Sola fide and ex opere operato

ecumenical convergences in sacramental theology. A Latin American perspective

Abstract

The churches see the sacraments as constitutive of Christian and ecclesial life, a privileged expression of the Christian faith. But they differ in their understanding of how the grace of Christ is manifested in the sacraments, the sacramental efficacy. The purpose of this article is to deepen this issue by resuming the classic expressions sola fide, in Protestant doctrine, and ex opere operato, in Catholic doctrine. It shows how ecumenical theology in Latin America can contemplate convergences obtained in the dialogues about the sacraments. The method is the review of the ecumenical bibliography on the relationship between faith and sacrament, sola fides and ex opere operato. The conclusion is that a true experience of sacramental life is an expression of faith in the grace of Christ active in the sacraments. Even without using the expression ex opere operato, the churches can affirm its content: the action of God is the efficacy of the sacraments they celebrate.