Sacraments

Sacraments

Baptism
Eucharist
Confirmation
Matrimony
Ordination
Reconciliation
Unction

In the Episcopal Church, sacraments are the “outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace.” Holy Baptism and the Holy Eucharist are the two great sacraments given by Christ to His church¹and are necessary for the Christian life of all persons.Because Baptism and the Eucharist were commanded by Jesus, they are known as the “dominical” sacraments (Latin dominus, “lord”).

Five other sacraments are recognized by the Episcopal Church as having evolved “under the guidance of the Holy Spirit” — Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Ordination, Reconciliation of a Penitent, and Unction.These sacramentals are means of grace. However, unlike Baptism and the Eucharist, they are not necessary for all persons.²

¹Book of Common Prayer (BCP), pp. 857–858.
²BCP, pp. 860–861.

	Baptism
	Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as His children and makes us members, by water and the Holy Spirit, of Christ’s Body and inheritors of His Kingdom. Nothing can break the bond that God establishes with each person in baptism.³In baptism we receive the new life of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is the foundation for all church participation and ministry. Each candidate for baptism in the Episcopal Church is sponsored by at least one baptized person. Sponsors (godparents) speak on behalf of infants or younger children at the Presentation and Exam-ination of the Candidates. (Infants are baptized so that “they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God.” The baptismal promises are made for infants by their parents or sponsors, “who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow Him.” ⁴) During the baptismal rite the congregants promise to do all they can to support the candidates in their life in Christ. They join with the candidates by renewing the baptismal covenant. The water of baptism may be administered by immersion or affusion (pouring). Can-didates are baptized “in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and then marked on the forehead with the sign of the cross. Chrism may be used for this marking. The newly baptized is “sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever.” The Catechism notes that baptism is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, Pentecost, All Saints’ Day (or the following Sunday), and the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany). To enquire about baptisms at St. Stephen’s, please contact Father Scott or the parish office.

	³BCP, pp. 298, 858. ⁴BCP, pp. 858–859.	back to top

	Holy Eucharist (Communion)
	The Holy Eucharist (Gk. “thanksgiving”) is the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood, the central act of Christian wor-ship. Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, when He shared the bread and cup of wine at a Passover meal with His disciples. He identified the bread with His body and the wine with His blood and commanded His disciples to “do this” in remembrance of Him. Christ’s sacrifice is present in the Eucharist, and in it we are united. In the Book of Common Prayer, the whole service is entitled the Holy Eucharist. The first part of the service is designated the Word of God, and the second the Holy Communion. The Eucharist is also called the Lord’s Supper, Communion, the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offertory.⁵ For a description of the Holy Eucharist service at St. Ste-phen’s, click here. For a sample service, see our weekly church program (service bulletin) here.

	⁵BCP, p. 859.	back to top

	Confirmation
	In the sacrament of Confirmation, the candidate expresses a mature commitment to Christ and receives strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.⁶ Confirmation. Those baptized either at an early age or as adults without laying on of hands by a bishop publicly reaffirm their faith, recommit themselves to the responsibilities of their baptism, and receive the episcopal laying on of hands. (Adults who have already been baptized with the laying on of hands by a bishop are considered confirmed.)⁷ Reception. Those who have made a mature Christian commitment made an adult profession of faith in certain denominations may be received into the Episcopal Church by the bishop. Reaffirmation. Those who have returned from a time of religious inactivity to an active practice of faith may publicly reaffirm their baptismal vows. Public reaffirmation is also open to those who have experienced a renewal of faith or desire to renew their Christian commitment. Confirmation is not a prerequisite for receiving Communion. Preparation for these rites should explore the meaning of Christian commitment in the candidate’s life and the ways that this commitment can be lived. These rites are rooted in the baptismal covenant and may be performed at the service of Holy Baptism or at the Easter Vigil when a bishop is present.⁸ Candidates for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation are brought forward in separate groups by presenters who will support them in their Christian life by prayer and example. The candidates reaffirm their renunciation of evil and renew their commitment to Christ, repeating the promises made by them or for them at the time of baptism. The congregants promise to do all in their power to support the candidates in their life in Christ. The bishop lays hands on each candidate for Confirmation. The bishop may shake hands with those who are being received to welcome them into this communion and may lay hands on them in blessing. The bishop may also bless those who reaffirm their baptismal vows. To enquire about confirmation at St. Stephen’s, please contact Father Scott or the church office.

	⁶BCP, p. 860. ⁷ BCP, p. 412. ⁸ BCP, pp. 292, 309–310.		back to top

	Holy Matrimony
	The sacrament of Holy Matrimony is the rite of the church in which a woman and a man “enter into a life-long union, make their vows before God and the Church, and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows.” ⁹ The union of husband and wife is under-stood to be intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord.¹⁰ In the wedding ceremony, at the Declaration of Consent, both the woman and the man prom-ise to love, comfort, honor, and keep their spouse, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to their spouse as long as they both live.¹¹ The congregants witness the couple’s covenants and promise to do all in their power to support the couple in their marriage. The couple may pledge their lives to each other by the giving and receiving of rings as symbols of their vows. When desired, other appropriate symbols of their vows may be used instead of rings. In the Episcopal Church it is required that at least one of the parties be a baptized Christian, that the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses, and that the marriage conform to the laws of the state and the canons of the church. When one of the parties has been previously married and divorced, the consent of the diocesan bishop must be obtained prior to solemnization of the marriage.

	⁹ BCP, p. 861. ¹⁰ BCP, p. 423. ¹¹ BCP, p. 424.		back to top

	Ordination
	Through the sacrament of ordination, God gives authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops to those being made bishops, priests, and deacons.¹² Bishops perform the apostolic mission—leading, supervising, and uniting the church. Presbyters (often known as priests) join in the ministry of church governance. They also perform missionary and pastoral work, preach the Word of God, and administer the sacraments. Deacons assist bishops and priests in all of this work, and have special responsibility to minister to the poor, the sick, the suffering, and the helpless.¹³
	¹² BCP, pp. 860–861. ¹³ BCP, p. 510.		back to top

	Reconciliation (Confession, Penance)
	Reconciliation of a Penitent is the sacramental rite in which penitents confess their sins to God in the presence of a priest and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution.¹⁴ It is also called penance and confession. The church’s ministry of reconciliation is from God, “Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”¹⁵ It is exercised through the care each Christian has for others, through the common prayer of Christians assembled for public worship, and through the priesthood of the church and its ministers declaring absolution. The secrecy of the confession is morally absolute for the confessor and must not be broken.¹⁶ The Reconciliation of a Penitent is not limited to times of sickness. Confessions may be heard at any time and any place. After the penitent has confessed all serious sins troubling the conscience and given evidence of contrition, the priest offers counsel and encouragement before pronouncing absolution. Before pronouncing absolution, the priest may assign a psalm, prayer, or hymn to be said, or something to be done, as a sign or penitence and act of thanksgiving.
	¹⁴ BCP, p. 861. ¹⁵ II Corinthians 5:18. ¹⁶ BCP, p. 446.		back to top

	Unction (Anointing)
	Unction is the sacrament of anointing with oil as an outward sign of God’s active presence; it is used for healing, initiation, or ordination. Anointing with oil by smearing or pouring may accom-pany prayers for healing and the laying on of hands.¹⁷ The signing with the cross of the newly baptized may be done by anointing with the oil of chrism, which signifies that the person is “sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever.” “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the Presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord.” (James 5:14)
	¹⁷ BCP, p. 453.		back to top

This page last updated December 30, 2011.

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