THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH BOTH SIGNIFY AND MAKE PRESENT GOD'S TRANSFORMING GRACE.
Compendium 224-249 Revelation 7:9-11
All the events of Christ's life become a present and living reality through the Sacraments and liturgy.
Baptism and Confirmation are indelible marks that make us adopted children of God and are received only once. Holy Orders is also an indelible mark and is only received once and allows the ordained to act in the person of Christ in the celebration of the liturgy.
The effectiveness of the Sacraments does not depend on the personal worthiness of the minister. It is a most serious obligation for both the minister and the recipient to pursue personal holiness through the sacraments. The sacraments do not act mechanistically. When it is celebrated faithfully, prayerfully and joyfully, The Sacramental life of the Church has a logic and beauty all of its own that emerges and leads us to long to see God in heaven. Water, bread, wine, and oil are necessary signs that accompany the words that give them sacramental power and grace. The Church carefully distinguishes what is unchangeable and what can be adapted by culture in the liturgy.
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