Sacramental Theology

May 28Lex credendi, part i

Key points on the sacraments of healing

• The sacrament of Reconciliation developed over time and has varied in form. It now involves contrition, confession (and absolution) and satisfaction.

• There are three different forms. Some sins are reserved. The third form (general absolution) is only to be used in emergencies.

• Anointing of the sick can be given to anyone who is seriously ill who has reached the age of reason.

• Anointing with oil on the forehead along with the sacramental form constitute the sacrament

Key points on Holy Orders

• The laying on of hands and prayer of consecration are essential for this sacrament.

• The form of the sacrament looks like this: Presentation, Election, litany, essential form, vesting, kiss of peace.

• There are three grades of holy orders.

Key points on Matrimony

• The couple ministers the sacrament to each other, according to Latin theology

• The couple must be free to marry and usually has to observe canonical form.

• Where are the following?• The form of the rite itself

What we will do today

• We will have some sharing about the paper• We will look at the dogma regarding each of

the sacraments of initiation:• Baptism• Confirmation• Eucharist

Key points in Baptism

• Formation for adult Baptism• The Biblical and Patristic precedents for infant

Baptism• Three different types of Baptism• The grace of Baptism: regeneration, but still

struggling with sin, infused virtues• Membership in the Church, with all of its

rights and responsibilities.

The Catechism on Baptismal doctrine

• Paragraphs 1246-1274• 1246: Baptism can only be received once• 1247-1249: Preparation for adult baptism

should be formation for the entire Christian life.

• 1250-1252:• Scriptures supporting infant baptism: Acts

16:15, 33; 18:8; 1 Cor 1:16

Continued

• Pastoralis Actio (1980)• When the first direct evidence of infant Baptism appears in

the second century, it is never presented as an innovation. • St. Irenaeus, in particular, considers it a matter of course

that the baptized should include "infants and small children" as well as adolescents, young adults and older people.

• The oldest known ritual, describing at the start of the third century the Apostolic Tradition, contains the following rule: "First baptize the children. Those of them who can speak for themselves should do so. The parents or someone of their family should speak for the others.” (4)

Continued

• Admittedly there was a certain decline in the practice of infant Baptism during the fourth century. At that time even adults postponed their Christian initiation out of apprehension about future sins and fear of public penance, and many parents put off the Baptism of their children for the same reasons.

• But it must also be noted that Fathers and Doctors such as Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, Ambrose, John Chrysostom, Jerome and Augustine, who were themselves baptized as adults on account of this state of affairs, vigorously reacted against such negligence and begged adults not to postpone Baptism since it is necessary for salvation. Several of them insisted that Baptism should be administered to infants. (5)

Continued

• 1253-1255: While baptism is a sacrament of faith, it presumes that the faith present at baptism will grow

• Sponsors represent the community of believers and help the faith of the Baptized to grow

• In case of necessity, anyone can baptize

Baptism (cont.)

• The Necessity of Baptism (1257-1261)• John 3:5, Mark 16:16: Baptism necessary for

salvation• Baptism of desire • Baptism of blood• We hope for the salvation of children who

have died without baptism, although all we can do is entrust them to the mercy of God.

Grace of Baptism (1262-1274)

• Water symbolizes: death and washing, but also rebirth and new life.

• All sins forgiven, including original sin.• Some temporal consequences of sin remain

(e.g., death, suffering)• Concupiscence also remains.• Struggling with it helps us grow in virtue

Grace of Baptism (1262-1274, cont.)

• Baptismal regeneration (participants in divine nature)

• Justification: ability to live theological virtues, gifts of the Holy Spirit, moral virtues

• What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?• (Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude,

Knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord)• What are the moral virtues?

The Grace of Baptism (cont.)

• Member of the Church:• Baptismal priesthood• Responsibility to obey ecclesiastical authority• Also, responsibility to:• Confess the faith before men• Participate in the apostolic ministry of the

Church

The Grace of Baptism (cont.)

• Baptism unites all Christians, albeit, imperfectly

• Baptismal character: Rom 8:29 image (eikonos)

• The character makes it possible for Christians to worship God and to live a life of charity for others (Rom 12:1-2).

Key points in Baptism

• Formation for adult Baptism• The Biblical and Patristic precedents for infant

Baptism• Three different types of Baptism• The grace of Baptism: regeneration, but still

struggling with sin, infused virtues• Membership in the Church, with all of its

rights and responsibilities.

Confirmation: 1302-1314

• A personal Pentecost• An increase and deepening of Baptismal grace and

an equipping for mission.• Confirmation imparts an indelible character Luke

24:48-49• Only the unbaptized can be confirmed, confirmation

can only be received once.• In the West confirmation is usually deferred to the

age of discretion, although it should be given even below that age in the danger of death.

Confirmation (cont.)

• Confirmation, which should always be received in a state of grace, is delayed in the West to facilitate catechesis. As in Baptism, one must have sponsors.

• As regards the minister, there are two different traditions in the East and West.

• The problem of invalid confirmations.

Key points for Eucharist

• Thanksgiving, sacrifice, presence and communion

• Thanksgiving: a sacrifice of praise• Sacrifice: true and proper propitiatory

sacrifice, in communion with the whole Church (triumphant, militant and suffering)

• Presence: transubstantiation and adoration

Key points for the Eucharist (cont.)

• Communion:• Proper dispositions• Concomitance • Unites us to Christ• Is medicinal • Is a spur to Christian unity• Commits us to the Poor• Is the pledge of our future glory

The Holy Eucharist (1356-1405)

• Through history, there has been tremendous variation in the form of the Eucharistic celebration.

• The commandment “do this” refers to the memorial of the sacrifice of Christ.

• Thanksgiving (creation and redemption), Sacrifice (memorial, more than just remembering) , Presence and Communion

The Sacrifice

• Old Testament memorials are more than our Memorial Day.

• In the New Testament, this sense of memorial is even more highly charged.

• “This is my body which is given for you” and “This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood.”

• The Mass re-presents the Sacrifice of the Cross and applies its fruit to particular situations.

The sacrifice

• We do not speak of separate sacrifices, instead we speak of one sacrifice, with different modes of participation.

• The first mode is bloody. The second is unbloody. The second is truly propitiatory.

• How can this be? See Col. 1:24• This offering is an offering of the Church, the

spouse of Christ.

The sacrifice (cont.)

• The Eucharist is a sacrifice of the whole Church, bishop, Pope and all indeed all Christians.

• It is also offering in communion with the saints in heaven.

• It is also offered for the faithful departed in purgatory (Saint Monica made this clear to Saint Augustine!).

The sacrifice (cont.)

• Let’s dig into Saint Augustine:• This wholly redeemed city, the assembly and society of

the saints, is offered to God as a universal sacrifice by the high priest who in the form of a slave went so far as to offer himself for us in his Passion, to make us the Body of so great a head....

• Such is the sacrifice of Christians: “we who are many are one Body in Christ.’‘ The Church continues to reproduce this sacrifice in the sacrament of the altar so well-known to believers wherein it is evident to them that in what she offers she herself is offered.

The presence

• Christ is really, truly and substantially present in the Eucharist.

• How does this differ from other presences?• The change in the elements is effected by the

words of Christ and is fitting called transubstantiation.

• Christ is present personally as long as the accidents of bread and wine persist.

The presence

• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:• Genuflection/Kneeling during Mass• Prayer before Christ reserved in the tabernacle.• Exposition• The mystery of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist

can be received only in faith.• Saint Cyril of Alexandria, ‘Do not doubt whether this

is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie.’

Communion

• Communion is the so what of Christ’s Eucharistic presence.

• The altar is both a table and a place where sacrifice is offered.

• 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 and the need to confess grave sins before receiving Holy Communion.

• Preparation for communion beyond confession: fasting and appropriate dress.

• The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days.

Communion

• Receiving under both species and the doctrine of concomitance.

• Intinction and the gradual movement to one species by the 12th century

• Both species is a fuller sign.

The fruits of Holy Communion

• We become Him Whom we receive!• Holy Communion unites us to Christ: Christ in us and

us in Christ, a growing relationship• Holy Communion is nourishing and medicinal, it

separates us from venial sin and preserves us from future mortal sins.

• Holy Communion ought to strengthen our bond with the Church. Amen is both an affirmation of Christ’s presence and an affirmation that the Church is the Body of Christ.

The fruits of Holy Communion

• The Eucharist commits us to the poor• Commentary true Franciscanism and the

egalitarian nature of “high liturgy.”• The Eucharist and the unity of Christians• The Orthodox• Protestants• Special cases• The Eucharist as pledge of glory: parousia and the eschaton

Key points for Eucharist

• Thanksgiving, sacrifice, presence and communion

• Thanksgiving: a sacrifice of praise• Sacrifice: true and proper propitiatory

sacrifice, in communion with the whole Church (triumphant, militant and suffering)

• Presence: transubstantiation and adoration

Key points for the Eucharist (cont.)

• Communion:• Proper dispositions• Concomitance • Unites us to Christ• Is medicinal • Is a spur to Christian unity• Commits us to the Poor• Is the pledge of our future glory