sentence of Our Lord.

*134 Q. From whom does the Church derive its undying life and infallible
authority?
A. The Church derives its undying life and infallible authority from the
Holy Ghost, the spirit of truth, who abides with it forever.

*135 Q. By whom is the Church made and kept One, Holy, and Catholic?
A. The Church is made and kept One, Holy, and Catholic by the Holy
Ghost, the spirit of love and holiness, who unites and sanctifies its
members throughout the world.

Lesson 13
ON THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL

This lesson does not speak of any Sacrament in particular, but upon all
the Sacraments taken together. It explains what we find in all the
Sacraments.

136 Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.

Three things are necessary to make a Sacrament. There must be: (1) "An
outward," that is, a visible, "sign"; (2) this sign must have been
instituted or given by Our Lord; (3) it must give grace. Now, a sign is
that which tells us that something else exists. Smoke indicates the
presence of fire.

A red light on a railroad tells that there is danger at the spot.
Therefore, the outward signs in the Sacraments tell us that there is in
the Sacraments something we do not see and which they signify and
impart. For example, the outward sign in Baptism is the pouring of the
water on the head of the person to be baptized, and the saying of the
words. Water is generally used for cleaning purposes. Water, therefore,
is used in Baptism as an outward sign to show that as the water cleans
the body, so the grace given in Baptism cleans the soul. It is not a
mere sign, for at the very moment that the priest pours the water and
says the words of Baptism, by the pouring of the water and saying of the
words with the proper intention the soul is cleansed from Original Sin;
that is, the inward grace is given by the application of the outward
sign. Again, in Confirmation the outward sign is the anointing with oil,
the Bishop's prayer, and the placing of his hands upon us. Now what
inward grace is given in Confirmation? A grace which strengthens us in
our faith. Oil, therefore, is used for the outward sign in this
Sacrament, because oil gives strength and light.

In olden times the gladiators--men who fought with swords as
prize-fighters do now with their hands--used oil upon their bodies to
make them strong. Oil was used also to heal wounds. Thus in Confirmation
the app