The sacraments celebrated by the Church are signs of grace that make a deeper reality present to us. One reality we encounter through the sacraments is Christ’s presence in the Church community, his Body. This recognition of Christ’s presence in the community should lead to a stronger awareness of being sent on mission to engage in love-inspired action in the world.

As Pope Benedict XVI notes in Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), the celebration of the sacraments and the ministry to love are “inseparable.” Love in action, he says, is “an indispensible expression” of the Church’s being [no. 25].