In olden times the gladiators—­men who fought with swords as prize-fighters do now with their hands—­used oil upon their bodies to make them strong.  Oil was used also to heal wounds.  Thus in Confirmation the application of this outward sign of strength gives the inward grace of light and strength.  Moreover, oil easily spreads itself over anything and remains on it.  A drop of water falling on paper dries up quickly; but a drop of oil soaks in and spreads over it.  So oil is used to show also that the grace of Confirmation spreads out over our whole lives, and strengthens us in our faith at all times.

Again, in Penance we have the outward sign when the priest raises his hand and pronounces over us the words of absolution.

If we did not have these outward signs how could anyone know just at what time the graces are given?  We can know now, for at the very moment the outward sign is applied the grace is given; because it is the application of the sign that by divine institution gives the grace, and thus the two must take place together.

“Institution by Christ” is absolutely necessary because He gives all grace, and He alone can determine the manner in which He wishes it distributed.  The Church can distribute His grace, but only in the way He wishes.  Hence it cannot make new Sacraments or abolish old ones.

137 Q. How many Sacraments are there?  A. There are seven Sacraments:  Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.

The life of our soul is in many ways similar to the life of our body.  Our bodies must first be born, then strengthened, then fed.  When sick, we must be cured:  and when about to die, we must be taken care of.  Then there must be someone to rule others, and there must be persons to be governed.  In like manner, we are spiritually born into a new life by Baptism, we are strengthened by Confirmation, fed with the Holy Eucharist, and cured of the maladies of our souls by Penance.  By Extreme Unction we are helped at the hour of death; by Holy Orders our spiritual rulers are appointed by God; and by Matrimony families, with a father at the head and children to be ruled, are established.  Thus we have our spiritual life similar in many things to our physical or bodily life.

138 Q. Whence have the Sacraments the power of giving grace?  A. The Sacraments have the power of giving grace from the merits of Jesus Christ.

Our Lord died to merit grace for us, and appointed the Sacraments as the chief means by which it was to be given.

139 Q. What grace do the Sacraments give?  A. Some of the Sacraments give sanctifying grace, and others increase it in our souls.

Baptism and Penance give this sanctifying grace when there is not any of it in the soul.  But the other Sacraments are received while we are in a state of grace, and they therefore increase the quantity of it in our souls.