Composition
The Catholic Church is made up of two components, the Western (Roman or
Latin) Church and the Eastern Churches. There are 22 Churches that form
The Catholic Church. Each of these Churches has traditions, rituals, and
devotions that are particular to them, and each has traditions, rituals
and devotions that overlap into the other Churches. At the heart of all
Catholic Churches is the celebration of the Eucharist.
Sacraments/Mysteries
All Catholic Churches have seven sacraments or mysteries that they hold
in common. In the East these are called "mysteries" because Paul
used the Greek word mysterion in reference to them. The West calls
them "sacraments" because Jerome, in translating the Greek
Scriptures to Latin used the word sacramentum to translate mysterion.
These seven sacraments are:
 | Baptism: It is through baptism that one is joined to
the death and resurrection of Jesus and thereby incorporated into the
Body of Christ. |
| Confirmation/Chrismation: Through anointing with the
sacred chrism/myron the individual is signed with the Holy Spirit and
strengthened for life as a Christian. In the ancient world this "signation"
or "signing" was a mark of ownership, and this marks the
individual as being "owned" by the Holy Spirit. |
| Eucharist: The Eucharist is the central mystery of our
faith. The Eucharist, from the Greek word eucharistias meaning
"thanksgiving" is the "daily bread" for which we
pray. This heavenly food is nothing less than the Body and Blood of
our Lord and Savior and God Jesus the Christ. |
| Marriage/Holy Crowning: In marriage a man and a woman
are joined as "little Church" to carry out the Lord's
salvific mission. It is in the context of married life that man and
woman share in the creative role of God with the procreation of
children. It is in the role of parents that the couple exercise the
teaching ministry of the Church in raising children to know, love and
serve God. |
| Reconciliation/Confession: Sin is part of our
inclination in this life. Through sin our relationship with God and
with the Body of Christ is damaged. Through Reconciliation we are
again brought into harmony with God and with the Body of Christ. |
| Holy Orders: A man is configured to service through
Holy Orders. Holy Orders is conferred by a bishop. All deacons,
priests and bishops receive Holy Orders. |
| Holy Anointing: "Is anyone among you sick? He
should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over
him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer
of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If
he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven." (Jms 5:14-15) |
