Baptism
Baptism frees us from original sin, and we become members of the Church.  It is the act of immersing one in water to enlighten, revive, and purify, one’s life.  It is prefigured in Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist.  Any person who is not already baptized can receive this sacrament and it can be administered by priests, deacons, and laypeople.  Lay people can only baptize when there are life and death circumstances but must do so with the intention of doing the will of the Church.  The vows made at Baptism are renewed every year at Easter and when one witnesses a Baptism.  It is necessary for salvation and calls all those who experience the sacrament to proclaim the word of God to all.  The essential act of Baptism is either being immersed in water or having water poured over one’s head while invocating the Holy Trinity.   

Confirmation
Confirmation seals one with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and fortifies the strength needed to serve the Body of Christ.  It is the final sacrament of initiation, after receiving this sacrament: you are now true witnesses and are obliged to spread the Word of God and defend the faith.  After Confirmation, the message of faith and the understanding of being asked to help build up community through service is understood more deeply and intensely.  An example of the effects of confirmation is in the Bible.  At Pentecost, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages in order to spread the Word of God, and they did.   An important aspect of this sacrament is the laying of hands on the candidate.  This tradition started with the apostles because it completed the graces given at Baptism.  Shortly after the beginning of this practice, anointing with chrism (perfumed oil) was added.  This represents the definition of Christian, which means anointed, and it symbolizes Jesus who was anointed with the Holy Spirit by God.  This sacrament increases and deepens the graces given at Baptism.  This deepens our foundation and unites us more with God.  Every baptized person who has not yet received Confirmation can receive the sacrament.  To receive this sacrament, one should be in a state of grace and participate in the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation to do so.   

Holy Eucharist 
The Eucharist is Jesus himself.  Many other sacraments and ministries are oriented toward it.  It is the sign of God’s love through the act of God saving the world through Christ and the worship of God through Christ by man.  The name Eucharist derives from a Greek word meaning thanksgiving.  It is also sometimes called the Lord’s Supper, the Breaking of Bread, and Holy Communion.  The Lord’s Supper describes the dinner the disciples had with Jesus on the eve of His death where Jesus instituted this sacrament.  The Breaking of Bread refers to Jesus’ Jewish heritage where the master of the table distributed the bread.  Lastly, Holy Communion depicts our union with Christ, all those in Heaven, and all those participating in the Mass around the world through the Body and Blood of Jesus to form a single body.  Unleavened bread and wine are consecrated and transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Jesus.  The outward appearance does not change, but God changes the inward characteristics in order to give us the graces to grow closer to Him and turn away from sin.  Only an ordained priest can say the prayers that consecrate the Eucharist, the Eucharist can be distributed by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who are trained to do so.  Catholics who are in a state of grace and observed the Eucharistic fast may receive the sacrament.  To be in a state of grace, one must be free from mortal sin: if one has committed a mortal sin, one must go and receive the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.  A mortal sin is committed with the knowledge that the act is sinful and still conscientiously commits the sin.  Some examples of mortal sins are murder, adultery, abortion, pornography, and skipping Sunday mass or a mass on a Holy Day of Obligation.  The Eucharistic fast is abstaining from food or drink besides water and medicine for at least an hour before Holy Communion.