e called Sacraments of the dead.

Q. 594. {141} Why are Baptism and Penance called Sacraments of the dead?
A. Baptism and Penance are called Sacraments of the dead because they
take away sin, which is the death of the soul, and give grace, which is
its life.

Q. 595. May not the Sacrament of Penance be received by one who is in a
state of grace?
A. The Sacrament of Penance may be and very often is received by one who
is in a state of grace, and when thus received it increases--as the
Sacraments of the living do--the grace already in the soul.

Q. 596. {142} Which are the Sacraments that increase sanctifying grace
in our soul?
A. The Sacraments that increase sanctifying grace in our souls are:
Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and
Matrimony; and they are called Sacraments of the living.

Q. 597. What do we mean by Sacraments of the dead and Sacraments of the
living?
A. By the Sacraments of the dead we mean those Sacraments that may be
lawfully received while the soul is in a state of mortal sin. By the
Sacraments of the living we mean those Sacraments that can be lawfully
received only while the soul is in a state of grace--i.e., free from
mortal sin. Living and dead do not refer here to the persons, but to the
condition of the souls; for none of the Sacraments can be given to a
dead person.

Q. 598. {143} Why are Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction,
Holy Orders, and Matrimony called Sacraments of the living?
A. Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and
Matrimony are called Sacraments of the living because those who receive
them worthily are already living the life of grace.

Q. 599. {144} What sin does he commit who receives the Sacraments of the
living in mortal sin?
A. He who receives the Sacraments of the living in mortal sin commits a
sacrilege, which is a great sin, because it is an abuse of a sacred
thing.

Q. 600. In what other ways besides the unworthy reception of the
Sacraments may persons commit sacrilege?
A. Besides the unworthy reception of the Sacraments, persons may commit
sacrilege by the abuse of a sacred person, place or thing; for example,
by wilfully wounding a person consecrated to God; by robbing or
destroying a Church; by using the sacred vessels of the Altar for
unlawful purposes, &c.

Q. 601. {145} Besides sanctifying grace do the Sacraments give any other
grace?
A. Besides sanctifying grace the Sacraments give another grace