SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY - PowerPoint Presentation

SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY Book: Sacramental Mystery, 2016 By Paul Haffner

Sacraments in General They are the heart of the Christian life of the Church. Through the Church and in sacraments, the Trinity communicates: God the Father, Through the Son, By the working of the Holy Spirit.

Disclaimer Sacraments are privileges through which God touches the lives of the faithful. God is not bound by them. We don’t merit or earn them. They are given out of God’s love for us. They were instituted by Jesus Christ.

Jesus as the Sacrament of the Father The incarnation of Jesus Christ reveals God’s love and life to the people. Brings transcendence and immanence of God. Jesus was sent by the Father. Makes the invisible Father visible . In the power of the Holy Spirit. Sacraments are rooted in the Trinity .

Gratuitous Gift God never bound from external/internal necessity to create. Never obliged to reveal himself. Never forced to share his love and life. No one can buy God’s love. No one can merit God’s grace.

Elements of Sacraments in Creation Human beings are both material and spiritual . Both external and internal . Visible and invisible . Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace .

Old Testament Signs of the Covenant Rainbow ( Gn 9:11-17) Circumcision ( Gn 17:6-13) Passover (Ex 12) Bull’s blood (Ex 24:1-11) The Tent (Ex 29:43-45) The Temple (I K 6)

New Testament Signs The Wedding at Cana (Water into wine, Jn 2:1-12). The Feeding of 5 000 people (Jn 6:1-15). Signs of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Two Fundamental Pivots Nature of Man and Woman. Mystery of the incarnation. Sacraments are harmonious fusion of : External and Internal. Material and Spiritual. Human and Divine. Grace and Nature.

Sin and Evil Should be understood in the light of: The Fall. Original Sin. Actual Sin. Sickness. Suffering. Death.

The Church as Sacrament of Christ Christ founded the Church. Sacraments should be understood within the context of the Church. They are essentially ecclesial . Manifestations of Christ’s power. Theophanies of God’s love. Are a privileged encounter point with God.

Etymology English - Mystery. Greek – musterion (hidden thing, secret, mystery). From muo , Shut the mouth. Latin – Sacramentum (used in the Vulgate). For the Romans, it was an oath taken by soldiers. English translation is sacrament . Tertullian was one of the first to use the word to refer to the Christian initiation rites.

Mysterium or Sacramentum ? It took the Church 11 centuries to come to seven . The Alexandrian School used the Platonic Philosophy of the world of ideas . They employed the term, mysterion . Origen used musterion to refer to baptism and Holy Eucharist (4thc). St. John Chrysostom referred to Holy Eucharist 4 th c). Latin West used both sacramentum and mysterium . Sacramentum gained popularity.

Carthage Vs West Controversies that refined the usage of the term Sacramentum . Was between the See of Rome and See of Carthage . Was about the rebaptism of apostates and heretics . Cyprian and the See of Carthage: Apostates and heretics to be rebaptized . Pope Stephen I (256)(West) objected. Reasons : Was departure from tradition . Could be reconciled by Penance .

Donatist Controversy Heretics and Apostates to be rebaptized . Claimed that their baptism was valid. They were the true Church. St. Augustine distinguished between: Sacramental sign ( signum ). The grace content ( res ). Donatists had been baptized validly , but lacked the grace of the sacrament.

Definition St. Augustine : A sacrament has a visible sign and a spiritual reality that it signifies. St. Thomas Aquinas : A sign of a sacred reality inasmuch as it sanctifies man. Traditional : Outward signs of inward grace instituted by Jesus Christ. Recent : Efficacious signs of grace , instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, which are God’s masterpieces in the new and everlasting covenant .

Source of Sacraments Jesus Christ. The Church determines the outward rites.

Number of Sacraments Early Christians had more than seven . Holy water, exorcisms, recital of our father were included. Later they became sacramentals . 2. Tertullian listed 5 sacrs , leaving out Penance and Anointing. 3. St. Augustine listed all seven.

4. In the middle ages 7 gained popularity. 5. Council of Lyons 1274, professed 7. 6. Council of Florence 1439, professed 7. 7. Luther and other Reformers accepted 2 (Baptism and Eucharist) 8. Roman Catholics and Orthodox Churches – 7. 9. The Holy Eucharist is the most central.

Sacramental Causality Sacrs have Intrinsic Objective Efficacy (IOE). IOE is Ex Opere Operato (from the work worked or from the sacramental sign objectively performed) The sacramental sign is not soiled by the sins of the minister. Christ acts through his unworthy minister. Not Ex Opere Operantis (from the work of the worker) William of Auxerre (13 th c) coined the phrases.

Ex Opere Operato or Ex Opere Operantis ? Peter Waldo (13 th c) ( Waldensians ) argued for Ex Opere Operantis . They argued that validity of Sacrs depends on the worthiness of the minister. Wyclif and Huns : Minister has to be worthy. Luther : Denied the efficacy of Sacrs . He preached Faith alone ( sola fide ) doctrine.

Pope Innocent III and Pope Martin V, validity is independent of the worthiness of the minister. What is needed for validity is correct matter and form , and intention of doing what the Church does. Recipient should not place obstacles in the way. Example of taking shower in a raincoat . The minister should have the intention to do what the Church does .

The Recipient/Subject Reception should be: Valid/lawful: Removal of obstacles by recipient. Licit/Legitimate : meeting the prescribed preconditions, e.g.. Confirmation before ordination. Fruitful: Recipient not in a state of mortal sin. 2. Disposition of the recipient is important . Remove obstacles. Prepare. EG. Remove Raincoat.

Any obstacle can invalidate the sacrament. Both implicit and explicit intentions are important. Implicit intention is sufficient. Reception can be valid and lawful , but not fruitful . EG. State of mortal sin. Faith of the recipient is needed.

Validating Intentions (Recipient) Explicit intention : Expressed intention to receive a sacrament by all adults. Habitual Intention : Valid for all sacraments except Penance and Marriage. Implicit Intention : is sufficient in case of an unconscious sick person.

Classification of Ministerial Intention Actual Intention: is present through the sacramental rite at every moment ( sufficient ). Virtual Intention: formed before the rite, under which the rite is celebrated, but not constantly called to mind (sufficient). Habitual Intention: made in the past, not revoked, does not present any positive influence on the rite ( insufficient). Interpretative Intention: never been made explicitly or implicitly in the past or present, yet the minister would have elicited it, if he were conscious of his actions ( insufficient ).

Valid, Licit, but not Fruitful Occurs when the recipient is in a state of mortal sin . Faith of recipient is part of the fruitful reception of sacraments. The removal of the mortal sin revives the fruits particularly (baptism, confirmation, and Holy Orders). E.G. if someone is married in state of mortal sin, they receive the grace after removing the obstacle.

Matter 1. Remote Matter : That which can potentially be used (Water). 2. Proximate Matter: Actually used in performing the sacr ( Actual Pouring of water ).

Form Words spoken Prayers that accompany the actions. The form should be uttered audibly and Accurately Requirements Substance: That which is needed for validity . Ceremonial : Required for liceity/legitimacy . Disposition: Required for fruitful reception.

Classification of Ministers Ordinary minister : Canonical and liturgical minister. Extraordinary minister : In case of necessity. Condition of the minister is of no consequence. Intention to do what the church does is important. But, worthiness of the minister helps the growth of the church.

Taxonomy of Ministerial Intentions Actual Intention : One present through the sacr rite at every moment. Virtual Intention : Formed before the rite, under which the ceremony is carried out, but is not constantly called to mind. Habitual Intention : Made at some previous time in the past, while not revoked, does not exert any positive influence on the ceremony. Interpretative Intention : Has never been made either explicitly or implicitly, does not exist in the present, the minister would have elicited it, if he were conscious of what he was doing. First 2 are sufficient , last 2 are insufficient .

Benefits/Effects Sacramental Grace Carried out in the power and invocation of the Holy Spirit. This is known as Epiclesis . Grace imparted by Sacraments : God’s love God’s presence God’s power

Sacramental Character Is a permanent seal. An indelible mark ( sphragis , mark impression on animals). From three sacraments : Baptism Confirmation Holy Orders Cannot be repeated.

Sacramentals: History Are public means of sanctification , producing spiritual effects . St. Victor referred to them as lesser sacraments . Peter Lombard was the first to use the Latin term sacramentalia . Often they have a matter and form . Do not have the intrinsic efficacy (IOV) found in sacraments. They are instituted by the church , unlike sacraments that have Divine institution.

Sacramentals Blessings (for meals, objects , places), indulgences , exorcisms. No intrinsic objective value. Are signs of prayer of the Church. Dispose the subject to receive grace. Quasi ex opera operato . Almost according to the work of the worker .