You’ve probably heard of baptism, confirmation and penance, but do you know what they all have in

common? If you said that they’re all sacraments, you’re correct! These are three of the seven sacraments
of the Catholic church. Each is significant in its own way.

What are the seven sacraments?

The seven sacraments are baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, marriage and
holy orders. They are divided into three categories: sacraments of initiation, sacraments of healing and
sacraments of service.
Below you will find coloring pages that will help kids reflect on what the sacraments mean to them. Click
the button to download and print!

What is a sacrament?
Before we get into the details of each sacrament,
we want to reiterate one of the most important
things about the sacraments — that they’re means
which God uses to show His grace and help us
achieve salvation. The word sacrament means “a
sign of the sacred,” which is fitting as they are all
outwards signs from God to us.
Not only are they signs, they’re also celebrations of
a continued journey and relationship with God,
teachings to help live out His word and ceremonies
to show devotion to Him.

Where did the sacraments

originate?
In the Bible, Christ gives his followers clear instructions on how to administer and receive each of the
sacraments. This is seen through his work with the Apostles, healing the sick, parables, giving his body
and blood to nourish our souls and forgiving sinners. The Church administers these holy sacraments as
instructed, in order for all to worship God and receive His salvation.

The Sacraments of Initiation

The three sacraments of initiation are baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. Each is meant to strengthen
your faith and forge a deeper relationship with God. Baptism frees you from original sin, confirmation
strengthens your faith and Eucharist allows you to taste the body and blood of eternal life and be
reminded of Christ’s love and sacrifice.

Baptism
Baptism is the first sacrament where you become united with Christ and the Church – no other sacrament
can be received without it. A priest performs this rite by immersing the baptismal candidate into water,
therefore cleansing their original sin through water and the word. The candidate traditionally wears white
garments, a candle is lit and they are anointed with sacred chrism. This is the first step in your
relationship with God and Christ. Usually this takes place when the candidate is a baby, however, it’s
never too late and you’re never too old to begin your journey with God. It’s common to have a baptism
celebration with friends and family afterwards and give the child baptism keepsakes that will help them
grow in their faith.

 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized
of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and
the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou
art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Mark 1:9-11
 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And he
took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his,
straightway. Acts 16:31, 33

Confirmation
This is the sacrament that follows Baptism as part of the initiation process with God and the Church,
where the candidate receives the gift of the Holy Spirit and continues their journey with Christ. During
Confirmation, the candidate is anointed on the forehead with chrism by a bishop. Since baptism typically
happens when the candidate is a baby, confirmation is a great way for an older child to acknowledge that
they still want to continue their journey with God and grow their relationship with Him. Celebrate your
child’s confirmation by giving them a Bible with meaningful verses highlighted or cross as a daily reminder
of God’s love.

 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be
discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me
will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Eucharist
Eucharist means thanksgiving. This is when Christ’s body and blood are offered and then received by the
parishioner in the form of bread and wine. Christ during the Last Supper broke bread, ate it, gave it to his
disciples and told them to eat it. Now the priest, through the words of consecration, blesses and
administers the Holy Communion during every mass to remind followers that they are one with Christ.
Food and drink nourishes our bodies ‒- Christ’s blood and body nourishes us spiritually.

 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which
we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one
body; for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to
the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given
thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26-28
 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the
apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and
possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the
temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.
Acts 2:42-46
The Sacraments of Healing
The two sacraments of healing are penance and anointing the sick. Penance allows for spiritual healing
and absolution for people who have distanced themselves from God through sin. Anointing the sick allows
for both physical and spiritual healing. When one falls seriously ill, a minister anoints them and prays over
them, calling on Christ to strengthen and heal.

Penance
During the sacrament of Penance, one confesses their sins to God through a priest who forgives their
sins by God’s mercy, and orders them to live a more faithful life through absolution. Confession is
essential to cultivating and fruitfully living out the word of God. We’re not perfect people, even if we try to
be. It feels so much better to confess some of those things you have done wrong and receive forgiveness.
This helps us have a stronger relationship with God.

 No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.  Luke 13:3
 But if the wicked do penance for all his sins which he hath committed, and keep all my
commandments, and do judgment, and justice, living he shall live, and shall not die.  Ezekiel
18:21
 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them
finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Anointing the Sick

This sacrament is only bestowed upon those who are seriously ill or suffering, which then unites the
inflicted with Christ’s passion. Anointing the forehand and hands of the person with chrism while a priest
administers a special blessing is how this sacrament is received. This special blessing is one way to
make the ill feel strengthened and more connected with God in both mind and body.

 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  James 5:14
 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Mark 6:13
 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our
diseases.”  Matthew 8:17

The Sacraments of Service

Through marriage and the holy orders, couples and the clergy promise to serve and build up the church
community.

Marriage
Marriage isn’t just a union between man and wife. The devotion husband and wife have to each other,
and to Christ, mirrors Christ’s love and service to the church. Through marriage, a couple promises to
help build each other up in faith, serve each other and the church and be faithful to each other until death.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for
her. Ephesians 5:25
  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he
created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the
earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens
and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:27-28

Holy Orders
This sacrament is for those who choose to become a priest, bishop or deacon. Through ordination, they
are able to perform sacred duties and serve the church community. This is not a sacrament that everyone
partakes in, rather it’s one that people feel called to by God.

 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession,
that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous
light. 1 Peter 2:9
 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Acts 20:28
 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19

Living Out the Sacraments

Receiving one of the seven sacraments is a life-changing moment where one truly experiences God’s
salvation and Christ’s sacrifice. Events like first communion are exciting and deserve special gifts.
Growing in faith doesn’t only happen through the sacraments, it happens through daily prayer and
devotion. Tools like a rosary, Bible, prayer journal and cross can assist you in practicing your faith.
If you know anyone about to partake in a sacrament or looking for tools to nourish their faith, consider
blessing them in their journey with special religious gifts. It will be a keepsake that will stay with them as
their faith continues to deepen.

Sources
JesusChristSavior.net | Study.com | Catholic.org

Discover the Sacraments in the

Bible
October 31, 2018

Woodeene Koenig-Bricker
For many Catholics, the correlation between the sacraments and the Bible is a bit hazy. When
confronted by non-Catholics wanting to know how sacraments and Scripture fit together, many of us
are hard-pressed to give solid answers. We might be able to tie the Eucharist to the Last Supper and
baptism to Jesus’ own baptism in the Jordan, but beyond that, it can get dicey. However, if we—and
our children—are to be the evangelists of the new millennium, it is vital to know the scriptural basis
for the sacraments.
Teaching the link isn’t so much a matter of establishing a grade-appropriate lesson plan as it is
understanding the biblical basis for our beliefs and then inserting that knowledge into our teaching
when and where it is appropriate. For instance, with young children, it might be as simple as laying a
foundation for the connection by saying, “The Bible tells us that the early Christians prayed for the
sick, and that’s why we have the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.” However, for older children,
especially teens, being able to cite exact Scriptures becomes more important.

Let’s take a look at where the sacraments appear in Scripture so you will be better prepared as a
catechist to answer the question, “Where is that in the Bible?”

BAPTISM

Baptism was considered the first and foundational sacrament for the early Church. References to it
can be found throughout the New Testament, including Matthew 3:16; 28:19; Mark 1:8, 16:16; John
3:5; Acts 1:4-5; 2:38; 8:16; 8:36-38; 11:16; 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians
5:25-26; Colossians 2:12; and 1 Peter 3:20-21.

CONFIRMATION

The first mention of the completion of baptism by the coming of the Holy Spirit is the account of
Pentecost in Acts 2. Acts 19:3-6 makes it clear that baptism and confirmation are two separate,
sacramental signs. In Hebrews 6:2, baptism and laying on of hands (confirmation) are seen as
separate as well. Other Scriptures referencing confirmation include John 14:16; and Acts 8:14-17;
19:3-6.

EUCHARIST

The Eucharist was clearly established at the Last Supper, as recounted in Matthew 26:26-29.
Additional references to the Breaking of the Bread can be found in Luke 24:35; Acts 2:42; and 1
Corinthians 11:24-27.

PENANCE

As Catholics, we understand that Jesus gave the authority to forgive sin to the the apostles (see
Matthew 16:19 and John 20:21-23). We believe this authority has been passed down through bishops
and priests to the present day as part of the power to “bind and loosen.”

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Healing the sick was a vital part of Jesus’ ministry, and it was carried on by his disciples after his
Resurrection. The specific call for anointing is spelled out in James 5:13-15, calling for prayers by
the elders and anointing with oil for the sick.

HOLY ORDERS

Catholics have always believed that Jesus instituted the sacrament of holy orders at the Last Supper
when he commissioned his apostles by saying, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). In the
rest of the New Testament, we can see the pattern of passing down this authority and responsibility.
Some of the passages that relate to holy orders include Acts 6:3-6; 13:2-3; and 1 Timothy 3:1; 3:8-9;
4:16; 5:17-19; 5:22.

MATRIMONY

Jesus’ first miracle was performed at the wedding feast of Cana (see John 2:1-11), indicating the
importance of marriage. Through both the Old and the New Testament, the relationship between God
and his people is often described in marital terms. In the New Testament, some of the Scriptures that
show matrimony to be a sign of Christ and the Church, as well as a special bond between man and
woman, are Matthew 19:10-11 and Ephesians 5:31-32.

The unity between the sacraments and Scripture is both clearly presented and part of the mystery of
faith. That’s not surprising, since the Latin word for “mystery” is sometimes translated
“sacramentum,” and Eastern Christians still continue to call the sacraments “the mysteries.”
Knowing where the sacraments originate in Scripture, however, enables us to enter into these
“mysteries” more completely and unite ourselves more fully with our Lord.

SOURCE: https://www.catechist.com/discover-sacraments-bible/