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Before the twelfth century, sacraments were called sacramentum. In the pre-Christian world, sacramentum was a kind of security deposit left by people involved in disputes. When an agreement was reached, the sum of money, known as the sacramentum, was used to be sure that both parties would stick to their end of the agreement. Sacramentum was also used in the military as an oath that soldiers would swear to their superiors. The officers pledged their loyalty to the commander-in-chief and was marked on his body with an indelible character as one who took an oath. This mark then, could never be taken away, and one's soldiers could be easily identified by the mark. It was Tertullian, in the 2nd century who gave "sacrament" dignity. He used the themes of "sacramentum" to show how those who are baptized are configured to Christ with an indelible mark that can never be taken or washed away.
The seven sacraments, as we known them today, took shape over time and still continue to today. The sacraments were instituted by Christ. This does not mean that Christ, himself, whispered the names of the seven sacraments, and how to celebrate them, into the ears of St. Peter. Rather, institution is done by Christ through his Holy Bride, the Church. It is done through the apostles and the apostolic Church. Sacraments are free gifts from God and are God' self-communication to us. It is through the Church's sacraments, instituted by Christ, the Lord showers us with sanctifying grace.
There are certain sacramental practices the Church has always and everywhere done, for example, she has always and everywhere used bread and wine in the celebration of the Eucharist and used water for baptism. Beyond that, developing a theology of seven sacraments took quite some time. As a matter of fact, what we today call, sacramentals, would also have been considered sacraments in the early Church. The esteemed, St. Jerome believed there were as many sacraments as there are words! One of our Church Fathers, St. Peter Damian commonly held there were 12 sacraments. Peter Abelard, in the early 12th century began distinguishing between "minor" and "major" sacraments. It wasn't until around 1150 that Peter Lombard first began talking of 7 sacraments, and the Council of Florence in 1439 officially confirmed there were seven sacraments; however, it did not name what they were. As a matter of fact, it wasn't until the Council of Trent (1551) that defined the seven sacraments.
Sacraments confer grace based on the belief of ex opere operato / ex opere operatus, which means they work by the very grace of God and are not dependent upon the worthiness of the minister or the recipient. By the very fact that a priest or person intends to do what the Church intends means the sacraments work. For a sacrament to be considered "valid and licit" two things must be present. The proper matter and form need be used. If the proper matter is not used, the sacrament is invalid. If the proper form is not used, the sacrament is illicit. The sacraments also need to be performed by the proper minister with the faculties to perform it. In some situations, others, including in some cases, the laity, may be given permission to act as extraordinary ministers of the sacraments. The matter, simply put, is the material used for the sacrament, for example, water for baptism. It is the sensible, visible part of the sacrament. The form or formula is the prayer that goes with the sacrament, for example, "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
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Sacrament
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Matter
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Form
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Ordinary Minister
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Baptism
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(Flowing) water
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“I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
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Priest or Deacon
(in emergencies anyone may baptize)
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Confirmation
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Anointing with Chrism
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“Be Sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”
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Bishop
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Eucharist
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Wheat based bread and pure grape wine
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The words of institution:
“This is my Body..
This is my Blood...”
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A priest is needed to consecrate the Eucharist.
A priest and and deacon act as ordinary ministers of Holy Communion.
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Anointing of the Sick
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Anointing with oil on the forehead.
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“Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”
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Priest
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Penance
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The Acts of the Penitent:
Contrition, Confession of Sins, Amending one’s life, making of reparation.
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“...I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
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Priest
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Marriage
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Mutual offering of consent to enter marriage
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Mutual reception of the couple’s consent by the Church’s minister
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Priest or Deacon
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Holy Orders
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Laying on of Hands (In all three orders)
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The prayer of ordination according to the particular order
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Bishop
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The main aim of the sacraments is to confer God's sanctifying grace to his holy people. They do, however have other functions that serve to benefit us as well:
- They pass on Church values, duties, and responsibilities.
- They serve as rites of passage and initiation.
- They change our relationship with others and within the community.
- They assure us and give us hope of salvation.
- They are festive celebrations!
The Church is a Sacramental Church. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our holy faith and all liturgical action. Everything we do and everything we receive, including the other sacraments flow from and lead back to the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood, soul and divinity of Christ. It is the well spring of heaven bubbling up offering eternal life. In the Eucharist, heaven and earth meet and God receives us into his awesome presence, transforms and renews us, and makes us holy. In the Eucharist we are made ready to be worthy when we are asked to share in Christ's suffering and are led to our crosses. Since the Eucharist is the Rock of our faith, it is only proper and fitting to receive it, as well as any other of the sacraments, in the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where Christ's sacrifice is made present before us, in an unbloody manner, upon the altar of God. How awesome is that? At every mass, we are invited share in the one sacrifice of Christ, as if we were there as it happened on Good Friday. Let us never forget how awesome of a gift this is, to stand in God's presence, to worship and praise his name, and to be made worthy to spend eternal life with God.
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