The Secrets of the Church

Pope Shenouda III’s talk on the sacraments emphasizes that a “sacrament” is an outward, visible rite administered by the priesthood that conveys an inward, invisible grace.

Key points:

• Each sacrament has visible acts (oil, bread & wine, water, laying-on of hands, liturgical prayers) and an invisible grace (e.g., Holy Spirit’s indwelling in chrismation; Eucharistic presence; priestly authority in ordination). Liturgical prayers (the Liturgy) are the specific rites for these mysteries.

• Marriage: a spiritual bond (grace) that makes two one; it is broken only by death, adultery, or apostasy.

• Baptism: central sacrament with many unseen gifts:

  • Forgiveness of original sin and previous actual sins (for adults requires repentance and faith). (References discussed: Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16.)

  • Death of the old self and birth of the new man in the image of God — “buried and raised with Christ” (Romans 6; Colossians).

  • Sanctification of the baptismal water (prayers, oil/Miron used to consecrate the water).

  • Incorporation into the Church — membership in God’s people (parallel to circumcision in the OT).

  • Salvation tied to faith and baptism (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:20–21 examples discussed).

• Infant baptism: defended strongly. Old Testament rites (circumcision, Passover blood, crossing the Red Sea) were given to infants by parental/communal faith; likewise New Covenant children receive baptism by their parents’ faith. Denying infants the sacraments deprives them of the grace of the covenant.

• Children have simple, robust faith — often stronger than adults; waiting for intellectual maturity to receive sacramental grace is both unnecessary and harmful.

• Practical pastoral note: present doctrine simply to the people (folk, peasants) — do not make the faith only a matter for philosophers; the Church baptizes and nourishes simple believers too.