The Sacraments
89.
What
is a sacrament?
A
sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.
90.
How
many sacraments are there?
There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist,
Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
91.
From
whom do the sacraments receive their power to give grace?
The
sacraments receive their power to give grace from God, through the
merits of Jesus Christ.
Let
a man so account us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the
mysteries of God. (I Corinthians 4:1)
92.
Do
the sacraments give sanctifying grace?
The sacraments do give sanctifying grace.
Then
they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
(Acts 8:17)
93.
Does
each of the sacraments also give a special grace?
Each
of the sacraments also gives a special grace, called sacramental
grace, which helps one to carry out the particular purpose of that
sacrament.
94.
Do
the sacraments always give grace?
The
sacraments always give grace if we receive them with the right
dispositions.
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord
unworthily, will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. (I
Corinthians 11:27)
95.
Why
are Baptism and Penance called sacraments of the dead?
Baptism and Penance are called sacraments of the dead because their
chief purpose is to give the supernatural life of sanctifying grace
to souls spiritually dead through sin.
Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
96.
Why
are Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, Holy
Orders, and Matrimony called sacraments of the living?
Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders,
and Matrimony are called sacraments of the living because their
chief purpose is to give more grace to souls already spiritually
alive through sanctifying grace.
97.
What
sin does one commit who knowingly receives a sacrament of the living
in mortal sin?
He
who knowingly receives a sacrament of the living in mortal sin
commits a mortal sin of sacrilege, because he treats a sacred thing
with grave irreverence.
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord
unworthily, will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. (I
Corinthians 11:27)
98.
Which are the sacraments that can be received only once?
The
sacraments that can be received only once are Baptism, Confirmation,
and Holy Orders.
99.
Why
can Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders be received only once?
Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders can be received only once
because they imprint on the soul a spiritual mark, called a
character, which lasts forever.
And
do not grieve the Holy Ghost of God, in whom you were sealed for the
day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)