Christian rights of passage

Rites of passage are events that take place at significant times in your life.

In some denominations these are called ‘sacraments’.

A sacrament is ‘an outward sign of an inward grace’ – something you see on the outside that gives a spiritual blessing of some sort.

Some Christians, such as Quakers, do not have any sacraments.

Most Protestant denominations recognise two sacraments that are mentioned in the Gospels:

• Baptism
• and the Eucharist.

The Roman Catholic & Orthodox Churches have another five on their list – making seven in total:

• Confirmation
• Marriage
• Ordination
• Reconciliation (Confession)
• Anointing of the Sick.

Funerals are not considered sacraments are they are not stages on your life – you have already moved on to the next life.

Baptism

• Most denominations baptise infants, and the Orthodox Church combines the service with Chrismation – their form of Confirmation.
• Baptist and Pentec