SACRAMENTS

ST. JULIANA CATHOLIC CHURCH

What is a Sacrament?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the sacraments as “efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us” (CCC 1131).

To understand what “efficacious” means, it helps to look at how we use signs in our daily lives. Think of a Stop Sign:

It is a sign: It signals a command to the driver (“Stop the car!”).
It has a limit: The sign itself has no power to stop your car. If you don’t hit the brakes, the car will roll right past it. The sign only signifies the action; it does not cause it.

A Sacrament is different. It is like a Stop Sign that—by its very nature—physically stops the car for you.

It is a sign: In Baptism, for example, we see water, which signifies washing.
It effects what it signifies: When the water is poured, the soul is actually cleansed of sin.

The sacraments do not just tell us a change is happening; they cause the change by the power of the Holy Spirit. As St. Leo the Great said, “what was visible in our Savior has passed over into his mysteries.”

The Seven Sacraments

The Church celebrates seven sacraments, which are divided into three categories: Initiation, Healing, and Service (see CCC 1210). Each sacrament has a visible Sign (matter and form) and produces a spiritual Effect (grace).

Sacraments of Initiation

Baptism

The Sign: Pouring of water (or immersion) while saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
The Effect: Cleanses the soul of Original Sin, makes us children of God, and incorporates us into the Church.
Scripture: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
Catechism: CCC 1213 > pop up with this text:
- 1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word.”

Confirmation

The Sign: Anointing the forehead with Sacred Chrism oil and the laying on of hands.
The Effect: Seals us with the gift of the Holy Spirit and strengthens us to proclaim and defend the faith.
Scripture: “Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:17)
Catechism: CCC 1303 > pop up with this text:
- 1303 From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: (1262–1274; 2044)
  — it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”;
  — it unites us more firmly to Christ;
  — it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
  — it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
  — it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:
  Recall then that you have received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear in God’s presence. Guard what you have received. God the Father has marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed you and has placed his pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.

The Eucharist

The Sign: Wheat bread and grape wine, and the words of consecration.
The Effect: The bread and wine become the true Body and Blood of Christ; receiving it unites us intimately with Jesus and nourishes our spiritual life.
Scripture: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
Catechism: CCC 1324 > pop up with this text:
- 1324 The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” “The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.”

Sacraments of Healing

Reconciliation (Confession)

The Sign: The confession of sins by the penitent and the words of absolution by the priest.
The Effect: Restores our relationship with God by forgiving sins committed after Baptism.
Scripture: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:23)
Catechism: CCC 1422 > pop up with this text:
- “Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.”

Anointing of the Sick

The Sign: Anointing the forehead and hands with the Oil of the Sick.
The Effect: Gives spiritual strength, peace, and courage to endure illness; forgives sins if the person is unable to confess.
Scripture: “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14)
Catechism: CCC 1499> pop up with this text:
- 1499 “By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.”

Sacraments of Service

Matrimony

The Sign: The exchange of vows (consent) between a baptized man and a baptized woman.
The Effect: Forms an unbreakable bond between the spouses and gives them the grace to love each other as Christ loves the Church.
Scripture: “So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:8-9)
Catechism: CCC 1601 > pop up with this text:
- 1601 “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”

Holy Orders

The Sign: The Bishop laying hands on the candidate and the Prayer of Consecration.
The Effect: Confers the spiritual power and grace to perform the sacred duties of a deacon, priest, or bishop.
Scripture: “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you.” (1 Timothy 4:14)
Catechism: CCC 1536 > pop up with this text:
- 1536 Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.

Special Rites

While the seven sacraments were instituted by Christ to give us grace, the Church also provides Special Rites to bless and sanctify important moments in our lives.

Funerals: A liturgy of prayers for the deceased, entrusting them to God’s mercy and offering comfort to the grieving. [Learn more about Funerals] > Link to Funerals page
Quinceañeras: A traditional celebration of life and thanksgiving for a young woman’s 15th birthday, marking her commitment to her faith and community.