Villanueva, Arljem Zoe T. St.

Maria Goretti

Why do you consider the Church as a sacrament?

The church is the visible or concrete symbol of the Risen Christ’s presence of the World. A sacrament is a material sign
which gives grace, affecting what it symbolizes; it causes grace by symbolizing grace. The Church signifies in a visible,
historical, and tangible form the presence and redeeming activity of Christ, offered to all persons of every age, race and
condition. As we all know, there are 7 Sacraments which are Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the
Sick, Marriage and Holy Orders. But we are talking about why is the Church considered as a sacrament? Christ, the
eternal Word made flesh, is the visible sign, the sacrament of God. So too the Church, with her visible, institutional
structure, is for us the sacrament of Christ, representing him, making him present. Thinking of the Church as
“sacrament” has many advantages. First, it unites inseparably the visible and invisible dimensions of the Church.
“Sacrament” by definition is a visible sign making present an invisible reality. So, the Church is a visible, hierarchically
structured society making present a spiritual community. The two aspects form but one complex reality which comprises
both a human and a divine element.