Lecture 5: The Signs of the Church and Sacraments Dr. Ann T. Orlando

Outline Mysteries and Sacraments Stages of catechumenate Ambrose on sacraments and mysteries Augustine and sacraments

Mysterion in Early Christianity In Paul The Christ is the mysterion of God. See 1 Cor 1:23; Col 2:2 The kerygma announces and reveals that mysterion see Eph 3:7-13 In late 2nd C, Justin Martyr compares pagan mysterion activities with the true teaching By 4th C Greek-speaking Church is referring to the Eucharist as the mysterion as well as the central statement of faith: passion, suffering and resurrection of Jesus Christ See for instance Gregory Nazianzus, On Flight

Latin: Sacramentum Fundamental meaning is ‘initiation’ that has some sacred component (oath) Beginning of a legal proceeding Inducted into the army The (only) sacrament for Tertullian was Baptism Early (Old) Latin translations used sacramentum for mysterion It seems that 2nd C Latin speaking Christians did not want to confuse Christian rites with pagan mystery cults. See Tertullian Prescription Against Heretics Sacramentum in 4th C Latin is understood as Baptism (following Tertullian) while mysterion becomes associated with the liturgy and the Eucharist (following Greek usage)

Ambrose Both On Mysteries and On Sacraments were catechetical instructions from Ambrose Genre of Catechetical instruction Given by a bishop Not necessarily a sermon, but at a gathering of adults preparing for Baptism, or immediately afterwards Given during Lent and Easter seasons Often bound together and repeated each year On Sacraments given during Lent On Mysteries given in Easter season

(Latin) Stages of Christian Initiation Our knowledge of this comes especially from catechetical instructions and sermons Varied from place to place Even time to time depending on bishop Typical stages of initiation Rude Catechumens Competentes Infantes Faithful

Rude Those who have expressed an initial interest in Christianity Usually presented to the bishop by a sponsor An initial instruction. The first catechetical instruction given by the bishop or other minister to the Rude Rude is marked with a sign of the cross on his forehead, and slat placed in his mouth Sometimes referred to a Christians in the womb Augustine wrote a First Catechetical Instruction (De catechizandis rudibus) at the request of a deacon in Carthage

Catechumen (audiens) Immediately after receiving the first instruction, the Rude becomes a Catechumen Catechumens attend liturgy through the homily Seated apart from faithful Spend several years as a catechumen Primary source of learning about faith was through homilies each week Catechumens are referred to as Christians

Competentes The catechumens who understand (competentes) and are ready for Baptism, submit their names at first Sunday of Lent Lent is a time of special instruction, prayer, fasting Two weeks before Easter, the bishop ‘hands over’ the Creed and Lord’s Prayer (traditio symboli) On Holy Thursday, the competentes break fast and bathe On Holy Saturday, before Baptism, they recite the Creed from memory (redditio symboli)

Infantes At Baptism, newly baptized are given a white robe Receive Eucharist for the first time During week after Easter Infantes sit apart from congregation in their robes Receive instruction on the Eucharist during this week On Octave of Easter, the infantes remove their robes and join the regular congregation

Augustine’s Sermons to Those in Stages of Initiation Sermon #210, at the beginning of Lent #212, At the Handing Over of the Creed #215, At the Giving Back of the Creed #216, To the Competentes

Augustine and The Sacrament of the Altar Sermons #227-229A are concentrated teachings from Augustine on the Eucharist Preached on Easter Sunday, especially directed to the recently baptized (infantes). Note especially the fluid use of signs with respect to the sacrament of the altar

Augustine’s Sermons There are nearly 400 sermons of Augustine which are extant Found in PL 38-39 And 30 sermons discovered since 1989 11 volumes in WSA (III.1-11) These 400 sermons do NOT include, for example, Homilies (Tractates) on John’s Gospel and Letter; PL 35; WSA III.12-14 Enarrationes on Psalms; PL 36-37; WSA III.15-20

Augustine on Mystery and Sacraments Augustine tends to use mysterion as Paul did for doctrinal statements Sacraments are a movement from visible to invisible, from ordinary experience to spiritual reality Sacraments as visible divine word Sacrament as a sign, see DDC III.9.13 Sacrament both sign and reality of the mystery (spiritual reality) of Christ Scripture as a sacrament Interpretation of Scripture as a Sacrament Creed and Lord’s Prayer as Sacraments Triduum Church is the authority that mediates sacraments (including Scripture)

Augustine’s Letters to Januarius These letters were written in response to questions by Januarius; Augustine refers to them as a response in two books. As with so many of Augustine’s letters, he is responding to someone (typically a lay man or woman) who has written to him with questions Among Januarius’ concerns are the variations in liturgical customs and practice in different areas In his answer, Augustine gives one of his longest, most focused, reply concerning sacraments For Augustine, sacramentum refers to any ritual (graceful) action In Letter 54 he talks about the uncountable number of sacraments in the Old Testament; 54.1.1 By contrast he suggests that the number in the New Testament is very few 54.1.2 Much of Letter 55 focuses specifically on the sacramentum of the Triduum celebration

Augustine’s Christology Recall that even as a Manichee, Augustine had a notion of the importance of Jesus Christ (albeit within the Manichee system) Conf. Book IV Recall that his attraction to the Platonists was incomplete because they did not have Jesus Christ, Conf. Book VII Augustine's understanding of Christ is deeply intertwined with his understanding of the Church as a community of believers who make up the Body of Christ

The Church as Administrator and Guardian of Sacraments Against the Donatists, Augustine argued that it is the Church as Church and not individual ministers who are the guardians and keepers of the sacraments Just as the Church is the guardian and keeper of Scripture and the rules of faith It is at times difficult to know if Augustine is referring to Christ, the Church, believers or sacraments of the Church Or perhaps all at the same time, since in a deep way, they are all interconnected See especially Sermon 272

Against the Fundamental Epistle of Mani (OPTIONAL) This epistle probably was written by Mani (d. 250) as a summary of Manichean beliefs to be used by Manichean missionaries Augustine follows the structure of the letter to refute Manichaeism; probably written early in his career as bishop Note how Augustine addresses his readers (assumed to be Manicheans) Relation between apostolicity of Church and truth of Gospels (Ch. 5) Note development of Trinitarian doctrine of “not one person, but one existence” (Ch. 6) Read Chapters 1-6 (emphasis on 5)

Aquinas ST follows Augustine very closely on relation between sign and reality of sacraments IIIa Q60 Doctrinal developments beyond Augusitne: ST supports Seven Sacraments (first clearly listed by Lombard) IIIa Q65 a1 Transubstantiation in Eucharist IIIa 76

Calvin ‘Back to Augustine’: a visible sign of a sacred thing Institutes 4.14 Only two sacraments: Baptism and Eucharist Institutes 4.19 Opposed to transubstantiation; not found in Augustine or Scripture Institutes 4.17

Assignments Letter 54, 55 “To Januarius” Sermons 210, 212, 215, 216, 227, 228, 228A, 228B, 229, 229A, 272 Against the Fundamental Epistle of Mani (OPTIONAL) Prepare Paper #5

Brief Bibliography Cameron, Michael. “Totus Christus and the Psychagogy of Augustine’s Sermons,” Augustinian Studies 36:1 (2005) 59-70. Cary, Phillip. Outward Signs: The Powerlessness of External Things in Augustine's Thought. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. Augustine Through the Ages, article on “Catechumens”