Sacramental character
According to Roman Catholic teaching, a sacramental character is an indelible spiritual "mark" (the meaning of the word "character" in Latin) imprinted by any of three of the seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, and holy orders. Description. This teaching is expressed as follows in the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" (1992), §1121: If it is doubtful whether a person has received the sacrament, the sacrament may be administered conditionally (using words such as for conditional baptism: "If thou art not baptized, I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ). However, such an administration is only valid and effective to the extent that no valid administration of the same sacrament has already occurred, as it does not in any event constitute an effective repetition of a valid previous administration of that sacrament. The Catechism of the Catholic Church" §698, explains as follows the significance of the image of "seal", used as an alternative to that of "character": History. The doctrine was expressed by Augustine of Hippo in his religious controversies. The doctrine of the sacramental character was dogmatically defined at the 16th century Council of Trent.