The Basic Concept of a Sacramental Sign
A sacrament is an outward sign, a rite that serves as the outward signification of an inner, mystical reality. The Sacraments are the very lifeblood of the church. Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox churches maintain the traditional seven sacraments, led by Baptism, the most important of all. All other sacraments depend on Baptism. The remaining six sacraments are confirmation, communion, confession, matrimony, holy orders and the rite of the sick. Protestant groups have largely dispensed with sacraments by removing all mystical qualities from the act, leaving only the "sign," or the physical, outward aspect of the rite.
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The Sign
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A sacrament is a sign in that it contains, necessarily, a liturgical rite of some kind. There are also physical objects including icons, holy oils, wine or incense that accompanies the rite. These physical objects exist because human beings are sentient; they require physical signs to alert the senses to something invisible -- the action of the Spirit upon those partaking of the rite. Since most people cannot sense the presence of the Spirit in the right, the church uses outward signs to manifest the Divine presence.
The Incarnation
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The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Great Britain, Kallistos, holds that all sacraments exist as differing manifestations of Christ's incarnation. The incarnation, or Christ, as God, taking human flesh, is part of sacramental theology because Christ's body -- his human nature -- exists so He could more easily relate to human beings. Christ suffered thirst, hunger, tears and physical torture in a human body so that God can infuse human nature with divinity. The sacraments all derive from this: the use of physical things to manifest Divine things.
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The Church
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Most sacramental theology holds that the real purpose of the church is to guard, perform and preach the sacramental life. The church, in turn, is headed by Christ, whose incarnation is continually being celebrated on earth, since Christ, in human form, presently reigns in heaven, that is, outside of space and time. The Catechism of the Old Catholic Church holds that sacraments are special signs that show the closeness of Christ to his church. In this regard, the church teaches, those participating in the sacraments, in a very real way, can become part of Christ's saving work. Since Christ reigns outside of time, his presence is eternal and hence, can continue far after his Ascension to heaven two millennia ago.
The Trinity
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It is not only Christ that is manifested in the sacramental rite, but the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, is equally manifest, both sent by the Father for the salvation, comfort and forgiveness of all believers. The Trinity is manifest, in its unity, in the sacrament. Christ, as Metropolitan Kallistos says, is always the minister of the sacrament -- the priest or deacon is merely a vessel, the representative of the church whose job it is to protect the integrity and sanctity of the rite. The church, to be more exact, as the manifestation of Christ's grace on earth, is the actual performer of the rite. The clergyman is merely a conduit.
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