Sacraments Flashcards
What was Sacramentum?
An oath of allegiance from Roman soldiers to their commander & the gods
What latin word does sacrament come from?
Sacramentum
What did latin speaking apologists use the term Sacramentum for?
To explain to pagan romans what Christians did when initiating new Christians
How did Augustine define a sacrament?
“A sign of sacred reality”
What is a sacrament? (4 words)
a “door to the sacred”
What does the phrase “door to the sacred” mean?
An invitation to religious experience
What is the formal definition of sacrament?
An efficacious sign of grave instituted by Christ & entrusted to the Church by which we receive the life of God through the work of the Holy Spirit
Define efficacious
It has effects; it works
Define sign of grace
A concrete, visible sign of God’s power, help, & support for us
Define Instituted by Christ
In some way given form & meaning in the life & teaching of Jesus
Define entrusted to the Church
Part of the heritage of Jesus passed on through the history of the Church
Explain “we receive the life of God”
Grace: the power of God that draws us closer to God & makes us whole
Explain “Through the work of the Holy Spirit”
God, through Jesus, sent the spirit to dwell in each of us, urging us to live like Jesus
Explain the Jewish roots of the sacraments
Biblical Israel found its primary “door to the sacred” in its own history as God’s chosen people
(Scripture was a very close 2nd)
Explain the Roman culture with their sacraments
- oaths & offerings
- oracles
- festivals & family devotions
What is an oracle?
Basically a pagan prophet
Explain the Greek Mystery Religions
symbolic rituals that dramatize deeper, secret meaning - “Mysterion”
What was essential as sacramental theology developed in the early church?
Mystagogy
Define Mystagogy
- primarily the period of reflection after one was received into the Christian community
- additionally, thoughtful reflection on the personal experience of a sacrament
in reference to the sacraments, what was Jesus?
the primordial sacrament
what/who was the 1st & most important door to the sacred?
Jesus Christ
the person of Jesus communicates what?
God’s love for the world
Jesus was/is what?
a living “symbol” of God
explain how Jesus was/is a living symbol of God
Jesus - the visible, tangible human person - put us in touch with the invisible God
define sign
a “sign” points to something else (i.e. street signs)
are sacraments also symbols?
YES
define symbol
- puts us in touch with something else
- communicates what is unspeakable, what is in the “heart”
does saying that a sacrament is a symbolic action deny that something real is happening?
NO
describe how Sacraments act as symbols
they communicate on a level deeper than words can express
How does the church communicate Jesus Christ to other believers & then whole world?
By living together & supporting one another
What did Jesus say that supports the statement that by living together & supporting one another the church communicate Jesus Christ to other believers & then whole world
“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In our love for one another, what do we symbolize?
Jesus’ relationship with the Church
What is the other way the Church puts us in touch with Jesus?
By providing the “official” Sacraments
What are the 3 groups the sacraments can be placed in?
- Sacraments of Initiation
- Sacraments of Healing
- Sacraments of Vocation
List the 3 Sacraments of Initiation
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
List the 2 Sacraments of Healing
- Reconciliation
2. Anointing of the Sick
List the 2 Sacraments of Vocation
- Marriage
2. Holy Orders
List the 7 Sacraments
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
Describe Baptism
Immersion in God’s life
Describe Comfirmation
Affirming in God’s life
Describe Eucharist
Celebration of God’s life
Describe Reconciliation
Reconversion to God’s life
Describe the Anointing of the Sick
Healing by God’s life
Describe Marriage
Union in God’s life
Describe Holy Orders
Service to God’s life
What is the Greek word that Baptism comes from?
Bapto
What does Bapto mean?
To dip or to immerse
What is the essential thing needed for Baptism?
Water
What else is needed for Baptism?
Oil & light
Define Baptism
The “gateway” to the Church & the beginning of communion with God
What does Baptism free us from & welcome us to?
Frees us from sin & formally welcomes us into the Christian community
What is Baptism in regards to all the other Sacraments?
The foundation & prerequisite
What is Baptism rooted in?
Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan & his call at the Ascension (The Great Commission : Matthew 28:19)
How were new believers baptized in the apostolic period?
Readily, without much formation or training
How did the Church alter the practice of Baptism once Roman persecution set in?
Altered it to make sure new believers understood what they were getting themselves into - that they would possibly be killed
What was the catechumenate developed as?
A period of training for new converts before baptism
How were adults primarily baptized in the early church?
Upon their conversion
There is evidence that whom were baptized together?
Whole households (husband, wife, children, slaves, etc.)
As Augustine expounded his teaching on original sin…what did Christians become increasingly concerned with?
The salvation of children dying without Baptism
Where did infant baptism begin?
North Africa
Did infant baptism spread throughout the whole church from North Africa?
Yes
What did some Christians, like Donastics, believe regarding repentant heretics & schismatics & their baptisms?
Thought that since they sinned so badly their baptism didn’t work so they needed baptized again
What was Augustine’s position on the Indelible Seal of Baptism?
Fought against practice of being baptized again, pointing to the seal of baptism
Describe the “seal” or “character” of baptism
Is like a spiritual tattoo - once there, it isn’t going away
What did “to seal” originally mean?
The branding of cattle or sheep (a symbol of Christians)
At baptism, Christians are marked like what?
Like the branding of cattle
What are Christians welcomed into at baptism?
They’re part of the family, no matter what they do
They may reject the family, but should they return, they’re welcomed & reconciled, not rebaptized
Augustine’s position became what?
The doctrine of the Church & the rule even to today
What does water symbolize in baptism?
Life, refreshment, renewal, cleansing
What does immersion symbolize in baptism?
Dying & rising, rebirth
What does the Sign of the Cross symbolize in baptism?
Baptized = Christ - follower
What does Anointing with Chrism (scented oil) symbolize in baptism?
Strength, life
What does the white garment in baptism symbolize?
New life, new beginning, purity
What does the candle symbolize in baptism?
Christ - light of the world, spiritual illumination
What is confimation ?
the 2nd sacrament of initiation
When do most Western Catholics celebrate Confirmation?
3rd (sacrament of initiation)
Most often, who confers Confirmation to older children / teens?
The bishop
How does the bishop confer confirmation to older children / teens?
By anointing their heads w Chrism & saying “Be sealed w the gift of the Holy Spirit”
Describe the Holy Spirit
- 3rd person of the Holy Trinity
- Invisible reality of God
- expression of love btwn the Father & the Son
