THE PRINCIPLE OF SACRAMENTALITY

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THE PRINCIPLE OF SACRAMENTALITY
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Objectives

• At the end of the lesson, the students are
  expected to
• To understand the meaning of principle of
  sacramentality, and four levels of sacramentality

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Objectives

1. To imbibe and develop a sacramental perspective
   and spirituality, which is to be able to see,
   find, and love God in all things and all things
   in God.
2. To practice daily affirmation of Gods presence
   through love and compassion to the poor.

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Heart of the Ocean necklace
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Signs and symbols

• Signs point to another visible reality.
• Symbols are special signs which point beyond
  themselves to an unseen reality.
• They share in the power of that which they point,
  and thus make present that reality.

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Instruments, signs and symbols

• Symbols make us present to one another in human
  communication and make God present to us in the
  depth of religious symbolism.

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Sacramentality Etymology

• Derived originally from Greek mysterion deep
  and secret purposes (mystery) of Gods work in
  the world through Jesus Christ
• Later translated to Latin sacramentum something
  sacred, or holy.
• Sacramentality indicates that through the created
  universe, we enter into a close relationship with
  God we experience the mystery of Gods presence.

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Sacramental Principle Basis

• The Sacramental Principle is based on the need
  for the divine and the human to encounter and
  communicate one another.

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Sacramental Principle Basis

• In principle, everything is capable of embodying
  and communicating the divine. There is no finite
  instrument which God cannot put to use.

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Sacramental Principle Basis

• Humans, on the other hand, have nothing else
  apart from the finite instruments to express
  their response to Gods self-communication.

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What is the sacramental principle?

• The Sacramental Principle refers to the use of
  finite and human instruments, of visible signs
  and symbols, to make possible (real) Gods
  encounter and communication with humanity.

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What is the sacramental principle?

• The Divine reaches the human through finite
  instrument which the human can experience and
  understand. The invisible spirit is visibilized
  through visible signs and symbols.

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What is the sacramental principle?

• The human reaches the Divine through the only
  finite instruments they have.

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4 Levels of Sacramentality

1. Jesus as the Primordial Sacrament
2. Church as the Fundamental Sacrament
3. Seven Ritual Sacraments
4. All else as Sacraments of Gods Presence

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1. Christ the Incarnate Word as the Primordial
Sacrament

• As Primordial Sacrament, Christ as the Incarnate
  Word (Jn. 114 the Word became flesh) is God
  Himself reaching and being present to the human.

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1. Christ the Incarnate Word as the Primordial
Sacrament

• Some Scriptural Basis
• a. Jn. 147 If you really knew me, you would
  know my Father also. From this point on, you
  know him you have seen him.
• b. 1 Tim 25 God is one. One is the
  mediator between God and men, the Christ Jesus.

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1. Christ the Incarnate Word as the Primordial
Sacrament

• In the Old Testament, Gods revelation was
  granted inchoatively (initially) to the
  Israelites through the prophets, In the New
  Testament, Gods revelation to humanity was
  perfected, made universally and definitive in
  Jesus Christ.

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2. The Church as the Fundamental Sacrament

• GODS PRESENCE
• The Church is the visible sign of Gods abiding
  presence in the world. In Gods universal plan of
  salvation (1 Tim 24), God willed the birth of
  the Church as His instrument in carrying out his
  plan of salvation and proclaiming the good news
  to all peoples.

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2. The Church as the Fundamental Sacrament

• 2) HUMAN RESPONSE
• The Church is also the visible sign of a
  persons union with Christ, who is mediator
  between God and man. The invisible reality of
  being united with Christ is made visible
  (manifest) in being part of the Body of Christ,
  the Church.

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3. The Seven Ritual Sacraments

• Each of the 7 sacraments is the personal saving
  act of the risen Christ Himself, realized in the
  visible form of an official act of the Church.

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3. The Seven Ritual Sacraments

• The seven ritual sacraments touch all the
  stages and important moments of Christian life,
  give birth and increase (initiation), healing,
  mission (service and communion) to the
  Christian's life, forming an organic whole with
  the Eucharist as unique.

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3. The Seven Ritual Sacraments

• There is a certain resemblance between the stages
  of natural life and the stages of the spiritual
  life.

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3. The Seven Ritual Sacraments

• Parallel between the stages of our natural,
  physical/ social life and those of our Christian
  spiritual life

Physical Birth/ Generation
Baptism (Spiritual Birth/ Regeneration)
Confirmation (Strengthened by the Holy Spirit)
Growth/Maturity
Physical Nourishment
Eucharist
Physical Psychological Healing
Reconciliation Anointing
Community Realities of Family Life and Leadership
Matrimony and Holy Orders
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4. All other things as Sacraments of Gods
Presence

• Since the reality of God is mirrored in the
  world, all human life, activity, events and
  history, as well as nonhuman life, constitute the
  arena wherein Gods presence may be discerned and
  experienced.

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4. All other things as Sacraments of Gods
Presence

• Gods grace, the presence and activity of God and
  the transformation of life which this brings
  about, is at loose in the world.

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Personal Integration

• There is a need to develop a spirituality of
  gratitude.
• Before you go to sleep at night, make it a habit
  to review and thank God for all the gifts and
  blessings you received from Him during the whole
  day.

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Personal Integration

• 2) One of the best ways to affirm Gods presence
  today is to show our love and compassion to the
  poor and marginalized.
• Example Doing the corporal works of mercy.

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Assignment Journal

1. Do I take time to pause, be aware of, and
   thankful for Gods presence and influence in my
   life? Why or why not?
2. What is one concrete thing I resolve to do which
   can help me be more aware of and grateful for
   Gods gift of love and presence in me, in others,
   and in our environment?

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END
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Tad Guzie on What is a Sacrament?

• "A sacrament is a festive action in which
  Christians assemble to celebrate their lived
  experience and to call to heart their common
  story.

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Tad Guzie on What is a Sacrament?

• The action is a symbol of Gods care for us.
  Enacting the symbol brings us closer to one
  another in the Church and to the Lord who is
  there for us"
• (The Book of Sacramental Basics, Paulist Press,
  Mahwah, NJ, 1981, p. 53)