Editing Sacramental character

{{Short description|Christian doctrine}}
Some [[Christian denomination|Christian denominations]] believe that a '''sacramental character''', an indelible [[Spirituality|spiritual]] ''mark'' (the meaning of the word ''character'' in [[Latin language|Latin]]), is imprinted by any of three of the seven [[sacraments]]: [[baptism]], [[confirmation]], and [[holy orders]].

== History ==
The doctrine was expressed by [[Augustine of Hippo]] in his religious controversies. The doctrine of the sacramental character was [[Dogma in the Catholic Church|dogmatically]] defined by the [[Catholic Church]] at the 16th century [[Council of Trent]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Character |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03586a.htm |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref>

==Teaching by Christian denomination==
===Catholicism===
This teaching is expressed as follows in the ''[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]]'' (1992):<ref>{{Cite CCC|v=2.1|para=1121}}</ref>

{{cquote|The three sacraments of [[Baptism#Catholicism|Baptism]], [[Confirmation in the Catholic Church|Confirmation]], and [[Holy orders in the Catholic Church|Holy Orders]] confer, in addition to [[Grace in Christianity|grace]], a sacramental character or seal by which the Christian shares in [[Jesus|Christ]]'s priesthood and is made a member of the Church according to different states and functions. This configuration to Christ and to the Church, brought about by the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Spirit]], is indelible; it remains for ever in the Christian as a positive disposition for grace, a promise and guarantee of divine protection, and as a vocation to divine worship and to the service of the Church. Therefore these sacraments can never be repeated.
}}

If it is doubtful whether a person has received the sacrament, the sacrament may be [[Conditional sacrament|administered conditionally]] (using words such as for [[conditional baptism]]: "If thou art not baptized, I baptize thee [[Trinitarian formula|in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit]]"). However, such an administration is only [[Validity and liceity (Catholic Church)|valid]] and effective to the extent that no valid administration of the same sacrament has already occurred, as it does not in any event constitute an effective repetition of a valid previous administration of that sacrament.

The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'', explains as follows the significance of the image of "seal", used as an alternative to that of "character":<ref>{{Cite CCC|v=2.1|para=698}}</ref>

{{cquote|'The Father has set his seal' on Christ (John 6:27) and also seals us in him (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:23, 4:30). Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, the image of the seal (σφραγίς) has been used in some theological traditions to express the indelible 'character' imprinted by these three unrepeatable sacraments.}}

===Lutheranism===
[[Lutheran]] theologian [[Wolfhart Pannenberg]] stated that "in terms of the thought of promise and sending that constantly govern the ordained and claim them for [[Jesus|Christ]]'s service, we no longer need to oppose [indelible character] on the Lutheran side, since this point of view finds expression in the Lutheran churches, too. Here there is no repetition of ordination".<ref name="Eckardt2009">{{cite web |last1=Eckardt Jr. |first1=Burnell F. |title=Indelible Character? |url=https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/2009/11/indelible-character.html |publisher=Gottesdienst |access-date=22 May 2022 |language=English |date=19 November 2009}}</ref>

===Anglicanism===
The [[Book of Common Prayer]] of the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] in the United States teaches that "The bond which [[God in Christianity|God]] establishes in Baptism is indissoluble".<ref>{{cite web |title=Character (Sacramental) |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/character-sacramental/ |publisher=Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref>

=== Eastern Orthodoxy ===
In [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], opinion on this concept vary. 

Rodopoulos discusses the theory of what he calls the "ineradicable nature of [[priesthood]]", which is the theory that "[[ordination]] is ineradicable, and should a [[defrocked]] priest be restored, his ordination is not repeated". Rodopoulos states that "[t]he [Eastern] Orthodox Church has not declared officially on this matter. The [[Catholic Church|Church of Rome]] established this doctrine at the [[Council of Trent]] (1545&nbsp;– 1563)". Rodopoulos adds: "Only some [Eastern] Orthodox theologians, influenced by [[Catholic theology|Roman Catholic teachings]], have accepted this theory. The long-standing practice of the Church, however, as well as its teaching on [[Grace in Christianity|grace]], reject the theory of the ineradicable nature of the priesthood. Priest who are defrocked return to the ranks of the laity or monks".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rodopoulos |first=Panteleimon |url= |title=An Overview of Orthodox Canon Law |date=2010 |publisher=Orthodox Research Institute |isbn=978-1-933275-15-4 |series=Orthodox Theological Library, 3 |location=Rollinsford, N.H. |page=128 |translator-last=Lillie |translator-first=W.J. |chapter=Three: Church Organisation |oclc=174964244}}</ref>

Calivas believes that "[t]he character of ordination is indelible".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calivas |first=Alciviadis C. |date=9 March 1998 |title=The Sacramental Life of the Orthodox Church |url=https://www.goarch.org/-/the-sacramental-life-of-the-orthodox-church |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Scouteris considers that "no evidence concerning the indelible mark theory can be found in [[Patristic]] teaching. On the contrary, the canonical data leave no doubt that a defrocked priest or bishop, after the decision of the Church to take back his priesthood, returns to the rank of the laity. The [[anathematized]] or the defrocked are in no way considered to maintain their priesthood".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scouteris |first=Contantine |title=CHRISTIAN PRIESTHOOD AND ECCLESIAL UNITY: Some Theological and Canonical Considerations |url=http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Orthodox Research Institute}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Sacraments (Catholic Church)]]
*[[Lutheran sacraments]]
*[[Anglican sacraments]]
*[[Conditional sacrament]]
*[[Sacramental matter and form]]

== References ==
<references />

==Further reading==
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03586a.htm "Character (in Catholic Theology)"], ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sacramental Character}}
[[Category:Catholic theology and doctrine]]
[[Category:Sacraments of the Catholic Church]]
[[category:Sacramental theology]]