CATECHISM

Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. A Sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace, ordained by Jesus Christ, by which grace is
given to our souls.
Sacrament. Something that is sacred or holy. Three things are required in order to make a
Sacrament:
1. Outward sign, which consists of two parts, viz., the matter, or the outward
sensible things used in giving the Sacrament; and the form, or the words said
when applying the matter.
2. Inward grace, or the invisible effect of the Sacrament on the soul.
3. Instituted by Christ; that is, it must have been ordained or appointed by our Lord
as a means of giving grace to our souls.
Q. Do the Sacraments always give grace?
A. The Sacraments always give grace to those who receive them worthily.
Worthily. With the proper dispositions.
Q. Whence have the Sacraments the power of giving grace?
A. The Sacraments have the power of giving grace from the merits of Christ’s Precious Blood
which they apply to our souls.
Q. Ought we to have a great desire to receive the Sacraments?
A. We ought to have a great desire to receive the Sacraments, because they are the chief means of
our salvation.
Q. Is a character given to the soul by any of the Sacraments?
A. A character is given to the soul by the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.
Q. What is a character?
A. A character is a mark or seal on the soul which cannot be effaced, and therefore the Sacrament
conferring it may not be repeated.
Q. How many Sacraments are there? IV ★
A. There are seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, the
Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
There are seven. The Sacraments may be divided into two classes:
 IV The seven great means of grace corresponding to:
1. Birth
2. The growth
3. The nourishment
4. The medicine
5. The journey of the soul
6. The Christian priesthood
7. The Christian family

1. Sacraments of the dead, viz., Baptism and Reconciliation. They are so called
because they alone have the power of raising the soul from the death of sin to the
life of grace.
2. Sacraments of the living, viz. Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction,
Holy Order, and Matrimony.
In order to receive these five Sacraments worthily, the soul must be spiritually alive, that
is, in a state of grace. There are some Sacraments which leave a special mark or character
on the soul, viz., Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Order. These can only be received
once; the others may be received more than once. All the Sacraments when received
worthily, either give or increase sanctifying grace. A Sacrament is said to be received
validly when the matter and form ordained by Christ are properly applied by the
minister to one who is capable and willing to receive it. A Sacrament is received lawfully
or fruitfully, when besides what is wanted for its valid reception, there are in the person
receiving it the dispositions required to obtain the grace of the Sacrament.