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Sacraments:
Sacramentum – a sacred or holy thing
Creed,
“communion of saints” – the communion caused by sharing in the holy things
Mysterion (gr.) – something hidden, secret;
sign, symbol.
Christ, the
sacrament of God.
The Church,
the universal sacrament of salvation.
The seven
sacraments.
Sacraments are not merely a sign, but
a cause of grace.
A sacrament
is: “a thing perceptible to the senses, which on the ground of Divine
institution possesses the power both of effecting and signifying sanctity and
righteousness”
1) the external, a sensibly
perceptible sign of sanctifying grace
- the sacraments give the
grace they signify
2) The conferring of sanctifying grace
3) The institution by God, by Christ
Jesus
{as opposed
to the Protestant reformers, who see the sacraments as pledges of the Divine
promise of forgiveness and grace. Thus, the sacraments are not causes of grace,
but occasions whereby faith is stirred and grace is given by God.}
Parts of the sacrament:
1)
Sacramentum - sign
2) Res tantum
– grace
3) Res et
sacramentum
The power of the Sacraments:
1) The
Sacraments of the New Covenant contain the grace they signify and bestow it on
those who do not hinder it.
2) The
sacraments work ex opere operato – by the working of the work (by the power of
the sacramental rite). The proper matter, form and intention.
3) Every
sacrament bestows sanctifying grace, and also graces more specific to that
sacrament. Some sacraments bestow also a sacramental character.
Sacraments of the New Law, compared
to those of the Old Law, and to sacramentals
The Old Law
contained sacraments, but these did not cause grace directly – more like
sacramentals which are occasions of grace.
HOWEVER, it
is generally held that circumcision conferred grace quasi ex opere operato
Sacramentals
are occasions of grace and work, ex opere
operantis (by the power of the one performing the rite, i.e. of the
Church). Sacramentals were not generally instituted by Christ, but by the
Church.
Examples of
sacramentals: a) Ceremonies related to the sacraments, b) other religious
actions, exorcisms, blessings, consecrations, c) the religious uses of blessed
objects, d) the blessed objects themselves.
All the sacraments were instituted by
Christ,
Jesus himself
gave us the seven sacraments, indicating also the matter and form.
But this is
not taken too strictly – confirmation at Pentecost.
Thus, the
Church cannot alter or change the sacraments in their essential nature.
The seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation,
Eucharist, Penance, Anointing, Holy Order, Matrimony
The
sacraments are necessary to salvation.
The life of
the body and the life of the soul: Baptism – birth, Confirmation – growth,
Eucharist - nourishment, Penance – healing, Anointing – exercise or
strengthening.
The most
necessary, baptism. The most perfect(ing), holy order. The most excellent,
Eucharist.
Every sacrament has:
1) Matter
and form
2) Minister
3) Recipient
4) Specific
grace
