International Catholic University
I. The Sacramental Economy: theological basis
A. The Mystery Celebrated (CCC 1066-1068)
1. "Economy"-- God's saving plan in Christ.
2. "paschal mystery" -- That the faithful may live from it & bear witness to it. Dispensing the fruits of the paschal mystery.
B. Fundamentalist objection
1. one of biggest differences between Catholic & evangelical Christians is sacramentalism, ritual worship
2. at best "pomp & circumstance,"; at worst revived Pharisaical ritualism
3. added-on encrustation or integral part of Christian patrimony?
4. Sacraments not the focus of evangelization. Not first in creed or dogma dfn
C. Anthropological Basis of liturgy / sacrament in normal human experience
1. Thomas Howard, Evangelical is not Enough (Ignatius Press, 1984)
2. Every culture uses symbol & ritual in its worship of the divine and its attempt to celebrate, mark off, even natural milestones in human life. CCC 1147-49. Natural symbols: creation, social life. Even Soviet s Lenin's tomb.
3. Thomas Howard, Chance or the Dance (San Francisco: Ignatius, 1991)
a. "On all levels, from the lunch table to the coronation, we dispose our experience ritually." Chance, 35.
b. Hand-shake. Set the table for festive meal. Birthday. Death. Wedding. "Actions speak louder than words." "Talk is cheap." "One picture is worth a thousand words." "Body language."
c. "Any criticism of ritual arrives not from a non-ritualist (there are none) but only from another sort of ritual." Chance, 39.
4. Properties of a true symbol (vs. a mere sign):
a. Symbol is a subset of sign.
b. Like any sign, it is concrete (not abstract)
c. Yet unlike most signs, it speaks to the whole person (not just mind)
d. It is also polyvalent: layers of meaning [like an onion], inexhaustible. Ex. Cross: sign of divine love, depths of human depravity, crossroads between heaven & earth, east & west; tree of life
5. Theological. Anthropology (K. Rahner, Spirit in the World): CCC 1146
a. the human person as enfleshed spirit
b. human spirit actuates itself by interaction with others & the world through the body. As the spirit actuates itself, expresses itself in some tangible form. Structure of human life is thus symbolic.
c. Two-way street!: Symbolic expression doesn't simply signify what previously existed independently of it. Rather, the expression and the realization accompany & support one another. Expresses something, but also nourishes, strengthens, perfects."
d. E.g. sign of affection like hug or kiss; sexual union.
D. Salvation History: symbolic structure of Revelation & response
1. The Principles of condescension & nature
a. Thomas Aquinas: "grace builds on [and transforms] nature."
b. A. Dulles: "Man shares in the divine life not in a divine but in a human way, consonantly with his nature as man."
c. God condescends or accommodates himself to our nature & capacity in his dealings with us. He lowers himself to our level & reveals himself to us in a way we can understand.
d. CCC 1149 & 1152 "The Church presupposes, integrates, & sanctifies elements from creation & human culture." Does not abolish but purifies, elevates, integrates.
2. Symbolic Revelation and Ritual Response in Old Testament
a. e.g., Gen 28 Jacob's ladder, Ex. 3 burning bush, Is 6, Exodus 14
b. dabar = communication by word or deed. Gesture, and therefore, Sacrament a non-verbal word. Jer 27-28: Yoke. Hannaniah.
c. There can be no dichotomy between word & sacrament: Catholic sacraments full of WOG; Baptist service not devoid of symbol & ritual (the pulpit, bible, altar call, "Amen")
d. Word of God is efficacious: Is 55:11 "it [God's word] shall not return to me void but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."
e. God commands Israel to respond to his call with word, moral action, and ritual action: sacrifices (priesthood, temple), Sabbath meal, circumcision, Passover & other feasts. CCC 1150.
f. prophets condemned empty ritual, not ritual itself Mal 1:11; Amos 5:21ff
g. OT religion is earthy: NT does not abolish this earthiness but transforms it.
3. Symbolic Revelation & Ritual Response in New Testament
a. Jesus
(1) his touch (woman with the flow of blood Lk 8:43) of healing, forgiveness. John gospel's 7 "signs".
(2) Mk 10:13 Little children embraced, touched, blessed.
(3) Jn 9:6 Heals through instrumentality of mud: earthy!
(4) cross as the great sign. 1 Jn. 4:10
(5) command to baptize (Mat 28:19), repeat what he did at last supper (Lk 22:19)
b. Church
(1) Acts 2: new theophany of Pentecost, baptism
(2) Lord's supper on the Lord's day (Acts 20:7)
(3) Healing (Acts 19:11), forgiveness & laying on of hands, anointing with oil (Jas. 5:14-15)
(4) Interpret OT signs, events & institutions as prefigurements of the new sacraments: 1 Cor 10: 1-4; Eph 5:32. The whole "sacramental economy" built upon this spiritual understanding of Scripture. CCC 1094, 95.
II. Liturgy
A. Etymology: "public work" or "service in the name of or in behalf of the people." CCC 1069. Cf. Lk 1:23; Acts 13:2; Rom 15:16; 2 Cor 9:12
B. Definition of Liturgy in Canon Law CIC 834.1 (1983-20 years after SC)
1. Sanctification of humankind is signified & effected . . .
2. In & through sensible signs in such a way that the . . .
3. Public worship of God is . . .
4. Carried out by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ (Totus Christus or the Whole Christ).
C. Christian liturgy as Trinitarian
1. liturgy as Christ's own worship of Father in which we participate as members of his body & partakers of his Holy Spirit. Totus Christus. Jn 4: true worship of the Father in Spirit (HS and truth (Jesus.
2. Definition of liturgy: SC 7, "full public worship . . . by the Mystical Body of Christ, . . . the Head and his members. . . making use of signs perceptible to the senses." CCC 783 (p. 278)
3. SC 7, the liturgy is an exercise of the priestly office of JC. CCC 1073.
4. Roman tradition: prayer is addressed through Christ, in Spirit to Father. Eastern tradition: to the Holy Trinity.
D. Distinction between Liturgy & Devotional prayers (Popular Piety)
1. CIC 834.2. Liturgy takes place when it is carried out in the name of the whole church by persons lawfully deputed and through acts approved by the authority of the Church (in other words, in the official liturgical books).
2. does not include "private," though approved, devotions such as rosary, novenas, stations, etc. These should flow from liturgy & back to it, harmonize with liturgical seasons SC 12-13 & CCC 1674-1676.
3. "liturgy" includes 1) sacraments; 2) sacramentals; 3) liturgical year; and 4) liturgy of the hours
4. "Every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the Priest and of his Body, which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. No other action of the Church can equal its efficacy...to the same degree." SC 7.
5. Liturgy supreme act of Church. SC 10 summit & source, CCC 1074.
6. Yet liturgy does not exhaust the life of the Church (evangelization, faith, conversion) or the prayer of Christians (popular piety/devotions). Balance: don't put devotions first, but don't discourage them either.