WHAT IS A SACRAMENT?

- The Church Sacrament is

an invisible grace we
receive by practicing a
visible rite, and a visible
sign or substance performed
by a priest.
Purpose of Sacrament
The Holy Spirit works in the Church through the
Sacraments, giving us His gifts, blessing and
comfort, and teaches us and guides us to the way of
truth.
(John 14:26) “ but the comforter, the Holy Spirit,
whom the father will send in My name, He will
teach you all things ….I said to you”
Sacrament of Baptism
-“ Most assuredly I say to you,
unless one is born again he
cannot see the kingdom of God
…. Most assuredly, I say to
you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot
enter the Kingdom of God”
(John 3).
-And by saying to the Fathers the
Apostles, “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 28:19).
-By Baptism we are made children of
God our father, and this is imperishable.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Instituted by the Lord Jesus
when He said: “If anyone
thirsts let him come to Me
and drink. He who believes
in Me, as the Scripture has
said, out of his heart will
flow rivers of living water”.
(John 7:37)
But this He spoke concerning the
Spirit whom those believing in Him
would receive; for the Holy Spirit
was not yet given, because Jesus was
not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39).
About the Sacrament of
Confirmation,
In the Book of Acts it is mentioned:
“Now when the Apostles who were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the Word of God, they sent
Peter and John to them, who, when they
had come down, prayed for them that
they might receive the Holy Spirit. For
as yet He had fallen upon none of them
Sacrament of Confession
Instituted by the Lord Jesus
when He said to His disciples:
“Assuredly I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth
will be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth
will be loosed in heaven”
(Matthew 18:18) And after
Resurrection
Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I
also send you and when had said this, 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” (John 20:21-22).
Sacrament of Holy Eucharist
Instituted by the Lord Jesus in the
upper room in Zion, on the night of
His passion when He took bread,
blessed it and broke it, and gave it to
His disciples saying, “Take eat, this is
My Body. Then He took the cup, and
they all drank from it and He said to
them “This is My Blood of the new
covenant which is shed for many”
(Mark 14:22-24)
Sacrament of Unction of Sick
Instituted by the Lord Jesus when He
said to His disciples, “Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers” (Matthew 10:8),
and, “Whatever city you enter …
heal the sick who are there” (Luke
10:8). The Apostles then put the
Lord’s words into practice: “They
anointed with oil many who were
sick and healed them” (Mark 6:13).
Our teacher St. James the Apostle advised
believers to practice it, by saying, “Is anyone
among you sick? Let him call for the elders
(Priests) 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, and the Lord will raise him up, and
if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven”
(James 5:14-15).
Sacrament of Matrimony (Marriage)
Instituted by the Lord Jesus who
blessed the Sacrament of
Matrimony by attending the
wedding of Cana of Galilee where
He manifested His Glory, “11This
beginning of signs Jesus did in
Cana of Galilee, and manifested
His glory; and His disciples
believed in Him. ( John 2:1-11)
Also, our teacher St. Paul says, 32This is a
great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ
and the church.(Ephesians 5:32) .
This means that the physical union between a
man and his wife is a sign and symbol of a
great spiritual matter, that is, of the unity of
heart and soul, resembling the unity of Christ
and the Church.
Sacrament of Holy Orders
Instituted by the Lord Jesus when He chose His twelve disciples
among many of His followers, and called them Apostles. The
selection was accomplished after a whole night of prayer, when the
Lord Jesus went out to the mountain to pray (Luke 6:12-13)
These twelve Jesus sent out and
commanded them, saying: “Do not go
into the way of the Gentiles, and do not
6
enter a city of the Samaritans. But go
rather to the lost sheep of the house of
7
Israel. And as you go, preach, saying,
‘The kingdom of heaven is at
hand.(Matthew 10:5-7).
The Lord said to them “ 16You did
not choose Me, but I chose you and
appointed you that you should go
and bear fruit, and that your fruit
should remain, that whatever you
ask the Father in My name He may
give you.(John 15:16)
He gave them the authority Matthew18:18“Assuredly,
I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth
will be loosed in heaven.
After the resurrection, the lord ( John 20:22,23)
And when He had said this, He breathed on them,
and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If
you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven
them; if you retain the sins of any, they are
retained
And to them only, He said
“ And Jesus came and spoke to them,
18

saying, “All authority has been given to Me in

heaven and on earth. 19 Go there-fore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that
I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
 Redemptive VS Non – Redemptive
Sacrament
There are 4 REDEMPTIVE
Sacraments. They are NON – REDEMPTIVE
necessary for eternal Sacrament
salvation
Baptism Anointing of the Sick
Confirmation Holy Matrimony / Marriage
Confession Holy Orders / Priesthood
Holy Eucharist / Communion
 Imperishable VS Repeatedly
as needed

Imperishable Repeatedly
Baptism But the rest of the Sacraments
Confirmation are performed repeatedly as
Holy Orders / Priesthood needed