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Introduction to Introduction to SacramentSacrament

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1. What was the 1. What was the origin of the word origin of the word sacrament?sacrament?

Any pledge in the form of property or Any pledge in the form of property or moneymoney

An oath or allegiance to the emperor An oath or allegiance to the emperor or to the gods of Rome.or to the gods of Rome.

Used for ceremonies of Christian Used for ceremonies of Christian initiationinitiation

Sacrament: Latin word Sacrament: Latin word sacramentumsacramentum

““sign of a sacred sign of a sacred reality”reality”

outward signs of outward signs of inward grace, inward grace, instituted by Christ instituted by Christ for our sanctificationfor our sanctification

Sacrament: Latin word Sacrament: Latin word sacramentumsacramentum

““Jesus is the image of Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the the invisible God, the firstborn of all firstborn of all creation.” (Col. 1:15)creation.” (Col. 1:15)

He is the paradigm, the He is the paradigm, the instrument through instrument through which God encounters which God encounters people.people.

All other Christian All other Christian sacraments have their sacraments have their meaning only in and meaning only in and through Jesus.through Jesus.

Jesus: The Primordial Jesus: The Primordial Sacrament of the FatherSacrament of the Father

Looking at the Looking at the Church in light of Church in light of Jesus.Jesus.

metaphor: “the metaphor: “the mystery of the moon”mystery of the moon”

Through the Church, Through the Church, Jesus dispenses His Jesus dispenses His grace by means of grace by means of actions, objects and actions, objects and words. words.

Church: The Sacrament Church: The Sacrament of Jesus Christof Jesus Christ

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2. The Sacraments 2. The Sacraments of the Churchof the Church

SACRAMENTS

INTERPLAY

SACRAMENTS AS CELEBRATION

FAITH PREACHING THEOLOGY

LEX CREDENDI

• LITURGY• PRAYER & RITUAL ACTION

• LEX ORANDI

FAITH INFLUENCES AND SHAPES PRAYER

PRAYER EXPRESSES THE CONTENT OF FAITH

WHEN THE CHURCH CELEBRATES THE SACRAMENTS, IT PREACHES ITS FAITH

SACRAMENTS OF FAITH

THE CHURCH PREACHES FAITH IN ORDER TO PREPARE BELIEVERS FOR THE

SACRAMENTS

HENCE, NO SACRAMENT IS INTEGRALLY CELEBRATED WITHOUT THE WORD OF GOD: LITURGY OF THE WORD

DEFINITION OF SACRAMENTCATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 1131

EFFICACIOUS SIGNS OF GRACEINSTITUTED BY CHRIST

ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCHBY WHICH DIVINE LIFE IS DISPENSED TO US

AS EFFICACIOUS SIGNS OF GRACE,

THEY EFFECT WHAT THEY SIGNIFY.

SACRAMENTS BEAR FRUIT IN THOSE WHO RECEIVE THEM.

EX OPERE OPERATO

AS INSTITUTED BY CHRIST,

THE LITURGY IS AN ACTION OF CHRIST AND HIS BODY THE CHURCH:WHEN A PERSON BAPTIZES,

IT IS REALLY CHRIST HIMSELF WHO BAPTIZES

ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH

The ordained minister is the sacramental bond that ties the liturgical action to what the apostles said and did

and, through them, to the words and actions of Christ, the source and foundation of the sacraments.

BY WHICH DIVINE LIFE IS DISPENSED TO US

The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature

by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Savior.

““The purpose of the The purpose of the sacraments is:sacraments is:To make people To make people HOLY;HOLY;To build up the To build up the BODY OF CHRIST;BODY OF CHRIST;To give WORSHIP To give WORSHIP to God.” (Art. 59) to God.” (Art. 59)

According to the According to the Constitution on the Constitution on the LiturgyLiturgy

1.1. Sacred ScripturesSacred Scriptures

2.2. Tradition of the Tradition of the ApostlesApostles

3.3. Fathers of the Fathers of the ChurchChurch

3 Sources of God’s 3 Sources of God’s Revelation:Revelation:

Sacraments are Sacraments are more than signs. more than signs.

They are man’s They are man’s celebration of celebration of

PERSONALPERSONAL and and ECCLESIALECCLESIAL

encounters with the encounters with the divine saving acts of divine saving acts of

Jesus and the Holy Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Spirit.

““Sacraments are Sacraments are celebrated as celebrated as necessary means for necessary means for our our salvationsalvation… … Jesus Jesus is truly present is truly present in in these celebrations these celebrations and through the and through the sacrament, grace is sacrament, grace is dispensed and dispensed and we are we are made holymade holy.” .”

According to the According to the Constitution on the Constitution on the Sacred LiturgySacred Liturgy

Sacraments are Sacraments are activities (words activities (words and deeds) and deeds) initiated by Christ initiated by Christ Himself during his Himself during his early life.early life.

Mystici CorporisMystici Corporis

Sacraments are Actions Sacraments are Actions of Jesusof Jesus

It points to the It points to the transcendent reality.transcendent reality.

Objects and actions: Objects and actions: MATTER OF THE MATTER OF THE SACRAMENT.SACRAMENT.

Words: FORM OF THE Words: FORM OF THE SACRAMENTSACRAMENT

Sacraments are SignsSacraments are Signs

DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT COMPOSE THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS

ASSEMBLYMINISTERS

SCRIPTURAL READINGSGESTURES AND SYMBOLS

MATERIAL OBJECTSOCCASION AND PLACE FOR CELEBRATION

MUSIC, FURNISHINGS

EACH SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE NATURE, PURPOSE, EFFICACY OF CHRIST’S MYSTERY IN THE SACRAMENTS

EACH UNFOLDS IN ITS OWN WAY THE CHURCH’S DOCTRINE ON THE SACRAMENTS

THE CLASSICAL NUMBER OF SACRAMENTS SEVEN AND UNDER THREE HEADINGS

CHRISTIAN INITIATION(BAPTISM, EUCHARIST, CONFIRMATION)

HEALING(RECONCILIATION, ANOINTING OF THE SICK)

SERVICE, COMMUNION AND MISSION OF THE FAITHFUL(HOLY ORDER, MATRIMONY)

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3. Sacramentals3. Sacramentals

They are “sacred signs They are “sacred signs which signify the which signify the effects, especially of a effects, especially of a spiritual kind, that are spiritual kind, that are obtained through the obtained through the Church.”Church.”

Grace is dispensed upon Grace is dispensed upon the proper use of the the proper use of the sacramentals through sacramentals through the intervention of the the intervention of the Church (EX OPERE Church (EX OPERE OPERANTIS)OPERANTIS)

SacramentalsSacramentals