The Sacraments
For much of the early life of the Church Baptism and Eucharist as Sacraments were not discussed.
Sacrament (mysterion: a visible form of an invisible grace (Augustine). The Greeks thought poetically, the Romans more logically.
Hugh of St. Victor (c1095-1141) defines features:
Synthesis: materiality, representation, institution and consecration or sanctification; warding off mysticism and gnosticism.
- Materiality: contrary to Gnostic spiritualism
- Representation: water, bread, oil, &c
- Institution: of Christ
- Consecration or Sanctification: the words of consecration make sanctification possible.
Aquinas: a Sacrament does not only represent but causes grace.
Referring back to the Donatist controversy, if the unworthiness of the intermediary invalidates a sacrament, how will there ever be assurance? (the proper meaning of "sacramental assurance", as opposed to its being taken to mean dependent on the gender of the celebrant - KC). the assurance is in God and the recipient, not the intermediary. Augustine distinguishes between irregular and invalid Sacramental acts; Catholic ex opere operato (to justify infant baptism - KC), Sacrament efficient of itself.
Luther and Calvin: a Sacrament confers nothing but seals the promise. Protestant scholasticism narrowed the scope of validity to celebrant and recipient, cutting out God, so Sacraments were no longer gifts of God. This individualism blunted the Church's sacramental life but it is now being revived.
How many?: Hugh's seven; Peter Lombard (d 1160) agrees with Hugh and his sentences was the core seminary textbook of the Middle Ages; confirmed by Trent against the Protestant declaration of only two "Dominical" Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.
a) Baptism: Instructions in the Didache (c100); at least three years preparation; what started as initiation and cleansing leaned towards cleansing so that there were death bed Baptisms to ensure total cleanliness before death; and child baptism against original sin; became private. Then the problem of what to do about post baptismal sin. Post Reformation Baptism switches from conferring of God to affirming of human commitment.
b) Eucharist: The essence of early centuries worship not just focused on the bread and wine; growing numbers and persecution truncated the meal to the two elements; it was a celebration of Passion and Resurrection and a foretaste of eternal life. Between 3rd and 4th Centuries belief developed of the presence of Christ in the bread and wine, rather than in the body of the Church. It stopped being communion and was nourishing with the body and blood. 4th Lateran (1215) and Transubstantiation. Luther on consubstantiation, Calvin on virtualism.
Synthesis: The Church needs a moving back towards the idea of the community as the body of Christ.
c) Penance: Confession, contrition, satisfaction absolution (Gregory the Great); but if you could only be forgiven once, confess near death; Celtic church introduced regular, private confession; opposition but confirmed 4th Lateran. The priest absolves not the person being penitent; Masses for the dead; the growth of "convertible satisfaction" and indulgences; Luther not only against indulgences but thought Baptism was for life.
Synthesis: Sacraments stress: God and creation, god and history; incomplete without The word; more than a human action as God is present and active in them; they are not magic; but they are a mystery.