Signs as Symbols: Towards Understanding the Sacraments

Abstract

Lumen Gentium calls the Church “the universal sacrament of salvation.” But the “sacrament” is a sign! Effectively then, the Church is a “sign” of the World’s salvation. In this same Church, signs are never in short supply, from the magnificent ancient art of the Roman world to the Medieval painting and sculpting brilliance of Michelangelo. Catholic Churches are adorned with signs that are pleasant to the eyes and beautiful to behold, which evoke reverence and adoration from the pious and the devout. Even tourists are left enchanted at the marvel of such signs. What do these signs mean for the Church? Statues, and paintings, and artifacts abound, of our Blessed Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. But there are signs of a special kind, which are celebrated in the Church and which since the time of Peter Lombard have been streamlined to seven. These signs form the fulcrum of the life of worship of the Christian Church. This paper is an introduction to these signs in respect of their uniqueness and their special status as symbols.