Sacraments

The Sacrament is a Christian rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol of the reality of God, as well as a channel for God's grace. Many denominations,

• including the Catholic,

• Anglican,

• Lutheran,

• Methodist, and

• Reformed

Hold to the definition of sacrament formulated by Augustine of Hippo: an outward sign of inward grace, that has been instituted by Jesus Christ.

Sacraments signify God's grace in a way that is outwardly observable to the participant.

The Catholic Church, Hussite Church, and the Old Catholic Church recognize seven sacraments:

1. Baptism

2. Reconciliation (Penance or Confession)

3. Eucharist (or Holy Communion)

4. Confirmation

5. Marriage (Holy Matrimony)

6. Holy Orders, and

7. Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction)

What is different from mainstream Protestants

1. We the Catholics believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist (this is called Transubstantiation).

2. We the Catholics believe God forgives sins through the sacrament of reconciliation (penance), which is performed by a priest, while most       
   Protestants do not believe in the sacrament.

3. We the Catholics believe it is important to live by Scripture and Tradition, which is  the teaching of the Church's Magisterium (the bishops in communion with the Pope) come from, while most Protestants believe in Sola Scriptura (the Bible alone)

4. We the Catholics believe that papal authority (in very specific, solemn occasions called "ex Cathedra") and the Bible are infallible, while most           Protestants believe in an infallible Bible but not an infallible Pope. Papal infallibility has been declared twice in the history of the Catholic Church. Once to state that Mary was conceived without sin and another to state that Mary was assumed into heaven body and soul.

5. Our Catholic Bible includes a few texts that are usually not used by Protestants. The best-known are called the Deuterocanonical books.

6. We the Catholics venerate saints, especially the Virgin Mary (Mother of God). "Venerating saints" means that we give special honour to saints (people in heaven) because we believe that saints can pray for them directly to God. Many Protestants do not, because they regard "venerating saints" as "worshiping saints."  Because they believe that only God should be worshipped, they do not venerate. Many Protestants also simply do not believe that any veneration is necessary.

7. We have an elaborate Mariology, while most Protestants do not.

SAINTS

An incomplete list of people and angels whom the Catholic Church has canonized as saints. According to Catholic theology, all saints enjoy the beatific vision. Many of the saints listed here are to be found in the General Roman Calendar, while others may also be found in the Roman Martyrology; still, others are particular to local places, and their recognition does not extend to the larger worldwide church.

The Roman Catholic Church recognizes more than 10,000 saints, but our House of Bishops indicates only some of them (close to a hundred) who are our role models for the member of EMMCM and FAICL,  which we included persons NOT Canonized but worth being in our list of persons whose behaviour, an example that can be emulated by our members.

Veneration of Holy Persons

The English word "saint" comes from the Latin "sanctus". The word translated in Greek is "hagios", which means "holy".The word hagios appears
229 times in the Greek New Testament, and its English translation 60 times in the corresponding text of the King James Version of the Bible 

Nota Bene: All pictures are from wikipedia.org and are in the public domain worldwide including the United States 

• A saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness. However, they are considered worthy of greater honour and official ecclesiastical recognition, and consequently, veneration is given to them.

• Veneration is the act of honouring a saint, a person who has been identified as having a high degree of sanctity or holiness. Philologically, "to venerate" derives from the Latin verb, venerare, meaning 'to regard with reverence and respect.