Sacraments

Topic 9
Etymology of the Word
Sacrament - derives from the Latin word “Sacramentum”.
● Christian Era: “Sacramentum” was understood as a pledge
in the form of property or money placed in the
temple and used as bond of persons who
entered into partnership or contract.
● Fifth century: St. Augustine of Hippo ,
“Sacramentum” is referred to any person, object,place
or ritual that was sacred.

He defined sacramentum as a “sign of sacred reality.”

 JESUS : the PRIMORDIAL SACRAMENT of the
FATHER
Scripture:
● 1Cor 1:15 - Jesus is “the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of all creation”
● In Jesus, “we see our God made visible and so
are caught up in love of God we cannot see”.
● In this sense therefore, we speak of Jesus as the
Sacrament of the Father.
CHURCH as the SACRAMENT of JESUS

● The CHURCH is simply the visible sign of JESUS.

● Even more important, we say that the church is
not the church if SHE does not mirror the
PERSON OF CHRIST.
● In all her activities, the Church seeks to bring
CHRIST to the people back to God.
 SACRAMENT

● It is a VISIBLE SIGN, instituted

by CHRIST to GIVE GRACE.
 SACRAMENT

● VISIBLE (efficient)SIGN,
- The seven ritual sacraments are particular signs that
represent particular actions and values of JESUS.
- The sacraments are always valid (“ex opera operato”), because the
ministers who administer them on behalf of Christ (“in persona
Christi”).
Ex. The EUCHARIST IS A SYMBOLIC (that is, sacramental and real)
re-enactment of the LAST SUPPER.
The seven sacraments reflects JESUS’ basic VALUES
 SACRAMENT

● Instituted by Christ
Sacraments are ultimately traceable to
Jesus. In his own ministry, Jesus always
came to people at the time of their
greatest need
 SACRAMENT
To confer GRACE (Divine Grace)

-The sanctifying grace is the communion with

God which is lost any time we commit a mortal
sin,
-the sacramental grace is the divine assistance
given by each sacrament in order to fulfill our
duties.
 SACRAMENT

● To Confer GRACE
● This also means that any lack of holiness on the part
of the minister does not prevent grace from being
offered.
● Grace is the gift of God’s friendship for us.
It is God’s free invitation to us, to live in
union with Him
 SACRAMENT

Vatican II had likewise stressed faith while

explaining that the purpose of the sacraments are:
● to sanctify men and women,
● to build up the Body of Christ, and
● to give worship to God.
The Essential Elements of each Sacrament?

1. MINISTER – the one administering the sacrament.

2. MATTER - the visible object used for the
sacrament.
3. FORM – the words used to celebrate the
Sacrament.
*If any of the three elements is missing, the sacrament is invalid
What are SACRAMENTALS?

● Besides the seven ritual sacraments, the People

of God, the Church, over the centuries has
instituted “sacramentals” (cf. CCC 1667-73).
● They are words, objects, actions, practices,
sacred places, and the like, that help us become
aware of Christ’s grace-filled presence around
us.
The Seven (7) Sacraments
What is the Form in Baptism

“ NAME , I BAPTIZE YOU, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND

OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”