The Sacraments
Sacraments are inward signs of outward grace, and were instituted by God for the purposes of our sanctification. Contrary to popular belief, the Catholic Church does not teach that we must receive all 7 sacraments in order to get to heaven (several sacraments, such as Holy Orders and Matrimony, are for those who choose to enter either the religious or married life, and thus are not binding on everyone). God is perfectly capable of bestowing his graces on individuals who have not received the sacraments (and never let anyone convince you that the Church believes God is confined to doing things the way the Church directs; He is our God, not the other way around. We are called to live lives of perfect obedience to God, and Catholics believe this is accomplished by embracing and adhering to the teachings of Christ, which are faithfully maintained by the Church He founded.). Nevertheless, the sacraments were given to us by Christ as a means of receiving grace. As divinely appointed means of attaining grace, and as direct gifts from Christ, the sacraments are thus given great importance in the Catholic faith.
Apologetics Links Relating to the Sacraments
All links are taken from the Catholic Answers website
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