Using passages of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the official rubrics of sacramental rites as the basis for their writing, the contributors to this collection of texts highlight the connection between theology, prayer, and ritual.


The book is divided into four main parts. The first part, entitled “Why the Sacraments?,” treats the sacraments in general, focusing on the central role they play in the Catholic faith. The remaining parts treat the Sacraments of Initiation (Part 2), the Sacraments of Healing (Part 3), and the Sacraments of Vocation (Part 4). The treatment of each sacrament begins with selected passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that offer succinct descriptions of the sacrament and its role in the life of the Church. Second, there is an excerpt from the prayers used in the celebration of that sacrament followed by responses by theologians with expertise in the history and theology of that sacrament. Finally, discussion questions that follow each section are intended to lead the individual or group into a deeper understanding of the sacraments and their role in the life of the Church and daily life.


These texts provide sources for students and teachers, for Catholics and non-Catholics, for Christians and non-Christians, and for the laity and the ordained.
†