The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"""304 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.tie, to think anything of ourselves, as of ourselves ;but our sufficiency is from God." 1 For " it is Godwho worketh in you, both to will and to 1accomplish"salvation. "Without"anything conducive to yourMe," says our Lord, you can do nothing. But8in order that divine grace may effectually aid us,we must co-operate with it,or at least we must notresist it.The grace of God is obtained chiefly by prayerand the Sacraments.A Sacrament is a visible sign instituted by Christ,by which grace is conveyed to our souls. Threethings are necessary to constitute a Sacrament, viz. :a visible sign, invisible grace, and the institution byour Lord Jesus Christ.Thus, in the Sacrament of Baptism, there is theoutward sign, which consists in the pouring of water,and in the formula of words which are then pronounced ;the interior grace or sanctification whichisimparted to the soul: "Be baptized, and. . .you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost "*and;the ordinance of Jesus Christ, who said : Teach allnations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 6Our Saviour instituted seven Sacraments, namely,Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, ExtremeUnction, Orders, and Matrimony, which I shall explain separately.1 II. Cor. iii. 5.*Acts ii. 38.a *Phil. ii. 13. John xv< 5.6 Matt, xxviii. 19.