- primarily the period of reflection after one was received into the Christian community - additionally, thoughtful reflection on the personal experience of a sacrament

Sacraments Flashcards by Sophie Stefanovski

What was Sacramentum?

An oath of allegiance from Roman soldiers to their commander & the gods

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What latin word does sacrament come from?

Sacramentum

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What did latin speaking apologists use the term Sacramentum for?

To explain to pagan romans what Christians did when initiating new Christians

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How did Augustine define a sacrament?

“A sign of sacred reality”

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What is a sacrament? (4 words)

a “door to the sacred”

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What does the phrase “door to the sacred” mean?

An invitation to religious experience

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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

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Define efficacious

It has effects; it works

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Define sign of grace

A concrete, visible sign of God’s power, help, & support for us

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Define Instituted by Christ

In some way given form & meaning in the life & teaching of Jesus

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Define entrusted to the Church

Part of the heritage of Jesus passed on through the history of the Church

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Explain “we receive the life of God”

Grace: the power of God that draws us closer to God & makes us whole

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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

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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)

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Explain the Roman culture with their sacraments

oaths & offerings
oracles
festivals & family devotions

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What is an oracle?

Basically a pagan prophet

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Explain the Greek Mystery Religions

symbolic rituals that dramatize deeper, secret meaning - “Mysterion”

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What was essential as sacramental theology developed in the early church?

Mystagogy

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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

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in reference to the sacraments, what was Jesus?

the primordial sacrament

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what/who was the 1st & most important door to the sacred?

Jesus Christ

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the person of Jesus communicates what?

God’s love for the world

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Jesus was/is what?

a living “symbol” of God

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explain how Jesus was/is a living symbol of God

Jesus - the visible, tangible human person - put us in touch with the invisible God

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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?

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?

1. Sacraments of Initiation 2. Sacraments of Healing 3. Sacraments of Vocation

List the 3 Sacraments of Initiation

1. Baptism 2. Confirmation 3. Eucharist

List the 2 Sacraments of Healing

1. Reconciliation | 2. Anointing of the Sick

List the 2 Sacraments of Vocation

1. Marriage | 2. Holy Orders

List the 7 Sacraments

1. Baptism 2. Confirmation 3. Eucharist 4. Reconciliation 5. Anointing of the Sick 6. Marriage 7. 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