Sacraments of the dead have for their chief purpose to give the supernatural life of sanctifying grace to souls spiritually dead through sin. Sacraments of the living have for their chief purpose to give more grace to souls already spiritually alive through sanctifying grace.
1. The sacraments of the dead are Baptism and Penance. They restore souls dead in sin to the life of sanctifying grace.
- These sacraments increase sanctifying grace when received by one already in the state of grace. Thus when a person receiving absolution in the sacrament of Penance only has venial sins, he receives an increase in sanctifying grace.
2. The sacraments of the living are Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. To souls already spiritually alive through sanctifying grace, these sacraments give more grace.
- It is sacrilege to receive the sacraments of the living if one is in the state of mortal sin. The sacramental grace that should be obtained is suspended until the person recovers the state of grace.