HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
SACRAMENTAL EXPERIENCES
A. JEWISH PRACTICES
1. GOD IN ISRAEL’S HISTORY
A. TO SEE GOD IN THE EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED TO THE ISRAELITES
AND THEIR ANCESTORS: YEARLY COMMEMORATION
B. SACRED HISTORY: GOD’S PRESENCE IN THEIR HISTORY
C. GOD’S REVELATION
D. NARRATION OF SACRED EVENTS
2. SCRIPTURES
A. RECORD OF THE HOLY REVELATION: ENSHRINED AND VENERATED,
READ AND MEDITATED.
B. WORD OF GOD GIVEN TO MOSES: CONTACT WITH THE
IMPORTANT EVENTS OF ISRAEL’S PAST AND WITH THE GOD WHO
SPOKE THRU THOSE EVENTS.
C. IT IS SUNG BY THE PSALMISTS, RECORDED BY THE HISTORIANS
AND SPOKEN BY THE PROPHETS. (SONGS/HYMNS, WRITTEN
HISTORY, AND PROCLAMATION AND PREACHING)
3. SACRED RITUALS, OBJECTS, PLACES AND PERSONS
A. OLD TESTAMENT: BOOKS OF LAW FILLED WITH PRESCRIPTIONS
ABOUT RITUALS OF DIIFERENT KINDS (WORSHIP, PURIFICATION,
ORDINATION, AND SACRIFICES).
B. USE OF SACRED THINGS: ANIMALS, UTENSILS FOR SACRIFICES, THE
ARK WITH ITS TABLETS, HOLY VESSELS AND OILS.
C. SACRED PLACES: HOLY OF HOLIES, MOUNT SINAI AND OTHER
PLACES WHERE YAHWEH REVEALED HIMSELF.
D. SACRED PERSONS: JUDGES, KINGS, PROPHETS, TEMPLE PRIESTS TO
WHOM GOD’S PRESENCE CAN BE FELT.
4.
A. NOT A CENTRAL PART OF JEWISH LIFE: MOSES SAW GOD IN THE
BURNING BUSH, SAMUEL HEARD GOD IN THE TEMPLE, AND ELIJAH
FELT GOD’S PRESENCE IN THE GENTLE WIND.
5. PREFIGURATION/TYPOLOGY/FORESHADOW
A. THE SACRAMENTS OF THE OLD LAW PREFIGURED THAT OF THE
SACRAMENTS OF THE NEW LAW.
B. DO NOT CAUSE GRACE BUT SIGNS OF THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
FROM THE PART OF THE ISRAELITES IN VIEW OF THE FUTURE
MESSIAH THAT WILL SAVE THEM FROM THEIR SINS.
C. THEY ARE SHADOWS OR TYPES OF WHICH WILL OCCUR IN THE
FUTURE.
D. VISIBLE SIGNS
E. THEREFORE, OLD COVENANT---THE PROMISED THAT WILL HAPPEN
IN THE FUTURE; NEW COVENANT---PEOPLE ENCOUNTER THE
EVENT OF INCARNATION.
B. GREEK-ROMAN “SACRAMENTS”
TWO GROUPS:
1. THE FORMAL SACRAMENTS OF THE OFFICIAL STATE RELIGION:
OATHS AND OFFERING, ORACLES AND AUGURIES, AND PUBLIC
FESTIVALS AND FAMILY DEVOTION.
2. THE SACRAMENTS OF THE MYSTERY RELIGIONS: SYMBOLIC RITUALS
WITH DEEPER MEANINGS IN THEIR LIVES, E.G., PROCESS OF
ENLIGHTENMENT (PHOTISMOS).
NOTATIONS: 1). THE PRESENCE OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS; 2).
CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS SETTINGS INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT
OF CHRISTIANITY ESPECIALLY THE PRACTICE OF THE SACRAMENTS.
C. EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
a. 1ST AND 2ND CENTURIES
b. 1ST APOSTLES AND THEIR FOLLOWERS
c. SOURCES: ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, LETTERS OF PAUL AND LETTER
OF JAMES
1. SACRAMENTAL SHARING
-ACTS:2:42-47;4:32-35;1COR.11:23-37; 1COR. 10:16-17:
-MEALS IN COMMON, SHARE THEIR BELONGINGS, AND
PRAY TOGETHER; FAITH IN JESUS AND
`COMMEMORATION OF HIS PASCHAL MYSTERY.THE FIRST
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY.
2. SACRAMENTAL WORD/PREACHING
-ACTS 2:37-41; 8:34-39
-THE PROCESS: PREACHING, CONVERSION, RITUAL
WASHING (BAPTISM), NEW LIFE, NEW COMMUNITY.
3. SACRAMENTAL SPIRIT
-ACTS 2:1-13
-PENTECOST---BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH.
-CONSEQUENCES OF THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: 1).
INWARD CHANGE INDIVIDUALLY; 2). THEY BECOME
STRONGER; 3). THEY UNDERSTOOD MORE THEIR BEING
CHRISTIANS.
-SHARING THE SPIRIT: 1). THE APOSTLES PREACHED TO
THE PEOPLE; 2). THEY BAPTIZED AND LAID THEIR HANDS
ON THEM; 3). THEY WERE CHANGES IN THEIR BEHAVIOR
AS THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WITH THEM.
4. OTHER MINOR SACRAMENTAL ACTIONS
a. SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND PROPHESYING, AND
INTERPRETING THE SCRIPTURES (1 COR. 14:22-25)
b. GESTURE OF HEALING (ACTS 3:1-10; JAMES 5:14-
15)
c. PRAYER AND MUTUAL CONFESSION OF SINS
(JAMES 5:16)
CONCLUSIONS
I. THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
II. BUILDING OF THE CHURCH BY THE APOSTLES AND THEIR
FOLLOWERS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SACRAMENTS.
III. THESE SACRAMENTAL RITUALS AND ACTIONS OF THE EARLY
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY HAVE NO PREESTABLISHED THEOLOGY
WHICH THEY COULD USE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED.
WHAT FOLLOWED WAS THEY DEVELOPED THEIR THEOLOGY AS
THEY WENT ALONG…THEOLOGY OF EXPERIENCE
IV. BASIS OF THEIR THEOLOGY: 1). WHAT THEY REMEMBERED OF
WHAT JESUS SAID AND DID; 2). WHAT RELIGIOUS
INTERPRETATIONS THEY RECEIVED FROM THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS
OF THE COMMUNITY; 3). WHAT INSIGHTS THEY CAN GET FROM
WHAT THEY AND OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCED.
V. EFFECTS TO THE LATER PERIODS: 1). PEOPLE EITHER USE THEM TO
INTERPRET THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES---A HELP TO INTENSIFY
THEIR OWN SACRAMENTAL EXPERIENCES AND DEEPENING THEIR
APPRECIATION OF THEM; 2). THEY USE THEM WITHOUT ANY
REFERENCE TO EXPERIENCE AT ALL---SOMETIMES LED TO A
PURELY METAPHYSICAL AND EVEN A MAGICAL UNDERSTANDING
OF THE SACRAMENTS.
D. PATRISTIC ERA
a. FIRST TO THE NINTH CENTURIES; BOTH WESTERN AND EASTERN
FATHERS.
 b. ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: 1).DEVELOPING THE SACRAMENTS
INTO A SET OF RICHLY SYMBOLIC RITUALS; 2). THE FIRST
PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THESE RITUALS.
c. SOURCES OF THEIR SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY: 1). SACRED
SCRIPTURES; 2). BODY OF CHRISTIAN BELIEFS OR TRADITIONS
WHICH ARE UNWRITTEN. 3). THE SACRAMENTAL PRACTICES OF
THEIR PREDECESSORS AND OF THEIR TIME; 4).THEIR OWN
EXPERIENCES, REFLECTIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF THE
SACRAMENTS; 5). SACRAMENTAL PRACTICES FOUND IN THE
CHURCH WHICH HAVE DIVINE APPROVAL; 6). GREEK PHILOSOPHY:
NEW WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN
MYSTERIES/SACRAMENTS.
SOME EXAMPLES:
1). EARLY CHRISTIAN WRITERS: “MYSTERION” REFERING ALSO TO
OTHER MYSTERIES.
2). 2ND CENTURY: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CEREMONIES OF
CHRISTIAN INITIATION AND THE PROCESS OF ENLIGHTENMENT OF
THE MYSTERY RELIGIONS.
3). TERTULLIAN IN 210: LATIN WORD, “SACRAMENTUM”- IN A
CHRISTIAN SENSE.
4). AUGUSTINE: “SACRAMENTUM” AS A SIGN OF A SACRED THING;
NOT ONLY TO THE SACRAMENTAL RITES BUT ALL OTHER THINGS
IN THE CHURCH THAT SIGNIFY A SACRED SIGN; THUS, ITS NUMBER
IS INFINITE. DIVISION OF THE REAL IMPORTANT SACRAMENTS: 1).
SACRAMENTS OF THE WORD- SERMONS, PRAYERS, AND THE
READING OF THE SCRIPTURES. 2). SACRAMENTS OF ACTION-
WATER AND WINE, BLESSING AND RITUALS USED IN CHRISTIAN
WORSHIP.
CONCLUSIONS:
I. SACRAMENTS: MAKE THE DIVINE REALITIES PRESENT TO THOSE
WHO UNDERSTOOD THE MEANING OF THE SIGNS.
II. THE PATRISTIC TEACHINGS ON THE SACRAMENTS BECAME A
PRIMARY SOURCE OF IDEAS ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE
SACRAMENTS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ASIDE FROM
SCRIPTURES.
E. MIDDLE AGES
a. 10TH TO 15TH CENTURIES, WITH GREAT EMPHASIS ON THE 12TH
AND 13TH CENTURIES, THE HEIGHT OF CATHOLIC THEOLOGY,
ESPECIALLY ON THE CATHOLIC SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY.
b. SOURCES: 1). SACRED SCRIPTURES; 2). TRADITION; 3). FATHERS OF
THE CHURCH; 4). SACRAMENTAL PRACTICES OF THAT TIME; 5). THE
ECUMENICAL COUNCILS CELEBRATED AT THAT PERIOD; 6).
PHILOSOPHY.
12TH AND 13TH CENTURIES’ SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY:
1). INFLUENCED BY THE BOOKS OF SENTENCES OF PETER
LOMBARD.
-BOOKS OF SENTENCES OF PETER LOMBARD ARE
COLLECTIONS OF OPINIONS ON MAJOR THEOLOGICAL
TOPICS WHICH ARE WIDELY USED BY THE PEOPLE OF THEIR
TIME.
-DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE 7 SACRAMENTS AND
SACRAMENTALS.
-MANY FAMOUS THEOLOGIANS AFTER HIM COMMENTED
ON THESE BOOKS: ST. ALBERT THE GREAT, ST. THOMAS
AQUINAS AND ST. BONAVENTURE.
2). THE COMPLEMENTING ROLE OF ARISTOTELIAN THOUGHT TO
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY; PHILOSOPHICAL TERMINOLOGIES AND
EXPLANATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN MYSTERIES: SUBSTANCE AND
ACCIDENT; MATTER AND FORM; POWER AND ACTIVITY.
  THE COUNCIL OF LYONS (1274): EXPLICIT RECOGNITION
OF THE WESTERN CHURCH AS MENTIONED IN THE
PROFESSION OF FAITH BY EMPEROR MICHAEL
PALAEOLOGUS THAT THERE ARE SEVEN SACRAMENTS
AND ENUMERATED THEM.
 THE COUNCIL OF FLORENCE, DECREE FOR THE
ARMENIANS (1439)- CLEAR EXPOSITION OF THE
SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY IN THE LATIN CHURCH: 7
SACRAMENTS, EFFECTS, 3 CONSTITUTIVE ELEMENTS OF
THE SACRAMENTS (MATTER, FORM AND MINISTER),
INDELIBLE CHARACTER FOR BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION
AND HOLY ORDERS, AND PARTICULAR SACRAMENTS
DEALT WITH (NN. 1310-1313).
 MEDIEVAL SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY THAT ARE STILL
USEFUL TODAY: 1). THERE ARE 7 SACRAMENTS; 2).
UNIFORMITY OF THEIR PRACTICES (RITUALS) ; 3).
ESTABLISHED AND SOLIDIFIED SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY.
F. PROTESTANT ERA AND COUNCIL OF TRENT
MIDDLE OF THE 15TH CENTURY AND 16TH CENTURY.
1. PROTESTANT REFORMATION
 PROPOSING AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE PREVAILING
MEDIEVAL MENTALITY.
 PROPONENTS: MARTIN LUTHER, JOHN CALVIN AND
ULRICH ZWINGLI
 THE TWO CRITERIA FOR SACRAMENTS: MAJORITY OF THE
PROTESTANT ACCEPTED THAT THE SACRAMENTS AS 1).
VISIBLE SIGNS OR CEREMONIES; 2). INSTITUTED BY CHRIST.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCRIPTURES:
1. SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION MUST AFFIRM THESE TWO
CRITERIA OF THE SACRAMENTS. THEREFORE, ONLY
BAPTISM (MT. 28:19) AND THE EUCHARIST (1COR.11:23-
25) PASSED THE CRITERIA.
2.THE BIBLE FOR THEM WHETHER IT IS PRIVATELY READ
OR PUBLICLY PREACHED REMAINS FOR THEM THE
PRINCIPAL SACRAMENT WHEREIN GOD REVEALS HIMSELF
INTELLECTUALLY AND EXPERIENTIALLY.
a. ANGLICAN CHURCH: CLOSENESS TO THE CATHOLICS MOST
ESPECIALLY IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST AND EVEN OF
OTHER SACRAMENTS; BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.
b. CONTEMPORARY PROTESTANTISM:
A. TELEVANGELISM: TELEVISED WORSHIP CAN REPLACE
LOCAL PARISH CHURCHES (REAL AND VIRTUAL PRESENCE).
B. PENTECOSTALISM: SPEAKS OF THE ROLE OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT AND THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND HAS
GREATLY INFLUENCED MAINLINE PROTESTANTS AND
ROMAN CATHOLICS (CHARISMATIC MOVEMENTS).
C. WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCES (WCC):
1. ESTABLISED IN 1948; IT CONCERNS WITH
ECUMENICAL CONVERGENCE AMONG
SEPARATED CHRISTIAN BODIES TOOK ON A
MORE FORMAL ASPECT; ONE OF THE HIGLIGHTS
OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE 1982
CONSENSUS STATEMENT ENTITLED, “BAPTISM,
EUCHARIST AND MINISTRY” (BEM OR LIMA
DOCUMENT), WHICH EMPHASIZES MANY
POINTS OF AGREEMENT ON SACRAMENTAL
MATTERS; THIS DOCUMENT IS ALSO BEING
CALLED BY ECUMENICAL THEOLOGIANS AS
ECCLESIOLOGY OF COMMUNION AS THE
SACRAMENTS ARE PRESENTED AS A MEANS TO
 ACHIEVE GREATER CHURCH UNITY; ROMAN
CATHOLIC IS A GUEST MEMBER.
2. ANGLICAN-ROMAN CATHOLIC DIALOGUE: POPE
AND ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, PRAY
TOGETHER; COMMUNION WITH THE
ANGLICANS IN THEOLOGY AND TEACHINGS IS
ONGOING.
3. IMPORTANCE OF ECUMENICAL AND INTER
RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE.
2. COUNCIL OF TRENT (1545)
a. PURPOSE: REFORM WITHIN THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH.
b. MAIN AGENDA: REFORM AMONG THE CLERGY,
ABOLISH ECCLESIASTICAL PRIVILEGES, DETAILED
RESPONSIBILITIES OF BISHOPS AND PRIESTS,
PRESCRIPTION OF STRICT STANDARD OF CONDUCT
FOR THE CLERGY (ESTABLISHMENT OF
SEMINARIES), AND DOCTRINAL DECREES
ESPECIALLY ON THE SACRAMENTS AND
INDULGENCES (ANATHEMA SIT: LET HIM BE
CONDEMNED).
c. AS TO THE SACRAMENTS: 1). REITERATED THE
MEDIEVAL SCHOLASTIC VIEW OF THE
SACRAMENTS AND REJECTED OTHER
INTERPRETATIONS; 2). DEALT WITH SACRAMENTS
IN GENERAL AND THE INDIVIDUAL SACRAMENTS.
G. POST COUNCIL OF TRENT
17TH TO 19TH CENTURIES
 WITH THE COUNCIL OF TRENT, SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY HAS
BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT THEY SHOULD AGREE AND FOLLOW OR
ELSE “ANATHEMA SIT” (LET HIM BE CONDEMNED).
 THUS, THEOLOGIANS AND THE FAITHFUL CONCENTRATED ON
OTHER THINGS:
1. SECONDARY/PERIPHERAL ISSUES ON THE SACRAMENTS:
THE MANNER IN WHICH CHRIST INSTITUTED THE
SACRAMENTS, THE METAPHYSICAL NATURE OF THE
SACRAMENTAL CHARACTER.
2. CONCENTRATED ON THE SACRAMENTALS, POPULAR
DEVOTIONS AND PIOUS PRACTICES: NOVENAS, DEVOTION
TO MARY AND THE SAINTS, WAY OF THE CROSS, ETC.
CONSEQUENCES:
1.POSITIVE: THE CHURCH DOES NOT WANT THAT THE
SACRAMENTS BE ABUSED SO SHE IS STRICT AND THE
FAITHFUL ARE SUBSERVIENT TO HER TEACHINGS.
2. NEGATIVE: SACRAMENTS ARE DEFINED AS CENTRAL
PART OF CATHOLIC DOGMA BUT NOT OF THE RELIGIOUS
LIFE OF THE FAITHFUL. THEY PRACTICE MORE THE
SACRAMENTALS AND OTHER DEVOTIONS WHICH
INTENSIFY THEIR FAITH. THEY ARE MORE FULFILLED WITH
THEM THAN WITH THE SACRAMENTS.
H. 2OTH CENTURY SACRAMENTOLOGY
1. NEW PHILOSOPHIES
 BEFORE VATICAN II, DOMINANT THEOLOGY AND
PHILOSOPHY: SCHOLASTICISM.
 DURING AND AFTER VATICAN II: FIT NEW PHILOSOPHICAL
IDEAS INTO A GENERAL SCHOLASTIC FRAMEWORK.
 NEOSCHOLASTICISM: 1). REVITALIZING SCHOLASTICISM;
2). LEO XII- IN 1879, RESTORATION OF CHRISTIAN
PHILOSOPHY BASED ON THE IDEAS OF ST. THOMAS
AQUINAS; 3). PIUS X- IN 1914 ORDERED TO USE THE
“SUMMA THEOLOGIAE” AS A MAJOR SOURCE BOOK IN
THEOLOGY.

2. THE LITURGICAL MOVEMENT
 SPEARHEADED BY BENEDICTINE MONKS.
 EMPHASES: 1). FULL AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH’S LIFE AND MINISTRIES
4. HUMAN SCIENCES
ESPECIALLY THE LITURGY; 2). THE IMPORTANCE OF
RELYING ON A PATRISTIC MODEL AND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE
DIMENSION.
 MEDIATOR DEI (1947)- PIUS XII, FIRST ENCYCLICAL
EXCLUSIVELY ON THE LITURGY. MAIN CONTENTS:
1). A CRITIC OF THE LITURGICAL REFORM
HAPPENING AT THAT PERIOD.
2). CAUTIONED AGAINST LITURGICAL ABUSES.
I. SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
3). UPHELD LATIN LITURGY.
4). OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED THE LITURGICAL
MOVEMENT.
5). INAUGURATED A SERIES OF LITURGICAL CHANGES
THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE VATICAN II
3. BIBLICAL RENEWAL
 REALITY: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EVEN OTHER
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES INTERPRETED THE BIBLE LITERALLY
AND USED BIBLICAL QUOTATIONS TO SUPPORT THEIR
DOCTRINES WHICH THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK DID NOT
THINK ABOUT.
 PROTESTANT SCHOLARS OF LATE 19TH CENTURY AND
EARLY 20TH CENTURY DEVELOPED A MORE SCIENTIFIC
AND IMPARTIAL METHOD OF INTERPRETING THE BIBLE;
NEW METHODS USED: LANGUAGE ANALYSIS, LITERARY
CRITICISM AND ARCHAELOGY.
 PATRISTIC AND MEDIEVAL WRITINGS WERE ALREADY
USING THESE METHODS.
 PIUS XII- IN 1943 ISSUED AN ENCYCLICAL, “DIVINO
AFFLANTE SPIRITU”, AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF
THESE METHODS AND CATHOLIC SCHOLARS MUST USE
THEM WITH PRUDENCE AND DISCRETION.
 BEFORE AND AFTER VATICAN II: CATHOLICS ALREADY
RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF HUMAN SCIENCES
FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SACRAMENTS AND
THEIR ROLE IN CHRISTIAN LIFE LIKE OTHER MODERN
PHILOSOPHIES. E.G. HISTORY, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY,
ANTHROPOLOGY, LINGUISTICS.
 SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM, THE CONSTITUTION ON THE
SACRED LITURGY, DEC. 4, 1963:
A). PASTORAL AND PRACTICAL MATTERS THAN DOCTRINAL ONES.
(SC 3-4)
B). ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE FAITHFUL, REVISIONS OF THE
DIFFERENT RITES, AND THEIR TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION TO
THEIR LOCAL LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.
 CHAPTER II: ON THE EUCHARIST, NN. 47-58; SPEAKS OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE EUCHARIST, EXPLAINS IN GENERAL THE
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE MASS AND DEMANDS THE REVISION OF
THE RITE OF THE MASS.
 CHAPTER III: THE OTHER SACRAMENTS AND THE SACRAMENTALS-
NN. 59-82:
1). N. 59: PURPOSE OF THE SACRAMENTS-TO SANCTIFY
PEOPLE, TO BUILD UP THE BODY OF CHRIST AND TO GIVE
WORSHIP TO GOD; SACRAMENTS OF FAITH-FAITH IS
PRESUPPOSED IN THE SACRAMENTS, BUT THEY ALSO
 NOURISH, STRENGTHEN AND EXPRESS OUR FAITH; GRACE
IS GIVEN-FROM THEIR EFFECTIVE CELEBRATION, IT
DISPOSES THE FAITHFUL TO RECEIVE GRACE FOR THEIR
SAKE THAT IS TO WORSHIP GOD AND TO PRACTICE
CHARITY; UNDERSTANDING AND RECEPTION OF THE
SACRAMENTS SHOULD HAPPEN.
2). N. 62:RITES NEED TO BE ADAPTED/INCULTURATED.
3). NN. 63-78: REVISIONS OF THE DIFFERENT
SACRAMENTAL RITES.
J. CONTEMPORARY SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY
1. EDWARD SCHILLEBEECKX, OP
2. KARL RAHNER, SJ
a. A DUTCH DOMINICAN THEOLOGIAN DIED IN 2012.
b. A THEOLOGY OF THE SACRAMENTS WHICH WAS BOTH
FAITHFUL TO THE INSIGHTS OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AND
FREE OF THE MINIMALISTIC TENDENCY OF LATE
SCHOLASTICISM.
c. USED CONTEMPORARY EXISTENTIALISM TO REDEFINE THE
SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.
d. SACRAMENTS CAN BE LIKENED TO AN EXISTENTIAL
ENCOUNTER BETWEEN PERSONS.
e. PERSONS DEEPLY ENCOUNTER EACH OTHER AND
DISCOVER SOMETHING OF THE MYSTERY THAT THE OTHER
PERSON IS.
f. SACRAMENTS ARE OUTWARD SIGNS THAT REVEAL A
TRANSCENDENT DIVINE REALITY.
g. JESUS IS A SACRAMENT THROUGH WHOM PEOPLE
ENCOUNTER THE MYSTERY OF GOD.
h. 7 SACRAMENTS: CHURCH IS THE INSTRUMENT TO MAKE
THE DIVINE MYSTERY PRESENT IN THE WORLD PRIMARILY
IN 7 WAYS, CORRESPONDING TO 7 WAYS THAT CHRIST
HIMSELF WAS A SACRAMENT OF GOD TO OTHERS:
1. BAPTISM: INTRODUCING OTHERS TO NEW LIFE;
2. CONFIRMATION: SHARING THE POWER OF HIS
SPIRIT TO THEM; 3 AND 4. ANOINTING OF THE SICK
AND RECONCILIATION: HEALING THEIR ILLNESS
AND FORGIVING THEIR SINFULNESS; 5. HOLY
ORDERS: MINISTERING TO THEIR RELIGIOUS
NEEDS; 6. MATRIMONY: BEING FAITHFUL TO HIS
FATHER AND HIS CHURCH; 7. HOLY EUCHARIST: IN
THE ACTION OF SACRIFICING HIMSELF OUT OF
LOVE.
i. ESSENCE OF ANY SACRAMENT: ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
AND THE ECCLESIAL RITES.
j. SOURCE REFERENCE: CHRIST THE SACRAMENT OF THE
ENCOUNTER WITH GOD (1963).
a. GERMAN JESUIT THEOLOGIAN DIED IN 1984.
b. SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY SAME AS SCHILLEBEECKX BUT
TREATED DIFFERENTLY.
c. APPROACH: USED THE PHILOSOPHICAL INSIGHTS
INTRODUCED BY EXISTENTIALISM AND PHENOMENOLOGY.
d. HUMAN EXISTENCE IS A SYMBOLIC ACTIVITY. THUS, IN
EVERY ACTION, HUMAN BEINGS SYMBOLIZE WHAT THEY
ARE.
e. RITUAL SACRAMENTS: EXPRESSIONS OF THE NATURE OF
THE CHURCH, AND ARE SIGNS AND MEANS OF GRACE TO
THOSE WHO DEEPLY ENTER INTO THEM.
f. INSTITUTION OF THE SACRAMENTS: NO HISTORICAL
EVIDENCE IN THE BIBLE THAT JESUS PERSONALLY
INSTITUTED ALL SEVEN SACRAMENTS; IMPORTANT THING-
CHRIST INSTITUTED A SACRAMENTAL CHURCH.
g. SOURCE REFERENCE: FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH,
CHAPTER 8 (1976).