The sacraments of initiation are Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist, the three sacraments by which a person becomes a full member of the Church: Baptism gives new life in Christ, Confirmation strengthens it with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the Eucharist nourishes it with the Body and Blood of Christ. The Catechism says they “lay the foundations of every Christian life” (CCC 1212). Adults who become Catholic receive all three together at the Easter Vigil; children in the Latin Church usually receive them over several years. Below is what each sacrament is and does, its sign and minister, why the order differs, and the Bible verses behind them.
The three sacraments at a glance
| Baptism | Confirmation | Eucharist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Frees from sin, gives new birth as a child of God, makes us members of the Church | Seals us with the gift of the Holy Spirit and strengthens us to witness | Unites us with Christ in his Body and Blood |
| Sign | Water poured or immersion, with the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” | Anointing with chrism on the forehead with the laying on of hands | Bread and wine consecrated at Mass |
| Usual minister | Priest or deacon (anyone in an emergency) | Bishop (or a priest he delegates) | Priest celebrates; received at Mass |
| Received | Once | Once | Often, even daily |
Baptism and Confirmation leave a permanent spiritual mark (a “character”) and are never repeated. The Eucharist completes initiation and is received again and again throughout life.
Baptism
Jesus commanded his apostles (Matthew 28:19–20, Douay-Rheims):
Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.
And he told Nicodemus (John 3:5):
Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
See baptism prayers.
Confirmation
The apostles laid hands on the newly baptized so that they would receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14–17):
Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.
Who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
For he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
See confirmation prayers.
The Eucharist
Jesus said (John 6:54–55, Douay-Rheims; 6:53–54 in modern Bibles):
Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.
Why the order differs
In the early Church, new Christians received all three sacraments in one celebration, usually at Easter, and that is still the practice of the Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, even for infants, who are baptized, chrismated and given Communion together. In the Latin Church, infants are baptized, children make their First Communion at about age seven, and Confirmation follows later, at an age set by the bishops; some dioceses have restored the original order by confirming children before First Communion. Adults and older children who enter the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) receive all three at the Easter Vigil. See OCIA.
On Pentecost St. Peter summed up initiation in one sentence (Acts 2:38–39):
But Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three sacraments of initiation?
Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist.
What are the other sacraments?
The sacraments of healing (Penance and Anointing of the Sick) and the sacraments at the service of communion (Holy Orders and Matrimony). See the seven sacraments.
Why is the Eucharist the last sacrament of initiation?
Because it completes Christian initiation: in it, those who have been baptized and confirmed share in the Lord’s own sacrifice together with the whole Church (CCC 1322).
More about the sacraments
- The seven sacraments
- OCIA: how to become Catholic
- Baptism prayers
- Confirmation prayers
- First Communion prayers
- First Communion
Texts and sources
- Matthew 28:19–20, John 3:5, Acts 8:14–17, John 6:54–55 and Acts 2:38–39 (Douay-Rheims).
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1212–1419.