Sacrament

Sacrament is from the Latin sacramentum, originally meaning a sacred oath or pledge (notably the military oath of a Roman soldier)[1]. Early Latin Christianity adapted the word to translate the Greek mysterion (mystery), used in the New Testament for the hidden purposes of God now revealed in Christ[2]. By the medieval period, sacramentum had become the technical term for the rites of the church that confer grace[3].

the number and meaning of sacraments vary among Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant communities.

Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions enumerate seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation (or chrismation), Eucharist, reconciliation (confession), anointing of the sick, marriage, and ordination (holy orders)[4]. The seven were definitively listed in Catholic teaching at the Council of Florence (1439) and the Council of Trent (1547), though the practices themselves are older[3]. Eastern Orthodox theology arrives at the same seven but generally treats the count as less rigid, since other rites (monastic profession, funeral, blessing of waters) can also be called mysteries[5].

Protestant traditions reduced the number, usually recognizing two as ordained by Christ in scripture: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist)[3]. Some traditions (Anglican, Lutheran) call other rites sacramental without using the word sacrament strictly[3]. The Reformed tradition tends to use signs and seals as a description[3]. Some Christian groups, notably the Salvation Army and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), do not practice the visible sacraments at all, on the theological ground that spiritual reality is what matters and outward ritual is not necessary[2].

The classical Augustinian definition holds that a sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace[6]. The grace conveyed depends on the sacrament[6]. Different traditions interpret efficacy (ex opere operato in Catholic theology, conditional on faith in Reformed theology, and so on) differently[3].

Sacramental theology is a developed area of Christian thought, with major modern contributions from figures such as Edward Schillebeeckx (whose Christ the Sacrament of the Encounter with God reframed Catholic sacramental theology) and Alexander Schmemann (whose For the Life of the World presented Orthodox sacramental theology to wider audiences)[7][8]. Ecumenical conversations have explored both convergence and remaining difference on sacramental questions[2].

• For the Life of the Worldby Alexander Schmemann
  book
• Christ the Sacrament of the Encounter with Godby Edward Schillebeeckx
  book