The Seven Sacraments (Catholic Foundation Stones series Book 5)

THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS

Pope Benedict XVI has frequently dedicated lengthy and profound reflections on the Church as 'the universal sacrament of salvation'. The Church is identified and qualified as a community of believers by the gift of faith in Christ which they received in baptism and by the action of grace with which Christ himself, by means of the Eucharist and all the other sacraments that are united and ordered to it, acts in them as the fount of life and salvation. From here the analysis and meditation of Benedict XVI on the sacraments begins, starting with those concerning Christian initiation (Baptism and Confirmation) which are the entry ways into the communion of the Church, the great family of the people of God that wants to accompany and witness to them.

The heart of the rich teaching of Benedict XVI was the theme of faith. Since the beginning of his ministry as the Successor of Peter, he several times insisted on the need to rediscover the journey of faith and above all the joy and excitement of being a Christian. €˜The Church as a whole and all her Pastors like Christ, must set out to lead people out of the desert, towards the place of life, towards friendship with the Son of God.€ (Homily 24 April 2005)

The Catholic Foundation Stones series created by Vincenzo Santarcangelo and edited by Giuliano Vigini, collects, organises and disseminates the valuable heritage of Benedict XVI. It consists of eight volumes that draw on the rich store of homilies, catechesis and speeches, and offers through the words of Benedict XVI an authoritative and comprehensive synthesis of life and of Christian doctrine.

The Eight Volumes of the Catholic Foundation Stones series are:

1.Learning to believe
2.Jesus: Words and Deeds
3.The Church
4.Our Lady
5.The Seven Sacraments
6.The Commandments
7.The Virtues of God
8.Life of Prayer & the €Our Father€