Sacraments
Our
Church has seven sacraments, and they are the following:
1. Baptism
2. Chrismation
5. Priesthood
6. Marriage
7. Holy Unction
We
have to say here that the great sacrament of our Church is the salvation of man
through Christ. These things that we have called sacraments are holy ceremonies
through which divine grace is transferred to man and which cleanses,
sanctifies, and guides him to his salvation. Among the seven sacraments of the
Church the first four are obligatory for everyone. They are necessary for the
salvation of man. The next three are optional; in other words, they are
received if the person wishes them for himself. An explanation is needed here.
It is not necessary for someone to become a priest in order to be saved, but if
someone is a priest, all the members of the Church are obliged to accept him as
a priest. It is not necessary for someone to marry in order to be saved, but if
Christians want to live with a partner they have to accept the sacrament of
marriage or else they sin. And it is not necessary for the salvation of man to
receive Holy Unction, but when all Christians are ready to die, they must
accept it and respect it as a sacrament.
The
sacraments are sent from God. Their beginning is found in the Holy Scriptures
and in Tradition. When we write about each individual sacrament we will also
refer to the Scriptural passages which established them.
When
we speak about sacraments we have to know that the doctrines of the Church are
also called sacraments. These are the supernatural and godly truths that remain
incomprehensible and mysterious to the limited mind of man, and it is only with
faith that man makes them a property of his soul.
We
said that with the seven sacraments divine grace is imparted to man, cleansing,
renewing, sanctifying him, and guiding his salvation. This does not mean that
there are no other ways in which divine grace is imparted to man. There are
prayer, sermons, study of Holy Scripture, blessing of water, venerating holy things
and many other ways. Divine grace is imparted through all these ways, but these
are not enough for the salvation of man. The seven sacraments, and especially
the first four are absolutely necessary for his salvation.
We
should also know that among the four compulsory sacraments, the first two, that
is baptism and chrism, are never repeated. In other words, they are performed
one time only for each person. Moreover, ordination is also never repeated. It
is done only one time for the individual. Holy Communion, Repentance and
Confession, and Holy Unction are repeated, and man should often partake of the
Holy Eucharist, often repent and confess, and often approach Unction. Holy
Matrimony is permitted to someone up to three times. This does not mean that a
man can have simultaneously three wives. No. If he loses his first wife he may
marry another, and if he loses the second he may marry a third. The same
applies to the woman.
Lord Jesus Christ, You
became man, were crucified, died as man on the cross, descended triumphantly
into Hades, were resurrected and ascended, bringing human nature with You and
You have made possible the mystery of our salvation. You also established the
seven sacraments of our Church through which we especially receive the divine grace
for our purification, cleansing, sanctification, and salvation. We thank You
for all these. We give You as much praise and glory as our weak human powers
permit. We fervently beg You, to open the eyes of our mind, heart, and soul to
understand the great mystery of our salvation that comes from You and the seven
sacraments. And not only to understand them, but to receive from them Your
divine grace like the sap that nourishes the vine of our spiritual life, and
through the sacraments to live united with You. Make us understand that this is
the alpha and omega of our lives.