• Preliminaries: Signs
• Preliminaries: What is liturgy?
• What is Fundamental Theology of the Sacraments?
• Describe the relationship of Sacramental Theology with Christology, Ecclesiology and Sacred Liturgy.
• Define "Mysterion"; "Sacramentum". Why is this the theological-hermeneutical key of the treatise. What is hermeneutics?
• What are the sources of Sacramental Theology?

• What is the content of the "Mystery" in the New Testament (mainly in St. Paul's Epistles) and where is it revealed?
• Does this "Mystery" continue? If so, in what form?
• How is the "Mystery" attained and made visible?
• How appropriate or fitting is the Sacramental economy to the condition of man in need of salvation?

• Trace the theological development which leads to the specific definition of Sacrament, from the patristic period to the beginnings of the scholastic period.
• Analyse the notion of Sacrament. What is the concept of Sacrament according to St Thomas Aquinas?
• What is the stand of the Protestant reformers?
• Describe the Sacramental doctrine of the Council of Trent and of the Roman Catechism.
• How about the contemporary renewal of Sacramental Theology? Can you discuss the Sacramental doctrine in Vatican II and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church? What direction did post-Vatican II theology take?

• Who is the principal author of the Sacraments?
• What do we mean when we speak of the Christological origin of the Sacraments?
• Describe the way the Sacramental sign was determined by Christ.
• What authority has the Church have over the Sacraments?
• What about the number of the Sacraments?
• Does the Sacramental order make sense from the anthropological and ecclesiological points of view?

• Explain the structure of the Sacramental sign: res et verba.
• What is meant by the "unity of the Sacramental sign"?
• What is Sacramental matter and form? [Review of matter and form.]
• Give an overview of the celebration of the Sacraments.

• Why distinguish between the res et Sacramentum and the res tantum?
• Explain the three-fold meaning of the Sacraments: (i) the source of sanctification in the Paschal Mystery, announced and prefigured in the Old Testament; (ii) the actual sanctification; (iii) its consummation in glory.
• How about the cultural dimension of the Sacraments? Can we consider the Sacraments as expressions of faith?

• Do all the Sacraments confer sanctifying grace?
• And the Holy Spirit?
• What is Sacramental grace?

• Where can we find the doctrine about the character in Sacred Scripture and Tradition?
• What is the nature of the character?
• Which Sacraments imprint character?
• Does the character involve a mission? some grace? Explain.

• What does efficacy ex opere operato mean? Does it make the opus operantis superfluous for sanctification?
• What do we mean by the operative presence of the Holy Spirit in the Sacraments?
• What is the efficacy of the Sacraments in relation to the faith of the Church and of the subject?
• Instrumental causality of the Sacraments.

• Minister of Christ and of the Church: What spiritual power is necessary to carry out validly the Sacrament?
• Is the intention of the minister necessary for validity?
• When are the Sacraments administered sub condicione (conditionally)?
• Does the validity and efficacy of the Sacraments depend on the faith and sanctity of the minister?
• Should the minister have good moral dispositions?
• Are there situations in which there is an obligation to give or to deny the Sacraments?

• What are the conditions for the valid reception of the Sacraments?
• What moral dispositions are needed for a fruitful reception of the Sacraments?
• How does one assure an active and conscious participation in the Sacramental liturgy?
• Recovery of the Sacraments?

II. BAPTISM

• What figures and prophecies of Baptism are there in the Old Testament revelation?
• How about the baptism of John?
• Relate the institution of Baptism in the Gospels.
• Describe the effusion of the Holy Spirit and Baptism in the Acts of the Apostles.

• What does participation in the Death and Resurrection of Christ mean? And incorporation into the Church?
• What is the effect of Baptism on sin and the punishments due to it?
• Explain what new life in Christ means: divine filiation through sanctifying grace, the supernatural virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• What character does Baptism confer? What does this character entitle one to?
• Why does one start to share in the common priesthood of the faithful with Baptism? What does common priesthood mean?

• Describe the rite of Baptism.
• What are the conditions for validity?
• What are the conditions for licitness?
• Who is the ordinary minister and the extra-ordinary minister in emergency cases?

• How necessary is Baptism for salvation?
• What is baptism of blood? of desire?
• Why is Baptism a Sacrament of Christian initiation?
• Who can receive Baptism (general conditions of the subject)?
• Explain the why and wherefore of the Baptism of children: historical evolution, legitimacy, special cases; the destiny of children who died without receiving Baptism.
• Explain the catechumenate, dispositions for validity, and special cases in the Baptism of adults.

III. CONFIRMATION

• Where can we find the institution of Confirmation in the New Testament revelation?
• Descibe the liturgical practice of the primitive Church and the distinction between Baptism and Confirmation.
• How did these diversify later on?
• How about the practice of the Eastern Churches?
• Is Confirmation really a Sacrament?

• Discuss the general aspects of the specific effects of Confirmation
• What character and Sacramental graces does Confirmation give?
• What do we mean by the "plenitude of the common priesthood of the faithful".

• Describe the liturgical celebration of Confirmation.
• What is Chrism? Describe the anointing with chrism and the formula; historical evolution; conditions of validity and licitness.
• Who is the minister in the Eastern and Western traditions.
• How necessary is this Sacrament? What is its place in Christian initiation.
• Who can receive Confirmation?