For example, what was the end for which Penance was instituted?  To forgive sins and keep us out of sin.  Therefore the sacramental grace given in Penance is a grace that will enable us to overcome temptation and avoid the sins we have been in the habit of committing.  When a person is ill the doctor’s medicine generally produces two effects:  one is to cure the disease and the other to strengthen the person so that he may not fall back into the old condition.  Well, it is just the same in the Sacraments; the grace given produces two effects:  one is to sanctify us and the other to prevent us from falling into the same sins.  Again, Confirmation was instituted that we might become more perfect Christians, stronger in our faith.  Therefore the sacramental grace of Confirmation will strengthen us to profess our faith when circumstances require it; or when we are tempted to doubt any revealed truth, it will help us to overcome the temptation.  So in all the Sacraments we receive the sacramental grace or special help given to attain the end for which the Sacraments were separately instituted.

147 Q. Do the Sacraments always give grace?  A. The Sacraments always give grace, if we receive them with the right dispositions.

“Right dispositions”; that is, if we do all that God and the Church require us to do when we receive them.  For instance, in Penance the right disposition is to confess all our mortal sins as we know them, to be sorry for them, and have the determination never to commit them again.  The right disposition for the Holy Eucharist is to be in a state of grace, and—­except in special cases of sickness—­fasting for one hour.

148 Q. Can we receive the Sacraments more than once?  A. We can receive the Sacraments more than once, except Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

Baptism is so important that if we do not receive it we cannot receive any other of the Sacraments.  Now, to administer Baptism validly, that is, properly, everything must be done exactly as Our Lord intended and the Church teaches.  The proper kind of water and all the exact words must be used.  Also, the water must touch the body, that is, the head if possible.  Now persons not knowing well how to baptize might neglect some of these things, and thus the person would not be baptized.  The Church wishes to be certain that all its children are baptized; so when there is any doubt about the first Baptism, it baptizes again conditionally, that is, the priest says in giving the Baptism over again:  If you are not baptized already, I baptize you now.  Therefore if the person was rightly baptized the first time, the second ceremony has no effect, because the priest does not intend to give Baptism a second time.  But if the first Baptism was not rightly given, then the second takes effect.  In either case Baptism is given only once; for if the first was valid, the second is not given; and if the first was invalid, the second is given.