STEEMCHURCH | The 7 Sacraments of the church and the importance of each one
God gave us the precious gift of life and enriched it with the gift of faith, which we nourish with his word, whether through prayer, the sacraments or commitment to others, and which we celebrate through significant rites. , events or expressions.
In our day to day we find objects, people and situations that give us memories or point out special occasions in our lives, and we preserve some because of the meaning they represent; we also celebrate the moments that have a great importance in our existence; and to this the 7 sacraments refer.
What is a sacrament?
A sacrament is a daily reality that is part of our life and that makes the divine present, for example a wedding ring symbolizes the love that is felt by the couple and the commitment to it.
The word sacrament originates from the Latin "sacramentun", and is not found in the Bible because it was a term created by theologians to define Christian doctrine, based on the concrete means established by God to obtain the path of salvation , and that are administered through the church.
The 7 sacraments are the resources that allow us to remember and celebrate the presence of Jesus Christ and his action in us, with these signs we strengthen our duty with the church, our faith in the Christian life and our mission to establish the kingdom of God in the world.
These resources are given by some visible signs that connect us with the love and grace of God, as for example: the oil of oil, the water, the host, the consecration of the children to God, among others, that represent the symbolism of the 7 sacraments.
What are the 7 sacraments?
- Sacrament of Baptism
- Sacrament of Penance
- Sacrament of the Eucharist
- Sacrament of Confirmation
- Sacrament of Marriage
- Sacrament of the Order
- Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
1 Sacrament of Baptism
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
The Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in the initiation of the Christian life, with this act opens access to other sacraments, to the relationship with God and to salvation for eternal life.
The word baptism comes from the Greek baptizein, which means to submerge or introduce into water; In the Christian faith, when we submerge ourselves, we are freed from the original sin inherited by Adam, regenerated as children of God, grafted into the church, and become partakers of the dogma in order to give the fruit of our learning to others.
This is how the Sacrament of Baptism is represented by the will of the parents to share the faith in presenting their children before the church, in order to purify their sins and give strength to the precepts of the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to consecrate it. before God and the Holy Spirit; being the role of godparents to ensure that the new believer is secure in God and eventually give its fruits to others.
2 Sacrament of Baptism
WHAT IS PENANCE?
It is the sacrament by means of which all sins committed after baptism are forgiven, they are absolved by God through the priest, offering in the believer a new opportunity for conversion, purification and a life full of grace.
The Sacrament of Penance has several steps in its realization:
Reconciliation is the examination of conscience remembering one's sins.
Repentance or also called act of contrition is the action of recognizing that God has been offended, there being a firm intention not to sin again.
Confession is the brief, sincere and complete manifestation of the sins before the priest.
Absolution is the forgiveness of sins by the priest with the authorization of Jesus Christ, strengthening trust and hope in God.
Satisfaction is the act of penance imposed by the priest to repair the damage caused by sin.
This sacrament represents the best way to receive mercy, the gifts of heaven and the forgiveness of God.
3 Sacrament of the Eucharist
WHAT IS THE EUCHARIST?
The word eucharist comes from the Greek eucharistia, which means thanksgiving, and in Christian terms it refers to the sacred communion, this being an important part of the seven sacraments.
The Eucharist is the consecration of bread as the body of Jesus Christ and wine as his blood, which renews my sacrifice on the cross mystically and sacramentally.
With the Sacrament of the Eucharist the three times of Jesus Christ are honored in his last days, as they are: the Last Supper (Holy Thursday), the sacrifice on the cross (Holy Friday) and the Resurrection (Sunday of Resurrection), which are exalted during the Passover
The first encounter that a Christian receives with God is in the first communion, for this it is necessary to be clean of mortal sin, to keep the Eucharistic fast and to approach God with faith and humility.
By receiving the Eucharist, we unite ourselves with God, strengthening our faith and commitment to our neighbor.
4 Sacrament of Confirmation
WHAT IS CONFIRMATION?
The confirmation is the sacrament that completes the baptism, since it confirms and reinforces the grace of God, that we had received in him.
The word confirmation comes from the Latin confirmatio, which refers to the fruit of union; but in the literal meaning of Castilian is the action of ratifying the validity of something.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is the act that represents the most intimate union with the church to receive the gift of wisdom and the strength of the Holy Spirit, which God places within us.
The confirmation reaffirms the maturity of the believer, establishing the commitment to become a declarant of Jesus Christ, who with the strength of his soul and spirit, will divulge and defend faith in God.
5 Sacrament of Marriage
WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE?
Marriage is the alliance between men and women in order to help each other, procreate and educate their children; this eternal bond, blessed by God and the church, symbolizes the true love and fidelity of Jesus Christ to humanity.
For the church the essence of the Sacrament of Marriage is represented by the union between Mary and Joseph, a home that never had sin, and that through the mystery of the anointing of the Holy Spirit they conceived Jesus Christ.
The Sacrament of Marriage has all the elements for sanctification, and the one who truly lives it with the anointing that the church offers is purified, sanctified and prepared to find God.
When two Christians commit themselves to this sacrament by accepting a long life of fidelity, they receive the gift of strength and grace to walk successfully together in the face of good fortune and adversity, with the capacity to ask for forgiveness and forgiveness.
According to the establishment of the church, the Sacrament of Marriage can only be destroyed by the death of one of the spouses.
6 Sacrament of the Order
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE ORDER?
The Sacrament of Order and its celebration has a very profound theological meaning, since it demands thanks and demands for both the priest and the whole church.
The faithful who receives this order to surrender to God, dressed in white robes, follow the following steps in the ordination rite:
- Imposition of hands by the bishop.
- Anointing of hands with sacred oil.
- Consecration prayer.
- Delivery of symbols of sacred power to be consecrated.
Once the act is completed, the priest becomes a representative before the faithful and before the church of Jesus Christ.
7 Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
WHAT IS THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK?
The Anointing of the Sick is that of the sacraments in which the church joins the sick to entrust it to Jesus Christ, asking for his salvation and grace, helping to strengthen his soul, and preventing him from falling into despair.
With the administration of the Anointing of the Sick helps those who suffer from a disease to accept suffering linked to Jesus Christ, involving not only a physical but also spiritual healing, since it grants the forgiveness of sins.
