08. THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS

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The Sacraments are visible means of receiving God's Grace.

BAPTISM (also known as Christening) - Our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned his Disciples to go and "make disciples of all  nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:16-20). Through the Sacrament of Baptism, God “has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His Beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). Through Baptism, we become a child of God, a member of Christ, and an inheritor of the kingdom of 

RECONCILIATION (also known as Confession or Penance) - Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted this sacrament as the proper form of receiving the forgiveness of our sins when he first appeared to the apostles after his Resurrection. He breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained” (John 20:22-23).

CONFIRMATION - In this Sacrament, the Holy Spirit comes in awesome power to strengthen us as followers of Christ by increasing and deepening the graces we received in Baptism. 

THE HOLY EUCHARIST (also known as the Mass) - During the Last Supper in celebration the Passover, the Lord Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, together with the Sacrament of the Holy Order, in order to perpetuate the Sacrifice of Christ on Calvary (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).  In the Holy Communion, we consume the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. He said "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:53-55).

ANOINTING OF THE SICK - This Sacrament has the power to heal and fortify our souls. It can renew our faith, bringing peace and courage to overcome the spiritual challenges of illness, injury, and the frailty of old age. 

 MATRIMONY - This Sacrament brings grace that fortifies and preserves the bond between husband and wife. Through this grace they help each other, as well as their children, to attain holiness.

HOLY ORDERS - This Sacrament is the continuation of Christ's priesthood, which He bestowed upon His Apostles. Our Lord provides us with His Word and Sacraments through the holy orders.