Over the next few weeks our Christian Initiation of Adults group will examine each of the seven sacraments. This week’s session will begin with “what a sacrament is” and then delve into the sacrament of Baptism.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church’s definition says: “the sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.” (CCC 1131) This basic definition contains three distinct ideas, three ‘elements’. The first ‘element’ is the outward signs of the sacraments. Outward signs include oil, water, the words we hear or the gestures we see.
The instituting of the sacraments is the second ‘element’. The Sacraments of Initiation are: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. The Sacraments of Healing are: Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. The Sacraments of Service are: Marriage and Holy Orders.
The third ‘element’ of a sacrament is to give grace which is the gift of God’s love and presence into which we grow. God’s grace is totally free and ever-present. What we do with that gift is ours to choose and our eternal salvation is affected by our choices.
The Sacrament of Baptism. One of the outward signs of Baptism is the pouring of water three times on the person’s head or the immersion of the person in the water three times. This is accompanied by the words: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” - another outward sign! The waters of baptism remind us that Christ has washed us clean of original sin and all personal sins and reconciled us with God. Additional outward signs are the anointing with chrism oil that signifies that God has put His seal upon us and we are united to the spiritual body of Christ; the white garment symbolizes purity - we are a new creation being clothed in Christ. Finally, the lit baptismal candle is a reminder that Christ is the light of the world and that we, as a baptized Christian, must live as a child of light.
While the sacraments benefit us as individuals, they also bring life to the entire Church. Living a sacramental life is a great gift and the calling of every Catholic.