Guaranteed Grace The reason the Sacraments are so important is that the Holy Spirit acts through them. They are not just symbols of grace — they are actual grace itself! The Sacraments give us guaranteed grace and eternal life if we cooperate with this grace. You can’t get anything more important. The Holy Spirit gives us the Church, and the Church in return gives us the Sacraments. The Sacraments are connected to ultimately form you into a disciple of Christ. Your spiritual life begins at Baptism. It is matured at Confirmation. Your soul is renewed in Reconciliation after you fall into sin. Your spirit and, perhaps, your body are healed with the Anointing of the Sick. Families are made with Marriage. The Church is sustained By Fr. Chris Alar, MIC I often get asked, as you may too, “What makes the Catholic Church different from any other Christian church?” While the answer is simple, it comes in two parts. First, the Catholic Church is the only church founded by Jesus Christ Himself. All the Protestant Christian churches were founded by an ordinary man or woman. The second aspect that distinguishes the Catholic Church is the Sacraments. 14 Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org New From Marian Press Understanding the Sacraments
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