Sacrament (Mystery)
A visible sign of invisible grace — water, bread and wine that do what they signify
A sacrament, called a "mystery" in the East, is a sacred sign instituted by Christ that effects or conveys the grace it signifies. Tertullian used the Latin sacramentum, and Augustine famously described a sacrament as a "visible sign of invisible grace." Traditions differ on the number: Catholics and Orthodox count seven, while most Protestants recognize two, baptism and the Lord's Supper, as instituted by Christ.
How it traveled
- On Baptism.— · 220explains
- The Epistles of Cyprian.Carthage · 258explains
- On the MysteriesMilan · 397explains
- On Baptism, Against the DonatistsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the DonatistHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of InfantsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- An Invitation to Holy CommunionZwolle · 1471explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
- One Hundred Aphorisms,Geneva · 1564explains
- Misrepresentations Corrected and Truth Vindicated, in Reply to the Rev. Solomon WilliamsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Inquiry Concerning Qualification for CommunionNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy · Alexander Schmemann
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
After considering those things that concern the mystery of the incarnate Word, we must consider the sacraments of the Church which derive their efficacy from the Word incarnate Himself. First we shall
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
On the contrary, A definition is convertible with the thing defined. Now some define a sacrament as being "the sign of a sacred thing"; moreover, this is clear from the passage quoted above (A[1]) fro
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
We must now consider the Sacrament of Penance. We shall consider (1) Penance itself; (2) Its effect; (3) Its Parts; (4) The recipients of this sacrament; (5) The power of the ministers, which pertains
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
We have now to consider the use or receiving of this sacrament, first of all in general; secondly, how Christ used this sacrament. Under the first heading there are twelve points of inquiry: (1) Whe
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
OF THE SACRAMENTS. This chapter consists of two principal parts,—I. Of sacraments in general. The sum of the doctrine stated, sec. 1-6. Two classes of opponents to be guarded against—viz. those who u
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
7. It is irrational to contend that sacraments are not manifestations of divine grace toward us, because they are held forth to the ungodly also, who, however, so far from experiencing God to be more
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
12. The sacraments are confirmations of our faith in such a sense, that the Lord, sometimes, when he sees meet to withdraw our assurance of the things which he had promised in the sacraments, takes aw
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
15. Hence the distinction, if properly understood, repeatedly made by Augustine between the sacrament and the matter of the sacrament. For he does not mean merely that the figure and truth are therein
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
17. Wherefore, let it be a fixed point, that the office of the sacraments differs not from the word of God; and this is to hold forth and offer Christ to us, and, in him, the treasures of heavenly gra
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
20. Now these have been different at different times, according to the dispensation which the Lord has seen meet to employ in manifesting himself to men. Circumcision was enjoined on Abraham and his p
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
19. My readers have here a compendious view of all that I have thought it of importance to know concerning these two sacraments, which have been delivered to the Christian Church, to be used from the
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
OF THE FIVE SACRAMENTS, FALSELY SO CALLED. THEIR SPURIOUSNESS PROVED, AND THEIR TRUE CHARACTER EXPLAINED. There are two divisions of this chapter,—I. A general discussion of these five sacraments, se
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
31. It is, if you please, the sacred oil which impresses an indelible character. As if oil could not be washed away by sand and salt, or if it sticks the closer, with soap. But that character is spiri
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
1. The above discourse concerning the sacraments might have the effect, among the docile and sober-minded, of preventing them from indulging their curiosity, or from embracing, without authority from
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On Baptism, Against the Donatists · Augustine of Hippo
Book VI. In which is considered the Council of Carthage, held under the authority and presidency of Cyprian, to determine the question of the baptism of heretics. Chapter 1.—1. It might perhaps have
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On the Mysteries · Ambrose of Milan
It must be borne in mind that the name Mysteries was that by which the sacraments were commonly known in the Early Church, as it is at the present day in the Greek Church the equivalent of our word sa
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
On the contrary, Augustine says (Tract. lxxx super Joan.): "The word is added to the element and this becomes a sacrament"; and he is speaking there of water which is a sensible element. Therefore sen
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 2: Sensible things are endowed with natural powers conducive to the health of the body: and therefore if two of them have the same virtue, it matters not which we use. Yet they are
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 3: As Augustine says (Contra Faust. xix), the sacraments of things present should be different from sacraments of things to come. Now the sacraments of the Old Law foretold the comi
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Modern teachers who discuss this idea
Modern and living teachers whose books take up Sacrament (Mystery). These works are still in copyright, so we can’t show the text here — each links out to the book.
- Alexander SchmemannFor the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy(1963)View on Amazon→