The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are part of our core beliefs. They are actions of Christ and of his Church. As St. Augustine wrote in the fifth century, sacraments are “visible signs of invisible grace.” Today we might say they are moments that the Church celebrates God’s unique activity and presence. Sacraments are signs of what is happening between God and us every day, 24 hours a day, but which are ritualized in a special way when a sacrament is celebrated liturgically by the Church.

Each of the seven sacraments recognized by the Roman Catholic Church are actually actions that are expressions of human activity – a bath, a touch, a meal, an embrace, a laying on of hands, a rubbing with oil, an exchange of rings and promises – celebrated in a ritualized or symbolic way that helps us get in touch with the presence of God in our lives. These actions help us understand the common human experiences through which God becomes present to us and overwhelms us with His love.