The Sacraments of the Church

So, by the pouring of water in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and by the laying on of hands in the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are given the Holy Spirit of God and are made full members of the Church.  By the words of absolution spoken by the priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Sacrament of Penance or Confession) Jesus gives us the forgiveness of our sins and grace to fight against temptation.  By the anointing of sick people with oil, God’s healing and comforting power is given to them.

But the greatest of all his gifts is given in the Eucharist which Jesus instituted at the Last Supper on the night before his Crucifixion.  For in the Eucharist the forms of bread and wine on the altar and Our Lord’s Risen and Ascended Body and Blood in Heaven become one in the Blessed Sacrament in accordance with his own word when he took bread and said “…this is my body” and took the cup of wine and said” This is my blood…” (NRSV, Mark 14:22-24).

Outward and inward parts

There are seven Sacraments altogether, and each has two parts, the part you can see and the part you cannot see.  It is by means of the part you can see that you receive the part you cannot see, so that when you have received the outward part you know that you have received the inward part also.  For example, in the Sacrament of Confirmation it is by means of the laying on of hands by the bishop that you receive the Holy Spirit of God; so that when you have received the laying on of hands, then you know you have received the Holy Spirit also.

The Prayer Book Catechism (1) puts this in the form of these questions and answers:

Question.  What meanest thou by this word Sacrament?
Answer.  I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.

Question.  How many parts are there in a Sacrament?
Answer.   Two: the outward visible sign, and the inward spiritual grace.