Sacraments

The sacraments marked the most important occasions in a person's life.

First, all seven are doors to grace, opening our hearts to the Gospel, letting Christ into our lives.

Individually: Baptism is the first of the sacraments, the door to the Church. It is our response to God's call, and orients our whole life to God, at least in principle. True, we should be good (follow the commandments, do God's will) on our own, but that is just not possible. It is beyond our strength. Baptism is the sign that our hearts are open to God's grace and strength, so that we are relying not on our power but on God's.

Confirmation is the next sacrament, the "confirmation" of what has been done in us, and the granting of the Spirit. Especially for those baptized as infants, it may be an opportunity to renew what was done in us by our parents for our good, and make our faith our own. But even more, it is God and the whole Church, in the person of the Bishop, who confirms what we started in Baptism.

Eucharist is the continuing nourishment of our body, mind, and soul, at the Father's table. In Baptism, we become God's children, brothers and sisters of the household following our brother Jesus. Eucharist is where God feeds us, at the table of the Word, and of the Altar. We receive the Body and Blood of Christ, and in receiving and eating we become what we eat.

Another form of the Eucharist is actually the proper "Last Rites" for the dying: Viaticum, the Body or Blood of Christ given to the sick and dying as "food for the journey" when we face that darkest of passages, through death. We need our Shepherd with us on that road.

Reconciliation is the restoration of our relationship with God, the Church, and others, that we may have harmed by our sin. There are other means to restore that relationship, if our sin is not mortal (the Penitential rite at Mass, or receiving communion, sincere prayer of penitence, telling one harmed by our sin of our sorrow, and so on), but even in the case of venial sin, it can help to tell a minister of God and the Church, the priest, what we have done and to hear the Church's response. In the case of mortal sins, more is needed: the only sure ways to forgive mortal sin are Baptism (which removes all the guilt of sin, but may only be received once) and Reconciliation.

Anointing of the Sick is prayer for a person who is seriously ill. The community of the Body of Christ cares for all its members, and comes to visit and pray for (officially, in the person of the priest) those who are suffering from their weak health. This rite also may include confession and absolution, and the Eucharist.

The last two sacraments are sometimes called sacraments of vocation; they give direction and focus to our whole life: Marriage and Holy Orders. Each of these involves a commitment and service, whether to spouse and possible children (Marriage), or to serving a particular church (Holy Orders, as deacon, presbyter or bishop).

Together, these sacraments shape our Christian life, remind us of our commitments, and help us grow into those commitments.

The Institution of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

The sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist

Baptism oils are Oil of Catechumens, given only at Baptism as a welcome to church, and also Oil of Chrism, given after Baptism as a sign of priest, prophet, king.

At Confirmation the Chrism oil is given, as at Baptism, confirming the gifts of the Holy Spirit

At Eucharist, no oils are used

While it is possible, and while any attempted baptism which takes place outside of the presence of a mother is certainly valid, such an action is usually inappropriate.

Usually the context of such a question would be a situation where the parents of a child are separated or divorced. While both parents have the right, duty, and obligation under Church law to present children for baptism, (all other things being equal: regular church membership and attendance, approaching one's own pastor, etc) this is usually a joint decision and action. When parents are separated or divorced, in civil law, it is the custodial parent who must consent to a baptism. Non-custodial parents may not present children for baptism without the consent of the custodial parent. In the event of joint custody, the parents must both consent. Usually consent is manifested by presence at a baptism celebration. Short of that, priests are wise to obtain written consent.

Thus, a non-custodial parent may not present a child for baptism on a weekend where he or she might have visitation with the children, unless the non-custodial parent has the expressed consent of the custodial parent. (A priest should ask for written consent in these cases.) Priests who err in this procedure and baptise without custodial parent's consent are usually acting in good faith, unaware of the cruel things that divorced people do to each other in order to 'get at' the other. A non-custodial parent who usurps the right and duty of a custodial parent to direct the religious upbringing of their children in most circumstances commits a grave offense.

It should also be noted that it is inappropriate for children to be baptized more than once. If, for instance, a child is baptized in a custodial parent's faith (let's say, Episcopalian), the non-custodial parent cannot later have the child baptized in the Catholic Church. Once baptized with water and the Trinitarian formula, always baptized. While anyone may baptize validly, non-custodial parents (or grandparents) should not attempt baptizing children themselves privately... presents a very difficult situation for all involved when proof of baptism is necessary for First Communion, Confirmation, etc. It may also constitute a grave offense against the rights of the custodial parent.

Also, it should be noted that Church law itself anticipates the case where death is imminent. If a child is in real danger death, either parent, even in the absence of the other, may move to have a child baptized. This would include the divorced/separated situation presented above.

Sanctifying Grace

The sacraments of initiation are Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation. The sacraments of service are Holy Orders and Matrimony. The sacraments of healing are Reconciliation and Extreme Unction.

If you are talking about the instructions In James 5:14 it is to demonstrate your faith in God's healing.
Anointing of the Sick is the ritual anointing of a sick person and is a Sacrament of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Church, a mystery or sacrament in the Eastern Orthodox churches, and is recognized as a rite by the Lutheran and Methodist churches. Some Anglicans prefer also to refer to it as a rite. It is also described, using the more archaic synonym "unction" in place of "annointing", as Unction of the Sick or Extreme Unction. Although less common, this sacrament is also referred to as the Administration to the sick by some ecclesial communities.

It is a mid 14th Century word from Greek 'Eukharista' meaning thanksgiving or gratitude and later the Lord's Supper.

This verse is part of the text of the traditional chant "In Paradisum, deducant te angeli" which is part of the traditional Roman Catholic funeral rite. The music can be found in the Liber Usualis and many pre Vatican II hymnals. It can be heard on many Gregorian Chant recordings.

Self initiative is about doing things without having to be told or about learning a new task without having to be prompted or directed to do so. And working without having command from anyone.

Holy Orders

Sacraments embody in the physical world spiritual truths.

holy orders, marriage, confirmation

No. To Lutherans, the sacrament of Holy Communion is a way to strengthen faith by respecting Jesus' command to the disciples to continue the tradition of the Last Supper, growing closer to God by consuming the body and blood that is "under" the bread and wine. To them, forgiveness can only come from Jesus' sacrifice; therefore saying that taking Communion forgives sins would be untrue.

It is recommended, however, that before a Lutheran receives Communion, he or she should let go of any grudges, so forgiveness to others should be given.