The document introduces the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It explains that the sacraments are performative acts where Christ is present and working through signs to communicate grace. The sacraments are divided into three categories: initiation (baptism, confirmation, Eucharist), healing (penance and anointing of the sick), and vocation/commitment (marriage and holy orders). The sacraments sanctify believers, build up the Church, give worship to God, and nourish faith.

1. THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS
AN INTRODUCTION

2. God is the infinite mystery.
He is not a thing or even an
embodied person that can be
limited to a particular space or
time or even religion.
God is everywhere.
certain peoples, places, and
events reveal the presence of
God more fully and deeply.

3. JESUS INSIDE
This is the idea behind the understanding of the
sacraments, where the loving presence and
power of God are truly, fully, and deeply
experienced by us.
They are real happenings that make present the
spiritual reality they express or signify (CFC #
1521).
It is Christ who baptizes, he who acts in his
sacraments in order to communicate the grace
that each sacrament signifies (CCC # 1127)

4. THE REALITY OF THE SACRAMENTS
Three basic realities of the sacraments
1.1.Sacraments are performative word
events (like the words and deeds of Jesus)
1.2.Sacraments are efficacious because in
them Christ himself is at work
1.3.Sacraments act ex opere operato
(literally: “by the very fact of the actions being
performed”) – meaning, by virtue of the
saving work of Christ, accomplished once
and for all.

5. Distinction by definition
Jesus Christ is the primordial sacrament
of the Father.
The Church is the fundamental sacrament
of Jesus Christ.
Within the Church, there are seven
sacraments. These sacraments were instituted by
Christ, founded and rooted in Christ’s life, words and deeds,
and they have Christ as the ultimate end and purpose.

6. THE SACRAMENTS ARE DIVIDED
INTO THREE CATEGORIES:
1. The Sacraments of Initiation
1.1. Baptism
Initiation into the life of grace in the Christian
community.
1.2. Confirmation
Celebration of the presence of the Spirit in the
life of faith.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are
children of God (Romans 8:14).

7. 1. The Sacraments of Initiation
1.3. Eucharist
The source, sustenance, and summit of
Christian faith.
Taking bread and giving thanks, he broke it
and gave it to them, saying, “This is my
body to be given for you. Do this in
memory of me” (Luke 22:19).

8. 2. The Sacraments of Healing
2.1. Penance
A celebration of God’s unconditional,
forgiving love.
2.2. Anointing of the sick
A celebration of Christ’s healing power
amidst sickness.

9. 3. The Sacraments of Vocation or
Commitment
3.1. Marriage
A celebration of the human love of two
people as a sign of God’s love for all.
3.2. Holy Orders
A celebration of the call to serve Christ and
the community in a unique way –
ordination, to maintain “holy order in the
Church.”

10. The Sacraments
“To sanctify
To build up the Body of Christ
To give worship to God
To nourish, strengthen, and express our
faith” (Constitution on the Sacred
Liturgy, 59).