Sacraments are sacred events in which Catholics, in particular, participate and receive God’s grace at significant times in their lives. At the same time, the signs and symbols used in conferring sacraments are instruments of God's grace.
There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church, three are called Sacraments of Christian Initiation and they are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. These sacraments are normally received as children and the order, in which they are received in the Diocese of Broken Bay, is Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation and Eucharist. Whilst Reconciliation is not a Sacrament of Christian Initiation it is received between Confirmation and Eucharist. The other Sacraments, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick are received as adults, although a child who is baptised and seriously ill may receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.
