is the external ablution of the body, performed with the prescribed form of words.” Later theologians generally distinguish formally between the physical and […]
Imposition of Hands
A symbolical ceremony by which one intends to communicate to another some favor, quality or excellence (principally of a spiritual kind), or to depute another to some office. The rite has had a profane or secular as well as a sacred usage. It is extremely ancient, having come down from patriarchal times. Jacob bequeathed a […]
Holy Oils
(OLEA SACRA). Liturgical Benediction Oil is a product of great utility the symbolic signification of which harmonizes with its natural uses. It serves to sweeten, to strengthen, to render supple; and the Church employs it for these purposes in its rites. The liturgical blessing of oil is very ancient. It is met with in the […]
Chrism
A mixture of oil of olives and balsam, blessed by a bishop in a special manner and used in the administration of certain sacraments and in the performance of certain ecclesiastical functions. That chrism may serve as valid matter for the Sacrament of Confirmation it must consist of pure oil of olives, and it must […]
Character (in Catholic Theology)
Character indicates a special effect produced by three of the sacraments, viz. Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy orders. This special effect is called the sacramental character. The term implies a relation (as will be explained below) to a term used in the Epistle to the Hebrews (1:3) concerning the Son of God, who is there described as […]
Whether this sacrament imprints a character?
Objection 1. It would seem that this sacrament imprints a character. For a character is a distinctive sign. Now just as one who is baptized is distinguished from one who is not so is one who is anointed, from one who is not. Therefore, just as Baptism imprints a character so does Extreme Unction. Objection 2. Further, […]
Where infants are baptized: A look at the numbers
To what extent do infant baptism rates in the nation’s dioceses simply mirror birth rates in the nation’s states? And do diocesan infant baptism rates mirror diocesan marriage rates, as one might expect? June 3, 2025 J. J. Ziegler According to data published in the most recent (2024) edition of The Official Catholic Directory, 480,905 infant baptisms […]