The Sacred in Catholicism Dr. Francis Chan

A very fundamental distinction in religion is dividing the world — all things and all reality — into two opposite domains or classes: the sacred and the profane. First systematically formulated by French sociologist Émile Durkheim (d. 1917), and promoted by influential scholars of religion such as Mircea Eliade (d. 1986), today we cannot speak of religion without referring, at least implicitly, to this distinction. But what exactly is “sacred”?

In terms of essence, or matter, there is absolutely no difference between what is sacred and what is profane. Something becomes sacred when a community of people puts a particular meaning into it. Let’s look at some examples in Catholicism.

In Catholicism, there are seven “sacraments” which adherents partake of in important stages of their life. The seven are: Baptism, Confession, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick. The sacraments are described as “efficacious signs of grace” which “bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions” (Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1131). Clearly, the sacraments are supposed to be sacred events in one’s life. The sacraments involve use of physical substances or objects, which are ordinary enough. They become sacred due to the meaning infused in them by the community of adherents.

For example, in Baptism flowing water runs across a part of the adherent’s body, or the entire body. Water is a ubiquitous substance of the Earth and an absolute necessity for life to exist and for living things to function. Flowing water always cleanses and renews. It symbolizes being washed clean of sins and starting anew with a clean slate. Confirmation, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick involve use of holy oils, which are plant oils, commonly olive oil. The adherent is anointed on the forehead or hands with the oils in the sign of a cross. After water, oil is the next most important medium to carry nutrients in our bodies. It is necessary in food preparation. Many medicinal elements also need oil to be efficacious. It symbolizes healing and restoration, and dissemination of aid and welfare. The Eucharist uses bread and wine, which are consumed by the adherents. Bread and wine would be the basic food and drink in the days of the early Church. They symbolize daily sustenance and life support.

There may be various “official” explanations as to the use of the substances and why they are sacred, based on a mix of theology and tradition, and which would not be as simplistic as how I have explained it. But what we cannot fail to notice from these examples is that ordinary “profane” substances and objects become sacred in certain circumstances and events, and with the right dispositions. These substances, which maintain and support life and health materially and in actuality, are given new “sacred” meanings in the context of religious beliefs shared by a particular religious community.