The beauty of the liturgy is a sublime expression of God's glory and, in a certain sense, a glimpse of heaven on earth. The liturgy is a radiant expression of the Paschal Mystery, in which Christ draws us to himself and calls us to communion. Holy Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy, and to which the Christian people have a right and an obligation by reason of their baptism. (CCC 1141)
Sacraments
The Church has seven (7) sacraments by which God and his people interact in a special way, through not only words but also symbolic action: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist (the sacraments of initiation); Penance/Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick (the sacraments of healing); Marriage and Holy Orders (the sacraments of service). Sacraments are a special kind of symbol, which actually contain the reality of what they symbolize. They are also called “efficacious signs,” because they are signs that do something, they have an effect.