“The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of a Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith.”
CCC 1210²

As Catholics, all of us have the opportunity to receive Sacraments thoughout our life.
There are seven Sacraments:

• Baptism
• Eucharist
• Confirmation
• Reconciliation
• Anointing of the Sick
• Marriage
• Holy Orders

Some of the Sacraments we can receive daily (Sacrament of the Eucharist, Sacrament of Reconciliation), some we receive rarely (Anoiting of the Sick), some we receive just once (Sacrament of Baptism, Sacrament of Confirmation) and some we generally receive once to the exclusion of others (Sacrament of Marriage OR Sacrament of Holy Orders).

The word ‘Sacrament’ is derived from the Latin “sacrō” (“hallow, consecrate”) or “sacer” (“sacred, holy”) and the Greek New Testament word “mysterion” which in Ancient Rome, meant a soldier’s oath of allegiance.

When we receive a Sacrament, we enter into an irreversible covenant with the Lord. It changes our soul.

“Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.”
CCC 1304¹

We receive many graces through the Sacrament of Confirmation. In particular, we receive an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and strength to spread and defend the faith.

Have you received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation?
If you haven’t yet, here are some practical steps you can explore:

1. Check in with your parents, or people around you when you were small – most of us were Baptised as babies so it’s worth asking whether you were too!
2. Ask your parish priest whether you can receive the Sacraments of Baptism and/or the Sacrament of Confirmation, if you haven’t yet.