sacrament

A sacrament is a Christian rite regarded as a visible sign of inward grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church to convey divine grace through the Holy Spirit. The word comes from the Latin sacramentum, meaning a sacred oath or pledge, and in early Christian usage referred to a sacred sign that points to deeper realities beyond itself.

Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches traditionally teach seven sacraments (or mysteries): Baptism, Confirmation (Chrismation in Orthodoxy), the Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. These rites are celebrated within liturgical worship and are understood as channels through which grace is conferred.

Among Protestant groups, there is more variation. Many Lutherans and Anglicans retain seven sacraments in a broad sense but emphasize Baptism and the Eucharist as foundational. Most Reformed churches recognize only two sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) and describe other rites as ordinances or symbols rather than sacraments. Across these traditions, sacraments are generally regarded as means by which God’s grace is signified and, in some denominations, imparted, requiring faith and proper administration by the church.

Note: the understanding and practice of sacraments influence theology, worship, and church life, and terms and numbers can vary between denominations and jurisdictions.