Part III, The Means of Grace: Chapter II, The Sacraments

The Sacraments.

1. What is a Sacrament?

A Sacrament is a visible, or sensible, sign, instituted by Jesus Christ, by which invisible grace and inward sanctification are communicated to our souls.

By sensible is meant something that can be perceived by some of the senses.

2. How many things are necessary to constitute a Sacrament?

These three: 1. A visible sign; 2. An invisible grace; and 3. The institution by Jesus Christ.

3. Why has Christ instituted visible signs for imparting his grace to us?

1. That we may have a visible pledge of the inward invisible grace; and 2. That by sharing in these visible means of grace, we may manifest our communion with the one Church of Christ.

Thus Christ himself sometimes made use of certain signs when He conferred spiritual and corporal blessings on people ; for instance, when He breathed on His Disciples, and said : ' 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost' (John xx, 22) ; when 'He spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle, and spread the clay upon the eyes of the man born blind' (John ix. 6) ; when 'He put His fingers into the ears of the man deaf and dumb, and spitting, He touched his tongue, and looking up to Heaven, He groaned, and said to Him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened' (Mark vii. 33, 34).

4. Do these signs only signify grace?

Xo; they also effect or produce the grace which they signify, unless we, on our part, put an obstacle in the way; therefore they are also called efficacious signs.

' 5. What grace do the Sacraments effect?

1. They communicate, or increase, sanctifying grace ;

2. Each Sacrament communicates other special graces according to the end for which it has been instituted.

3. How must we receive the Sacraments, in order that they may produce these graces in us? •

We must prepare ourselves well for them, and then receive them worthily.

7. What sin does he commit who receives a Sacrament unwortliily?

He commits a very grievous sin — a sacrilege.

8. Does not the efficacy of the Sacraments also depend on the worthiness or unworthiness of those who administer them?

'No; for the Sacraments have their efficacy, not from him who administers them, but from the merits of Jesus Christ, by whom they were instituted.

The Sacraments are, as it were, channels through which flow to us the graces which Jesus has merited for us by His bitter Passion and death.

9. Were all the Sacraments instituted by Christ?

Yes; for God alone can give to outward signs the power of producing grace and sanctification.

10. How many Sacraments has Christ instituted?

These seven: 1. Baptism; 2, Confirmation; 3. Holy Eucharist; 4. Penance; 5. Extreme Unction; 6. Holy Orders ; and 7. Matrimony.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has instituted just as many Sacraments as are necessary and conducive to the supernatural life of man. For as he is first born into this natural life, then grows up and acquires strength, is frequently supplied with nourishing food, in order to preserve life and to increase his strength, etc. ; so also he is, 1. Born in Baptism to the supernatural life; gains then, 2. In Confirmation strength and growth; 3. Receives in the Holy Eucliarist a Divine nourishment; 4. Finds in Penance a remedy to heal all the diseases of his soul, and to restore him to the state of grace; and 5. Gets in Extreme Unction assistance and strength against despair and the last assaults of the devil; 6, In Holy Orders the powers of administrating the means of grace necessary to the supernatural life are propagated; and 7. In Matrimony the union between husband and wife is blessed, that, being sanctified themselves, they may also b-»-ing up their children to a holy, and consequently to eternal, life.

11. How do we know that there are seven Sacraments?

We know it because such has been at all times the teaching and practice of the Church, which is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. iii. 15).

Not only have the Catholics of all ages held them, but the modern Greeks, the Russians, and all those sects who in the first centuries separated themselves from the Catholic Church, have ever retained and still hold these seven Sacraments; which evidently proves that the doctrine of seven Sacraments is as old as the Church itself.

12. How are the Sacraments divided?

They are divided, 1. Into Sacraments of the living and Sacraments of the dead; and 2. Into such as can be received only once, and such as can be received more than once.

13. Which are the Sacraments of the living?

The Sacraments of the living are, 1. Confirmation; 3. Holy Eucharist; 3. Extreme Unction; 4. Holy Orders; and 5. Matrimony.

14. Why are they called Sacraments of the ' living'? '

Because, in order to receive them, we ought to have Bupernatural life — that is, sanctifying grace.

15. Which are the Sacraments of the dead?

The Sacraments of the dead are these two: Baptism and Penance.

16. Why are they called Sacraments of the ' dead ' ?

Because, wlien we receive them, we either have not, or at least are not obliged to have, the life of grace.

17. Which Sacraments can be received only ' once ' ?

Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

18. Why can they be received but ' once ' ?

Because they imprint upon the soul an indelible character, or spiritual mark, which consecrates and dedicates him who receives it in a special manner to the service of God, remains for ever, and will add either to his glory in Heaven or to his misery in Hell.

19. Whence have we received those ceremonies which, in the administration of the Sacraments, are used together with the signs instituted by Christ?

From the Church, which, under the assistance of the Holy Ghost, has ordained them for the increase of our devotion and reverence.

Application. Esteem the Holy Sacraments as most precious means of grace instituted by Christ; give fervent thanks to God for them, and beware of profaning them by imprecations or by unworthily receiving them.