Meaning of a Sacrament

The word sacrament, in itself, means something holy or sacred, or something which is related to what is holy or sacred. But in the sense in which we are now to use the word sacrament, it means, first of all, a sign which expresses in a sensible manner,some sacred thing which is outside the grasp and reach of the senses.

A sacrament is a sign of some holy thing pertaining toman; that is, it is a sign of a thing in so far as this thing makes men holy.

A sacrament is a sign that takes in past, present, and future in its signification, for: (a) it includes reference toman’s sanctification in its cause, which is the Passion of Christ; (b) it aids man’s present holiness by giving grace and promoting virtue; (c) it bears in itself the promise of eternal life to come.

Man acquires intellectual knowledge from sense-knowledge. Therefore, sensible signs are aptly used to signify spiritual things. A sacrament is a sign that the senses can grasp; then the mind can read the intellectual and spiritual meaning which the sign is meant to convey. A sacrament is always an outer or sensible sign.

The signs that are sacraments are not of man’s choosing. Since sacraments are for man’s sanctification, theyare signs instituted and chosen by the Sanctifier of men, that is,our divine Lord.

A sign is not made a sacrament by any natural fitness or power of its own. It is made a sacrament by authentic words which give it spiritual meaning and power. Hence, words are necessary for constituting a sacrament.

Not any words that a man may choose, however apt and suitable they may be, can constitute a sign as a sacrament. As the signs themselves are divinely determined, so are the authentic words which make these signs into sacraments.

Any words added or omitted so as to change the essential meaning of the determinate formula of words used for a sacrament, would invalidate the sacrament itself.