What Really Goes Into a Sacrament? (Aquinas 101)

What are the elements of a sacrament? What is the form and matter of a sacrament? In this episode of Aquinas 101: The Sacraments, join Fr. Dominic Langevin, O.P., a Dominican friar from the Province of St. Joseph, as he presents what the elements of a sacrament are.

Subscribe to our channel here:

--

Aquinas 101 is a project of the Thomistic Institute that seeks to promote Catholic truth through short, engaging video lessons. You can browse earlier videos at your own pace or enroll in one of our Aquinas 101 email courses on St. Thomas Aquinas and his masterwork, the Summa Theologiae. In these courses, you'll learn from expert scientists, philosophers, and theologians—including Dominican friars from the Province of St. Joseph.

Enroll in Aquinas 101 to receive the latest videos, readings, and podcasts in your email inbox each week.

Help us film Aquinas 101!

Want to represent the Thomistic Institute on your campus? Check out our online store!

Stay connected on social media:

#Aquinas101 #ThomisticInstitute #ThomasAquinas #Catholic

*Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

[angelicashen]

I cannot agree more. I remembered once when I was on my trip to Latvia and it happened to be a Sunday. There was only one Catholic church offering English mass so I attended. It was a very small church with few simple sacramental elements, no incense(which is my favourite), no alter service and no organ. Chants were accompanied by guitar. The feeling was just…strange. I will never doubt if this kind of a simple mass has equally sacramental efficacy for sure. However it was that moment I realised physical elements were spiritually helpful and had such the privilege in my parish was a gift that I should always feel gratitude.

[sopad]

So complicated father. So many things to remember.

[jonathankane]

A question occurred to me while listening to this: What if the priest is deaf or mute and can't speak. Would sign language constitute valid words for a sacrament?

[zzc]

I started reading Summa Theologiae. Lots of interesting ideas, but not enough direct scriptural references. E.g., his ideas about the nature of angels and such are very detailed, but those details are not found in scriptures, or did I miss them?... What did Aquinas base his ideas and conclusions on?... Is there a work and/or expository type of book that demonstrates how he proceeds directly from a specific biblical verse/chapter?... Could you please provide sources?

[luluq]

#AskAFriar
Sending my question here since it is a little long. I have often wondered how Mary is shown to us as an example to emulate. However, Mary is the Immaculate Conception. Being that she is free of original sin, her intellect and will was not clouded or in error since she was not weighted down by the consequence of original sin. How can we possibly aspire to that when we are constantly weighted down by sin?
Also, our original parents before the fall, also enjoyed this privilege and were in constant communication with God. How then would they ever choose anything but God?
Thank you

[pawelwysocki]

At the creation of the world God breathed His spirit into man. He did not do that with animals or plants.

For St. Thomas the necessity to be consistent with Aristotle produced the concept of "animal soul" (its form). But that puts Aristotle above the Word of God - probably unknowingly, since it's a subtle matter.

To be clear, I value Thomas immensely as a Saint. My only reservations have to do with his philosophy. If everything has a form, but only human beings have souls, then maybe the Form and the Soul aren't the same thing.

(I know St. Thomas tried to find a walk-around by saying that only the human soul is immortal. It seems this leaves a lot of people confused.)

God bless!

[sethapex]

I'm sorry "dog's soul"? Doesn't the church teach that only humans have an immortal soul?

[andrewortiz]

Many native American use Peyote cactus buttons as A Religious Sacrament. Peyote is a sacred medicine that causes visions and Spiritual Experiences. Even Catholic missionaries tried the Peyote Sacrament and they too reported religious Ecstasy and visions of The Blessed Virgin etc .

[WolfIshElm]

what in the cult is this. why am i getting ads for this. I'm Nazarene but watching some creepy guy on my screen isn't cool.