The Sacraments: Discovering the Treasures of Divine Life is a 2008 book by Fr. Matthew Kauth. The book is informative, with a chapter on each sacrament and an introduction explaining what a sacrament is. The book is borderline essential for Catholics and will appeal to non-Catholics as well. At only 145 pages, this book is very readable in a day or two. Would you like to use The Sacraments: Discovering the Treasures of Divine Life as a reference?
Summary of The Sacraments: Discovering the Treasures of Divine Life
The Sacraments: Discovering the Treasures of Divine Life by Fr. Matthew Kauth is just 145 pages and filled with information on the seven sacraments. Fr. Kaurtz wastes no time in getting into the sacraments. With clear and simple language, he explains them overall and then each of the seven. Simples means easy to understand, not basic. One does not need a theological understanding, a dictionary, or a thesaurus to understand.
The author begins with a chapter that overall explains things. He then uses scripture and a few other sources to go through each chapter by chapter. He explains, in each chapter, how they are necessary for salvation. In each of the chapters, Fr. Kauth shows their origin in scripture, cites tradition, and explains the effects and elements of each. Kauth explains why certain elements are used to bring about the miracle.
Kauth does a great job showing how each sacrament works in each of us and what is necessary for keeping it working. The book does not water down anything. Orthodox information in line with the church’s teaching and presents it in a way everyone can understand. This would be a good reference book for religious education students. Even theology students or people in seminaries will benefit greatly from reading this book.
What is a Sacrament?
There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, which were instituted by Jesus Christ. They are visible rites seen as signs and efficacious channels of the grace of God. It is a good thing to have a book like this that explains all of them, with a chapter on each. They are classified into three categories: initiation, Baptism, Confirmation, and the reception of the holy Eucharist; healing, Penance and the Anointing of the Sick; and service, Holy Orders and Matrimony.
An interesting side note is that their effect comes from the very fact of being administered. Since it is Christ who works through them, their effectiveness does not depend on the worthiness of the minister. The belief that the validity is dependent on the holiness of the administrator was rejected.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists the sacraments as follows: “The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. The list of seven sacraments given by the Council of Florence (1439) was reaffirmed by the Council of Trent (1545–1563). The Council of Trent stated:
CANON I.- If any one saith, that the New Law were not all instituted by Jesus Christ, our Lord; or that they are more, or less, than seven, to wit, Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Order, and Matrimony; or even that any one of these seven is not truly and properly a sacrament; let him be anathema.
CANON IV.- If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation, but superfluous; and that, without them, or the desire thereof, men obtain of God, through faith alone, the grace of justification; – though all are not necessary for every individual; let him be anathema.
However, an apparent administration is invalid if the person acting as minister does not have the necessary power; they are also invalid if the required “matter” or “form” is not present. The matter is the perceptible material object, such as water in baptism or bread and wine for the Eucharist.
Conclusion
This is a useful book for all Catholics and those seeking to understand the church. The book is simple and well-written. It can be used as a reference for even laypeople. It is recommended and may even be essential. It is so useful it will apply to Catholics and lay people as well.
