Five Other Sacramental Rites
Main Two: The Sacraments of the Lord
Christ instituted Holy Baptism and Holy Communion for his Church to perpetually celebrate. We call these the Sacraments of the Lord.
(To learn more about what Anglicans believe about the sacraments, go here.)
Sponsored
The Other Five: The Sacraments of the Church
There are five other rites of the Church that are sacramental in nature. We call these the sacraments of the Church. They flow from Baptism and Eucharist, and don’t have a life of their own. Nevertheless, they are important sacramental moments in a Christian’s life.
- Ordination sets ministers apart.
- Marriage sets apart a man and a woman.
- The Holy Spirit, by the Bishop’s hand, sets apart a believer for ministry through confirmation, after the believer professes his or her faith.
- Reconciliation (confession) is a sacramental rite in that a person is assured of forgiveness.
- Prayer and the laying on of hands (formerly called “last rites”) set a person’s body and soul apart for death.
How the Sacraments Affect Us
Sacramental theology also affects our attitude toward the physical stuff of life, especially in rites of passage. This involves things like rings, cups, tables, churches, people, the human body, and other basic, physical objects and bodies. We revere things, not due to inherent qualities but due to their purpose. Sacramental theology challenges us in the belief that God is always at work, everywhere, and through everything. We should not divide up the world and our faith into numbered quantities but trust that he is everywhere working.
Published on
What Do Anglicans Believe about the Sacraments? (Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Ordination, Marriage, Absolution, Anointing of the Sick)
From The ACNA Catechism The following is an excerpt from the Anglican Church in North America’s catechism, To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism (Crossway, 2020), pp. 55–63. You can download a PDF of the entire catechism here. Concerning Sacraments 121. What is a sacrament? A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an…
Sacramental Theology
Sacramental theology emphasizes that God utilizes his creation to convey grace to humanity. During the Reformation and the period known as the “Settlement,” the Church of England maintained the concept of the Sacred and the transmission of God’s grace through elements of creation. Today, sacramental theology is integral to Anglican thought and practice.
