They are not magic: your openness counts

The sacraments are not an automatic trick that works by repeating gestures, nor a mere formality to fulfill. Christ always acts in them, but the fruit you receive also depends on the heart with which you arrive. It is like opening windows: the sun is there, but more light enters the wider you open them. With more faith, more desire to change, and more longing for God, the same grace yields far more. That is why it is worthwhile to prepare a little: arrive calmly, know what you are there for, and ask sincerely. Not to "earn" it, but so you do not settle for a tiny part of what is offered to you in full.