„...et sacrum characterem imprimi …”. Historyczno-systematyczny zarys teologii charakteru sakramentalnego

Abstract

The “sacramental character” understood as an “indelible token” impressed in the Christian's soul is a permanent and irremovable effect of receiving the three sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Priesthood. The term alone (charaktér) comes from the world of ancient culture but it also functions in the Bible (as sfragǐs ˗ seal) in the literal, metaphorical, and theological sense. During the patristic times and the Middle Ages it was permanently linked with sacramentology, especially thanks to the works of St Augustin and St Thomas Acquinas. The Tridentine Council in 1547 made some obligatory decisions as to the understanding, defining and consequences of the “sacramental character”. Contemporary theology stresess that the reason why the “indelible token” was established is the irreversible salvatory faithfulness of God. A practical result of the latter is the irrepeatable character of the three sacraments in question. At the ecumenical level a considerable accord has been achieved with the Lutheran and Orthodox standpoint.