Sacraments

The sacraments are Christian rites which the Church defines as outward signs of an inward grace. In this way, these sacraments reveal God's grace in a way that is directly observable to both the participant and the witness. The Catholic Church recognizes seven sacraments instituted by Christ:

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

Baptism is the first sacrament of Christian initiation that makes a person a member of Christ and His Church, the way to a new and spiritual life. It is administered by immersing the recipient in water or by pouring water on the person’s head “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. One must be baptized before sharing in any of the other sacraments. Baptism is the foundation for all ministry and life in the church, and confers a commitment to follow Christ and spread his message throughout the world.

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And when Paul laid [his] hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them
— Acts 19:6

Confirmation is final sacrament of initiation, and this is when a Catholic is sealed with the Holy Spirit. Once someone is confirmed, they are in full communion with the Catholic Church. The preparation for Confirmation is a period of active discernment, and as such St. Ignatius facilitates a two-year program to form high schoolers in our Catholic faith

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Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. — Ephesians 4:32

The sacrament of Reconciliation makes God's gift of forgiveness a tangible reality in our lives. During confession, we place ourselves in the presence of God and acknowledge our sins, and in the absolution we are reconciled to both God and His Church. As the Catechism reminds us, when our sins are forgiven, we are free to forgive the sins of others.

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I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. — John 6:35

First Communion is the second sacrament of initiation, when a person receives Jesus Christ in the Eucharist for the first time. Our expectation is that a child pursuing this sacrament has already been baptized and participated in at least one year of Faith Formation.

To prepare for First Communion, children also receive First Reconciliation, as part of their Faith Formation education.

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Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her. — Ephesians 5:25

In marriage, a couple bears witness to Christ's own love for the Church. Christ began his earthly ministry by blessing a wedding ceremony, and when two people come together and make this holy covenant, they recall the divine love between God and His people.

Marriage is the only sacrament not conferred by a priest, because the couple confers the grace of the sacrament to each other.

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Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!” — Isaiah 6:8

While all baptized Christians share in Christ's royal priesthood, those who are ordained can stand in persona Christi to administer the sacraments. At the Last Supper, Christ instituted the ministerial priesthood by making his apostles priests, and in turn they ordained holy men as their successors. Along with Marriage, Holy Orders is a Sacrament of Service, a call to give your life specially to someone else.

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Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and [. . .] the prayer of faith will save the sick person. — James 5:14–15

Christ is our Divine Physician, and in the sacrament of Anointing the Sick, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them of their sins, and sometimes the physical ailment as well. This sacrament is administered to give spiritual and physical strength in a grave illness or near the time of death.

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By God’s help they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and at the proper time will receive the sacraments fruitfully.
— Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

For adults who did not receive the sacraments of initiation as children, the Catholic Church has developed the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) to support their conversion and faith formation. The OCIA program provides a community in which adults can explore the Catholic faith together, preparing themselves to receive the sacraments at the Easter vigil.

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"The darkness of death should be confronted with a more intense work of love. ‘My God, lighten my darkness!’ is the invocation of evening prayer."
— Pope Francis

Although funerals do not have a sacrament of their own, they do have a special liturgy within the Catholic Church. St. Ignatius is ready to come alongside you in this difficult period, with resources for planning a funeral and managing this difficult time.

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