Legal Definitions - sacramentum

SACRAMENTUM

Sacramentum is a Latin word that means "an oath." In Roman law, it has two meanings:

1. It refers to a religious ceremony or rite, such as baptism or communion, that is believed to confer spiritual benefits on the participant.
2. It also refers to an oath of allegiance given by a soldier upon enlistment.

One example of sacramentum is the sacrament of baptism in the Christian church. This is a religious ceremony in which a person is baptized with water to symbolize their spiritual rebirth.

Another example is the sacrament of communion, also known as the Eucharist. This is a religious ceremony in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed to symbolize the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

As for the second meaning, an example of sacramentum is the oath of loyalty that a Roman soldier would take upon joining the army. This oath was considered sacred and binding, and breaking it was a serious offense.

The examples illustrate the two different meanings of sacramentum. The first set of examples shows how sacramentum is used in a religious context to refer to sacred ceremonies or rites that are believed to have spiritual significance. The second example shows how sacramentum is used in a legal context to refer to an oath of loyalty that is considered binding and sacred.