Questions / Confession and the sacraments

Are the sacraments just symbols?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Catholic Answers

Video: Is the Eucharist Just A Symbol?, Catholic Answers Live, published Jul 23, 2019. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: No. Received in faith, they actually do what they show, because Christ Himself is at work in them. CCC 1127

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments give the grace they signify. CCC 1127

They work because Christ Himself is at work in them: it is He who baptizes, He who acts. CCC 1127

Our words

A symbol points to something. A sacrament points to something and delivers it. The water of Baptism doesn’t just remind you of washing; it washes.

Watch another on this

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Sources on this page

How we know · 1 Catechism paragraph

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1127 (official text on vatican.va).

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