A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace—a holy mystery. It is an outward, visible sign that conveys and inward, spiritual grace. Among many Protestants, the word mediates or conveys would mean only that it is a visible symbol, reminder or manifestation of invisible divine grace. Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, the Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Christians, members of the Anglican, United Methodist, and Old Catholic traditions, the Independent Catholic Churches and Luth ...

Including:

• Sacrament - Etymology
• Sacrament - Application

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SACRAMENT: food, drink or sexual love which is partaken in the honor of the deity in either a formal or informal rite.

(See also: SACRAMENT, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Sacrament

A sacred ritual, esp. Communion. Also the communion elements.

(See also: Sacrament, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

First Communion is most often celebrated by children around the age of seven or eight, when they have reached the age of reason and are capable of participating in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. First Communion is to be preceded by the sacraments of baptism and reconciliation. If a person has not been baptized as a baby or small child, they will usually be baptized shortly before their First Communion. According to the decree released by Pope Pius X in 1910, entitled "Quam Singulari", the sacrament of penance must be rec ...

See also:

First Communion, First Communion - Sacrament, First Communion - Traditions

Read more here: » First Communion: Encyclopedia II - First Communion - Sacrament

The seven sacraments traditionally recognized by Roman Catholicism are (see also Catholic sacraments): Baptism The Eucharist (Communion) Marriage or Roman Catholic marriage The Sacrament of Order Confirmation or Chrismation Reconciliation of a Penitent Anointing of the Sick In addition to these seven, some Christian groups (Anabaptist and Brethren groups, in particular) consider foot washing to be a sacrament (see Gospel of John 13:14), and a few Christian groups (such as the Polish National Catholic Church of America) have argued that the hearing of the ...

See also:

Sacrament, Sacrament - Etymology, Sacrament - Application

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According to the Tridentine dogmas of Catholicism, a sacramental character is an indelible supernatural mark made on a person's soul by any of three of the seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, and Holy Orders. The characters imprinted by those three sacraments are held to differ from each other. Each character is held to remain indelible during the recipient's life, and therefore each of those three sacraments may be received only once. In case of doubt about whether a person has received one of these three sacraments, the sacrame ...

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sacrament:

1)    Holy rite, especially one solemnized in a formal, consecrated manner which is a bonding between the recipient and God, Gods or guru. This includes rites of passage (samskara), ceremonies sanctifying crucial events or stages of life.

2)    Prasada. Sacred substances, gracefilled gifts, blessed in sacred ceremony or by a holy person.

See: prasada, samskara.

(See also: Sacrament, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

The practice of the Roman Catholic Church includes seven sacraments. As defined by Catholics, a sacrament is a material and spoken action which confers divine grace upon a person, especially what is called sanctifying grace. There are seven sacraments: Baptism Penance and Reconciliation (informally called Confession) Eucharist (informally called Communion) ...

Including:

• Catholic sacraments - Baptism
• Catholic sacraments - Eucharist
• Catholic sacraments - Penance and Reconciliation
• Catholic sacraments - Confirmation
• Catholic sacraments - Matrimony
• Catholic sacraments - Holy Orders
• Catholic sacraments - Anointing of the Sick
• Catholic sacraments - The ordinary ministers of the sacraments

Read more here: » Catholic sacraments: Encyclopedia - Catholic sacraments

Confirmation is a rite used in many Christian churches. Though beliefs about confirmation differ among traditions, it is commonly seen as a mature statement of faith of a person already baptised. Customarily, it is done during adolescence, and, as such, is often seen as a rite of passage. In some traditions, confirmation is seen as a sacrament. Confirmation sacrament - Roman Catholic views. In the Roman Catholic Church, confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Christ for the conferra ...

Including:

• Confirmation sacrament - Roman Catholic views
• Confirmation sacrament - Orthodox views
• Confirmation sacrament - Anglican/Episcopal views
• Confirmation sacrament - Protestant views
• Confirmation sacrament - Latter-day Saint views
• Confirmation sacrament - Each person is confirmed at most once

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The Blessed Sacrament is a devotional name used by Roman Catholics to refer to a consecrated host, that is, a communion wafer which Catholics believe has actually become the body and blood of Jesus at the moment of the Consecration during the Liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass. The Blessed Sacrament may be received by Catholics who have undergone their First Holy Communion (ie., given by a priest or other Minister of the Eucharist to a Catholic and swallowed by the communicant) as part of the Liturgy of th ...

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Christian symbolism is the use of actions or objects to represent the truths of the Christian faith, either as a reminder of those truths or as a way of spiritually connecting with the underlying truth or act. Christian symbolism - Sacraments. The most important symbols in the Christian church are the sacraments. These rites, which vary between denominations but may include holy communion, baptism, ordination and marriage, are commonly described as an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual g ...

Including:

• Christian symbolism - Sacraments
• Christian symbolism - Other Symbols
• Christian symbolism - Symbols drawn from outside
• Christian symbolism - Diverse influences and meaning illustrated
• Christian symbolism - Examples

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Contrition (from the Latin contritus 'ground to pieces, i.e. crushed by guilt) is sincere and complete remorse (i.e. regret with a sense of guilt) for sins one has committed. The remorseful person is said to be contrite. It is a key concept to many Christians, especially Catholics, who can then seek divine forgiveness through the sacrament of Confession, nowadays rather called Penance. It is often ...

Including:

• Contrition - Catholic Perspective
• Contrition - NATURE OF CONTRITION
• Contrition - NECESSITY OF CONTRITION
• Contrition - PERFECT AND IMPERFECT CONTRITION
• Contrition - QUALITIES
• Contrition - CONTRITION IN THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
• Contrition - PERFECT CONTRITION WITHOUT THE SACRAMENT
• Contrition - Obligation of eliciting the act of contrition
• Contrition - References
• Contrition - Lay use

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also known as "The Eucharist" or "The Lord's Supper" Theology Consecration Consubstantiation Memorialism Real Presence Transubstantiation Theologies contrasted Important theologians Paul ·Aquinas Augustine · Calvin Chrysostom · Cranmer Luther · Zwingli Related Articles Christianity Catholic Historic Roots Closed and Open Table Divine Liturgy Eucharistic adoration Eucharistic discipline First Communion Infant Commun ...

Including:

• Eucharist - Names for the Eucharist
• Eucharist - Eucharist in the Bible
• Eucharist - Christian Theology
• Eucharist - Roman Catholic: Sacrifice; Transubstantiation
• Eucharist - Eastern Christianity: Sacrifice and Objective Reality but Pious Silence on the Particulars
• Eucharist - Anglicans/Episcopalians: Real Presence with Opinion
• Eucharist - Lutherans: presence as in with and under the forms—the Sacramental Union
• Eucharist - Methodism: presence as mystery
• Eucharist - Calvinist Reformed: spiritual feeding pneumatic presence
• Eucharist - Reformed/Congregational: no Real Presence
• Eucharist - Summary of views
• Eucharist - Ritual and liturgy
• Eucharist - The Agape feast
• Eucharist - Eastern Christianity
• Eucharist - Roman Catholicism
• Eucharist - Protestantism
• Eucharist - Jehovah's Witnesses
• Eucharist - Open and closed communion
• Eucharist - Footnotes
• Eucharist - Resources

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History of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth The Apostles Ecumenical councils Great Schism The Crusades Reformation The Trinity God the Father Christ the Son The Holy Spirit The Bible Old Testament New Testament Apocrypha The Gospels Ten Commandments Sermon on the Mount Christian theology Salvation · Grace Christian worship Christian Church Catholicism Orthodox Christianity Protestantism Christian denominations C ...

Including:

• Catholicism - Catholic Church
• Catholicism - Brief organizational history of the Church
• Catholicism - The Roman Catholic Church
• Catholicism - Other Catholic groups
• Catholicism - Distinctive beliefs and practices
• Catholicism - Beliefs
• Catholicism - Sacraments
• Catholicism - Footnotes
• Catholicism - Sources
• Catholicism - Additional reading

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Believer's baptism (also called credobaptism) is the Christian ritual of baptism as given only to adults and children who have made a declaration of faith in Jesus as their personal savior, because he died for their sins, and was resurrected by the power of God the Father. Whereas Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and a number of Protestant churches baptize infant children of believers (see pedobaptism), believer's baptism is administered only to persons who have passed the age of accountability or reason, which is ...

Including:

• Believers baptism - Theological objections

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Community of Christ, previously known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or RLDS church is a branch of Mormon Restorationism, and is the second largest denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. Based in Independence, Missouri, the faith shares its origins with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS or Mormon Church), but does not use the term Mormon in self-reference. Community of Christ - Overview. The history of the two largest Latter Day Sa ...

Including:

• Community of Christ - Overview
• Community of Christ - History of the church
• Community of Christ - Early history
• Community of Christ - Period of disorganization
• Community of Christ - Reorganization of the church
• Community of Christ - Presidency of Joseph Smith III
• Community of Christ - Presidencies of Frederick M. Smith and Israel A. Smith
• Community of Christ - Presidencies of W. Wallace Smith and Wallace B. Smith
• Community of Christ - Presidency of W. Grant McMurray
• Community of Christ - Presidency of Steven M. Veazey
• Community of Christ - Major doctrines
• Community of Christ - Sacraments
• Community of Christ - Scripture

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Huldrych (or Ulrich) Zwingli (January 1, 1484 – October 11, 1531) was the leader of the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland, and founder of the Swiss Reformed Churches. Independent from Luther, who was doctor biblicus, Zwingli arrived at similar conclusions, by studying the Scriptures from the point of view of a humanist scholar. Zwingli was born in Wildhaus, St. Gall, Switzerland to a prominent family of the middle classes. He was the seventh of eight sons. His father Ulrich was the chief magistrate in ...

Including:

• Huldrych Zwingli - Zwingli's contribution to Reformation
• Huldrych Zwingli - Background
• Huldrych Zwingli - Theology: sacraments and covenants Zwingli versus Luther
• Huldrych Zwingli - Music in the Church
• Huldrych Zwingli - Zwingli’s life
• Huldrych Zwingli - Youth
• Huldrych Zwingli - Priesthood
• Huldrych Zwingli - Alienation from the Church
• Huldrych Zwingli - Marriage
• Huldrych Zwingli - The Reformation in Zürich
• Huldrych Zwingli - The political phase
• Huldrych Zwingli - Reaction
• Huldrych Zwingli - Dictator of Zürich
• Huldrych Zwingli - Civil war and Zwingli's death on the battlefield
• Huldrych Zwingli - Zwingli's successor
• Huldrych Zwingli - Other notables in Swiss Reformation
• Huldrych Zwingli - Literary production

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Brahmanism, popularly known as Hinduism, developed its ritual, worship and philosophy from Aryan scriptures; the Vedas. Over the years this civilization, culture and tradition were trickled down to the lower caste of the social hierarchy of the Hindu society through puranas as well as Ithihasas like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Brahmanism considers Brahmin caste as hereditary creators, preservers and propagators of religion. A Brahmin (less often Brahman) is a person born in the priestly Brahmin caste. The word is related to but not to be confused with religious conception of the t ...

Including:

• Brahmanism - Theology
• Brahmanism - Pantheism
• Brahmanism - Caste
• Brahmanism - Sub castes
• Brahmanism - Maharashtrian sub-castes:
• Brahmanism - South Indian brahmin sub-castes:
• Brahmanism - The four stages of life
• Brahmanism - Sacramental rites
• Brahmanism - Vegetarianism
• Brahmanism - Moksha
• Brahmanism - Evolution of Brahminism
• Brahmanism - Brahmin Supremacy
• Brahmanism - Trimurti
• Brahmanism - Challenge To Brahmin Supremacy and Caste System
• Brahmanism - Buddhism
• Brahmanism - Charvaka
• Brahmanism - B.R. Ambedkar
• Brahmanism - Famous Brahmins

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Chrismation is the name given in Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern-rite Catholic churches to the sacrament known as confirmation in the Latin Rite Catholic churches. It is so called because of the holy oil, or chrism, which has been consecrated by a bishop and with which the recipient of the sacrament is anointed, as the priest speaks the words, "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit." All Roman Catholics are encouraged to receive the sacrament of confirmation. All Orthodox Christians are required to receive the sacrament of chrismation, and do ...

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Anointing of the Sick is one of the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and is also administered in some Protestant Churches. Anglicans are divided on the issue, as many consider it a sacrament, but the rest agree that it is at least a sacramental. Apart from the use of one or other of the synonyms "anointing" and "unction", the sacrament, in which a priest anoints a seriously sick person with oil blessed specifically for that purpose, has also been known as ...

Including:

• Anointing of the Sick - Form

Read more here: » Anointing of the Sick: Encyclopedia - Anointing of the Sick