On the Tenth Article.

283. Why does the Creed mention Baptism? Because faith is sealed by Baptism, and the other Mysteries or Sacraments.

284. What is a Mystery or Sacrament? A Mystery or Sacrament is a holy act, through which grace, or, in other words, the saving power of God, works mysteriously upon man.

285. How many are the Sacraments? Seven: 1. Baptism; 2. Unction with Chrism; 3. Communion; 4. Penitence; 5. Orders; 6. Matrimony; 7. Unction with Oil.

286. What virtue is there in each of these Sacraments? 1. In Baptism man is mysteriously born to a spiritual life. 2. In Unction with Chrism he receives a grace of spiritual growth and strength. 3. In the Communion he is spiritually fed. 4. In Penitence he is healed of spiritual diseases, that is, of sin. 5. In Orders he receives grace spiritually to regenerate, feed, and nurture others, by doctrine and Sacraments. 6. In Matrimony he receives a grace sanctifying the married life, and the natural procreation and nurture of children. 7. In Unction with Oil he has medicine even for bodily diseases, in that he is healed of spiritual.

287. But why does not the Creed mention all these Sacraments, instead of mentioning Baptism only? Because Baptism was the subject of a question, whether some people, as heretics, ought not to be rebaptized; and this required a decision, which so came to be put into the Creed.