Sacrament facts for kids

The seven sacraments of the Catholic church.

In Christianity, a sacrament is a very special ceremony or action. It's seen as a way that God shows his presence and grace in the world. Think of it as a visible sign of something holy and invisible.

Sacraments in the Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church has seven main sacraments. These are important steps in a Catholic's life:

• Baptism - This is usually done when someone is a baby. It's like a welcome into the Christian family and is believed to wash away sins.
• Confirmation - When young people are older, they can choose to be confirmed. This makes them full members of the Church and strengthens their faith.
• Holy Eucharist - This is a special meal where people remember the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. Catholics believe they receive the body and blood of Jesus during this ceremony.
• Marriage - This sacrament joins a man and a woman together in a holy union.
• Holy orders - This is for people who choose to become a deacon, priest, or bishop to serve the Church.
• Penance and remission of sins - Also called Confession, this is when people say sorry for their mistakes and receive forgiveness from God through a priest.
• Anointing of the Sick - This sacrament is for people who are very sick or dying. It offers comfort, strength, and healing prayers. It used to be known as "Last Rites."

Protestant Views on Sacraments

Many Protestant churches, following the ideas of Martin Luther, believe that only Baptism and the Eucharist are true sacraments. They still have most of the other ceremonies, but they don't call them sacraments in the same way the Catholic Church does.

Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Views

The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches have very similar beliefs to the Roman Catholic Church about sacraments. However, they also believe that many other actions the church performs can be seen as sacred or "sacramental" in a broader sense.

Images for kids

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  The Seven Sacraments, an altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1448

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  The Council of Trent defined the seven sacraments.

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  Baptism and Chrismation, the sacraments of initiation, in an Eastern Orthodox church

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  Henry John Dobson's A Scottish Sacrament

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  The Eucharist is considered a sacrament, ordinance, or equivalent in most Christian denominations.

See also

In Spanish: Sacramento para niños