On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics, a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.
Why do we have sacraments?
God gave them to us so that we can see his grace working in our lives. Grace is invisible to the human eye. Gathering in community—whether it’s with a priest or with family, friends, or an entire congregation—helps us to see that grace in action.
We have different sacraments for different stages of our spiritual lives. Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist are called sacraments of initiation, because they usher us into new, deeper relationships with God. Matrimony and Holy Orders are called sacraments at the service of communion, because while they enrich us personally, they also prepare us to serve others, whether the service involves a spouse, children, a parish, or an order. Penance and Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick and of the Dying are sacraments of healing; they assist us in repairing our relationship with God and in preparing for the end of our time here on earth.
