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christian-ecclesiology-sacramentsfeatured in 8 works

Ex Opere Operato

Grace flows through the rite itself, not the holiness of the priest who performs it

This medieval Latin phrase means sacraments confer grace "by the work performed" rather than by the minister's personal worthiness. Its root lies in Augustine's argument against the Donatists, who claimed unworthy clergy invalidated the sacraments. The traditions differ: it is Catholic doctrine, and while Protestants generally reject this particular formulation, most still affirm the underlying point that a sacrament's validity does not depend on the holiness of the one administering it.

How it traveled

  1. The Epistles of Cyprian.
    Carthage · 258
    explains
  2. The Church History of Eusebius
    Caesarea · 339
    explains
  3. Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  4. On Baptism, Against the Donatists
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  5. Letters of St. Augustin
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  6. Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  7. Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)
    Paris · 1274
    explains
  8. Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church
    Geneva · 1564
    explains

Key passages(20)

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist — In which Augustin replies to all the several statements in the letter of Petilianus, as though disputing with an adversary face to face. — part 9↗explains

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist · Augustine of Hippo

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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church — CHAPTER 14. - OF THE SACRAMENTS. — part 11↗challenges

Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 64 - OF THE CAUSES OF THE SACRAMENTS (TEN ARTICLES) — part 4↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 64 - OF THE CAUSES OF THE SACRAMENTS (TEN ARTICLES) — part 8↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 82 - OF THE MINISTER OF THIS SACRAMENT (TEN ARTICLES) — part 3↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 82 - OF THE MINISTER OF THIS SACRAMENT (TEN ARTICLES) — part 4↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Letters of St. Augustin — Letters of St. Augustin — To Boniface — part 1↗explains

Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo

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Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist — In this book Augustin refutes the second letter which Petilianus wrote to him after having seen the first of Augustin’s earlier books. This letter had been full of violent language; and Augustin rather shows that the arguments of Petilianus had been deficient and irrelevant, than brings forward arguments in support of his own statements. — part 11↗explains

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist · Augustine of Hippo

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Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist — In this book Augustin refutes the second letter which Petilianus wrote to him after having seen the first of Augustin’s earlier books. This letter had been full of violent language; and Augustin rather shows that the arguments of Petilianus had been deficient and irrelevant, than brings forward arguments in support of his own statements. — part 13↗explains

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist · Augustine of Hippo

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Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist — In this book Augustin refutes the second letter which Petilianus wrote to him after having seen the first of Augustin’s earlier books. This letter had been full of violent language; and Augustin rather shows that the arguments of Petilianus had been deficient and irrelevant, than brings forward arguments in support of his own statements. — part 14↗explains

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist · Augustine of Hippo

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Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist — In this book Augustin refutes the second letter which Petilianus wrote to him after having seen the first of Augustin’s earlier books. This letter had been full of violent language; and Augustin rather shows that the arguments of Petilianus had been deficient and irrelevant, than brings forward arguments in support of his own statements. — part 3↗explains

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist · Augustine of Hippo

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Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist — In which Augustin replies to all the several statements in the letter of Petilianus, as though disputing with an adversary face to face. — part 14↗explains

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist · Augustine of Hippo

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Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist — In which Augustin replies to all the several statements in the letter of Petilianus, as though disputing with an adversary face to face. — part 2↗explains

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist · Augustine of Hippo

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Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist — Written in the form of a letter addressed to the Catholics, in which the first portion of the letter which Petilian had written to his adherents is examined and refuted. — part 2↗explains

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist · Augustine of Hippo

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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church — CHAPTER 14. - OF THE SACRAMENTS. — part 7↗challenges

Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin

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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church — CHAPTER 15. - OF BAPTISM. — part 6↗explains

Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin

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Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John — Chapter I. 32, 33. — part 2↗explains

Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John · Augustine of Hippo

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On Baptism, Against the Donatists — In which is considered the Council of Carthage, held under the authority and presidency of Cyprian, to determine the question of the baptism of heretics. — part 1↗explains

On Baptism, Against the Donatists · Augustine of Hippo

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On Baptism, Against the Donatists — In which is considered the Council of Carthage, held under the authority and presidency of Cyprian, to determine the question of the baptism of heretics. — part 2↗explains

On Baptism, Against the Donatists · Augustine of Hippo

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On Baptism, Against the Donatists — In which is considered the Council of Carthage, held under the authority and presidency of Cyprian, to determine the question of the baptism of heretics. — part 6↗explains

On Baptism, Against the Donatists · Augustine of Hippo

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