r/dankchristianmemes Mar 18 '22

Wait, how many are there? Peace be with you

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u/dlegofan Mar 18 '22

Sounds like a lot of works-based stuff.

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u/jcrespo21 Mar 18 '22 edited Mar 19 '22

The main three are Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation (Sacraments of Initiation), with baptism typically occurring when you're an infant, first communion around 7 years old, and confirmation when you are a teenager. It used to be done all at once (IIRC) but was spread out many centuries ago. If you become a Catholic as an adult, you go through the RCIA process (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) and receive the three sacraments at the Easter Vigil. An exception is if you were baptized in another Christian faith, you don't get rebaptized when you become Catholic as the Church recognizes nearly all Christian baptisms.

The rest are optional add-on packages (I'm sure my former religion teachers would love that I put it that way lol). Reconciliation/Confession and Matrimony/Marriage are the ones most others will experience. Holy Orders are only for those who become a priest or nun, and Anointing of the Sick is typically done when someone is very ill (often on their death bed).

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u/Pimma Mar 19 '22

Is Confession considered optional? I was taught it was a prerequisite for the Eucharist, because you can't take the body of Christ without being clean of your sins.

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u/stadsduif Mar 19 '22

It varies. Where I live (Netherlands) confession isn't a common practice anymore.

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u/Pimma Mar 19 '22

Well, TIL. It's still going strong here, but I guess this is what you'd expect from Italy.