Sacraments

Baptism

Through the waters of Baptism, we are pardoned of all our sins, saved from the power of sin and death, and we become adopted children of God.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:18-19

Confirmation

Through the anointing and laying on of hands at Confirmation, the Holy Spirit pours out His gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. In addition to these gifts, Confirmation conforms you to Our Lord Jesus Christ and strengthens you to bear witness to him for the building up of his Body, the Church.

“[T]hey sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them... Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

-Acts 8:14-17

The Eucharist

Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, gave His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity to His Church in the Eucharist at his Last Supper. Every time we receive the Eucharist in a state of grace, we come into intimate union with Jesus Christ. The Eucharist gives us the spiritual strength we need to faithfully pick up our cross and follow Jesus Christ every day of our lives.

 “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”

-John 6:53-56

Reconciliation

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) the great mercy of God is received as we humbly confess the sins we have committed. We are then reconciled with God, and with the Church, which our sin has also wounded, and as we walk away we receive the grace to avoid sin in the future.

“[H]e breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

-John 20:22-23

Anointing of the Sick

In this anointing, we receive the grace we need to persevere through any serious illness we are experiencing. If it is beneficial for the salvation of our souls, this sacrament can also bring about the healing of our bodies, but more importantly, it offers healing for our souls.

“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; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

-James 5:14-16

Marriage

In marriage a man and a woman are united where the “two become one” in a relationship of fidelity, sacrificial love, mutual gift of their entire selves. The graces of marriage lead to a flourishing of their marriage and family life and is a great witness to the love that God has for all people, namely a love that desires profound, intimate union.

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

-Matthew 19:5-6

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Holy Orders

Men who are called to holy orders are united to the sacred ministry of Jesus Christ’s priesthood through offering true worship at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, by preaching the Gospel, and by acting as shepherd to God’s people, the Church.

“For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God…”

-Hebrews 5:1-4

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