Sacramental matter and form
Encyclopedia
According to Saint Thomas Aquinas
the Sacraments may be described in terms of their matter and form. The idea seems to have been first proposed by William of Auxerre
. Thus, for example, the matter for Baptism
is water; the matter for the Eucharist
is bread and wine. The form of a sacrament consists of the words by which the Sacrament is effected. Thus Saint Thomas held that the form of Penance
was "I absolve thee."
The Catechism of Trent states it this way: "Every Sacrament consists of two things, matter, which is called the element, and form, which is commonly called the word."
The term "matter" should be taken broadly to mean that which underlies the sacrament in a manner similar that the way in which matter underlies substance. Thus the penance assigned to a sinner is taken to be the matter of Penance.
Secondly the form of a sacrament may take significantly different forms in different churches. Thus, for example, though Saint Thomas held the form of Confirmation to be "I sign thee with the sign of the cross..." the Byzantine Rite
uses the form "The sign of the seal of the Holy Spirit."
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
the Sacraments may be described in terms of their matter and form. The idea seems to have been first proposed by William of Auxerre
William of Auxerre
William of Auxerre was a French scholastic theologian and official in the Roman Catholic Church.The teacher by whom William was most influenced was Praepositinus, or Prevostin, of Cremona, Chancellor of the University of Paris from 1206 to 1209...
. Thus, for example, the matter for Baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
is water; the matter for the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
is bread and wine. The form of a sacrament consists of the words by which the Sacrament is effected. Thus Saint Thomas held that the form of Penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
was "I absolve thee."
The Catechism of Trent states it this way: "Every Sacrament consists of two things, matter, which is called the element, and form, which is commonly called the word."
The term "matter" should be taken broadly to mean that which underlies the sacrament in a manner similar that the way in which matter underlies substance. Thus the penance assigned to a sinner is taken to be the matter of Penance.
Secondly the form of a sacrament may take significantly different forms in different churches. Thus, for example, though Saint Thomas held the form of Confirmation to be "I sign thee with the sign of the cross..." the Byzantine Rite
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
uses the form "The sign of the seal of the Holy Spirit."