ff3 - sacraments

• Sacrament (according to St. Augustine)


  An outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace
• Sacramentum tantum


  • The sign itself - concrete like bread and wine and the words of consecration in the eucharist, or water in baptism
• Res et sacramentum


  • What it signifies - literally the "thing" or the reality and the sign; signified in the eucharist is the real presence of Christ; what is signified in baptism is the baptismal seal or character, that indelible mark of God
• Res tantum


  • The reality alone - the spiritual effect, grace. In the Eucharist, this is God's grace and further incorporation into the Body of Christ. Just as one load is made of many grains, so we, the many, gathered at the Eucharist, become one body in Christ. In baptism, the spiritual effect is forgiveness of sins and entry into the Body of Christ
• What is a Sacrament according to St. Thomas Aquinas?

  St. Thomas Aquinas defines that sacrament as an efficacious symbol. A sacrament, though, is a special sign that symbolizes what it brings about.
• What is a Sacrament according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church?

  Sacrament is a sensible sign instituted by Christ to give grace. (CCC 1519)
• Sacraments, particularly, depend on signs and symbols which signify a sacred reality. A sensible sign is something perceived by the senses.

  • Matter - external thing or action. Example: Water
  • Form - formula of words. Example: I baptize you…
• What are sacraments?

  NOTE! Instituted by Christ means that only God can give grace, and therefore, only He can decide what means or channels He will use to communicate it to us.

  PS! Jesus instituted the sacraments by first being the sacrament of His Father through His whole life of word and action and then by establishing the Church as His basic sacrament. (CFC 1524-1525)
• Jesus is the sacrament of God’s saving love for all; the Church is the sacrament of Jesus, and the seven ritual sacraments are the church's sacraments.

  • JESUS - the sacrament of the Father to Primordial Sacrament
  • CHURCH - Sacrament of Jesus to Foundational/Basic Sacrament
• What are the effects of the sacraments?

  The effect of the sacraments is twofold

  1. To draw us into a closer relationship with the church.
  2. To draw us closer into a closer relationship to Christ himself in the Spirit and to the Father.

  NOTE! All the sacraments have their special graces since they all manifest the different ways in which Christ comes to us, meeting us all. (CFC 1528)
• PS! “It is principally through the sacraments that we obtain the grace of God. They are channels by which grace enters our souls, to give them divine life and to nourish them.” Most Rev. Louis LaRavoiure Morrow, STh. D.
• MATTER - is the material and sensible action or gesture.
• • FORM - is the accompanying words that declare the special meaning of that external action or gesture.
• • VALID MATTER i.e., “the right stuff.” For instance, the Eucharist must be made of wheat bread and grape wine, and Baptism must be in water.
• • VALID MINISTER the qualified ordinary and/or extraordinary ministers of Sacraments. For instance, the Sacrament of Holy Orders must be administered by a Bishop.
• • VALID FORM the essential words cannot be changed: for instance, “This is my body … this is my blood” and “I baptize you in the name of the Father. And of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
• • VALID INTENTION the intention to do what the church does.
• What are the requirements for a valid sacrament?

  1. Valid Matter
  2. Valid Minister
  3. Valid Form
  4. Valid Intention
• Initiation

  1. Baptism
  2. Confirmation
  3. Eucharist
• Healing

  1. Penance and Reconcilliation
  2. Anointing of the Sick
• Service of Communion

  1. Matrimony
  2. Holy Orders