Sacramental

Theology
College of Law
San Beda College
 Official Teaching of the Church
“Enchiridion Symbolorum, Definitionum et Declarationum de Rebus Fidei et Morum”

Handbook of Creeds, Definitions and Declarations on Matters of Faith and Morals

H. Denzinger, 1854
Sacraments are instituted by
Christ

A traditional language used at the Council of Trent

to indicate that the sacraments are not of human
origin but of divine origin: it is God’s action not
human action that accounts for Christian
sacraments.
Sacraments are symbols of sacred things

• The Council of Trent cites a definition of

sacrament found in the decretals of
Gratian: a sacrament is a symbol of a
sacred thing and a visible form of an
invisible grace.
• Sacraments have as their reality something
divine. The reality of sacraments is
transcendent.
There are seven (7) sacraments
• It is one thing to say that “dogmatically” there are 7 sacraments; it is also
another thing to say that “historically” there are 7 sacraments.
• Vatican II has stated clearly that the Church is a basic sacrament and
Jesus, in his human nature, is the fundamental sacrament.
Sacraments confer Grace

• Sacraments are neither idle signs, conferring nothing, nor merely human
signs, conferring only something human. In the sacraments, God is at
work.
• The Council of Trent explains: Sacraments do not confer Grace simply
because of ‘human faith’; sacraments do indeed confer the Grace which
they signify and they do this if there are no human obstacles.
God’s action in the sacrament does not
depend on the intention or probity of the
minister.
Three (3) sacraments confer a Character

• The Council of Trent officially stated that three (3) sacraments confer a
character: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders.
• This character is indelible.
• Baptism confers threefold character: priest, prophet and king.
Confirmation bestows a witnessing character. Priesthood is ministerial that
focuses on one’s apostleship to Jesus.
The Ordinary Magisterium of the Church

• The Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church.

• The Church, speaking magisterially, speaks as a collective body – united in
teaching (orthodoxy) and faith.
• It belongs to the Magisterium of the Church to proclaim matters on
dogma and doctrine.
 The matter and form
Sacraments are
make up the external
outward signs of
rite, which has its
inward Grace,
special significance
instituted by Christ for
and efficacy from the
our sanctification.
institution of Christ.

It has for its root, God alone is the

Divine Revelation. principal cause of
the Sacraments.