General Principles of Sacramental Theology

225 Pages·2017·0.79 MB·English

by  Roger W. Nutt

General Principles of
Sacramental Theology

General
Principles of
Sacramental
Theology
Roger W. Nutt
The Catholic University of America Press
Washington, D.C.
Copyright © 2017
The Catholic University of America Press
All rights reserved
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standards for Information Science—Permanence of
Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.
∞
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Nutt, Roger W., author.
Title: General principles of sacramental theology / Roger W. Nutt.
Description: Washington, D.C. : The Catholic University of America Press,
2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016050355 | ISBN 9780813229386 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Sacraments—Catholic Church. | Sacraments—History
of doctrines.
Classification: LCC BX2200 .N88 2017 | DDC 234/.16—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016050355
Contents
Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction 1
Part I. Methodological and Doctrinal Considerations for a
Theology of the Sacraments
1. The Sacraments as Theology: Wisdom and 11
Theological Method
2. Sin, Redemption and the Sacramental Economy 22
of Salvation: The Theological Foundations of the
Seven Sacraments
Part II. Understanding the Sacraments as Signs
3. The Nature of the Sacraments as Signs 49
4. Sacramental Matter and Form 66
5. Sacramental Intention 74
6. The Necessity of the Sacraments 88
Part III. Sacramental Causality, Grace, and Character
7. Sacramental Causality 99
8. Sacramental Grace 138
9. Sacramental Character 151
10. Sacramentum Tantum, Res et Sacramentum, 166
Res Tantum
11. The Institution and Authority of the Sacraments 175
Conclusion: Principles of a Sacramental Spirituality 185
Bibliography 193
Index 203
vi Contents
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
This project, like my entire life, was worked out within a mani-
fold web of dependency. Due to the generous support of the admin-
istration and the board of trustees of Ave Maria University, I recently
enjoyed the benefit of a semester-long sabbatical. This book is the
product of that sabbatical, for which I owe special thanks to my
(then) department chairman, Gregory Vall, and several other admin-
istrators and trustees who blessed the proposal with their support
at the various stages of approval, especially Seana Sugrue, Michael
Dauphinais, H. James Towey, Robert Kennedy, and Michael T. O.
Timmis. Ave Maria University’s founder and principal benefactor,
Thomas Monaghan, deserves a special note of thanks for all that he
has done to make our work at Ave Maria possible.
I owe a special debt of gratitude to the staff of Canizaro Library
of Ave Maria University for their tireless and timely support of my
work, especially Jennifer Nodes, Sarah DeVille, Stan Smolinski,
Carianne Wilson, and William Szwagiel.
For any merit that may be found in these pages, I am deeply in-
debted to Jeffrey Froula, Sr. Albert Marie Surmanski, OP, Reginald
Lynch, OP, Paul Keller, OP, Katie Froula, and Matthew Levering.
These six generous scholars read and commented on the manuscript
at different stages of its development. Each offered penetrating, in-
sightful, and charitably honest feedback, without which this work
would have never seen the light of day. To the very best of my ability,
I incorporated these suggestions into the revision of the work, but I
recognize that while the final product is vastly improved due to the
vii
feedback of these readers, it nevertheless contains imperfections that
are the product of my own shortcomings alone. The comments of two
anonymous reviewers were also of inestimable value—even though I
can’t thank you each by name, I recognize your unmerited kindness to
me. Mrs. Kelsey Wanless and Mrs. Anna Reynolds provided gracious
and impeccable help in preparing the manuscript for publication.
John Martino of the Catholic University of America Press pro-
vided support and encouragement that went well beyond the call of
duty. I shall not forget the depth of his professionalism or the acute-
ness of his most helpful judgments. Susan Needham’s editorial work
provided an added layer of precision; fortunately for me, only she
knows just how much she contributed to this book!
My childhood friend Chris Specht passed away from cancer as I
was nearing the completion of this manuscript. We became friends
through the joys of little league baseball—his dad, Ron, lovingly and
patiently coached and mentored us as if we were all his sons. Sadly,
Chris left behind a charming wife, Monica, and two precious young
children, Cullen and Ayla. The latter stages of his battle overlapped
with much of my work on this volume. He asked me about the con-
tent and my progress regularly, and the book become a source of
many memorable conversations with him. He looked forward to see-
ing the book in print. I will always fondly associate this material with
his memory; may he rest in peace!
I owe the deepest gratitude to those closest to me: John Lawrence
Nelson for his prayers; Fr. Matthew L. Lamb for his friendship;
Ralph and Ann Van Vickle and Julie Van Vickle for their support
and encouragement over the years; my loving parents, Roger and
Dianne Nutt, and my sister, Kristen Payton, for a lifetime of unmer-
ited blessings; and Dr. Anthony Buhl for his mentoring guidance.
I dedicate this volume to my wife, Susan, and our son, Timothy.
They both made significant sacrifices to ensure the productivity of
my sabbatical. The satisfaction of bringing this volume to fruition
belongs to us all.
viii Acknowledgments
General Principles of
Sacramental Theology