What is a Sacrament
Sacraments have many different definitions. One such definition is sacraments are points of contact for us with God at key moments in our lives. Sacraments are considered religious celebrations, taking place with other people, a fundamental part of being human. Sacraments are symbolic rituals that allows our story to meet God’s story.
In the Catholic religion there are seven sacraments which are celebrated; Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance/ Reconciliation, Marriage, Holly Orders and Anointing of the Sick.
In the Catholic religion there are seven sacraments which are celebrated; Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance/ Reconciliation, Marriage, Holly Orders and Anointing of the Sick.
The Seven Sacraments
The Catholic tradition agrees that seven sacraments exist. A brief overview of each sacrament is listed below:
BAPTISM:
Baptism is described as being born into the Christian community. Baptism is the initiation of a person (infant, child or adult) into God’s grace.
Religious Sign: Flowing water and the prayer of the Church ‘I baptise you’…
Religious Symbol: The symbolism of water has a long and continuous presence in the Bible, from the account of creation to the flood, to the crossing of the Sea of Reeds in the salvation of Israel, and in many other places.
Baptism is described as being born into the Christian community. Baptism is the initiation of a person (infant, child or adult) into God’s grace.
Religious Sign: Flowing water and the prayer of the Church ‘I baptise you’…
Religious Symbol: The symbolism of water has a long and continuous presence in the Bible, from the account of creation to the flood, to the crossing of the Sea of Reeds in the salvation of Israel, and in many other places.
PENANCE/ RECONCILIATION:
A celebration of forgiveness and the act of making things right. Sins are revealed and God is asked for forgiveness.
Religious Sign: The purely human sign of asking for and receiving forgiveness before the church becomes the religious sign of asking God for forgiveness.
Religious Symbol: Human forgiveness is a symbol of the compassionate love and forgiveness of God, who will never be outdone in mercy and generosity.
A celebration of forgiveness and the act of making things right. Sins are revealed and God is asked for forgiveness.
Religious Sign: The purely human sign of asking for and receiving forgiveness before the church becomes the religious sign of asking God for forgiveness.
Religious Symbol: Human forgiveness is a symbol of the compassionate love and forgiveness of God, who will never be outdone in mercy and generosity.
EUCHARIST:
A celebration of Christ’s presence among us and is considered to be the central sacrament.
Religious Sign: The offering and eating of bread and wine. The bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus by the power of God’s spirit acting through the words of the ordained priest, who voices the faith of the community.
Religious Symbol: Bringing the community together around the table of the Lord.
A celebration of Christ’s presence among us and is considered to be the central sacrament.
Religious Sign: The offering and eating of bread and wine. The bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus by the power of God’s spirit acting through the words of the ordained priest, who voices the faith of the community.
Religious Symbol: Bringing the community together around the table of the Lord.
CONFIRMATION:
This is one of the three sacraments of initiation and is where people receive the Holy Spirit.
Religious sign: The laying on of hands, the signing with oil and the saying of appropriate words by the minister (usually a bishop) in the name of the church
Religious symbol: It is thought that there are numerous symbolic messages. One of the main ones is the oil.
This is one of the three sacraments of initiation and is where people receive the Holy Spirit.
Religious sign: The laying on of hands, the signing with oil and the saying of appropriate words by the minister (usually a bishop) in the name of the church
Religious symbol: It is thought that there are numerous symbolic messages. One of the main ones is the oil.
MARRIAGE:
Marriage is the union of man and woman and the journey of faith and parenthood.
Religious sign: The exchange of consent by the partners. Thus two partners administer the sacrament to one another
Religious symbol: The exchange of consent as a symbol of love between the couple, expresses the love of God for us.
Marriage is the union of man and woman and the journey of faith and parenthood.
Religious sign: The exchange of consent by the partners. Thus two partners administer the sacrament to one another
Religious symbol: The exchange of consent as a symbol of love between the couple, expresses the love of God for us.
HOLY ORDERS:
The bishop’s work of delivering Holy Orders to the Catholic community.
Religious sign: The laying on of hands by the bishop, representing the Christian Community, and the saying of appropriate prayers.
Religious symbol: The laying on of hands is a typical human ceremony of commission and empowerment. The religious symbol signifies the empowering grace of the Holy Spirit that comes from God through the community and the ordaining minister.
The bishop’s work of delivering Holy Orders to the Catholic community.
Religious sign: The laying on of hands by the bishop, representing the Christian Community, and the saying of appropriate prayers.
Religious symbol: The laying on of hands is a typical human ceremony of commission and empowerment. The religious symbol signifies the empowering grace of the Holy Spirit that comes from God through the community and the ordaining minister.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK:
This is a sacrament that occurs when someone is sick, before they are dying so that they are able to enjoy and celebrate the sacrament fully.
Religious sign: The anointing with oil and the saying of appropriate prayers by the minister and the whole church.
Religious symbol: Again, the symbolism is that of the curative properties of oil.
This is a sacrament that occurs when someone is sick, before they are dying so that they are able to enjoy and celebrate the sacrament fully.
Religious sign: The anointing with oil and the saying of appropriate prayers by the minister and the whole church.
Religious symbol: Again, the symbolism is that of the curative properties of oil.
Name and origins of the sacrament of marriage
Marriage can also be called Matrimony and comes from the Old French word marier (meaning marry) or mariage and is now commonly known as marriage. The Latin word for matrimony is matrimonium, which comes from combining mater, "mother," with the suffix monium, "action or condition." In the old days, matrimony was basically the same thing as making a woman into a wife and mother.