Sacraments and Christian Life
The Church: A Sacrament of Salvation
The sacraments use signs to communicate when words are not enough. A sign is something tangible that points to a deeper, unseen reality.
Jesus gave His Church sacraments as visible signs of His presence and saving action.
The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Church. Through them, divine life is dispensed. “Efficacious” means they produce what they signify.
The Church as the Sacrament of Christ
Jesus remains present in the Church. The Church is the tangible and effective sign Jesus uses to be present in the world and convey the benefits of redemption (salvation). The Church is the universal sacrament of salvation, animated by the Holy Spirit, continuing Jesus’ saving work.
Sacraments of the Church
Jesus gave His Church seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation (or Penance), Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
These seven sacraments are true encounters with Jesus, through which people participate in His divine life.
Through the sacraments, Jesus:
- Continues to act in people’s lives.
- Expresses His saving action, which is grace.
Grace is a gift from God that allows people to participate in His life, giving them strength and help to do good.
The Seven Sacraments
Each sacrament has visible signs that represent an invisible reality: Jesus Himself and His saving action, grace. In the seven sacraments instituted by Christ and entrusted to His Church, these tangible signs signify His presence and saving action.
The minister of a sacrament is someone who has received the sacrament of Holy Orders: a bishop, priest, or deacon. The minister represents Jesus.
The seven sacraments celebrate key moments in human life, showing that God understands our needs and supports us. Participating in the sacraments involves a commitment to live according to the Gospel.
Faith and Following Jesus
Christian faith is not only believing in and trusting Jesus but also following and imitating Him.
The Gospels show us how Jesus invites everyone to follow Him.
Imitating Jesus means:
- Discovering His attitudes toward Himself and others.
- Understanding His reasons for acting.
- Seeing how He reacted to difficulties.
- Sharing the ideal or goal of His life.
- Accepting His help.
Holiness: The Goal of Every Christian
We are constantly told that:
- Happiness is having and owning things.
- People are measured by their ability to buy and consume.
Jesus taught His followers that true happiness lies in holiness.
The Christian Vocation
The call to holiness that God makes to all Christians is known as the Christian vocation. “Vocation” comes from Latin and means “call.”
Every Christian is called to be holy:
- In their own state.
- In their condition of life.
- In their specific life circumstances.
The path to holiness, as Jesus described in the Gospel, can be summarized as:
- Believing in Him and following Him.
- Living according to His teachings.
- Helping to build the Kingdom of God, according to one’s abilities.
To achieve this, we must:
- Be thankful for and use the gifts and graces God gives us.
- Use the help the Church offers to attain holiness.
The Saints: Models of Following Jesus
The Church has canonized some people as saints. This means:
- The Church officially and solemnly declares that person is in heaven.
- The Church proposes them as a model of life for believers.
You can find their names in calendars and books of saints, which indicate the day the Church remembers them in a special way.
Many other people have achieved holiness, even though the Church has not officially declared them saints. The Church celebrates the feast of All Saints on November 1st.
The Virgin Mary: Model Christian
Above all saints, we must consider the Virgin Mary. No other person has been so close to God. Christians acknowledge this and have a deep devotion to her.
Modern-Day Saints
We can find saints among us today. Some of them you may know or easily recognize.
Canonized Saints
Examples include martyrs, missionaries, founders and reformers of religious orders and congregations, those who serve the sick and poor, and those dedicated to educating children and youth.