Sacraments Correspond to Human Nature

Today I am going to be talking about how the Sacraments correspond to human nature. First of all, there are seven Sacraments: Baptism, the Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. All seven of these sacraments correspond to human nature through their use of physical, sensible signs which indicate spiritual, invisible realities. An example of this would be in the Eucharist, we actually see, feel, and taste the Body of Christ, making it easier to relate and understand the efficacious sign of grace that is being portrayed through this sacrament. Another example would be in Reconciliation. We are able to kneel in front of a priest, whether behind a blind or face to face, and confess our sins to him. In this way we are absolved of our sins through the senses of sight and hearing. The Sacraments are all instruments of God's grace, that actually accomplish in the soul what their signs symbolize. Another way that the Sacraments correspond to human nature is that they work ex opere operato, which means "by the very fact of the actions being performed.