What is a sacrament? Basic etymology might suggest a sacred thing, a holy thing. The catechism defines a sacrament as "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace," something which is physical and tangible. A sacrament is a means of grace—it is not a symbol, a representation, or a figurative thing, but an actual means of receiving grace. So in a sacrament, we receive the outward sign, but in some way the sign is changed to become different, powerful, and transformative—it is changed by the presence of God.