According to some
Christian denominations, a sacramental character is an indelible
spiritual ''mark'' (the meaning of the word ''character'' in
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
) imprinted by any of three of the seven
sacraments:
baptism
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost ...
,
confirmation, and
holy orders.
History
The doctrine was expressed by
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...
in his religious controversies. The doctrine of the sacramental character was
dogmatically defined at the 16th century
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent ( la, Concilium Tridentinum), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent (or Trento), now in northern Italy, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation, it has been described a ...
.
Teaching by Christian denomination
Catholicism
This teaching is expressed as follows in the ''
Catechism of the Catholic Church'' (1992), §1121:
If it is doubtful whether a person has received the sacrament, the sacrament may be
administered conditionally (using words such as for
conditional baptism
Mainline Christian theology (including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East, Anglican, Lutheran and most other Protestants) has traditionally held that only one baptism is valid to confer the benefits of this sacr ...
: "If thou art not baptized, I baptize thee
"). However, such an administration is only
valid and effective to the extent that no valid administration of the same sacrament has already occurred, as it does not in any event constitute an effective repetition of a valid previous administration of that sacrament.
The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' §698, explains as follows the significance of the image of "seal", used as an alternative to that of "character":
Lutheranism
Lutheran theologian
Wolfhart Pannenberg
Wolfhart Pannenberg (2 October 1928 – 4 September 2014) was a German Lutheran theologian. He made a number of significant contributions to modern theology, including his concept of history as a form of revelation centered on the resurre ...
stated that "in terms of the thought of promise and sending that constantly govern the ordained and claim them for Christ's service, we no longer need to oppose
ndelible characteron the Lutheran side, since this point of view finds expression in the Lutheran churches, too. Here there is no repetition of ordination."
Anglicanism
The
Book of Common Prayer
The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the name given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign ...
of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America
The Episcopal Church, based in the United States with additional dioceses elsewhere, is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a mainline Protestant denomination and is divided into nine provinces. The presiding bishop of ...
teaches that "The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble".
See also
*
Sacraments (Catholic Church)
There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, which according to Catholic theology were instituted by Jesus and entrusted to the Church. Sacraments are visible rites seen as signs and efficacious channels of the grace of God to all thos ...
*
Lutheran sacraments
The Lutheran sacraments are "sacred acts of divine institution". Lutherans believe that, whenever they are properly administered by the use of the physical component commanded by God along with the divine words of institution, God is, in a way spec ...
*
Anglican sacraments
In keeping with its prevailing self-identity as a ''via media'' or "middle path" of Western Christianity, Anglican sacramental theology expresses elements in keeping with its status as a church in the catholic tradition and a church of the Refor ...
*
Conditional sacrament
A conditional sacrament or sacrament ''sub conditione'' ("under condition") is in some Christian denominations a sacrament administered "on the condition that the faithful eceiving it isable and legitimately entitled to receive the sacrament". An ...
*
Sacramental matter and form According to Catholic theology, the sacraments of the Catholic Church can be described in their matter and form.
Description
The terminology of ''form'' and ''matter'' to describe the sacraments seems to have been first proposed by William of Au ...
References
Further reading
"Character (in Catholic Theology)" ''
Catholic Encyclopedia
The ''Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church'' (also referred to as the ''Old Catholic Encyclopedia'' and the ''Original Catholic Encyclopedia'') i ...
''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sacramental Character
Catholic theology and doctrine
Sacraments of the Catholic Church
category:Sacramental theology