The Sacraments (Mysteries) of the Catholic Church
What are Sacraments?
What are Sacraments?
Our Sacraments:
we offer and profess seven Sacraments. In this Independent Catholic Church, we believe that since all persons baptized in the Name of
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are members of the Body of Christ, none of our Christian brothers and sisters of other denominations
should be refused Communion or any other Sacrament. In fact, we deny no-one admittance - for participating in the Eucharist with us
may produce a change in inward change for someone in search of outward grace. We do not wish to deny anyone that opportunity.
SYMBOLS AND SACRAMENTS: THEIR HUMAN FOUNDATIONS
Understanding and appreciating church rituals called 'sacraments' must start with something basic, something rooted in human
experience (the meaning and function of symbols – cf. Carl Gustav Jung, or Joseph Campbell).
Sacraments are particular kinds of symbols, just as symbols are particular kinds of signs. Sacraments (symbols) convey ideas and also
feelings, values, beliefs, traditions and ideals. In that way, they tend to take people beyond the surface of reality to its depth.
Symbols can have so many associated meanings that it may be easier to experience them than to explain them. St Augustine saw
sacraments as signs of something sacred, as 'vehicles for contact with Mystery' (John Shea), as 'paths to an awareness of Mystery'
(Shea). In principle, any human experience can function as a sacrament.
Contact with God in a sacrament, including liturgical symbols, has its limits, for it's neither a full nor a direct face-to-face meeting
with the divine. God is known indirectly, in glimpses, traces and shadows. For all that, the sacramental principle remains valid and
authentic. God, the Invisible One, whom 'no one has ever seen' (Jn 1:18), is disclosed through something that is earthly, visible, audible,
tangible, something, in short, which may be humanly experienced.
Because symbols tend to have a range of meanings, it is easier to experience them than to explain them, and because they touch the heart
and not just the head, symbols work more powerfully than logical explanations: they increase our capacity to 'see more', to 'feel about',
to reflect, to contemplate, and to wonder.
Therefore; sacraments are not just signs of grace, they cause what they signify: meaning that something earthly, something in human
experience, not only suggests the existence and presence of God, but it also mediates or communicates that presence. Thus through their
human experiences, people of faith encounter God and enter into a personal relationship with God.
Jesus, the Christ, and the Church are special signs of God communicating his love for people - to draw forth their responses. In his
earthly existence he communicated through bodily signs. His own human nature was the sign and instrument of God and his love. In his
present transfigured, risen state, he has taken on his disciples (the Church) as his body). They are to be his face, hands, feet, heart and
voice, to the human race: meaning that the Church is the sacrament of Christ in the world today, the sacrament of God's love.
In addition to the seven sacraments above, some Christian groups consider foot washing to be a sacrament. The seven sacraments
accepted by Catholicism are generally accepted by Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, but these traditions do not limit the
number of sacraments to these seven. The numeration, naming, and understanding of sacraments and the adoption of the remaining
sacraments vary according to denomination.
we offer and profess seven Sacraments. In this Independent Catholic Church, we believe that since all persons baptized in the Name of
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are members of the Body of Christ, none of our Christian brothers and sisters of other denominations
should be refused Communion or any other Sacrament. In fact, we deny no-one admittance - for participating in the Eucharist with us
may produce a change in inward change for someone in search of outward grace. We do not wish to deny anyone that opportunity.
SYMBOLS AND SACRAMENTS: THEIR HUMAN FOUNDATIONS
Understanding and appreciating church rituals called 'sacraments' must start with something basic, something rooted in human
experience (the meaning and function of symbols – cf. Carl Gustav Jung, or Joseph Campbell).
Sacraments are particular kinds of symbols, just as symbols are particular kinds of signs. Sacraments (symbols) convey ideas and also
feelings, values, beliefs, traditions and ideals. In that way, they tend to take people beyond the surface of reality to its depth.
Symbols can have so many associated meanings that it may be easier to experience them than to explain them. St Augustine saw
sacraments as signs of something sacred, as 'vehicles for contact with Mystery' (John Shea), as 'paths to an awareness of Mystery'
(Shea). In principle, any human experience can function as a sacrament.
Contact with God in a sacrament, including liturgical symbols, has its limits, for it's neither a full nor a direct face-to-face meeting
with the divine. God is known indirectly, in glimpses, traces and shadows. For all that, the sacramental principle remains valid and
authentic. God, the Invisible One, whom 'no one has ever seen' (Jn 1:18), is disclosed through something that is earthly, visible, audible,
tangible, something, in short, which may be humanly experienced.
Because symbols tend to have a range of meanings, it is easier to experience them than to explain them, and because they touch the heart
and not just the head, symbols work more powerfully than logical explanations: they increase our capacity to 'see more', to 'feel about',
to reflect, to contemplate, and to wonder.
Therefore; sacraments are not just signs of grace, they cause what they signify: meaning that something earthly, something in human
experience, not only suggests the existence and presence of God, but it also mediates or communicates that presence. Thus through their
human experiences, people of faith encounter God and enter into a personal relationship with God.
Jesus, the Christ, and the Church are special signs of God communicating his love for people - to draw forth their responses. In his
earthly existence he communicated through bodily signs. His own human nature was the sign and instrument of God and his love. In his
present transfigured, risen state, he has taken on his disciples (the Church) as his body). They are to be his face, hands, feet, heart and
voice, to the human race: meaning that the Church is the sacrament of Christ in the world today, the sacrament of God's love.
In addition to the seven sacraments above, some Christian groups consider foot washing to be a sacrament. The seven sacraments
accepted by Catholicism are generally accepted by Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, but these traditions do not limit the
number of sacraments to these seven. The numeration, naming, and understanding of sacraments and the adoption of the remaining
sacraments vary according to denomination.
Fr. Klaas Tuinman MA
At Our Lady Saint Mary Magdalene
Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada -
Oct 2007
At Our Lady Saint Mary Magdalene
Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada -
Oct 2007
The SACRAMENTS:
The Church celebrates seven sacraments.
There are three "types" of sacraments:
* Sacraments of Initiation - Sacraments that make us full members of the
Church, (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist)
* Sacraments of Healing - Sacraments that offer us God's forgiveness and
strength, (Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick)
* Sacraments of Christian Commitment - Sacraments that strengthen us in our
calling in life, (Holy Matrimony and
Holy Orders - these are:
The Church celebrates seven sacraments.
There are three "types" of sacraments:
* Sacraments of Initiation - Sacraments that make us full members of the
Church, (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist)
* Sacraments of Healing - Sacraments that offer us God's forgiveness and
strength, (Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick)
* Sacraments of Christian Commitment - Sacraments that strengthen us in our
calling in life, (Holy Matrimony and
Holy Orders - these are:
- Minor Orders - porter (door keeper), lector (reader), exorcist, acolyte
- Major Orders - sub-deacon, deacon and priest).
A sacrament is a Christian rite (see Ritual-Ceremony) that mediates, in the sense of being a
visible symbol or manifestation of invisible divine grace (an "outward sign of an inner state, grace
or change”).
In the Orthodox Church, sacraments are called Mysteries. They are rituals and practices that
have become "holy” through use and tradition. As such, they have taken on powerful meaning for
millions of people.
Sacraments are usually administered by the clergy (priests/pastors) to a recipient or recipients,
and involve visible and invisible components.
visible symbol or manifestation of invisible divine grace (an "outward sign of an inner state, grace
or change”).
In the Orthodox Church, sacraments are called Mysteries. They are rituals and practices that
have become "holy” through use and tradition. As such, they have taken on powerful meaning for
millions of people.
Sacraments are usually administered by the clergy (priests/pastors) to a recipient or recipients,
and involve visible and invisible components.
Many Protestants also believe that sacraments are an "outward sign of an inward grace", or symbolic of what is taking place or has taken
place invisibly. What Protestants consider to be a sacrament differs from the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox positions. Most
Protestants consider only baptism and Communion (the usual Protestant word for the Eucharist) to be sacraments. They believe that the
other five rites considered to be sacraments by Catholics are not made sacraments by the New Testament.
So, while almost all Protestant churches have marriage ceremonies, and many have an ordained clergy and a ceremony conferring their
version of Holy Orders, they do not consider these rites to be sacraments. Some Protestants in the Anglican Communion are
Anglo-Catholics, and may accept all of the Catholic sacraments; these believers often do not identify themselves as Protestants, however.
Many Anabaptists practice foot washing, citing the commandment of Jesus: "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye
also ought to wash one another's feet." (John 13:14 KJV) Foot washing is a sacrament in this faith tradition.
Catholics hold to the sacraments, but acknowledge that additional means of grace exist without sacraments. Roman Catholics, for
example, also have sacramentals, which are acts of worship that differ from sacraments proper, but which are also means of grace.
Items such as the rosary or the various scapulars and holy medals issued by some Roman Catholic groups are counted among these
sacramentals.
For the Eastern Orthodox Christian the term "Sacrament" is a Westernism that seeks to classify something that is rather difficult to
classify. Preferably the term "Mystery" is used, the reason being that the "How it is possible" is unanswerable to human understanding.
God touches us through material means such as water, wine, bread, oil, incense, candles, altars, icons, etc. How he does this is a Mystery.
place invisibly. What Protestants consider to be a sacrament differs from the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox positions. Most
Protestants consider only baptism and Communion (the usual Protestant word for the Eucharist) to be sacraments. They believe that the
other five rites considered to be sacraments by Catholics are not made sacraments by the New Testament.
So, while almost all Protestant churches have marriage ceremonies, and many have an ordained clergy and a ceremony conferring their
version of Holy Orders, they do not consider these rites to be sacraments. Some Protestants in the Anglican Communion are
Anglo-Catholics, and may accept all of the Catholic sacraments; these believers often do not identify themselves as Protestants, however.
Many Anabaptists practice foot washing, citing the commandment of Jesus: "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye
also ought to wash one another's feet." (John 13:14 KJV) Foot washing is a sacrament in this faith tradition.
Catholics hold to the sacraments, but acknowledge that additional means of grace exist without sacraments. Roman Catholics, for
example, also have sacramentals, which are acts of worship that differ from sacraments proper, but which are also means of grace.
Items such as the rosary or the various scapulars and holy medals issued by some Roman Catholic groups are counted among these
sacramentals.
For the Eastern Orthodox Christian the term "Sacrament" is a Westernism that seeks to classify something that is rather difficult to
classify. Preferably the term "Mystery" is used, the reason being that the "How it is possible" is unanswerable to human understanding.
God touches us through material means such as water, wine, bread, oil, incense, candles, altars, icons, etc. How he does this is a Mystery.
The Sacraments of the Catholic Church
At Our Lady Saint Mary Magdalene
* The invisible component (manifested inwardly) is understood to be God's grace working in the sacrament's participants,
while
* the visible (or outward) component involves the use of water, wine, or oil that is blessed or consecrated.
Etymology (origin) of the word "sacrament":
The word sacrament is derived from the Latin sacramentum, meaning "a consecrated thing or act," i.e. "something holy"; "to
consecrate", which itself was a Church Latin translation of the Greek mysterion, meaning "mystery".
Sacraments, like the liturgy and ritual of the liturgy bring instant familiarity - and the comfort and security that
familiarity provides.
They have a powerful inner influence that goes deeply to people's inner core: their spirit or psyche. As with liturgy and
ritual, the sacraments too, bring comfort in moments of great need and crisis, as well as during "normal" worship activities.
while
* the visible (or outward) component involves the use of water, wine, or oil that is blessed or consecrated.
Etymology (origin) of the word "sacrament":
The word sacrament is derived from the Latin sacramentum, meaning "a consecrated thing or act," i.e. "something holy"; "to
consecrate", which itself was a Church Latin translation of the Greek mysterion, meaning "mystery".
Sacraments, like the liturgy and ritual of the liturgy bring instant familiarity - and the comfort and security that
familiarity provides.
They have a powerful inner influence that goes deeply to people's inner core: their spirit or psyche. As with liturgy and
ritual, the sacraments too, bring comfort in moments of great need and crisis, as well as during "normal" worship activities.
On a broad level, the Mysteries are an affirmation of the goodness of created matter, and are an
emphatic declaration of what that matter was originally created to be. On a specific level, while not
systematically enumerating Mysteries, the most profound Mystery is without a doubt, the Eucharist
in which direct communion with God occurs.
This perceived vagueness is considered by the Orthodox to be piety and respect for something
profound and incomprehensible. Orthodox do not like to try and classify things to any great degree as
this is seen to be a fruitless and unnecessary waste of time.
The Salvation Army does not practice formal sacraments for a variety of reasons, but does not
however forbid its members from receiving sacraments in other denominations.
Quakers do not practice formal sacraments, believing that all activities should be considered holy.
Catholics (including Dawn Cove Abbey / Our Lady Saint Mary Magdalene) celebrate the sacraments in
the Liturgy.
emphatic declaration of what that matter was originally created to be. On a specific level, while not
systematically enumerating Mysteries, the most profound Mystery is without a doubt, the Eucharist
in which direct communion with God occurs.
This perceived vagueness is considered by the Orthodox to be piety and respect for something
profound and incomprehensible. Orthodox do not like to try and classify things to any great degree as
this is seen to be a fruitless and unnecessary waste of time.
The Salvation Army does not practice formal sacraments for a variety of reasons, but does not
however forbid its members from receiving sacraments in other denominations.
Quakers do not practice formal sacraments, believing that all activities should be considered holy.
Catholics (including Dawn Cove Abbey / Our Lady Saint Mary Magdalene) celebrate the sacraments in
the Liturgy.
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