Sacraments in Christianity

Baptism

• Baptism is meant to remove the guilt and effects of Original Sin and welcome the baptized to the Church.

Confirmation

• Confirmation is meant to complete Baptism and bring the baptized the graces of the Holy Spirit that were given the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday.

Holy Communion

• Holy Communion entails the reception of Christ’s body and blood which helps Christians grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Confession

• Confession is meant to reconcile Christians with God by confessing their sins.

Sacrament of Marriage or Matrimony

• The Sacrament of Marriage or Matrimony is the union of a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and mutual support.
• It also reflects the union of Jesus Christ with His Church.

Sacrament of Holy Orders

• The Sacrament of Holy Orders is considered the continuation of Christ’s priesthood which He passed on to His apostles.

Anointing of the Sick or Extreme Unction

• Anointing of the Sick or Extreme Unction is administered to those who are on the verge of death or are seriously ill, or about to undergo a serious operation, for physical and moral strength.

The Holy Trinity

• Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, which means that God is composed of three persons: God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

God

• God is seen as the creator and maintainer of the universe, and is believed to be omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (all-present), and omnibenevolent (all-good).
• God is also sacred, moral, unchangeable, compassionate, graceful, and timeless.

Symbols

• The Cross serves as a symbol of Jesus Christ’s victory over sins when He died on the cross for humanity’s redemption and salvation.
• The Fish Symbol is as old as Christianity itself, for it was used by persecuted Christians as a secret sign when meeting other Christians.

Worship and Practices

• Christians have several feasts throughout the year, with the biggest being Christmas and Easter.
• Advent is the season of waiting for the birth of Jesus, lasting four weeks and symbolizing the 4000 years between Creation and the coming of Jesus.
• Lent is the season observed by Christians in preparation for Easter, celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

Roman Catholicism

• Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian church, with its institutional center in the Vatican in Rome, and is found all over the world in all churches that are in communion with it.

Protestantism

• Protestantism emerged in northern Europe in response to controversial Catholic doctrine and practice, including the idea of the Pope being infallible and the penitential system in the early 1500s.

Ecumenism

• Ecumenism refers to the effort of the Catholic Church to sponsor activities and initiatives to promote mutual understanding and unity among all Christians.

Sexuality

• Sexuality is a controversial issue for the Catholic Church, with a conservative view that the goal of sexual union between men and women is procreation.
• The Catholic Church advocates that the use of artificial contraceptives, such as condoms, birth control pills, goes against this view.