| priests, and deacons, through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops. |
| Q. | What is Holy Matrimony? |
| A. | Holy Matrimony is Christian marriage, in which the woman and man enter into a life‑long union, make their vows before God and the Church, and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows. |
| Q. | What is Reconciliation of a Penitent? |
| A. | Reconciliation of a Penitent, or Penance, is the rite in which those who repent of their sins may confess them to God in the presence of a priest, and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution. |
| Q. | What is Unction of the Sick? |
| A. | Unction is the rite of anointing the sick with oil, or the laying on of hands, by which God’s grace is given for the healing of spirit, mind, and body. |
| Q. | Is God’s activity limited to these rites? |
| A. | God does not limit himself to these rites; they are patterns of countless ways by which God uses material things to reach out to us. |
| Q. | How are the sacraments related to our Christian hope? |
| A. | Sacraments sustain our present hope and anticipate its future fulfillment. |
The Christian Hope
| Q. | What is the Christian hope? |
| A. | The Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God’s purpose for the world. |
Catechism861
