Seven sacraments

Catholicism teaches that there are seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, and matrimony. They are understood as efficacious signs of grace instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, each with its own matter, form, and effects. The enumeration of seven matured over the course of the Middle Ages and was precisely defined against sacramental reductions in the Reformation. Catholic theology distinguishes sacraments from sacramentals and sees in them the ordinary means by which Christ continues to act in the Church. Common objections claim that only some have explicit institution in the New Testament or that others would be ecclesiastical developments. Internally, there are legitimate differences of rite, discipline, and pastoral emphasis between the Latin tradition and the Eastern Catholic traditions, without changing the officially professed number of sacraments.

Supportive

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1113-1131

catechism,sacraments,catholic-doctrine

Catechetical synthesis on the nature and number of the sacraments.

This section of the Catechism presents the sacraments as effective signs of grace instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, and enumerates the seven sacraments recognized by Catholic doctrine. It is an official secondary source, useful for synthesis, teaching, and standardizing contemporary sacramental language.

James 5:14-15

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Prayer of the presbyters and anointing of the sick.

James instructs the sick to call the presbyters to pray and anoint them. The text is a classic reference for the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and helps show that sacramental practice includes gesture, prayer, and ecclesial mediation. In controversy, it also supports the concrete and ritual character of early Christian life.

John 20:22-23

bible,new-testament,sacrament,penance,apostles

Christ gives the disciples authority related to the forgiveness of sins.

After breathing on the disciples, Jesus entrusts them with authority related to forgiving or retaining sins. The Catholic tradition uses this passage as an important foundation for the sacrament of penance and apostolic ministry. It also serves as broader support for the sacramental character of the Church's action.

Contrary

Thirty-Nine Articles, Article 25

anglicanism,reformation,sacraments,doctrinal-debate

Classic Anglican text that reduces the sacraments of the Gospel to two.

Article 25 of the Thirty-Nine Articles states that only baptism and the Lord's Supper are sacraments of the Gospel in the proper sense, while other rites do not have the same sacramental nature. It is an important source in historical debates against the Catholic doctrine of seven sacraments.