rs more than once?
A. We cannot receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders more than
once, because they imprint a character in the soul.

Q. 610. {150} What is the character which these Sacraments imprint in
the soul?
A. The character which these Sacraments imprint in the soul is a
spiritual mark which remains forever.

Q. 611. {151} Does this character remain in the soul even after death?
A. This character remains in the soul even after death; for the honor
and glory of those who are saved; for the shame and punishment of those
who are lost.

Q. 612. Can the Sacraments be given conditionally?
A. The Sacraments can be given conditionally as often as we doubt
whether they were properly given before, or whether they can be validly
given now.

Q. 613. What do we mean by giving a Sacrament conditionally?
A. By giving a Sacrament conditionally we mean that the person
administering the Sacrament intends to give it only in case it has not
been given already or in case the person has the right dispositions for
receiving it, though the dispositions cannot be discovered.

Q. 614. Give an example of how a Sacrament is given conditionally.
A. In giving Baptism, for instance, conditionally--or what we call
conditional Baptism--the priest, instead of saying absolutely, as he
does in ordinary Baptism: "I baptize thee," &c., says: "If you are not
already baptized, or if you are capable of being baptized, I baptize
thee," &c., thus stating the sole condition on which he intends to
administer the Sacrament.

Q. 615. Which of the Sacraments are most frequently given conditionally?
A. The Sacraments most frequently given conditionally are Baptism,
Penance and Extreme Unction; because in some cases it is difficult to
ascertain whether these Sacraments have been given before or whether
they have been validly given, or whether the person about to receive
them has the right dispositions for them.

Q. 616. Name some of the more common circumstances in which a priest is
obliged to administer the Sacraments conditionally.
A. Some of the more common circumstances in which a priest is obliged to
administer the Sacraments conditionally are: (1) When he receives
converts into the Church and is not certain of their previous baptism,
he must baptize them conditionally. (2) When he is called--as in cases
of accident or sudden illness--and doubts whether the person be alive or
dead, or whether he should be given the Sacraments, he must give