A sacrament,according to St Thomas Aquinas, is "the sign of a sacred thing in so far as it sanctifies men". Here, Anselm Grun applies his counselling experience and knowledge of the Bible to the seven sacraments recognized by the Catholic Church: baptism, eucharist (or communion), confirmation, reconciliation (penance, or confession), marriage, ordination, anointing of the sick. Each sacrament's meaning is examined, as well as its history, its form - past and present - and its impact on the life of those who receive it and those who administer it. Grun also suggests how the sacraments could be made more relevant to Christians living in the 21st century. As always, Grun combines flashes of radicalism with a deep understanding of the Catholic tradition in a book that should be of interest to adults planning to receive the sacraments, as well as teachers, parish priests, and pastoral workers.