The Seven Holy Mysteries (Seven Sacraments)

The first Holy Mystery (Sacrament) of the Church is baptism. Baptism is one of the three Holy Mysteries of Initiation. Initiation meaning the beginning of something. By being baptized we begin our Catholic Christian life. Baptism brings a person into the Catholic Church and makes them a member of the Body of Christ. All baptized Catholics are part of the same body. That body is what we call the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church teaches that baptism cleanses a person of all sin, both original and personal, and makes them a new creation in Christ. Baptism is necessary for salvation, as Jesus taught, and it makes a person a member of the Church and a child of God. Once baptized we become God's own children and we begin our walk toward heaven where we will one day meet our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Chrismation (Confirmation) is the Holy Mystery (Sacrament) of Christian maturity. It involves the bishop or priest anointing the person's forehead with sacred chrism (oil) and laying hands on them. The age and time one can receive Chrismation will depend on ones Rite. This Holy Mystery (Sacrament) completes the grace of Baptism by sealing the person with the Holy Spirit. It strengthens the person to be a witness for Christ and a soldier of Christ, and it gives them a deeper understanding of their faith.

The Holy Gifts (Eucharist/Holy Communion) are the central Holy Mystery (Sacrament) of the Catholic Church. The Holy Gifts (Eucharist) are the body and blood of Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. It is received during Divine Liturgy (Mass). Because of the Holiness and necessity of consuming the Holy Gifts (Eucharist), the Catholic Church has made it mandatory to consume the Holy Gifts on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation. This is a gift, from a loving creator, who gave everything He had on the cross, it's not so much an obligation, but an invitation. An invitation to a new and better life, one that never ends and will meet and exceed every desire that the human mind can possibly imagine.

The Holy Mystery of Penance (Confession) is one of the two Holy Mysteries of healing, the other being the Holy Mystery of Anointing or Anointing of the Sick. Penance, Reconciliation or Confession will look different depending on if you are an Eastern or Western Catholic, but the idea remains the same. After baptism we all fall short of perfection and we wind up committing sins. When we sin we need to confess our sins to a priest. Any Eastern Catholic is welcome to confess their sins in a Western Catholic Church, just as any Western Catholic is welcome to confess their sins in an Eastern Catholic Church.

The primary purpose of this Holy Mystery (Sacrament) is to confer a special grace upon the Christian who is seriously ill, elderly, or preparing for death. It is meant to strengthen and comfort the person in their suffering, and to unite them more closely with the Passion of Christ. It's a source of healing, both spiritual and, if it is God's will, physical. The Holy Mystery (Sacrament) is performed by a bishop or priest. The priest anoints the sick person on their forehead and palms with a special oil, called the Oil of the Sick, while reciting a specific prayer. The prayer asks for the person to be strengthened against evil, to be forgiven of their sins, and to be raised up in soul and body.

The Holy Mystery of Matrimony (Marriage) is the Holy Mystery (Sacrament) by which a man and woman are joined together as husband and wife. Depending on the Rite of the couple, either the couple themselves administer the Holy Mystery (Sacrament) to each other through their vows (Roman), or the priest administers the Holy Mystery. The Catholic Church teaches that this Holy Mystery (Sacrament) establishes a lifelong, exclusive, and faithful bond between the couple. It is a visible sign of Christ's love for the Church and is meant to be a source of spiritual growth for the couple and a way to bring new life into the world. The Holy Mystery of Matrimony (Marriage) is one of the two Holy Mysteries at the Service of Communion, the other being Holy orders.

In the Catholic Church, Holy Orders is the Holy Mystery (Sacrament) through which a man is configured to Christ to serve as a bishop, priest, or deacon. It is one of the Seven Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) and is one of the two "Holy Mysteries at the Service of Communion," meaning it is for the good of others and is intended to build up the People of God. The other Holy Mystery at the Service of Communion being Matrimony (marriage). This Holy Mystery (Sacrament) is a continuation of the mission Christ entrusted to His Apostles. The power and authority of the ordained ministry are passed down through an unbroken line from the Apostles to the bishops of today through the laying on of hands.