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Inner Life of a Catholic

The Profession of Faith 

The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. A Sacrament is a sacred outward sign or rite instituted by Christ to confer grace upon the soul. Each sacrament is a visible external rite or ceremony, which is composed of matter and form, the matter being words or actions {e.g., pouring of water, etc.), the form being the words which are spoken by the minister in Christ's name and which determine the matter to be an efficacious sign of grace (e.g., "1 baptize thee ..."). 

In making these rites sacraments, Christ has made each of them an effective instrument for conferring special sacramental grace. Hence, from each the soul receives sanctifying grace and a special grace which helps one to carry out the particular purpose of that sacrament.

The following extracts are taken from the Catholic Church Code of Canon Law:

The sacraments of the New Testament were instituted by Christ the Lord and entrusted to the Church. As actions of Christ and of the Church, they are signs and means by which faith is expressed and strengthened, worship is offered to God and our sanctification is brought about. Thus they contribute in the most effective manner to establishing, strengthening and manifesting ecclesiastical communion. Accordingly, in the celebration of the sacraments both the sacred ministers and all the other members of Christ's faithful must show great reverence and due care. 

Since the sacraments are the same throughout the universal Church, and belong to the divine deposit of faith, only the supreme authority in the Church can approve or define what is needed for their validity. It belongs to the same authority, or to another competent authority in accordance with can. 838 §3 and 4, to determine what is required for their lawful celebration, administration and reception and for the order to be observed in their celebration. 

A person who has not received baptism cannot validly be admitted to the other sacraments. 

The sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the blessed Eucharist so complement one another that all three are required for full Christian initiation. 

Sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who opportunely ask for them, are properly disposed and are not prohibited by law from receiving them. 

According to their respective offices in the Church, both pastors of souls and all other members of Christ's faithful have a duty to ensure that those who ask for the sacraments are prepared for their reception. This should be done through proper evangelization and catechetical instruction, in accordance with the norms laid down by the competent authority. 

Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments only to catholic members of Christ's faithful, who equally may lawfully receive them only from catholic ministers, except as provided in §2, 3 and 4 of this canon and in can. 861 §2. 

Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage commends it, and provided the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, Christ's faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a catholic minister, may lawfully receive the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid. 

Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the eastern Churches not in full communion with the catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed. The same applies to members of other Churches which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid eastern Churches so far as the sacraments are concerned. 

If there is a danger of death or if, in the judgment of the diocesan Bishop or of the Episcopal Conference, there is some other grave and pressing need, catholic ministers may lawfully administer these same sacraments to other Christians not in full communion with the catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who spontaneously ask for them, provided that they demonstrate the catholic faith in respect of these sacraments and are properly disposed. 

In respect of the cases dealt with in §2, 3 and 4, the diocesan Bishop or the Episcopal Conference is not to issue general norms except after consultation with the competent authority, at least at the local level, of the non-Catholic Church or community concerned. 

Because they imprint a character, the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and order cannot be repeated. 

If after diligent enquiry a prudent doubt remains as to whether the sacraments mentioned in §1 have been conferred at all, or conferred validly, they are to be conferred conditionally. 

The liturgical books, approved by the competent authority, are to be faithfully followed in the celebration of the sacraments. Accordingly, no one may on a personal initiative add to or omit or alter anything in those books. 

The ministers are to celebrate the sacraments according to their own rite. 

In administering sacraments in which holy oils are to be used, the minister must use oil made from olives or other plants, which, except as provided in can. 999, n. 2, has recently been consecrated or blessed by a Bishop. Older oil is not to be used except in a case of necessity. 

The parish priest is to obtain the holy oils from his own Bishop and keep them carefully in fitting custody. 

For the administration of the sacraments the minister may not ask for anything beyond the offerings which are determined by the competent authority, and he must always ensure that the needy are not deprived of the help of the sacraments by reason of poverty.

There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Marriage.

Two of the sacraments (Baptism and Penance) used to be called sacraments of the dead, since their purpose is to confer supernatural life on the soul supernaturally dead through sin. The remaining five sacraments used to be called sacraments of the living, since their purpose is to increase the grace in the soul already supernaturally alive through sanctifying grace. 

Three of the sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders) confer upon the soul, in addition to grace, a character. Hence, they can not be received more than once. The other four sacraments can be received more than once.

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