The Sacraments are the essence of the Catholic life.

The Latin word sacramentum (click here) means "a sign of the sacred." The seven sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence. That's what theologians mean when they say that sacraments are at the same time signs and instruments of God's grace.

The Sacraments are more important than the very doctrine the church holds dear to it's reason for existing.