Unity in the sacramental doctrine. Remarks on the genesis of BEM

Theological dialogue about the sacraments has accompanied the ecumenical movement ever since it took its first steps, and the convergence text on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (BEM), approved by the Faith and Order Department in January 1982, may therefore be considered the theological precipitate of more than fifty years of attempts to reach an agreement in the ecumenical sphere. Working to reconstruct the drafting process of this document, I have collected together some reflections here which cast light on: a) the context in which a comprehension of the sacraments as signs of unity may be said to have begun; b) the chronological point of maturity of this dialogue, coinciding with the birth of BEM.