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Basic
Catholic Q and A's
The numbers in parenthese that
follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism
of the Catholic Church.
The Celebration of the Christian
Mystery
The Sacraments-Actions of Jesus
1. What are the sacraments?
2. What is a sacramental sign?
3. What does "holy" mean?
4. What is sacramental grace?
5. Can we be sure Jesus acts through the sacraments?
6. What role does the minister of the sacrament have?
7. How many sacraments are there?
8. Who gave us the sacraments?
9. May the sacraments be divided into groups?
10. Why is the Church called a sacrament?
11. Who celebrates the sacraments?
1. What are the
sacraments?
The sacraments are sacred signs through which Jesus gives us
his Spirit and makes us holy and pleasing to him by grace. (1116,
1131)
All the people
kept trying to touch him, because power kept coming out from him
and healing them all (Lk 6:19).
2. What is a sacramental
sign?
A sacramental sign is something that we can hear or see, which
tells us something about the sacrament we are about to receive.
In every sacrament words make up part of the sign. (1145-1155)
3. What does "holy"
mean?
Holy means "like God" or "close to God."
It can also mean "set apart." God's holiness is the greatness
and goodness that set him apart from all his creatures. Through
the sacraments Jesus makes his people holy by grace. The Church,
as well as its ceremonies, feasts, buildings, etc., are holy because
they are of God. (1123)
He who called
you is holy, and so you too should be holy in all your conduct,
since it is written, "You shall be holy because I am holy"
(1 Pt 1:15-16).
4. What is sacramental
grace?
Sacramental grace is the particular grace of the Holy Spirit
which each sacrament gives, for example, Confirmation strengthens
our commitment to Christ. Through each sacrament the Holy Spirit
transforms us and unites us to Christ. (1129)
We are sharing
in God's work and we urge you not to accept God's grace in vain
(2 Cor 6:1).
5. Can we be sure
Jesus acts through the sacraments?
Jesus always acts through the sacraments if we receive them
under the proper conditions. The sacrament and its grace will benefit
us according to our dispositions or attitude-for example, the degree
of our faith and love. (1127-1129, 1131)
His divine
power has bestowed on us everything we need for life and holiness
through our knowledge of the One who called us by his own glory
and power (2 Pt 1:3).
6. What role does
the minister of the sacrament have?
The minister of the sacrament acts in the name of Christ and
the Church and thus guarantees that Christ is truly at work in each
sacrament. Although ordained ministers (bishop, priest, deacon)
are the ordinary ministers of most sacraments, in marriage the man
and woman minister the sacrament to each other. The priest or deacon
is witness to the sacramental action of the spouses. The sacraments
are to be celebrated according to the direction and intention of
the Church in order to confer the power of the Lord. (1119-1120,
1128)
He said to
them again, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me,
I, too, send you" (Jn 20:21).
7. How many sacraments
are there?
There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist,
Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. (1113,
1210)
If you knew the
gift of God and who it is who is saying to you, "Give me a drink,"
you would have asked him and he would have given you living water
(Jn 4:10).
8. Who gave us the
sacraments?
Jesus gave us the sacraments and continues to give each one of
them. He does this through the Church which is his Mystical Body.
(1114, 1117, 1120)
Just as the living
Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so too, whoever
feeds on me will live because of me (Jn 6:57).
9. May the sacraments
be divided into groups?
The sacraments may be divided into three groups. Baptism, Confirmation
and Eucharist are sacraments of initiation, or beginning in the Christian
life. Penance and the Anointing of the Sick are sacraments of healing.
Holy Orders and Matrimony are sacraments at the service of communion.
(1211)
10. Why is the
Church called a sacrament?
The Church is a sacrament-a "great sacrament" through
which we receive the other seven. The Church is a sign that there
is a God who cares about the world and that we are called to union
with God and with one another. The seven sacraments, too, are signs
of God's loving concern for people. (738, 774-776, 1118)
Like living stones let yourselves be
built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer spiritual
sacrifices which are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Pt
2:5).
11. Who celebrates
the sacraments?
Sacraments are always celebrations of the whole community of
Christ, of the Church universal and the Church of heaven. For this
reason, they are celebrated by the Church community, the priestly
people, in which the ordained priesthood serves the baptismal priesthood
by acting in the person of Christ. (1120, 1140-1141)
To the one...who
made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father-to him be glory and
power forever, amen! (Rev 1:6).
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