SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL
The SACRAMENTS are efficacious signs instituted and given to the Church by Christ.
In the sacraments, we meet Christ and he gives us SANCTIFYING GRACE.
The sacraments act ex opere operato. The means that the sacraments unfailingly give grace because Christ works through them.
However, if received unworthy, the grace the sacraments give is either not received or remains fruitless.
One can be unworthy of the sacraments of Confirmation, the Eucharist, Holy Orders, and Matrimony if one is conscious of an unforgiven mortal sin.
One does not worthily receive the sacraments of Reconciliation if a sin is knowingly withheld.
If one receives the Eucharist or Reconciliation unworthily, the grace of the sacrament is not received.
Grace remains fruitless if the sacraments of Confirmation, Holy Orders, and Matrimony are received unworthily. As soon as the sin is forgiven, the grace of these sacraments becomes effective.
Still, the sacraments do not depend on the holiness of the minister or any work accomplished by the recipients -- except that they be worthy.
Sanctifying grace is a free gift of God which allows us to become children of God, to share in the divine nature, and to inherit eternal life.
A mortal sin means a deadly sin. It is given this name because a mortal sin 'kills' the life of God in the soul: it results in the loss of sanctifying grace.
The names of the seven sacraments are (click on any of the sacraments for more information about that specific sacrament):
Information on this page was taken from Outlines of the Catholic Faith with permission from The Leaflet Missal Company. Click here for more information about Leaflet Missal Company publications.