As the name implies, the Sacraments are sacred rites instituted in the Church by Jesus. Properly speaking, there are seven Sacraments in the Catholic faith: Ubhapathizo, Ukuqinisekisa, i I-Ekaristi, Ukuvuma izono, Umshado, Orders, kanye ne Ukugcotshwa Kwabagulayo.
Through the Sacraments believers receive God’s grace through material things like water, bread, wine and oil.
The Sacraments may be understood as outward signs that convey the grace they signify. Water, Ngokwesibonelo, signifies cleanliness and life. By the grace of God, the waters of Baptism actually cleanse the soul of sin and fill it with divine life (bona IVangeli likaJohane, 3:5, kanye ne IzEnzo ZabaPhostoli, 2:38). The Sacraments are patterned after the Incarnation, in which God, a spiritual being, took on human flesh–and the invisible one became visible.
The idea of grace being transferred through material things is a Biblical concept.
In the New Testament alone, we see water used in this way (futhi, bona UJohane 3:5; 9:7; IzEnzo ZabaPhostoli, 8:37; OkaPawulu Incwadi eya kuThithu 3:5; or Peter’s Incwadi Yokuqala 3:20 – 21); as well as oil (bona i IVangeli likaMarku 6:13, noma i Incwadi kaJakobe 5:14); clay (bona UJohane 9:6); garments (Maka 5:25 noma Luka 8:43); and even handkerchiefs (bona i IzEnzo ZabaPhostoli 19:11-12).
God’s grace is transmitted through other sensible things, futhi, such as Mary’s voice and Peter’s shadow (bona i IVangeli likaLuka 1:41, 44, kanye ne IzEnzo ZabaPhostoli 5:15, ngokulandelana).