In
the Introduction handout, Fulton Sheen describes what is called the Divine
Sense of Humor. He explains how in order to understand the sacraments; we must
all develop a divine sense of humor. He gives examples to illustrate this
divine sense of humor, such as the horse and the human. If someone tells a joke
to a horse and a human, the human and the horse would both understand the words
and the joke being presented, but the human would be the one to laugh. The
horse would get only the material side of the sacrament. Sheen also describes
how there are physical sacraments, such as a handshake or a kiss. In order to
understand the sacraments, you must find a deeper meaning behind a symbol. He
also says that two reasons why we fail to understand the sacraments are because
we cut off God from the natural world and we fail to confound substantiality
with Him.
In
the handout, “The Bible is a Sacrament”, Sheen discuses the Bibles meaning and
symbolism. The Bible is a symbol of the trust and belief in God. He also explains
the origin of the word “sacrament.” The word in Greek translates at “mystery,”
which is why the Bible and God are seen as the unknown. God Himself takes upon
a human nature to unite human nature and divine nature in one person. The
humanity of Christ was the cause of our justification and sanctification. God
is what separates the divine world from the human and natural world.
The handout “What the Sacraments Bring
to Man” discusses the differences between human nature and divine life. Those
who live the natural life fail to see the higher life of grace. There are three
levels: the sensate, the intellectual, and the divine. The first level denies
the reality except those that come from the flesh or the known. The second
level is the peak of all powers of human reason and human will. The third level
is a fulfilled heart that seeks truth for unknown reasons. When every person
was created, we were made as one with God. He communicates through signs and
symbols to speak so that human nature can meet and understand divine life. God
also made contact with humanity in two ways. The first being invisible contact,
where Jesus performed miracles and the second being Jesus extending his power
through the sacraments.
The
Seven Conditions of Life helps us understand the physical and natural life. The
first five of these conditions refer the person as an individual and the
remaining two as a member of society. These conditions of life consists of:
birth, those who do not eat shall not live, maturity and responsibility as an
adult, healed wounds, and driving out disease. There are also conditions that
lead to a Christ life. These conditions are: the Sacrament of Baptism, the
Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and
Matrimony. The visible signs of the sacraments are the Passion, Death and
Resurrection of Christ.
Life
is blood, which is also a sin. In a way, life symbolizes the emptying and
cleansing of sin. Since life is blood, blood is also therefore the symbol of
sacrifice. When man gives up his blood, what he is really doing is giving up
his own life. The blood of Christ is ultimately of infinite valued because he
is a divine person. His blood is more valuable than that of a lamb and man.
Sacraments
do not confer grace as magical signs, but instead they communicate it only
because they are in contact with the Risen Christ. The blood of Christ is
applied at different moments in life that results in a different kind of power.
Chris-life affects us in different ways when we are born and when we are about
to die. We enter a stage in responsibility and marriage and grow from there. To
receive the Blood of Christ, we must be willing to cleanse our sins and receive
him as the Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Penance.
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