Sacraments

In the Catholic Church, the Sacraments are central to our faith, revealing God’s presence in visible and tangible ways. Rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus, they are celebrations through which we experience Christ’s grace, grow in faith, and build up the whole community.

Sacrament of Eucharist

According to St Francis de Sales, the Eucharist is a Sacrament that unites us with Christ and each other, providing spiritual nourishment and fostering mutual charity. He described it as a "perpetual feast of divine grace" and a way to receive Jesus' Body and Blood, which strengthens the soul, making it "almost impossible ... to be poisoned by any kind of evil affection". He emphasised the importance of receiving Communion frequently and devoutly, not out of habit, but with t

Holy Orders

The Sacrament of Holy Orders refers to a unique office of pastoral leadership in the Church. The mission of the ordained priest is to be a sign and to ‘make present’ the leadership which Christ gives to the Church. Through the Holy Spirit, the priest is ordained as one consecrated to God as a sharer in Christ’s mission to serve, teach and govern the people of God. It is more than a managerial role as his leadership involves a ‘holy ordering’ of the many gifts of the Spirit in

Anointing of the Sick

When a Catholic is very sick, the Church anoints the person with oil in a special ritual of healing called Anointing of the Sick. This rite is one way in which the Church continues the healing ministry of Jesus. The healing offered by this anointing is forgiveness of sins, hope and inner peace, sometimes physical healing, and an assurance of God’s steadfast care, even in death. In the past, this sacrament was often kept strictly for those close to death. In more recent years

Baptism

Why does the Church baptise children? From the very beginning, the Church has always baptised children as well as adults. Our Lord said: “Unless a person is reborn in water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” This means that children should not be deprived of Baptism. Children are precious to Jesus. He loves them dearly. He wants to save them by giving His blessings to them as they grow up in the spiritual family. We experience the Church and belong to t

Sacrament of Reconciliation

According to St Francis de Sales , the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a spiritual medicine for the soul that provides healing and restores one's relationship with God and the Church. He described it as a way to experience divine mercy, where confessing sins and receiving absolution is infinitely more honourable than the sin itself, and our misery glorifies God's mercy. For St Francis, the sacrament involves the penitent's genuine sorrow, a firm promise to try to sin no more,

Sacrament of Confirmation

According to St Francis de Sales , Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace, strengthening the Christian to become a "perfect Christian and true soldier of Christ". It roots the person more deeply in their relationship with God, incorporates them more firmly into Christ, strengthens their bond with the Church, and empowers them to witness to their faith with words and deeds. The Sacrament is sealed with the Holy Spirit, who imparts the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wisdom, Und

Sacrament of Matrimony

According to St Francis de Sales, the Sacrament of Matrimony is a sacred vocation and means of grace for married couples. He viewed marriage not as a secondary state of life, but as a path to holiness, where spouses use their love to help one another grow in faith and sanctity. Key aspects of the Sacrament of Matrimony, according to St Francis de Sales, include: Mutual sanctification : The bond between a husband and wife is a powerful force for mutual holiness. He wrote th