...the Mass and the sacraments, which are the essential aspect of the Catholic faith.

Joe, that's not the way I learned it.

I was taught that under certain circumstances anyone can baptize and that someone can even baptize themself (baptism of desire). That anyone can pray and help the sick and dying. That a man and woman marry each other and the priest is only there to bless the marriage. That there are several ways in which sin can be forgiven (e.g., a perfect act of contrition, verbalized or not). That within certain very restricted circumstances anyone can consecrate bread and wine (note the specificity of the words used). And so on, the only exception being ordination to the priesthood and confirmation -- and those authorities can be delegated.

Then again I'm one of them "Children of Vat2" so I'm kinda warped, I guess.