The celebration of the Sacred Liturgy is at the very heart of Catholicism. In fact, Vatican II teaches that "the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time, it is the font from which all her power flows" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, art. 10). In other ...

The Sacrament of Baptism is the beginning of the Christian life and it is the doorway that opens up to all of the other sacraments. In this powerful sacrament, we are freed from Original Sin and all personal sin and become a new creation in Christ. This language of "new creation" is not just flow...

The Sacrament of Confirmation completes the grace that was received in Baptism, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit comes upon us superabundantly. However, this extraordinary presence and power of the Holy Spirit is given to us in this sacrament so that we, like the Apostles at Pentecost, can b...

The Second Vatican Council teaches that "the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time, it is the font from which all her power flows." The Eucharist and the celebration of the sacrifice of the Mass is at the very heart and center of the Christian...

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the great sacrament of mercy in which we encounter the Divine Physician, Jesus Christ, who not only desires to forgive us of our sins, but also to heal the wounds of sin and give us true peace.

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The second Sacrament of Healing is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament unites the sick to the sufferings of Christ and gives them the strength of Christ to endure their sufferings but also to transform their sufferings into redemptive suffering. For those who are dying, thi...

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the sacrament in which the ministry of Christ as Head of the Church is exercised, and it is the sacrament through which apostolic succession is handed on in the Church. Through Holy Orders, men are conformed to Christ in such a way that Christ becomes really presen...

The Sacrament of Marriage is one of the Sacraments of Service and Communion in which husband and wife come together in a sacramental bond to serve each other, the Christian family, and the Church itself by being a living sign of Christ's love for the Church.

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In addition to the Liturgy and the Seven Sacraments, the Church nourishes the faithful with numerous sacramentals that bear a resemblance to the sacraments, and are signs and instruments of actual grace that strengthen and encourage us in our daily lives. Sacramentals include such things as the R...