Chapter XXV: On the Nature of the Sacraments

OF all the means of leading a devout life, the most important remain yet to be spoken of. These are the holy Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist, or, as they are commonly called, of Confession and Communion.

There are, as you know, other sacraments besides these, but I only wish to speak here of these two because they are to be received frequently, and are adapted to the every-day wants of the soul.

These may be called the very means of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, since He established them to remain until the end of the world, in order to impart to us the graces necessary to bring us to everlasting life.

You know our Lord is represented in the Gospel as the Good Shepherd, who watches over His flock to keep all harm away from it, and to provide it with the best and most agreeable nourishment. I have seen most affecting pictures, in which He is represented carrying the poor stray sheep on His shoulders safe home to the fold. Now, it is especially through the holy sacraments that our Lord fulfils this office of Shepherd of our souls.

Through them He guards us from the enemies who are on the look-out to surprise and destroy us. Through them He gives us food for the soul that makes us strong and healthful, and full of courage, and through them He gives the sweetest consolation in all our distress and down-heartedness.

These sacraments are not merely something within us, that passes between our soul and God, but they are outward signs, something that we see or hear or do — as, for example, when we wish to receive the Sacrament of Penance, we not only prepare ourselves in our hearts, but we go to the priest of God, we declare to him our sins, and he raises his hand and pronounces the Absolution over us.

To these outward and visible signs our Blessed Saviour has joined wonderful though hidden graces, which produce silently and quietly the greatest effects on our souls. What a consolation this is! To know by the sure words of the Saviour, that when with true, sincere hearts we receive these sacraments, we receive those precious graces which are attached to them. Our very eyes and ears in this way become witnesses to our happiness. For they tell us that the actions have been performed, or the words spoken, to which our faith assures us that the Lord has given a divine grace and power.

Perhaps you can understand this better by a comparison. Suppose a generous-hearted rich man to have made the acquaintance of a poor family. He likes them, and seeing that they are well-meaning, honest people, determines to give them a house to live in, and a little garden around it. So he brings out pen and ink and paper, and writes out a deed, then signs and seals it, and the property becomes theirs. What joy and gratitude fill their hearts when they see this deed with the good man’s name and seal upon it, assuring them that the property is really theirs!

So the things that are done or said in Confession and Communion, like the signing of the deed, assure us that a great property, a glorious possession for the soul, has become ours. The Lord has promised it, and these outward ceremonies are the signing and sealing which convey the title to us. Blessings and praises, then, be to our Lord for these glorious sacraments which He has left behind Him in His holy Church!