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A '''sacrament''' is a special religious rite in some Christian churches.

A '''sacrament''' is a special religious rite in some Christian churches.

The [[Roman Catholic Church]] recognises seven sacraments: [[Baptism]], [[Confirmation]] (or [[Chrismation]]), the [[Eucharist]], [[Penance]] (or [[Reconciliation]]), the [[Annointing of the Sick]] (or [[Unction]] or Healing), [[Holy Orders]] and [[Matrimony]].<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P3E.HTM Catechism of the Catholic Church section 2], The Vatican. Accessed 24 March 2007</ref> [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches usually recognise only Baptism and the Eucharist (or [[Holy Communion]]) as sacraments. The others may be religious ceremonies, but not sacraments.  

The [[Roman Catholic Church]] recognizes seven sacraments: [[Baptism]], [[Confirmation]] (or [[Chrismation]]), the [[Eucharist]], [[Penance]] (or [[Reconciliation]]), the [[Anointing of the Sick]] (or [[Unction]] or Healing), [[Holy Orders]] and [[Matrimony]].<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P3E.HTM Catechism of the Catholic Church section 2], The Vatican. Accessed 24 March 2007</ref> [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches usually recognize only Baptism and the Eucharist (or [[Holy Communion]]) as sacraments. The others may be religious ceremonies, but not sacraments.  

A Catholic definition of what constitutes a sacrament holds that it must have been ordained by Christ, must forgive sin, must confer Grace, and must utilize physical objects as vehicles for transmitting the spiritual benefits already mentioned. At the time of the [[Protestant Reformation]], Protestant churches held that five of the sacraments recognized by the Roman Catholic Church failed to meet one or more of those four tests established by the Catholic Church itself.

A Catholic definition of what constitutes a sacrament holds that it must have been ordained by Christ, must forgive sin, must confer Grace, and must utilize physical objects as vehicles for transmitting the spiritual benefits already mentioned. At the time of the [[Protestant Reformation]], Protestant churches held that five of the sacraments recognized by the Roman Catholic Church failed to meet one or more of those four tests established by the Catholic Church itself.

"A sacrament is a curious thing in that all members of the group fervently believe in its existence while being unable to satisfactorily define it."<ref>Plato, Euthyphro</ref>.

"A sacrament is a curious thing in that all members of the group fervently believe in its existence while being unable to satisfactorily define it."<ref>Plato, Euthyphro</ref>.

Ambrose Bierce said that "Rome has seven sacraments, but the Protestant churches, being less prosperous, feel that they can afford only two, and these of inferior sanctity. Some of the smaller sects have no sacraments at all — for which mean economy they will indubitable be damned."<ref>Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary</ref>

[[Ambrose Bierce]] said that "[[Rome]] has seven sacraments, but the Protestant churches, being less prosperous, feel that they can afford only two, and these of inferior sanctity. Some of the smaller sects have no sacraments at all — for which mean economy they will indubitable be damned."<ref>Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary</ref>

==See Also==

==See Also==