Introduction to Sacraments: Key Concepts and Symbols for Religious Studies

sacramental awareness

Begins with an attitude of wonder. A special appreciation of the sacred (holy) in the world.

sacramental moment

Events in our daily lives as experiences of God's loving presence.

sacramental dullness

Lack of sacramental awareness.

actual grace

The creative, sustaining, transforming self-gift of God that is always being offered to us to help us choose what is good and avoid what is evil.

habitual (sanctifying) grace

An infused gift of the Holy Spirit by which a person receives the divine life of God in one's soul / gives a person faith, hope, and charity.

symbols

Can have more than 1 meaning, connected to what they stand for, evoke more than 1 kind of response from us.

universal symbols

Understood by people of many different cultures.

cultural symbols

Closely dependent on a specific place or group.

rituals

Symbolic movements and gestures.

characteristics of rituals

Movement and gestures with meaning, repeated actions, symbolic celebrations, important events, significant words, linkages to the past, communal actions, requires wholehearted participation.

sacramental skills

Listening to God and responding to God.

causes of sacramental dullness

People are too busy, pain/suffering, people do not know where to look/what to look for.

sacred presence

God is everywhere so all his creation is sacred.

difference between symbols and signs

Symbols have more than one meaning and evoke more than one kind of response.

importance of rituals in sacraments

Rituals are important because they are symbolic movements and gestures.

four characteristics of rituals

Movement and gestures with meaning, repeated actions, symbolic celebrations, important events.

Adam & Eve's difference from creation

Humans were made in God's image and likeness with a soul, intelligence, self-knowledge, the abilities to reason and to love, and free will.

implication of Adam & Eve's choice

Their choice to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil had significant consequences.

sacramental moment examples

Everyday events that reflect God's loving presence.

cure for sacramental dullness

Can be cured by various means, though specifics are not provided.

Protoevangelium

The promise of a redeemer

Covenant with Noah

Rainbow which represented a promise he wouldn't flood the world again

Covenant with Abraham

Circumcision

Covenant with Moses

Sabbath

Sacraments

Efficacious signs

Original meaning of Sacrament

derived from the Latin word sacramentum.

Christian meaning of Sacrament

Transcends the term's original meaning.

Three divine calls associated with sacraments

Personal holiness, Worship, Correct moral attitude

Requisites for each Sacrament

Matter, Form, Proper ministers

Matter of the Sacrament of Baptism

Water

Matter of the Sacrament of Confirmation

Holy chrism

Matter of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Oral confession of sins

Matter of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

Oil of the sick

Matter of the Sacrament of Matrimony

The couple themselves

Matter of the Sacrament of Holy Order

Laying on of hands

Matter of the Sacrament of Eucharist

The bread (wheat) and wine

Proper disposition to receive a sacrament

Intention to receive the promised graces and proper spiritual condition

Baptism action of Jesus

Jesus introduced people to new life

Reconciliation action of Jesus

Jesus forgave people's sins

Eucharist action of Jesus

Jesus sacrificed himself out of love

Confirmation action of Jesus

Jesus shared the power of his Spirit with others

Anointing of the Sick action of Jesus

Jesus healed people's illnesses

Matrimony action of Jesus

Jesus was faithful to the One he called Abba

Holy Order action of Jesus

Jesus ministered to people's spiritual needs - Spread the word of God (Jesus washes feet)