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, called sacramental grace. Q. 602. {146} What is sacramental grace? A. Sacramental grace is a special help which God gives, to attain the end for which He instituted each Sacrament. Q. 603. Is the Sacramental grace independent of the sanctifying grace given in the Sacraments? A. The Sacramental grace is not independent of the sanctifying grace given in the Sacraments; for it is the sanctifying grace that gives us a certain right to special helps--called Sacramental grace--in each Sacrament, as often as we have to fulfill the end of the Sacrament or are tempted against it.