THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS
INTRODUCTION
Christ instituted the sacraments of the new covenant, which
are treasures to the Catholic faith.
The sacraments are gifts to the Church and each sacrament
is an outward sign of an inward grace. When we participate
in them worthily, each provides us with graces
The sacraments touch all the stages and vital moments of
Christian life. The Church continues to celebrate the
sacraments for the redemption and salvation of God’s people
THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS ARE:
Baptism
Confirmation
Holy Communion
Penance
Anointing of the sick
Matrimony
Holy Orders
THE SEVEN SACRAMENT
THE SACRAMENTS ARE GROUPED INTO THREE:
Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the
Holy Eucharist
Sacraments of Healing: Penance and the Anointing of the
Sick
Sacraments at the Service of Communion: Marriage and
Holy Orders
THE FIRST THREE
SACRAMENTS
THE SACRAMENT OF INITIATION
They are the first three sacraments- Baptism, Confirmation and
Holy Eucharist. They are known as the sacraments of initiation,
because the rest of our life as a Christian depends on them.
In the history of the Church, the three sacraments were tied very
closely together. As the Church grew in strength and number, it
became imperative that these three sacraments are celebrated
at different milestones in the spiritual lives of followers in the
Roman Catholic Church.
However, in the Eastern Rite, the three sacraments are still
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Sacrament of Baptism: in Greek means ‘Baptizein” which
means to “plunge” or “immerse”. It means to immerse
or plunge into the water.
This symbolizes that the catechumen “died with Christ”
being immersed in the water and rises up as a “new
creature” emerging from it.
Baptism is the first of the three sacraments of Christian
initiation and it is the gateway to all the other
It removes all sin, including original sin, which is the sin
we inherit at birth.
It is called “washing of regeneration and renewal by the
Holy Spirit.”
The Sacrament is received once but where there is a
grave doubt about the validity or reception, conditional
baptism can be given to a catechumen
PREFIGURATION OF BAPTISM IN OLD TESTAMENT
At the beginning of creation: the essence of water was
revealed as a beautiful creature, source of life and
fruitfulness
Noah’s Ark- it prefigures salvation by baptism.
Crossing of the Red Sea: the liberation of the people of Israel
from slavery in Egypt announces the liberation wrought by
baptism.
Crossing of River Jordan through which the people of God
receive the gift of land promised to Abraham’s descendants.
CHRIST’S
The Old BAPTISM
covenant was a prefiguration which came to
fulfilment in Christ. The purpose of Christ’s baptism is
to fulfill all righteousness and a manifestation of self-
emptying.
With His Passover and passion, Christ opened to all
people the fountain of baptism and the blood and water
that flowed from the pierced side of Christ types of
Baptism and the Eucharist.
He also gave the mission to his apostles after his
Baptism in the Church: on the Pentecost day, the
Church celebrated and administered baptism to
believers. (Cf: Acts 2:38. 2: 41; 8:12-13)
Baptism is seen connected to faith. Acts 16; 31-33
HOW IS THE SACRAMENT CELEBRATED
Christian initiation varied through the centuries
according to circumstances surrounding the Church.
Christian initiation witnessed considerable
development during the first century.
Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism: CCC 1234-
1245
WHO CAN RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT
Those who are yet to be baptized, either adult or infant.
Adult baptism was common right from when the Church
was founded.
When parents have their children baptized as infant, they
agree to bring them up in the beliefs and practices of the
Catholic faith.
Godparents, or sponsors, agree to be good role models
for the child.
WHO CAN BAPTIZE?
The ordinary minster of baptism in the Latin rite- the
bishop, priest and the deacon.
In case of necessity or grave matter, anyone can
baptize, even the non-baptized person using the
Trinitarian baptismal formula.
NECESSITY OF BAPTISM
The Catholic Church does not know any means of
salvation other than through baptism which is the gate
way to eternal life.
It is necessary for salvation (Cf: John, 3:5)
It is not absolute but necessary for salvation for those
the Gospel has been proclaimed to.
It is also necessary to those who ask for it.
EXCEPTION TO WATER BAPTISM
It is possible to be saved through “baptism of blood” or through
“baptism of desire”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Those who die for
the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without
knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace,
seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, are saved even if
they have not been baptized” (CCC 1281)
Children who died without baptism are entrusted into the mercy of
God.) the salvation of unbaptized infants is also possible in this
regard; (see CCC 1260–1, 1283).
WHAT MAKES BAPTISM VALID
The form of the Sacrament of Baptism has two essential elements: the
pouring of water over the head of the person to be baptized (or the
immersion of the person in water); and the words "I baptize you in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
In addition to these two essential elements, the person performing the
baptism must intend what the Catholic Church intends in order for the
baptism to be valid.
In other words, when he baptizes "in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," he must mean in the name of the
Trinity, and he must intend to bring the person being baptized into the
fullness of the Church.
ASSIGNMENT
Discuss the Effects/Grace of the Sacrament of
Baptism.
