6/9/2015Evert Gementiza1 THE PRINCIPLE OF SACRAMENTALITY.

04/18/23 Evert Gementiza 1

THE PRINCIPLE OF

SACRAMENTALITY

Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1.To understand the meaning of principle of sacramentality, and four levels of sacramentality


Objectives

2. 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.

3. To practice daily affirmation of God’s presence through love and compassion to the poor.




‘Heart of the Ocean’ necklace


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.













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.


Sacramentality: Etymology• Derived originally from Greek mysterion =

deep and secret purposes (mystery) of God’s 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 God’s presence.


Sacramental Principle: Basis

The Sacramental Principle is based on

the need for the divine and the

human to encounter and communicate

one another.


In principle, everything is capable of embodying and communicating the divine. There is no finite

instrument which God cannot put to use.



Humans, on the other hand, have nothing else

apart from the finite instruments to express their response to God’s

self-communication.



The Sacramental Principle refers to the

use of finite and human instruments, of visible signs and symbols, to make possible (real) God’s encounter and communication with

humanity.

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.




The human reaches the Divine through the only finite instruments they

have.


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 God’s Presence


1. Christ the Incarnate Word as the Primordial Sacrament

As Primordial Sacrament, Christ as the Incarnate Word (Jn. 1:14 – “the

Word became flesh”) is God Himself reaching and

being present to the human.


Some Scriptural Basis:a. Jn. 14:7 – “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 2:5 – “God is one. One is the mediator between God and men, the Christ Jesus.”



In the Old Testament, God’s revelation was granted “inchoatively”

(initially) to the Israelites through the prophets, In

the New Testament, God’s revelation to

humanity was perfected, made universally and

definitive in Jesus Christ.




2. The Church as the Fundamental Sacrament

1) GOD’S PRESENCE: The Church is the visible sign of God’s abiding presence in the world. In God’s universal plan of salvation (1 Tim 2:4),

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.


2. The Church as the Fundamental Sacrament

2) HUMAN RESPONSE:

The Church is also the visible sign of a person’s 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.



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.


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.



There is a certain resemblance between

the stages of natural life and the stages of the

spiritual life.



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


Physical Birth/ Generation

Growth/Maturity

Physical Nourishment

Physical & Psychological Healing

Community Realities of Family Life and Leadership

Baptism (Spiritual Birth/ Regeneration)

Confirmation (Strengthened by the

Holy Spirit) Eucharist

Reconciliation & Anointing

Matrimony and Holy Orders


4. All other things as Sacraments of God’s 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 God’s presence may be discerned and

experienced.


God’s grace, the presence and activity of

God and the transformation of life

which this brings about, is at loose in the world.

4. All other things as Sacraments of God’s Presence




Personal Integration

1)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.


Personal Integration

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


Assignment: Journal

1. Do I take time to pause, be aware of, and thankful for God’s 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 God’s gift of love and presence in me, in others, and in our environment?


END



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. “


Tad Guzie on “What is a Sacrament?

“The action is a symbol of God’s 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)


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6/9/2015Evert Gementiza1 THE PRINCIPLE OF SACRAMENTALITY.

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