| 1. a ceremony regarded as imparting spiritual grace 2. An outward sign of an inward mystery |  |
The term sacrament is a rite (religious event) of particular significance in the Christian church. Often these mark a change of status and are “rites of passage” – but the most common of the traditional sacraments can occur any day of the week and is participation in Holy Communion.
They are predominantly associated with the Roman Catholic Church which describes them as: "efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1131-1134)
They are predominantly associated with the Roman Catholic Church which describes them as: "efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1131-1134)
| The Catholic Church teaches that there are seven: · Baptism · Confirmation · Eucharist (Communion) · Penetance (Confession) · Anoiting of the sick (Last rights) · Marriage · Ordination |  |
When a believer participates in a sacrament they are not outwardly altered - however the belief is that they have been altered in the eyes of God. This is most obviously seen in Catholic attitudes towards marriage. When the couple have become "one flesh" in the eyes of God they cannot be separated by any action of mankind. This means that divorce and remarriage is tantamount to adultery. Scraments are an outward sign of an inward, invisible, mystery.
The observant of you will have noted that all seven are not achievable by one person as you cannot be both ordained and married in the Catholic faith. However, when they were formally agreed at the Council of Trent (1545 – 63) it was set out that as a whole they are necessary for salvation as they were instituted by Christ himself.
This final point was disputed by the Anglican Church when it split from Catholicism at the Reformation and eventually this Church only formally recognised two: Baptism and Communion. They reasoned that these two are the only ones that are set out by Christ in the Gospels. There is also much more division in the Anglican Church about their importance. Some “high” Anglicans take them very seriously and might in fact advocate the use of all seven sacraments, whilst other “low” Anglicans only see them as symbolic and not necessary for our relationship with God. The Anglican Church is a broad Church!
The observant of you will have noted that all seven are not achievable by one person as you cannot be both ordained and married in the Catholic faith. However, when they were formally agreed at the Council of Trent (1545 – 63) it was set out that as a whole they are necessary for salvation as they were instituted by Christ himself.
This final point was disputed by the Anglican Church when it split from Catholicism at the Reformation and eventually this Church only formally recognised two: Baptism and Communion. They reasoned that these two are the only ones that are set out by Christ in the Gospels. There is also much more division in the Anglican Church about their importance. Some “high” Anglicans take them very seriously and might in fact advocate the use of all seven sacraments, whilst other “low” Anglicans only see them as symbolic and not necessary for our relationship with God. The Anglican Church is a broad Church!
Rowan Williams (former Archbishop of Canterbury) celebrating Holy Communion
For scholars studying these events in believers’ lives there has often been a great deal of interest in their role as “rites of passage” – a term coined by Arnold van Gennep (d. 1957). These events mark and manage the transition from one status to another in a person’s life. They could focus on range of transitions; birth, puberty, coming of age, marriage and death. They exist in all major faiths and play a crucial role in maintaining the values and hierarchy of religious or cultural groups.
As the West has become a more secular society it is interesting to note two things about rites of passage: Baptism and marriage have, to a relatively large extent, been maintained and remain important to many families who no longer go to church on a regular basis. Meanwhile other secular alternatives have arisen to take the place of, and supplement traditional rites; Baby-showers, 18th birthday parties, retirement parties amongst others have all become common place.
Can you think some other secular rites-of-passage? What is your experience of the sacraments? Can they really have an effect on our salvation? Or are they just a way of the Church maintaining its authority?
As the West has become a more secular society it is interesting to note two things about rites of passage: Baptism and marriage have, to a relatively large extent, been maintained and remain important to many families who no longer go to church on a regular basis. Meanwhile other secular alternatives have arisen to take the place of, and supplement traditional rites; Baby-showers, 18th birthday parties, retirement parties amongst others have all become common place.
Can you think some other secular rites-of-passage? What is your experience of the sacraments? Can they really have an effect on our salvation? Or are they just a way of the Church maintaining its authority?
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