Anglicanism and Sacraments

The sacraments are the means through which God unites creation to Himself and shares the fruit of the Incarnation with mankind.  The Prayer Book Catechism teaches that a sacrament is:

“...an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us; ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.”

From this we learn that a sacrament is a means of grace: not a mere token of grace received otherwise, but rather an effective sign by which grace is given and by which that free gift is pledged for our assurance.

Besides Baptism and Holy Communion the church recognizes other spiritual markers in our journey of faith. These include:

• Reconciliation or Private Confession
• Confirmation
• Matrimony
• Ordination to Holy Orders
• Unction or anointing with oil those who are sick or dying

Let us be a sacramental people, always seeing God always at work around us.