Sacraments

[fulloffaith]

Hi, i have a question:

Would it be correct to say that the sacraments are the basis of our faith, and also, how would one explain the nature of the sacraments to someone who doesn’t understand them?

Thank You and God Bless.

 

[JimG]

Sacraments are not the basis of our faith. Sacraments are means of Grace, instituted by Christ–outward signs which effect what they signify, through the power of Christ.

 

[jmcrae]

Hi, i have a question:

Would it be correct to say that the sacraments are the basis of our faith, and also, how would one explain the nature of the sacraments to someone who doesn’t understand them?

Thank You and God Bless.

This is what I would say:

Christ is the founder of our Church, and He is the basis of our faith - no book, thing, or ritual is the basis of our faith, but rather, the Person of Jesus Christ is the basis of our faith.

In establishing His Church, Christ gave us the Sacraments - they are the ordinary means that He uses to communicate His grace to us.

The Catholic Church is essentially a machine for communicating with Jesus Christ. Since Christ Himself created it, we have a firm basis for believing that it works.

 

[fulloffaith]

Thank you so much, jmcrae. I appreciate it.

 

[otjm]

Sacraments are not the basis of our faith. Sacraments are means of Grace, instituted by Christ–outward signs which effect what they signify, through the power of Christ.

I see you read the Baltimore Catechism too…

 

[puzzleannie]

Jesus Christ is the basis of our faith. the sacraments are the ordinary means by which his sanctifying grace is made available to us through the efficacious signs he instituted.

 

[JimG]

I see you read the Baltimore Catechism too…

That stuff just never goes away. Plus, 30 years later I started remembering the Latin responses for the Tridentine Mass, which I had never learned very well in the first place.