Definition

Noun: 1. A formal religious ceremony conferring a specific grace on those who receive it: In Christian theology, a sacrament is a sacred rite or ceremony considered to have been instituted by Jesus Christ, which is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. The specific number and nature of sacraments vary among Christian denominations. 2. Something regarded as having a sacred character or mysterious significance: In a broader, often secular sense, a sacrament can refer to any thing, action, or event that is treated with a sense of profound, sacred, or solemn significance.

Examples of Usage

• The Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion, is a central sacrament in many Christian churches.
• For many believers, marriage is not just a legal contract but a holy sacrament.
• In the Roman Catholic tradition, there are seven sacraments, including baptism and confirmation.
• (Figurative) To the dedicated artist, the act of creation itself is a kind of sacrament.

Advanced Usage

• "Sacrament of the present moment": A spiritual concept emphasizing the discovery of God's grace in ordinary, daily life.
• "Sacramental" (Adjective): Having the nature of or relating to a sacrament. (e.g., sacramental wine).
• "Sacramental" (Noun): A religious object or action (like holy water or the sign of the cross) that resembles a sacrament and prepares for or leads to one, but is not considered a sacrament itself in most traditions.

Variants and Related Words

• Sacramental (adj.): Of, relating to, or constituting a sacrament. (e.g., sacramental theology).
• Sacramentalism (n.): Belief in or emphasis on the importance of sacraments.
• Sacramentality (n.): The quality of being sacramental.

Synonyms

• Rite: A religious or other solemn ceremony or act.
• Ordinance: An authoritative order or decree; in some Protestant churches, a term for ceremonies like baptism and communion.
• Ceremony: A formal religious or public occasion, typically following a set of rituals.

Related Phrases

• To receive a sacrament: To participate in and be a recipient of the grace of a sacrament.
• To administer a sacrament: To perform the rites of a sacrament for someone else (typically done by clergy).

Related Idioms

• "A sacrament of silence": (Literary/Figurative) A moment or agreement of profound, meaningful quiet, treated with reverence.
• "To make a sacrament of something": (Figurative) To treat an ordinary activity with an extraordinary level of solemnity, devotion, or ritual. (e.g., He made a sacrament of his morning coffee ritual).

Noun

1. a formal religious ceremony conferring a specific grace on those who receive it; the two Protestant ceremonies are baptism and the Lord's Supper; in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church there are seven traditional rites accepted as instituted by Jesus: baptism and confirmation and Holy Eucharist and penance and holy orders and matrimony and extreme unction