CATECHESIS ON THE SACRAMENTS

57 Baptism cleanses man from original sin and from ail personal sins, gives him rebirth as a child of God, incorporates him into the Church, sanctifies him with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and, impressing on his soul an indelible character, initiates him in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and kingly roles (cf. 1 Pet. 2, 9; 1G, 31).

Confirmation binds the Christian more perfectly 10 the Church and enriches him with a special strength of the Holy Spirit, that he may live in the world as a witness of Christ.

Since the life of Christians, which on earth is a warfare, is liable to temptations and sins, the way of the sacrament of Penance is open for them, so that they may obtain pardon from the merciful God and reconcile themselves with the Church.

Holy Orders in a special way conforms certain members of the People of God 10 Christ the Mediator by conferring on them a sacred power, that they may shepherd the Church, nourish the faithful with the word of God, and make them holy, and, in the first place, that they, representing Christ’s person, may offer the Sacrifice of the Mass and preside al the Eucharistic banquet.

"By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of her priests, the whole Church commends those who are iii 10 the suffering and glorified Lord, that He may lighten their sufferings and save them" (1G, 11; cf. James 5, 14-16).

In catechesis on the sacraments, much importance should be placed on the explanation of the signs. Catechesis should Lead the faithful through the visible signs to ponder God’s invisible mysteries of salvation.