Q. 580.  Why have the Sacraments been instituted?  A. The Sacraments have been instituted as a special means through which we are to receive the grace merited for us by Christ.  As Christ is the giver of the grace, He has the right to determine the manner in which it shall be given, and one who refuses to make use of the Sacraments will not receive God’s grace.

Q. 581.  Do the Sacraments recall in any way the means by which Our Lord merited the graces we receive through them?  A. The Sacraments recall in many ways the means by which Our Lord merited the graces we receive through them.  Baptism recalls His profound humility; Confirmation His ceaseless prayer; Holy Eucharist His care of the needy; Penance His mortified life; Extreme Unction His model death; Holy Orders His establishment of the priesthood, and Matrimony His close union with the Church.

Q. 582.  Give, for example, the outward sign in Baptism and Confirmation.  A. The outward sign in Baptism is the pouring of the water and the saying of the words of Baptism.  The outward sign in Confirmation is the anointing with oil, the saying of the words of Confirmation and the placing of the bishop’s hands over the person he confirms.

Q. 583.  What is the use of the outward signs in the Sacraments?  A. Without the outward signs in the Sacraments we could not know when or with what effect the grace of the Sacraments enters into our souls.

Q. 584.  Does the outward sign merely indicate that grace has been given, or does the use of the outward sign with the proper intention also give the grace of the Sacrament?  A. The outward sign is not used merely to indicate that grace has been given, for the use of the outward sign with the proper intention also gives the grace of the Sacrament.  Hence the right application of the outward sign is always followed by the gift of internal grace if the Sacrament be administered with the right intention and received with the right dispositions.

Q. 585.  What do we mean by the “right intention” for the administration of the Sacraments?  A. By the right intention for the administration of the Sacraments we mean that whoever administers a Sacrament must have the intention of doing what Christ intended when He instituted the Sacrament and what the Church intends when it administers the Sacrament.

Q. 586.  Is there any likeness between the thing used in the outward sign and the grace given in each Sacrament?  A. There is a great likeness between the thing used in the outward sign and the grace given in each Sacrament; thus water is used for cleansing; Baptism cleanses the soul; Oil gives strength and light; Confirmation strengthens and enlightens the soul; Bread and wine nourish; the Holy Eucharist nourishes the soul.

Q. 587.  What do we mean by the “matter and form” of the Sacraments?  A. By the “matter” of the Sacraments we mean the visible things, such as water, oil, bread, wine, &c., used for the Sacraments.  By the “form” we mean the words, such as “I baptize thee,” “I confirm thee,” &c., used in giving or administering the Sacraments.