SACRAMENTS :SACRAMENTS Doorways to the Sacred


A BRIEF HISTORY OF CATHOLIC SACRAMENTS :A BRIEF HISTORY OF CATHOLIC SACRAMENTS


Phase One: Before 400 C.E. :Phase One: Before 400 C.E.


Early Christian communities: Prohibited, illegal :Early Christian communities: Prohibited, illegal Small, secret, underground groups practiced: Formal initiation (Baptism) Sharing Lord’s Supper (Eucharist) Laying on of hands (Anointing of the sick)


Slide 5:Catacomb of St. Sabastiano: Plaster fragments asking for prayers of the martyred apostles Peter and Paul.


Tertullian 210 CE :Tertullian 210 CE First used the Latin word “Sacramentum”


Constantine’s Conversion :Constantine’s Conversion


Phase 2: Dark Ages400 – 1000 CE :Phase 2: Dark Ages400 – 1000 CE


Roman Empire Falls: Political & cultural chaos :Roman Empire Falls: Political & cultural chaos


St. Augustine: :St. Augustine: “Administering & Receiving” Vs. “celebrating” or “participating” Broad view of what could be considered a sacrament: sign of the cross, Lord’s Prayer – almost anything!) Some were more important Sacrament of the WORD Sacraments of ACTIONS


A few developments in the Dark Ages :A few developments in the Dark Ages


Confirmation separated from Baptism :Confirmation separated from Baptism


Public Penance replaced byprivate confession :Public Penance replaced byprivate confession


Marriage came to be seen as a sacramentAnointing the sick?anointing of the dying :Marriage came to be seen as a sacramentAnointing the sick?anointing of the dying


High Middle Ages: 1000-1300 CE :High Middle Ages: 1000-1300 CE


7 sacraments made official :7 sacraments made official Rituals became standardized, formal, elaborate


Slide 17:Celebrated in elaborate, grand cathedrals


Thomas Aquinas :Thomas Aquinas Augustine wasn’t quite right. Sacraments aren’t just signs of sacred reality. They actually cause God’s grace to be brought about.


Correct Form :Correct Form


Literal Thinking Leads to Magical Thinking :Literal Thinking Leads to Magical Thinking Staring at the Communion host or crucifix guaranteed that a son would be born Touching relics of martyrs or saints assured miraculous healings Reciting certain prayers at proper times canceled punishment after death


Magical Thinking :Magical Thinking The American Heritage® Dictionary explains that hocus-pocus is, in part: Possibly from an alteration of Latin hoc est corpus (meum), this is (my) body – words used in the Eucharist at the time of transubstantiation


Slide 22:Following the right forms automatically guaranteed special graces Priests had lots of power, but were also often corrupt Overlooked the intent and sincerity of the person receiving the sacrament Magical Thinking


Making a donation to the church released a soul from purgatory :Making a donation to the church released a soul from purgatory


Superstition :Superstition suggests God’s power can be bought, bargained for, or manipulated Fails to distinguish magic from religion Not part of the church’s official teachings, but was still very widespread throughout Middle Ages Corruption of late 15th – early 16th centuries set stage for …


Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation :Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation (in 1517)


Phase Four:After the Council of Trent :Phase Four:After the Council of Trent


Council of Trent: 1545 - 1563 :Council of Trent: 1545 - 1563 Believed the church had become too casual about popular religions superstitions. Ideas about faith & grace were distorted Reaffirmed that grace cannot be bought through good works


50%+ of doctrinal teachings dealt with the sacraments! :50%+ of doctrinal teachings dealt with the sacraments! 2 main points: There are 7 – and only 7 – sacraments The Church approves a Scholastic understanding of these sacraments Aquinas’ theology: CAUSES of grace – independent of holiness of the minister or recipient necessary for salvation


Slide 29:NEW WAYS of thinking or talking about the sacraments. (NO NEW WAYS were permitted)


These changes defined Catholicism for the next 400 years –until Vatican II! :These changes defined Catholicism for the next 400 years –until Vatican II! No new ways of thinking or talking about the sacraments were permitted.


Phase Five:20th Century :Phase Five:20th Century


Fresh Air, Renewal, & Reclaiming the Past :Fresh Air, Renewal, & Reclaiming the Past


Keeping the Clear, Letting go of the Cloudy :Keeping the Clear, Letting go of the Cloudy wanted to reconnect with certain aspects of the Tradition – especially from early church – that had been de-emphasized over the centuries


Slide 34:Now that we’ve studied the historical development of the sacraments, we see that change and renewal are necessary and even natural!