Title: CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Sacraments
Headings: Sacraments
Sacraments
Necessity and nature
In what sense necessary
Why the sacramental system is most appropriate
Existence of sacred symbols
Nature of the sacraments of the New Law
Definition of a sacrament
Errors of Protestants
Catholic doctrine
Proofs of the Catholic doctrine
Matter and form of the sacraments
Origin (cause) Of the sacraments
Power of God
Power of Christ
Immediate or mediate institution
What does immediate institution imply? Power of the Church.
May we then say that Christ instituted some sacraments in an implicit state?
Number of the sacraments
Catholic doctrine: Eastern and Western Churches
Protestant errors
Division and comparison of the sacraments
Effects of the sacraments
Catholic doctrine
How the sacraments cause grace: theological controversies
Minister of the sacraments
Men, not angels
Ordination requirements for the ministers of particular sacraments
Heretical or schismatic ministers
State of soul of the minister
Intention of the minister
Attention in the minister
Recipient of the sacraments
Conditions for valid reception
Conditions for the licit reception
Reviviscence of the sacraments
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Content: It is incredible, writes St. Augustine, that before circumcision there was no sacrament for the relief ( justification) of children, although for some good reason the Scriptures do not tell us what that sacrament was ( Against Julian III.11 ). The sacrifice of Melchisedech, the sacrifice of the friends of Job, the various tithes and oblations for the service of God are mentioned by St. Thomas ( III:61:3, ad 3; III:65:1, ad 7) as external observances which may be considered as the sacred signs of that time, prefiguring future sacred institutions: hence, he adds, they may be called sacraments of the law of nature . (c) Sacraments of the Mosaic Law. As the time for Christ's coming drew nearer, in order that the Israelites might be be