Sacraments, Sacramentals, and Rituals

Abstract The English word “sacrament” is a transliteration of the Latin word, sacramentum , best translated as “symbol” or “ritual.” More particularly in early Christian usage, sacramentum indicates a religious symbol or ritual. Sacramentum , then, in Western Christianity, has referred throughout most of its history to any religious symbol or ritual, including the Jewish rituals that preceded the Christian era. In the 12th century, however, the custom grew up of referring to the seven most important Christian rituals as “the sacraments,” although the older usage of the Latin word persisted alongside this newer usage. Those symbols and rituals of lesser importance became know as “sacramentals,” or “little sacraments.” By the 16th century, debates erupted over which rituals should be considered “sacraments” and which should not. In general, Roman Catholics retained the late medieval practice of considering seven, and only seven, rituals as sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation Eucharist, Penance, Marriage, Orders, and Last Anointing. Reformation churches accepted at least two of these rituals as founded in Scripture and therefore true sacraments: Baptism, and Eucharist or Communion.