Confused about the 7 sacraments

[TheLoneSoldier]

Hello, my name is Nick and I was raised a Catholic. I am young (I won’t say my age), and I am still getting to know my faith.

I am confused about the seven sacraments, and how you are supposed to receive all seven. I have already received Baptism, Confession, the Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation, and my next step is going on to Marriage or Holy Orders. My question is simple…How can I receive all 7 sacraments? It is impossible, because you can’t be Married and receive Holy Orders and you can’t get married if you are a priest, deacon, monk, etc.

I hope someone can answer this for me. Thanks a lot!

 

[TimothyH]

Not everyone will recieve all seven sacraments. There is no requirement to recieve all seven sacraments.

Most people will not recieve the sacrament of Holy Orders. Women definitely will not recieve the sacrament of Holy Orders as ordaination is reserved for men only.

Married Deacons are most likely to recieve all seven sacraments - married and ordained. One can become a priest if their spouse dies, so I suppose it is possible for priests to recieve all seven sacraments as well.

But no, in general, not everyone will recieve all seven, nor is their any requirement to do so.

-Tim-

 

[1ke]

Hello, my name is Nick and I was raised a Catholic. I am young (I won’t say my age), and I am still getting to know my faith.

I am confused about the seven sacraments, and how you are supposed to receive all seven. I have already received Baptism, Confession, the Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation, and my next step is going on to Marriage or Holy Orders. My question is simple…How can I receive all 7 sacraments? It is impossible, because you can’t be Married and receive Holy Orders and you can’t get married if you are a priest, deacon, monk, etc.

I hope someone can answer this for me. Thanks a lot!

I’m not sure why you think you are supposed to receive all seven.

The two sacraments of service,-- Marriage and Holy Orders-- have different purposes. You receive one or the other, unless you become a deacon. Married men can become permanent deacons. But, not all men are called to this vocation. And, some people are not called to either. So, they would receive neither sacrament.

You will likely receive Anointing at some point in your life, but it is also not routine.

Sacraments are not like merit badges in the Scouts. They are not something we collect. They are different avenues of Grace given by Christ for different life situations and the overall well being of the Church. Not all of them apply to every person.

 

[LittleHannah]

You don’t have to receive all Seven. If you are going to become a Priest then you wold receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders or If you get married then you receive the Sacrament of Matrimony.

 

[TheLoneSoldier]

Thank you for helping me. I appreciate it! God bless!

 

[ByzCathCantor]

I’m glad all of the posts to date were helpful to you!

FWIW - I teach Catechism to 7th & 8th graders. They recently asked a similar question. After reviewing the seven sacraments and thinking about it a bit, they actually articulated on their own a little classification system:

Initiation & Basic Grace
Baptism
Chrismation

Life in the Church
Holy Eucharist
Reconciliation

Service to the Church
Holy Orders
Holy Matrimony

Final Blessing & Grace
Holy Annointing

They further observed that only the first four were “compulsory” if you will and are required for full life and participation in the life of the Church. In their reckoning, all faithful Catholics would receive all four of these sacraments in their lives, yet wouldn’t necessarily receive the others.

They recognized that usually people receive one or the other of the sacraments in service to the Church. It was interesting that they grouped Holy Matrimony with Holy Orders in this way. We could have a whole separate thread on the merits of that analogy.

They further recognized the final sacrament as a one time event, as final preparation for the next promised life.

May God bless you abundantly in your journey of faith and understanding!

 

[ConstantineTG]

Religious lay also do not receive Marriage nor Holy Orders.

 

[Carolus_Martell]

Lonesoldier…it’s not required that you receive all 7 sacraments. The blessing for humanity is these sacraments are available to those that need them.

I’m thinking the average God fearing soul that understands their place in the universe can find salvation in the 1st 3 sacraments. But Confirmation super charges the Holy Spirit within you and greatly increases the chances of your eternal salvation.

btw many folks pray daily, fast, endure hardships, ‘offer it up’, sacrifice…do good deeds etc for the sole purpose…

…to die ‘a happy death’.

And that is you are still conscious to receive the last sacrament.… and then off you go.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello, my name is Nick and I was raised a Catholic. I am young (I won’t say my age), and I am still getting to know my faith.

I am confused about the seven sacraments, and how you are supposed to receive all seven. I!

no you are not supposed to or obligated to receive all seven

You need the first three, baptism, confirmation and Eucharist to be fully in communion with the Catholic Church. We all need penance and reconciliation, at least once a year. Many of us will want anointing of the sick at some point in our lives but it is not an absolute requirement. Obviously no woman can receive all 7 as she cannot be ordained, and not everyone is called to matrimony. Those are sacraments of vocation for those called to those states in life. A man could conceivably receive all 7, as a married man who becomes a permanent deacon, or a widowed man who then enters the priesthood (or diaconate).

 

[RyanBlack]

no you are not supposed to or obligated to receive all seven

You need the first three, baptism, confirmation and Eucharist to be fully in communion with the Catholic Church. We all need penance and reconciliation, at least once a year. Many of us will want anointing of the sick at some point in our lives but it is not an absolute requirement. Obviously no woman can receive all 7 as she cannot be ordained, and not everyone is called to matrimony. Those are sacraments of vocation for those called to those states in life. A man could conceivably receive all 7, as a married man who becomes a permanent deacon, or a widowed man who then enters the priesthood (or diaconate).

Or a married man who is ordained to the priesthood (either in one of the Eastern Churches, or some Protestant ministers who convert to Catholicism).

 

[Richard320]

Generally speaking, you can’t receive all 7. I know one priest who has, but he’s an exceptional case: he got married, raised a family, retired, and started studying to be a Deacon. Then his wife suddenly died. He ended up becoming a priest. He was pretty old when I met him, and at one point got pretty sick, so he received Sacrament of the Sick.

Incidentally, he wasn’t a great speaker, but his homilies were pretty down-to-earth. He raised five kids, so he was no idealist! And I’ve been told that his wedding homilies were outstanding. He still wears his wedding ring, which freaks out new parishioners

 

[Luvtosew]

Generally speaking, you can’t receive all 7. I know one priest who has, but he’s an exceptional case: he got married, raised a family, retired, and started studying to be a Deacon. Then his wife suddenly died. He ended up becoming a priest. He was pretty old when I met him, and at one point got pretty sick, so he received Sacrament of the Sick.

Incidentally, he wasn’t a great speaker, but his homilies were pretty down-to-earth. He raised five kids, so he was no idealist! And I’ve been told that his wedding homilies were outstanding. He still wears his wedding ring, which freaks out new parishioners

Well he sure has led and is living a full life.

 

[PacoG]

You don’t have to receive all Seven. If you are going to become a Priest then you wold receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders or If you get married then you receive the Sacrament of Matrimony.

1. Permanent Deacons can be married. Therefore, a married Permanent Deacon receives both Matrimony and Holy Orders.
2. Priests in the Eastern Churches can be married. Thus, they receive both sacraments also.