Lesson 4
Who can receive a Sacrament?
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Since Jesus said, “Unless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5), Baptism is necessary for salvation. For that reason, Baptism is the one Sacrament that can be received by anyone — so long as that person has not already been baptized. The only thing required is that the candidate for baptism believe that Jesus Christ is God. Once they are baptized, they are a Christian.
The other six sacraments (Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Confession, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick, and Matrimony) can only be received by those who are already baptized, and that’s why Baptism is the first sacrament and the doorway to the others. Since Baptism is our entry into the Church, you will often find a baptismal font near the entrance to the Church, as well as a holy water font by the front door, which is a practical and visual reminder of our reception into the Church.
Normally, only Catholics receive the Sacraments in the Catholic Church, but in danger of death, a non-Catholic Christian – Protestant or Orthodox — who believes what we believe, can receive the sacraments after making a good confession, because we want everyone to get to heaven.
Also, and it is obvious, the human person has to be alive to receive a sacrament.
And by now, you probably have a million questions about the Sacraments of the Catholic Church, but you will have to be patient and come back every day for a short dose of “knowledge” and I hope to answer all of your questions about the sacraments: who can receive them, what the effects are, who the minister is, and what are the exceptions?
So tune in every day of Lent to learn more about your Catholic faith, because if you Learn it, then you can Live it; and if you Live it, you will Love it; and if you Love it, you will never Leave it!
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