Baltimore Cathecism

by Rev. Thomas L. Kinkead

Lesson 13
ON THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL



This lesson does not speak of any Sacrament in particular, but upon all
the Sacraments taken together. It explains what we find in all the
Sacraments.


136 Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.


Three things are necessary to make a Sacrament. There must be: (1) "An
outward," that is, a visible, "sign"; (2) this sign must have been
instituted or given by Our Lord; (3) it must give grace. Now, a sign is
that which tells us that something else exists. Smoke indicates the
presence of fire.


A red light on a railroad tells that there is danger at the spot.
Therefore, the outward signs in the Sacraments tell us that there is in
the Sacraments something we do not see and which they signify and
impart. For example, the outward sign in Baptism is the pouring of the
water on the head of the person to be baptized, and the saying of the
words. Water is generally used for cleaning purposes. Water, therefore,
is used in Baptism as an outward sign to show that as the water cleans
the body, so the grace given in Baptism cleans the soul. It is not a
mere sign, for at the very moment that the priest pours the water and
says the words of Baptism, by the pouring of the water and saying of the
words with the proper intention the soul is cleansed from Original Sin;
that is, the inward grace is given by the application of the outward
sign. Again, in Confirmation the outward sign is the anointing with oil,
the Bishop's prayer, and the placing of his hands upon us. Now what
inward grace is given in Confirmation? A grace which strengthens us in
our faith. Oil, therefore, is used for the outward sign in this
Sacrament, because oil gives strength and light.


In olden times the gladiators--men who fought with swords as
prize-fighters do now with their hands--used oil upon their bodies to
make them strong. Oil was used also to heal wounds. Thus in Confirmation
the application of this outward sign of strength gives the inward grace
of light and strength. Moreover, oil easily spreads itself over anything
and remains on it. A drop of water falling on paper dries up quickly;
but a drop of oil soaks in and spreads over it. So oil is used to show
also that the grace of Confirmation spreads out over our whole lives,
and strengthens us in our faith at all times.


Again, in Penance we have the outward sign when the priest raises his
hand and pronounces over us the words of absolution.


If we did not have these outward signs how could anyone know just at
what time the graces are given? We can know now, for at the very moment
the outward sign is applied the grace is given; because it is the
application of the sign that by divine institution gives the grace, and
thus the two must take place together.


"Institution by Christ" is absolutely necessary because He gives all
grace, and He alone can determine the manner in which He wishes it
distributed. The Church can distribute His grace, but only in the way He
wishes. Hence it cannot make new Sacraments or abolish old ones.


137 Q. How many Sacraments are there?
A. There are seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist,
Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.


The life of our soul is in many ways similar to the life of our body.
Our bodies must first be born, then strengthened, then fed. When sick,
we must be cured: and when about to die, we must be taken care of. Then
there must be someone to rule others, and there must be persons to be
governed. In like manner, we are spiritually born into a new life by
Baptism, we are strengthened by Confirmation, fed with the Holy
Eucharist, and cured of the maladies of our souls by Penance. By Extreme
Unction we are helped at the hour of death; by Holy Orders our spiritual
rulers are appointed by God; and by Matrimony families, with a father at
the head and children to be ruled, are established. Thus we have our
spiritual life similar in many things to our physical or bodily life.


138 Q. Whence have the Sacraments the power of giving grace?
A. The Sacraments have the power of giving grace from the merits of
Jesus Christ.


Our Lord died to merit grace for us, and appointed the Sacraments as the
chief means by which it was to be given.


*139 Q. What grace do the Sacraments give?
A. Some of the Sacraments give sanctifying grace, and others increase it
in our souls.


Baptism and Penance give this sanctifying grace when there is not any of
it in the soul. But the other Sacraments are received while we are in a
state of grace, and they therefore increase the quantity of it in our
souls.


*140 Q. Which are the Sacraments that give sanctifying grace?
A. The Sacraments that give sanctifying grace are Baptism and Penance;
and they are called Sacraments of the dead.


"Of the dead." Not of a dead person; for when a person is dead he cannot
receive any of the Sacraments. It is only while we live upon earth that
we are on trial, and can do good or evil, and merit grace. At death we
receive simply our reward or punishment for what we have done while
living. Therefore, Sacraments of the dead mean Sacraments given to a
dead soul, that is, to a soul in mortal sin. When grace--its life--is
all out of the soul it can do nothing to merit Heaven; and we say it is
dead, because the dead can do nothing for themselves. If a person
receives--as many do--the Sacrament of Penance while his soul is not in
a state of mortal sin, what then? Then the soul--already
living--receives an increase of sanctifying grace, that is, greater
spiritual life and strength.


*141 Q. Why are Baptism and Penance called Sacraments of the dead?
A. Baptism and Penance are called Sacraments of the dead because they
take away sin, which is the death of the soul, and give grace, which is
its life.


*142 Q. Which are the Sacraments that increase sanctifying grace in the
soul?
A. The Sacraments that increase sanctifying grace in the soul are:
Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and
Matrimony; and they are called Sacraments of the living.


*143 Q. Why are Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy
Orders, and Matrimony called Sacraments of the living?
A. Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and
Matrimony are called the Sacraments of the living because those who
receive them worthily are already living the life of grace.


*144 Q. What sin does he commit who receives the Sacraments of the
living in mortal sin?
A. He who receives the Sacraments of the living in mortal sin commits a
sacrilege, which is a great sin, because it is an abuse of a sacred
thing.


"Sacrilege." There are other ways besides the unworthy reception of the
Sacraments in which a person may commit sacrilege. You could commit it
by treating any sacred thing with great disrespect. For example, by
making common use of the sacred vessels used at the altar; by stealing
from the church; by turning the church into a market, etc. You could
commit it also by willfully killing or wounding persons consecrated to
God, such as nuns, priests, bishops, etc. Therefore sacrilege can be
committed by willfully abusing or treating with great irreverence any
sacred person, sacred place, or sacred thing.


*145 Q. Besides sanctifying grace, do the Sacraments give any other
grace?
A. Besides sanctifying grace, the Sacraments give another grace, called
sacramental.


*146 Q. What is sacramental grace?
A. Sacramental grace is a special help which God gives to attain the end
for which He instituted each Sacrament.


For example, what was the end for which Penance was instituted? To
forgive sins and keep us out of sin. Therefore the sacramental grace
given in Penance is a grace that will enable us to overcome temptation
and avoid the sins we have been in the habit of committing. When a
person is ill the doctor's medicine generally produces two effects: one
is to cure the disease and the other to strengthen the person so that he
may not fall back into the old condition. Well, it is just the same in
the Sacraments; the grace given produces two effects: one is to sanctify
us and the other to prevent us from falling into the same sins. Again,
Confirmation was instituted that we might become more perfect
Christians, stronger in our faith. Therefore the sacramental grace of
Confirmation will strengthen us to profess our faith when circumstances
require it; or when we are tempted to doubt any revealed truth, it will
help us to overcome the temptation. So in all the Sacraments we receive
the sacramental grace or special help given to attain the end for which
the Sacraments were separately instituted.


147 Q. Do the Sacraments always give grace?
A. The Sacraments always give grace, if we receive them with the right
dispositions.


"Right dispositions"; that is, if we do all that God and the Church
require us to do when we receive them. For instance, in Penance the
right disposition is to confess all our mortal sins as we know them, to
be sorry for them, and have the determination never to commit them
again. The right disposition for the Holy Eucharist is to be in a state
of grace, and--except in special cases of sickness--fasting for one
hour.


148 Q. Can we receive the Sacraments more than once?
A. We can receive the Sacraments more than once, except Baptism,
Confirmation, and Holy Orders.


Baptism is so important that if we do not receive it we cannot receive
any other of the Sacraments. Now, to administer Baptism validly, that
is, properly, everything must be done exactly as Our Lord intended and
the Church teaches. The proper kind of water and all the exact words
must be used. Also, the water must touch the body, that is, the head if
possible. Now persons not knowing well how to baptize might neglect some
of these things, and thus the person would not be baptized. The Church
wishes to be certain that all its children are baptized; so when there
is any doubt about the first Baptism, it baptizes again conditionally,
that is, the priest says in giving the Baptism over again: If you are
not baptized already, I baptize you now. Therefore if the person was
rightly baptized the first time, the second ceremony has no effect,
because the priest does not intend to give Baptism a second time. But if
the first Baptism was not rightly given, then the second takes effect.
In either case Baptism is given only once; for if the first was valid,
the second is not given; and if the first was invalid, the second is
given.


Converts to the Church are generally baptized conditionally, because
there is doubt about the validity of the Baptism they received.


The Sacraments may be given conditionally when we doubt if they were or
can be validly given.


*149 Q. Why can we not receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders
more than once?
A. We cannot receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders more than
once, because they imprint a character in the soul.


"A character." It is a spiritual character, and remains forever, so that
whether the person is in Heaven or Hell this mark will be seen. It will
show that those having it were Christians, who received Baptism,
Confirmation, or Holy Orders. If they are in Heaven, these characters
will shine out to their honor, and will show how well they used the
grace God gave them. If they are in Hell, these characters will be to
their disgrace, and show how many gifts and graces God bestowed upon
them, and how shamefully they abused all.


*150 Q. What is the character which these Sacraments imprint in the
soul?
A. The character which these Sacraments imprint in the soul is a
spiritual mark which remains forever.


*151 Q. Does this character remain in the soul even after death?
A. This character remains in the soul even after death: for the honor
and glory of those who are saved; for the shame and punishment of those
who are lost.