262. Division of Ceremonial Precepts and Their Causes
Summary
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Lecture Notes
Main Topics #
The Fourfold Division of Ceremonial Precepts (Article 4) #
Thomas divides ceremonial precepts into four categories:
- Sacrifices (sacra): The worship itself, offered in reverence to God; the primary expression of divine cult
- Sacred things (sacra): Instruments and vessels of worship (tabernacle, vases); the tools of worship
- Sacraments: Consecrations of the people or ministers instituted for divine cult
- Observances (observantiae): Rules of behavior distinguishing God’s people (dietary laws, clothing); ways of life ordered to suitable disposition for worship
This division reflects the twofold nature of worship: (1) the worship itself and its instruments, and (2) those who worship and their manner of worship.
Objections to the Division #
Five primary objections are presented:
- Figuration through sacrifices alone: Only sacrifices figure Christ’s self-offering; therefore only sacrifices should be called ceremonial
- Confusion with New Law: In the new law, the sacrifice is the sacrament (Eucharist); therefore old law ceremonies should not distinguish between sacraments and sacrifices
- All things are sacred: All things ordered to God’s worship are sacred; therefore should not be divided separately
- All things are observances: All precepts should be observed; therefore observances should not be one part among others
- Missing categories: Solemnities and oblations/gifts are not clearly contained in these four divisions
Thomas’s Response: The Principle of Common Names #
Thomas employs a principle of distinction: when something has a special property beyond the common meaning, it receives a proper name; those things lacking this special property retain the common name.
Applied to the division:
- Sacrifices and sacraments are sacred, but retain their own proper names because they have special significance (sacrifices are the worship itself; sacraments are consecrations)
- Things that lack immediate respect to worship (like vessels) retain the common name sacra (sacred things)
- Observances retain the common name because they fail from the foregoing categories—they do not have immediate respect to worship but relate to it consequentially, through the suitable disposition of those worshiping
- Solemnities are numbered among sacred things (as determined times parallel determined places for sacrifice)
- Oblations and gifts are numbered with sacrifices (as things offered to God)
Key Arguments #
The Structure of Worship #
Thomas argues that worship can be considered in two aspects:
- The worship itself and its instruments: Sacrifices (the act of worship) and sacred things (the vessels and tools)
- Those who worship and their disposition: Sacraments (consecration of worshipers) and observances (their manner of life)
The Distinction Between Literal and Figurative Causes #
- Sacrifices figure Christ offered as oblation; sacraments and sacred things of the old law figure the corresponding realities of the new law; observances figure the manner of life of the new law people
- All ceremonies pertain to Christ, though in different ways
- Old law sacraments figure future grace; new law sacraments contain Christ himself, who is the author of sanctification
Why Some Things Retain Common Names #
Following Aristotelian logic: A general term (like animal) applies to all members of a class, but some members may be called by more specific names (man, lion) when they have special properties. Those lacking such special properties retain the common term (animal).
Example: Not all dispositions are habits, but all habits are dispositions; therefore, things that are merely dispositions retain the common name disposition, while habits receive the proper name habit.
Important Definitions #
Observantiae (Observances) #
Precepts concerning lifestyle and behavior that distinguish God’s people from others. These include dietary laws, clothing restrictions, and other practices. They do not have immediate respect to the worship of God but pertain to the suitability of those who worship—their proper disposition and distinction from those outside the covenant.
Sacramentum (Sacrament in Old Law Context) #
A consecration or sacred sign instituting certain people or places for divine cult. Old law sacraments (circumcision, Passover) figure future grace without containing it, distinguishing them from new law sacraments which contain Christ himself.
Sacra (Sacred Things) #
Instruments and vessels of worship (tabernacle, vessels, vases) that pertain to worship mediately rather than immediately—they are the tools through which worship is performed.
Examples & Illustrations #
The Tabernacle and Vessels #
These are called sacred but are distinguished from sacrifices and sacraments because they serve as instruments of worship rather than being the worship itself or consecrations of the worshipers.
Fasting Before Communion #
Berquist notes the historical observance of fasting from midnight before Mass, later reduced to one hour. This exemplifies how observances pertain to suitable disposition: one does not eat before approaching communion out of reverence, despite this having no direct connection to worship itself. It distinguishes the comportment of those worshiping God.
The Irreverence of Eating Before Communion #
The practice illustrates why observances are necessary: coming to communion after eating casually would be irreverent; the observance establishes a proper disposition of reverence and distinction between sacred and profane activities.
Questions Addressed #
Why This Specific Fourfold Division? #
Question: Why divide ceremonies into four rather than following the rule of two or three?
Answer: The division reflects the structure of worship itself: two primary aspects (the worship and its instruments) divided into two further aspects concerning those who worship. This yields 2 × 2 = 4, though the first aspect naturally divides as 1 + 1 (sacrifices and sacred things) while the second divides as 1 + 1 (sacraments and observances).
How Can All Ceremonies Pertain to Christ If They Belong to Different Categories? #
Answer: Through different modes of figuration. Sacrifices figure Christ’s self-offering; sacraments and sacred things figure the corresponding sacraments and vessels of the new law; observances figure the manner of life of God’s people in the new law. All ultimately refer to Christ’s mysteries and the Church’s participation in them.
Why Distinguish Observances from Sacred Things If Both Lack Immediate Worship Function? #
Answer: Observances pertain to the people (their behavior and distinction from others), while sacred things pertain to the instruments of worship (vessels, tabernacle). Though both are somewhat removed from the immediate act of worship, observances concern personal conduct and lifestyle, while sacred things concern material implements.
If All Things Ordered to God’s Worship Are Sacred, Why Have a Category Called “Sacred Things”? #
Answer: Because sacrifices and sacraments, though sacred, have such special significance that they receive proper names. Sacred things retain the common term sacra precisely because they lack the special property that would give them a distinct name. This follows the logical principle that things without special distinguishing properties retain the common term.
Notable Quotes #
“Well, that’s what he says. To the third it should be said that also sacrifice and sacraments are sacred. But some things that are sacred, yeah. But nevertheless were not sacrifices, nor what? Sacraments. And therefore they retain the common name of, what? Sacred, huh?”
This encapsulates Thomas’s method of distinguishing special from common terms—a foundational logical principle applied to theological categorization.
“The sacrifice of the new law, that is the Eucharist, contains Christ himself. So it’s kind of the end of all the sacraments. Who is the author of sanctification?”
Indicating the theological relationship between old and new law sacraments: old law figures point toward the Eucharist as their fulfillment.