1. The Sacraments in History: Changing Church, Changing Sacraments
Chapter 6
The Sacraments in History:
Changing Church, Changing Sacraments

2. Ichthus: Greek name for fish; acrostic for Jesus Christ God Son Savior: IXOYC

3. Anchor, Icthus, Chi-Rho: Catacomb of St. Sebastian

4. Phase Two: Dark Ages: A.D. 400 - 1000
A.D. 330: Roman Empire’s headquarters moved from Rome to Constantinople
A.D. 395: Roman Empire is split in two;
Attacks by Huns (Central Asia) and Vandals (North Africa) weaken the Empire
A.D. 476: Last Roman Emperor killed; collapse of Western Empire followed

5. Collapse of Roman Empire:
Resulted in political and cultural chaos
Absence of strong leadership and government
Church and its popes play an increasing role in governing the West

6. St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, A.D. 395:
A time of controversy and division in the early Church;
Baptism: Confers a permanent “seal” on the person;
Used words “administered” and “received” about Baptism;
Took a broad view of sacraments: “signs of a sacred thing;” all creation was a reflection of God
“Sacraments of the word” – sermons, prayer, Scripture
“Sacraments of action” – various symbols and rituals used in Christian worship

7. Other Developments:
A.D. 451, Council of Chalcedon (fourth ecumenical, or general, council of the Christian Church), declared that the bishop of Rome was the highest authority in the Church
The patriarch of Constantinople (head of the church in the East), was named second in authority
Eventually, a formal split between the Church in the East and the West (Rome) occurred
Eastern Rite churches are still affiliated with Rome; Eastern Orthodox churches are not; however, each practices sacraments in its own unique way
Eastern Rite churches: Byzantine Rite, Chaldean Rite are recognized by Rome, but different from the Latin or Roman Rite of Catholicism

8. Developments in sacramental practices:
Rite of Confirmation became separated from Baptism
Public penance was replaced by private confession
Lay involvement in the eucharistic liturgy (Mass) decreased significantly
Marriage came to be seen as a sacramental rite
Anointing of the Sick became Anointing of the Dying
Presbyters (priests) were ordained to preside at liturgical functions as the bishop’s representatives

9. Developments in Christianity:
In A.D. 313, emperor Constantine lifted the ban on Christian worship with the Edict of Milan.
Christianity moved its worship from “underground” to “above ground;”
Christians could now practice their faith openly, and built churches for worship;
Constantine financed the building of many beautiful basilicas (churches);
In A.D. 380, Christianity was declared the official religion of the Roman Empire by emperor Theodosius.

10. Sacraments are:
Efficacious signs of grace (capable of effecting change in us and the world, because of God’s power, not our own);
Instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which
Divine life is dispensed to us. (CCC #1131, text p. 92)

11. Sacraments:
Are celebrated by visible rites which signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament.
Bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions (inner attitude and readiness for a particular sacrament).
(CCC, #1131, Text, p. 91 – 92)

12. Jesus was a sacrament of God:
He brought people to new life.
He forgave people’s sins.
He sacrificed himself out of love.
He shared the power of his spirit with others.
He healed people’s illnesses.
He was faithful to the One he called Abba.
He ministered to people’s spiritual needs.

13. Each of these actions of Jesus were eventually ritualized into what are now the official sacraments of the Catholic Church.

14. Change: An inevitable fact of life
The sacraments developed gradually in the early Church.
The Church’s understanding and awareness of how God’s grace is presented to us went through a gradual development.

15. Phase One: Church and Sacraments Before A.D. 400
Christianity: a prohibited organization composed of small, secret communities.
Illegal to be Christian since the reign of Roman Emperor Nero (A.D ).
In Rome, Christians worshipped secretly in underground cemeteries called catacombs.
Church spread throughout Mediterranean region, beginning with the Apostles.

16. Formal elements present in the Church’s worship and ministry by A. D
Ritual meal, similar to today’s Mass;
Singing, reading from Scripture, a “homily” by the bishop, the ordained leader of the community;
Sharing of bread and wine, believed to be the body and blood of Christ, and shared only by baptized members;
Initiation ritual was in place.

17. “Sacramenta” A word used to describe Roman religious rites;
Used by Christian writer, Tertullian, used the word “sacramentum” to describe the Christian ritual of initiation;
Eventually, the word “sacramenta” was used to describe a variety of religious rituals practiced by Christians.
(Text, p. 101)