This book, now in its second edition, outlines how the sacraments are the chief means in the Church through which God's people are reconciled to the Father, through his Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It illustrates classical issues like the conditions for the validity and efficacy of the sacraments, as well as the minister, recipient and effects of these sacred mysteries; it deals with particular topics like the necessity of Baptism, the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist, and the nature of Marriage. The work also explores how new ecumenical questions affect Christian sacramental understanding.

His Grace Archbishop Csaba Ternyák, Secretary of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy wrote:

“This book is a short introduction to sacramental theology which I hope will be helpful to the clergy, religious and laity who wish to deepen their awareness of these God-given gifts of our Christian life. It is a forthright exposition of the sacramental mystery and it embraces biblical, patristic, theological and spiritual themes interwoven with recent Magisterial pronouncements on the subject. It traces some of the chief aspects of the historical development of the Church's understanding of the sacraments. The book does not attempt to be particularly novel in its approach, but rather aims to present an organic synthesis of these saving signs of Christ's presence in His Church. It is my hope that these pages will help Christians deepen their understanding of the sacraments, assist them in loving and appreciating those great moments of grace when Christ touches our lives through them, and thus promote a more frequent and devotional sacramental attendance among the faithful. I warmly commend this work on the subject of sacramental theology, published at the auspicious time of the threshold of the Third Millennium.”