Sacrament
Religious Studies A: AQA GCSE Religions, topic 2.3.3
The Role and Meaning of Sacrament
The word sacrament means sign. In the Christian Church, sacraments are usually special ceremonies that are signs of God’s grace. Christian Churches that celebrate the sacraments believe that they were instituted by Christ.
Signs and ceremonies
- Each sacrament involves signs and ceremonies that mark the imparting of God’s grace.
- One description calls a sacrament ‘an outward sign of inward grace’.
- This means that the ceremony is the outward expression, but at the same time God gives people the gift of inner grace or strength.
Different Churches
- The Catholic and Orthodox Churches believe that Christ instituted seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation, the Eucharist, Matrimony, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick.
- The Church of England and many Protestant Churches accept that Jesus intended to institute only two, baptism and the Eucharist, as being supported by evidence from the Bible.
- There are some Christian groups which do not believe Christ intended to institute any sacraments.
Test yourself on Sacrament
How many sacraments do the Catholic and Orthodox Churches believe Christ instituted?
What does the word sacrament mean?
What are Christian beliefs about sacraments?
What are the seven sacraments, according to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches?