What is a Sacrament?

A sacrament is an external sign, givent o us by Jesus Christ, that point to an internal change or conversion.  It is a visible sign of God's grace.  Sacraments and faith are linked together in that sacraments pre-suppose, nourish, fortify and express faith.  They build up the body of Christ, the Church.

It is a ritual that has been codifed and evolved over time; comin grom both the Bible (scripture) and lived experience (tradition).

In 1215 at the 4th Lateran Council the Church names the seven sacraments, using this defintion "Something is properly called a sacrament because it is a sign of God's grace and is such an image of invisible grace that it bears its likeness and exists as its cause.(Peter Lombard)

Vatican II called the Church to ref-focus on the community aspect of the sacraments, reminding us that each sacrament communicates God's grace tot he world.  The Church itself is a sacrament.

Baptism Program Outline:

1. What is a sacrament?
2. What is Baptism?
3. Naming your child
4. Choosing Godparents
5. The Baptismal Rite
6. FAQ's and interesting links