Sacraments

Outward sign of inward grace

Session Two

Causality

Validly administered by an authorized person using the prescribed matter and form, to a properly disposed recipient– i.e. someone not placing an obstacle in the way,

such as lack of faith or serious sin. Accordingly, it seemed to make little

difference if the congregation failed to grasp the meaning of the word and rituals so long as they did not put up a barrier.

Trent / St Thomas

Sacraments cause grace insofar as they signify it. – (Decree on the Sacraments, Session VII, 1547),

and before that of St Thomas (ST III, qq. 60-65) 20th Century approaches attempt to recover

this perspective

Sign Signifies – Sts Thomas/Augustine

St Thomas– very balanced - later medievals were less so.

Sacraments = efficacious signs of grace. – Caused what they signified. cf St Augustine

Later abuses

With time the sign aspect of sacrament receded from the centre of ecclesial consciousness.

The sacraments came to be perceived as instruments of grace, producing their spiritual effects by the very performance of the ritual according to the prescribed manner

ex opere operato, "from the work worked"

New Testament

New Testament, does not contain the word sacrament

MYSTERION– a secret– a divine secret– a divine secret in the process of being revealed

MYSTERION

a term used by many of the ancient mystery cults 7th Century BCE to 4th Century CE

MYSTERIES = cultic rites in which destinies of a god are portrayed by sacred actions before a circle of devotees in such a way as to give them part in the fate of the god.

integral to the concept of mysteries is the fact that those who wish to take part in their celebration must undergo initiation.

MYSTERION

all mysteries promise their devotees salvation by the dispensing of cosmic life

in all the mysteries the distinction between the initiates and non-initiates find expression not only in the ritual of the celebrations but also in the vow of silence laid on devotees.

this is essential to all the mysteries and is a feature implicit in the etymology.

MYSTERION in the O.T.

it works its way into Hellenistic Judaism– Daniel [2:18, 27-30, etc.] – mysterion takes on for the first time a sense which

is important for the further development of the word –

– namely an eschatalogical mystery: a concealed intimation of divinely ordained future events whose disclosure and interpretation is reserved for God alone and for those inspired by God spirit [4:9]

MYSTERION in the N.T.

in the GOSPELS – the term only occurs in obscure sayings of Jesus – about the purpose of parables which the

synoptics interpose between the parable of sower and its interpretation, e.g. "To you the mystery of the reign of God has been confided. To the others outside it is all presented in parables." [Mk. 4:11; Lk. 8:1-; Mt. 13:11]

MYSTERION in the N.T.

in PAUL mysterion is firmly connected with the kerygma of Christ

 Christ is the mystery of God [Col. 2:2] or the "mysterious wisdom of God"

This mystery of God in Christ is:– prepared before the world was [1 Cor. 2:7]– concealed from the aeons [1 Cor. 2:8]– hidden in God, the creator of all things [Eph. 3:9]– but a heavenly reality which breaks into the world, and

human history [4:62]

Summary

a rare expression in the NT which betrays no relation to the mystery cult.

When there seems to be connection [e.g. sacramental passages] the term is not used; where it is used there are no such connections

SACRAMENTUM

MYSTERION becomes TRANSLATED into Latin word SACRAMENTUM

secular term:– originally sum of money deposed with tresviri

capitales [= police magistrates] by the parties to a civil suit as a payment or stake. The party whose claim was disproved in the hearing before the judge forfeited his deposit to the state, not his adversary. [Oxford Classical Dictionary]

SACRAMENTUM

from here it came to be employed by the MILITARY  – Roman soldiers were INITIATED into military service;

when drafted, he was provided with some sort of IDENTIFICATION mark, i.e. a leaden thesauri hung about the neck; or branding or tattooing the hand or breast of the soldier.

– sometimes he was also given a NEW NAME - name was registered in the official scroll of the army - then soldier required to take OATH OF ALLEGIANCE to the emperor.

SACRAMENTUM in Military

THREE ACTS:– giving identification mark SACRAMENTA– registration of name MILITIAE– administration of oath

SACRAMENTUM in Military

taking of oath by Roman soldier was NOT only civil ceremony - it was also act of RELIGION

to break the oath [i.e. to throw down one's arms and go over to camp of enemy] was not only an act of treason but also a sacrilege.

SACRAMENTUM thus comes to mean any SOLEMN undertaking

employment of word SACRAMENTUM

largely due to Tertullian– son of a soldier– looked upon Christian life as MILITIA

SPIRITUALIS– baptism = SACRAMENTUM MILITIAE DEI VIVI

St Augustine of Hippo [354-430]

Sacrament for Augustine = SACRED SIGN term suggested NOT only a rite but also a

sign which both VEILED the truth and REVEALED it.

Not unlike the original use of the word MYSTERION

St Augustine of Hippo [354-430]

sacrament as HOLY or SACRED sign (symbol) had two elements  

– the HOLY REALITY to which it refers – the fact that it is a SIGN of that reality

sacrament has meaning BEYOND itself = visible word

St Augustine of Hippo [354-430]

sacrament = symbol given a sacred meaning

THE SIGNS OF THINGS DIVINE ARE VISIBLE BUT WE HONOUR IN THEM REALITIES THAT ARE INVISIBLE

St Augustine of Hippo [354-430]

Clear for Augustine that true Christian symbols deal entirely with the relationship between God and people s

sacraments, like all symbols for Augustine, are EFFECTIVE thus they are not merely representative

WHAT DISTINGUISHES AUGUSTINE'S THOUGHT FROM THAT OF THE MIDDLE AGES IS THAT THE FUNCTIONAL AND SYMBOLIC CHARACTER OF SACRAMENTAL SYMBOLS ARE NOT YET SEPARATED

St Augustine of Hippo [354-430]

Augustine was not able to speak of MERELY a symbol as something separate from reality or actuality. Symbols for Augustine are fundamentally real.

the opposite of symbol for Augustine was not real but perfectly CLEAR or REVEALED, UNMASKED.

St Augustine of Hippo [354-430]

This was NOT one among a number of characteristics, rather it was THE VITAL ELEMENT in the rite– What all sacraments have in COMMON– this HOLY SHOWING FORTH – a disguising yet revealing symbol is always their

mark. The sacraments give VISIBLE character

and internal UNITY to the Church.

Augustine calls over 300 things "sacraments"

baptism eucharist annual celebration of Christ's resurrection sign of the cross salt

Augustine calls over 300 things "sacraments"

exorcism contemplation the penitential garment bowing the head transmission of the symbolum

Augustine calls over 300 things "sacraments"

taking off one's shoes various rites of catechumenate entering period of competentes octave of Easter penance

Augustine calls over 300 things "sacraments"

laying on of hands reconciliation the great feasts spiritual songs the Lord's supper

St Augustine of Hippo [354-430]

"The Eucharist is our daily bread and our power for good which is shown forth therein; [it] is unity, that is to say that we are made into his own body and having been made into his body

we ourselves become what we receive" sermon on the Lord's supper to the competentes

St Augustine of Hippo [354-430]

when Augustine gives catechesis on Eucharist to newly baptized – does NOT speak of real presence nor

participation in the crucified, resurrected and glorified Christ.

– only speaks of ONE THING: BECOMING ONE with one another and with Christ, thus becoming of one body and blood

St Augustine of Hippo [354-430]

“we ourselves become what we receive”

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