There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church. A sacrament is described as “an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.”
Grace is a gift from God. We can ask for it, but it cannot be forced. God gives us his grace by his own free will. Imagine Christmas. The gifts under the tree are presents freely given. God’s grace is the present of God’s presence.
Each sacrament is an opportunity to receive God’s grace (His presence in our life). When we receive the grace of God through the sacraments, we become more open to the presence of God in our life.
The seven sacraments are Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick. Test your knowledge to find out if you understand the sacraments.
- Which sacrament can be received as an infant?
- A deacon can be the minister in which sacraments?
- The Holy Spirit has three symbols. What are they?
- Extreme Unction is another name for which sacrament.
- Which sacrament makes us a member of the family of God?
- Before receiving the Eucharist, one must be in a state of _________.
- To have ones sins absolved, one should receive this sacrament.
- Water is the symbol of which sacrament?
- A priest or deacon must be a witness to this sacrament.
- What is another name for the sacrament of Reconciliation.
- In which sacrament do we receive the Holy Spirit?
- Which three sacraments are called the sacraments of initiation?
- Which two sacraments are vocational sacraments?
- Which two sacraments are sacraments of healing?
- Which sacrament removes the stain of original sin?:
- Which sacrament requires an act of contrition?
- The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is also known as what?
- There is only one sacrament we are encouraged to receive often, even daily. Which one is it?
- In which sacrament do we choose a patron saint?
- Which sacrament must be administered by a bishop not a priest?
Each of the sacraments has a biblical beginning Read the biblical text which refers to each sacrament. The last photo you will find the answers to the questions.
Sacrament of Baptism
Mathew 28:19-20
“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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Sacrament of Confirmation
Acts 8:14
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then Peter and John laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
Matthew 19:3-11
Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the creator made them male and female,” and said, “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.”
They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, unless the marriage is unlawful, and marries commits adultery.”
His disciples said to him. “If that is the case of a man and his wife, it is better not to marry. He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom it is granted.”
Sacrament of Holy Orders
Mark 3: 13
He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles to be with him and to be sent out and proclaim the message and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter) James, son of Zebadee and John the brother of James (Sons of thunder) and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew and Mathew and Thomas and James, son of Alphaeses and Thadaeus and Simon the Cananaen and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Reconciliation
John 20:19
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you”.
After he said this he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.”
When he had said this he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any they are retained.”
Eucharist
Mathew 26:26
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples and said “Take and eat, this is my body”.
Then he took a cup and after giving thanks he gave it to them saying “Drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom.”
Anointing the sick
Mark 6:7
He called the twelve and began to send them two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.
He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”
So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church
1. The Sacrament of Baptism is often received as an infant.
2. A deacon may baptize, anoint the sick and witness a marriage.
3. The symbols of the Holy Spirit are wind, fire and a dove.
4. Anointing of the sick is another name for the sacrament formerly known as Extreme Unction.
5. Baptism initiates a person into the family of God.
6. One must be in a state of grace (free from grave sin) to receive the Sacrament or the Eucharist.
7. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation the priest (in the name of Christ) absolves (forgives) the person of his or her sins.
8. Living water is the symbol of Baptism. It must be flowing water.
9. The sacrament of Holy Matrimony must be witnessed by a priest or deacon to be considered a sacramental marriage.
10. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also call the Sacrament of Confession or Penance.
11. We receive the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.
12. The sacraments of initiation are Baptism. Eucharist, and Confirmation.
13. The vocational sacraments are Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony.
14. The sacraments of healing are Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.
15. Baptism removes the stain of original sin.
16. Reconciliation requires an Act of Contrition.
17. The belief that the bread and wine in the Eucharist become the body and blood of Jesus after being consecrated by the priest or bishop is known as “The Real Presence.”
18. We are encouraged to receive the Eucharist daily if possible.
19. When receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation we choose a patron saint.
20. Holy Orders must be received from a validly ordained Bishop. Every Catholic bishop can trace his ordination back to the original twelve Apostles.
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