The authors of The Sacraments survey the origin and development of the sacramental rites through a careful scrutiny of various pontificals, rituals, sacramentaries, and euchologia of the past and present. The scope of the book goes beyond the seven sacraments to provide a wealth of information about monastic rites and religious profession, Christian death, the consecration of virgins, the several ministries instituted by Vatican II, blessings, processions and pilgrimages, and numerous aspects of "popular" religion.