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The matter of the sacrament of Matrimony is the mutual consent between the husband and wife. The form is the vows that the couple says.

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Matter and form are to the sacraments what money and a purchase agreement (contract) are to buying a house. These two elements (money/contract) are the minimum conditions for a legal act and allow the transfer of a thing from one owner to another.

Sacraments work in a similar way. Matter (material or tangible element) is the substance through which the sacramental act takes place, while form (formula, words or prayers) conveys the meaning. These two elements establish the validity - that is, the legal ownership - of a sacrament.

Sometimes sacramental matter is actually a material substance (like water for Baptism or bread and wine for the Eucharist);

But sometimes "matter" is a spiritual act or acts (like the acts of a penitent in Confession or the consent of the couple in Matrimony);

In either case, the matter is something real, something tangible, that is the means by which the sacramental action takes place.

Sometimes the form is a simple subject-verb phrase using the words of Christ ("This is my body...", "I baptize/absolve you...", etc.);

In these cases, the priest is acting "in persona Christi" (in the person of Christ) when he is communicating the sacrament;

But sometimes the minister acts on behalf of Christ and His Church when he uses the formula ("Receive the Holy Spirit...", "Through this holy anointing...");

In only one sacrament (Matrimony) do the ministers act in their own name when they minister the sacrament to each other ("I take you to be my wife/husband").

With these considerations as a backdrop, let's look at the matter and form - as well as the respective ministers - of the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church.

Matter: Water.

Form: "N., I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".

Ordinary Minister: Bishop / Priest / Deacon.

Extraordinary Minister: In danger of death or extreme circumstances, anyone can baptize.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Matter: The acts of the penitent in contrition, confession, and the performance of satisfaction for sins.

Form: The action of the priest in pronouncing the prayer of absolution and saying the essential words, "I absolve you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".

Ordinary Minister: Bishop or Priest (Deacon is excluded because he is not consecrated for the priestly ministry.)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)

Matter: Unleavened wheat bread and grape wine.

Form: "This is my body" and "This is the cup of my blood" (These are the essential "words of institution" of the Last Supper.)

Ordinary Minister: Bishop or Priest (for consecration); Deacon (for distribution)

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist: Those who are trained and officially delegated to distribute the Eucharistic (but not to consecrate).

The Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist

Matter: The Oil of Chrism and the laying on of hands.

Form: "N., be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit".

Ordinary Minister: Bishop or Pastor of a parish at Easter.

Extraordinary Minister: Priest (with delegation of the bishop).

The Sacrament of Confirmation

Matter: A baptized male.

Form: The long, consecratory prayer of the ordination ceremony.

Ordinary Minister: A bishop.

The Sacrament of Holy Orders

Matter: The mutual consent of the couple and their promise to live together as husband and wife in a lifelong union.

Form: "I take you..." (spoken as a vow) or "I do" (spoken as an affirmation of the vow spoken by the representative of the Church).

Ordinary Minister(s): The baptized man and woman who give the consent.

Note: The presence of a bishop, priest or deacon plus two witnesses are also required for a valid marriage of two Catholics.

The Sacrament of Matrimony

Matter: Anointing with the Oil of the Sick and laying on of hands.

Form: "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in His love and mercy help you by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and may the Lord who frees you from sin, save you and raise you up."

Ordinary Minister: Bishop or Priest (Deacon is excluded because he is not consecrated for the priestly ministry.)

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction)
For a 2-page PDF of this short article, click on the link below or send an email to the author at peterdarcywriter@yahoo.com with "Sacraments" in the subject line.

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Matter and form are to the sacraments what money and a purchase agreement (contract) are to buying a house. These two elements (money/contract) are the minimum conditions for a legal act and allow the transfer of a thing from one owner to another. Sacraments work in a similar way.

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1.) "Love to be real, it must cost -it must hurt -it must be empty us of self." -Saint Theresa of Calcutta
2.) "Let us love, since that is what our hearts are made for."
-Saint Theresa Lisieux
3.) “When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more noble her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her.”
-Venerable Fulton Sheen

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Both man and woman must give full consent. Also, there cannot be any mistakes in the union for it to be a lawful marriage.

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The man and woman getting married are expected to stay together for the rest of their lives, unless one passes away. The newly weds are also expected to have children and raise them in the faith if they are able to.

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1.) Genesis 1:27-28
2.) Isiah 54:5
3.) Malachi 2:14-15

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1.) "The holy Eucharist is the perfect expression of the love of Jesus Christ for man." -Saint Maria Goretti
2.) "In an ever-changing world the holy Eucharist is a constant reminder of the great reality of God's changeless love." -Mother Teresa
3.) "Recognize in this bread what hung on the cross and in this chalice what flowed from his side."
-Saint Augustine of Hippo

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The matter of the Eucharist is the bread and wine. The form of Baptism consists of the words that affect the sacrament.

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1.)  The reception of Jesus' true body makes Christ much closer to those who participate in this sacrament.
2.) The Eucharist has the ability to destroy venial sin!
3.) The Eucharist can even preserve us from grave sin.

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Those receiving the Eucharist must be a practicing Catholic, in a state of grace, and they must refrain from eating any food an hour before Mass.

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Eucharist helps us build a relationship with God and unites the Church community as a whole.

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1.) The word baptism comes from the Greek word "baptizein", which means ‘to be immersed in water’.
2.) The baptismal font were you were baptized in is actually called  “The Jordan” in liturgical books because when we are baptized we are baptized with Christ in the Jordan river.
3.) When you are baptized your details are recorded in a book that is kept in the church where they keep details of everyone who was baptized in the church. This book is actually called the “Book of Life” because in the book of revelation it says that no one will enter the heavenly Jerusalem who’s name is not written in the book of life.

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Baptism removes original sin and makes us one with Christ.

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For those who baptize their children as infants, the requirement is that  the caretaker of the child is raised by a practicing Catholic. For adults, there must be evident faith and profession of their willingness to become a Catholic.

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The matter of Baptism is the holy water that is poured over the head. The form of Baptism are the words spoken by the priest.

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3 Biblical Sources that mention Baptism in the Bible are: Mark 1:4-5, John 4:1-3, and Acts 2:38