Council Notebook number 11, written by Dominik Jurczak (president of the Dominicans’ international liturgical commission), introduces the subject of the sacraments and what the Church teaches about them.
A topic that is always relevant
The Church’s sacraments are often discussed, also because there are some that we experience almost daily (the Eucharist and Reconciliation), but how were they explained and explored in greater depth by the Second Vatican Council?
Are the sacraments part of the liturgy, or are they “merely” sacred signs?
We generally believe we intuitively know what the sacraments are because we can give a catechism definition, because we attend them “regularly” if we have been taught that they are important to a Christian’s life.
Yet do we really know what they are and what they should be?
Do they translate into something that truly influences our daily lives, and how?
An overview
In seeking an answer to these and other questions, Father Dominik takes an original approach, offering an overview of the history of the sacraments and outlining the problems Christians have faced over the centuries.
The first part looks at history to understand the context in which the Council Fathers addressed the topic of the sacraments. The second part focuses more closely on the context of the constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, on the sacraments and sacramentals, showing the new perspective brought by the Council. This reveals the true novelty and freshness of the conciliar documents, which remain relevant even today.
This book is a reflection intended to invite us, challenge us, and help us move beyond the obvious!
