Lesson 5
Sacraments in
General
I See You, Lord
I’m so blessed my Lord,I can see you in all the lovely things
So fine and true. I see you in the beauty of the flowers and
the rain. I see you between the lines of a sweet refrain.
I'm so blessed my Lord,I can see you Even when I'm lonely
and in pain. I see you in the beauty of the stars at night. I
see you in my life I feel alright.
I see you Lord in sorrow and in happiness. I see you in the
glory of sweet success. I see you Lord every hour,
everyday.I can see you Lord whenever I pray.
I'm so blessed my Lord, I can see you In the smile
of a baby sweet and true. I can see you in the
eyes of my very best friends. I see you in these
bonds just like your love that never ends.
I see you Lord In sorrow and in happiness. I see
you in the glory of sweet success. I see you Lord
every hour, everyday. I can see you Lord
whenever I pray.
QUestions
● In the song, why did the author
consider herself blessed?
● Does the author visually see the Lord in
person?
● In what things does the author see the
Lord?
● What made her see the Lord in these
things?
● Do you often see the Lord in the same
way as the author does?
● Do you think it is of value to see
the Lord in the same way as the
author sees Him? Why?
● Since the author sees the Lord in
these things, what do we call these
things?
● Are there other concrete signs of
God’s presence in our midst aside
from those mentioned by the
author?
The world is full of the signs of God’s
presence...of the Lord’s presence. We call these
signs. SACRAMENTAL signs. We need the interior
eye of faith to see God in all the things around
us, and those things happening around us/to us.
But God in Jesus has made some signs as
concrete signs and symbols of his abiding
presence in our midst. These signs are
celebrated and when they are celebrated, God’s
presence is made present and active in our lives
and in our midst. These signs and symbols are
called SACRAMENTS.
Key to St. Augustine’s teaching
on Christian worship is the idea
of sacraments.
What is Sacrament?
● The Word “Sacrament” derives
from the Latin word
Sacramentum, meaning,
“Consecrated;” since these
consecrated the faithful to Christ.
● The Greek translation of Sacrament is
“Mystery,” intended as, “Sacred Rite.”
Thus, the Seven Sacraments, or the
Seven Mysteries, are, “Sacred Rites
that Consecrate to Christ.”
● The word mysterion does
not simply mean mystery
but the “unfathomable
saving action of God in
Christ” (Eph. 1:9ff), and
more specifically, to
Christ Himself, “ who is
the mystery of our faith”
(1 Tim 3:16).
● Mystery is the term St
Paul used when referring
to God’s hidden plan of
always wanting to save,
renew and unites all
things in Christ (Eph.
3:4-5, Col. 4:3.)
God’s mystery, according
to St. Paul, is revealed
most perfectly in our
savior Jesus, the person
who unifies us and
reconciles us with the
Father.
A sacrament is an
efficacious symbol. An
“efficacious symbol” is one
that effects what it
symbolizes and symbolizes
what it effects. What is
symbolized happened.
Example: Bread and wine
In the celebration of the
Mass, bread and wine
are symbols that point to
the body and blood of
Christ.
But because the Eucharist
is a sacrament, the bread
and the wine become the
body and blood of Christ,
though still remaining
visible signs.
In a very special way, the
sacrament is a sign that
we can perceive through
our senses, which puts us
into real contact with the
living Jesus
SACRAMENTUM: A SIGN THAT
SANCTIFIES; A SIGN OF A SACRED
REALITY
St. Augustine gave a detailed
reflection on the sacraments.
He developed the notion that
a sacramentum is a sign that
sanctifies –makes holy –
because it is efficacious –
St. Augustine
produces the intended
effect.
SACRAMENTUM: A SIGN THAT
SANCTIFIES; A SIGN OF A
SACRED REALITY
For instance, Christ and
the Holy Spirit make
effective, through grace,
the cleansing that water
signifies in baptism.
St. Augustine
● A sacrament is ‘a
visible sign of invisible
grace’.
● A sacramentum is a
sacrum signum ‘sign of
a sacred thing’
St. Augustine
A Sacrament is an efficacious
sign of God’s grace instituted
by Christ and entrusted to the
Church, by which divine life is
dispensed to us.
(CCC 1131)
As an efficacious sign, the
Sacrament is effective, that is, it
communicates grace. The visible
rite by which the sacraments are
celebrated signify and make
present the grace proper to each
sacrament.
The efficacy of the sacraments does
not depend on the holiness of the
minister who confer it. He recognizes
the reality that ministers may be
unworthy and sinful, but at the same
time acknowledges that it is Christ
who is the source of holiness, not only
for the minister himself but also the
whole Church.
The sacrament both instruct
the faithful by words and
actions and also “nourish,
strengthen, and express the
faith” for everyone taking
part in the celebration.
For these reasons they are
called “sacraments of Christ,
sacraments of the Church,
sacraments of faith, sacraments
of salvation, and sacraments of
eternal life.” (CCC 1131)
Sacraments are powers that
come forth from the Body of
Christ, which are ever living
and life giving. They are
actions of the Holy Spirit at
work in his Body, the Church.
They are the MASTERWORKS
of God in the new and
everlasting Covenant.
(CCC 1116).
Christ instituted the sacraments of the
new law:
There are seven: Baptism, confirmation,
(or Chrismation) the Eucharist,
Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy
Orders, and Matrimony.
(CCC 1210)
Christ instituted the sacraments of the
new law:
There are seven: Baptism, confirmation,
(or Chrismation) the Eucharist,
Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy
Orders, and Matrimony.
(CCC 1210)
“Sacraments are saving symbolic acts
or visible signs, arising from the
ministry of Christ and continued in, by
and for the Church, which when
received in faith, fashion us into the
likeness of Christ in His Paschal
Mystery, through the power of the
Holy Spirit.”
(CFC 1576).
Jesus instituted the Sacraments by:
● Being the PRIMORDIAL SACRAMENT of the
Father.
In John’s Gospel 14:9, Jesus speaks of himself
as the sacrament of the Father when he
said, “he who has seen me has seen the
Father".
Jesus in his humanity, is the
sacrament of God’s saving love for
all. He is more than simply the
originator of the Sacraments. He is
at once the SOURCE, the PRIMARY
AGENT, and the GOAL of all
sacramental activity.
● Establishing the CHURCH to be His
Fundamental Sacrament.
The Church makes Christ present to all persons
in every age by:
● Being His Mystical Body:
★ By her relationship “ with Christ, the
Church is a kind of sacrament of
intimate union with God, and of the unity
of all mankind, that is, she is a sign and
an instrument of such union and unity.”
(LG 1)
The Church makes Christ present to all persons
in every age by:
● Celebrating those actions that
continues Christ's own ministry
★ The 7 ritual sacraments are sacraments
of the Church, that is, they visibly
manifest and effectively enact the
Church’s mystery and the mission of
making Christ present. (CFC 1574)
The Code of Canon Law states, ‘The sacraments of
the New Testament were instituted by Christ the
Lord and entrusted to the Church. As actions of
Christ and the Church, they are signs and means
which express and strengthen the faith, render
worship to God, and effect the sanctification of
humanity and thus contribute in the greatest way to
establish, strengthen, and manifest ecclesiastical
communion.’ (840)
What are the Seven Sacraments?
The Seven Sacraments are, “Efficient Signs of
God’s Grace, instituted by Christ for Man’s
Sanctification and Salvation.”
1) SIGNS: The Sacraments are Signs because
they are sensible symbols of God’s Grace; for
instance, in Baptism, the visible sign is Water,
the spiritual Grace is the pouring of the Holy
Spirit.
2) EFFICIENT: They are Efficient, as opposite to
“Ineffective,” because they actualize the spiritual
reality they represent. Confirmation, actually imparts
the Holy Spirit; and Penance, really forgives sins.
3) OF GRACE: They transmit the Divine Grace: the
Sanctifying Grace, which is the Communion with God,
is conferred by Baptism and Penance; the
Sacramental Grace, which is the Divine Assistance in
performing our duties, is bestowed by all Sacraments
in accordance with their specific purpose.
When Did Jesus Institute the Sacraments?
When Did Jesus Institute the Sacraments?
What Are the Two Basic Purposes of the
Sacraments?
1) SANCTIFICATION:
The Sacraments augment Man’s
Sanctification, which is the
process of becoming closer to
God, by conferring the Divine
Grace. Penance, for instance,
restores the State of Grace lost
by Mortal Sin.
What Are the Two Basic Purposes of the
Sacraments?
2) SALVATION:
Each Sacrament, in its specific
manner, aims for the Salvation
of Man, which is the act of
entering Paradise. Anointing of
the Sick, for instance, prepares
us for a Holy Death.
What Are the Three Essential Elements of
Each Sacrament?
● Each Sacrament requires Three Essential
Elements, without which it is null and void.
What Are the Three Essential Elements of
Each Sacrament?
● Minister: He is the
person administering
the Sacrament; for
instance, the
minister of the
Eucharist is the
priest.
What Are the Three Essential Elements of
Each Sacrament?
● Matter: It is the
sensible element used
for the SAcrament; for
example, in the
Eucharist it is the
Bread and Wine.
What Are the Three Essential Elements of
Each Sacrament?
● Form: It is the
formula used in the
celebration, such as
in the Eucharist:
“This is my Body,
this is my Blood”
