The purpose of the sacraments
 is to encourage holiness among people,
 to build up the Body of Christ,
 and to give worship to God.
 They are signs that also instruct.
 They presuppose faith,
 but they also nourish,
 strengthen
 and express it.
 They are sources of grace,
 but also, the very act of celebrating them
 assists the faithful in receiving grace effectively.
 Because they are so important,
 Everyone should understand them well.

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy #59
VATICAN II IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Bill Huebsch

The Seven Sacraments are a most important part of Catholic life. They are the Catholic Community’s celebration of the ongoing and effective presence of Christ, physical expressions of Jesus’ love and care for us. Through the sacraments, Jesus makes “his saving events present and real for us today,” often at the most important moments of our human lives. A sacrament is a visible sign of God’s invisible love, or grace.

For more information on receiving a sacrament through St. Vincent de Paul Albany, see the relevant sacrament page in the sidebar (on desktop) or in the menu (on mobile).