sacramentum, translating Greek μυστήριον
Sacrament
An outward sign instituted by Christ that gives the grace it signifies; there are seven, and they are the ordinary way Christ's life reaches us.
a sacred oath or sign; a mystery
The Catechism defines the sacraments as efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. “Efficacious” is the important word: they do not merely picture grace, they confer it. There are seven — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony — and they touch every stage and important moment of a Christian's life. The Eastern Churches call them the holy mysteries.
Not to be confused with Sacramental.
Councils
Where the Church settled or debated this. Follow a council to read our article on it, or the decrees themselves.
- 1274Second Council of Lyonthe decrees
- 1431–1445Council of Basel–Ferrara–Florencethe decrees
- 1545–1563Council of Trentthe decrees
Sources checked 29 September 2026