Could someone please explain this to me?

Question

Explain the meaning and significance of sacrament and ritual

Answer 1

Ritual is often used in context with worship performed in a church.
Sacraments are: Baptism, Chrismation (or Confirmation), the Eucharist (Communion), The Sacrament of Order (Ordination), Reconciliation of a Penitent, Anointing of the Sick, and Matrimony.

Answer 2

Sacraments are outward signs, instituted by Jesus Christ, of inward spiritual realities that give grace ... for the benefit of the receiver, and for the benefit of the whole church.

Ritual need not be applied only to sacraments.

The best definition of a ritual is simply a proven method of consistently accomplishing a desired result.

Baptism is a sacrament, but the washing with water, the profession of faith, and the invoking of the Trinity is a ritual which accomplishes the desired purpose ... every single time ... and that's a very good thing.

Answer 3

Nice to see such openness and curiousity among the people answering this question.

The question you are asking could take up two Masters theses. But I would be happy to try and summarize.

Ritual is a series of actions that are carefully planned and full of meaning. Bringing someone a birthday cake and singing "Happy Birthday" to someone is a ritual. Weddings are full of ritual. Ritual is the blending of word and action resulting in an external expression of an event. In religion, ritual is an organized way of expressing the beliefs on a community.

Sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace. (Yeah, fancy-schmancy words.) God gives us gifts that are sometimes beyond our understanding, and many of these are are intangible things. Take forgiveness. We don't need a human being for God to forgive us - God has the power to do that without us - but we need a way to experience it in a way that fits our understanding. So Catholics have the sacrament of reconciliation to give them a focused way to express their sorrow and hear with their own ears that they are forgiven. (The importance of this particular sacrament is a debate for another time.)

This is really barely skimming the surface... I'd be happy to answer any follow up questions.

Answer 4

a sacrament is the christian practice of being one with christ (referring to the seven sacraments). it is with these acts that one becomes a christian...

a ritual is a sort of the virtual presentation of the sacrament itself... the manner it has to be done step by step (in chronological order), the procedural method of accomplishing an act...

Answer 5

a ritual is like a religious ceremony.

a sacrament is a ritual/ religious ceremony that emphasize the sacrifice of jesus to save the christians, like baptism, anointing of the sick.

Answer 6

Biblically speaking theres no such thing. These are created by priests during the dark ages to keep the people uneducated and under fear and under their control.

Answer 7

Ok its all a impersonation.The bred or cracker represents the body of Jesus.And the water/grape juice/wine represents his blood.It is what he spieled for your sin's.Hoes that for an Atheist?

Answer 8

This is to remind us of what Christ has done for us. Matthew 26:26-30

Answer 9

I find that all this stuff need not be. When one believe in God their is no need for all this stuff because God has already done this for us the ultimate sacrifice,Jesus died on the Cross for our sins.

Answer 10

You need to talk with a person that practices this cult.

It is called sac religious, for a reason.