Final answer:
Stoicoiu's argument stating that sacraments symbolize a real absence is false; traditional Catholic teaching holds that sacraments are effective signs of grace that actually confer the grace they signify, rather than merely being symbolic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion made in the question is about the interpretation of sacraments in Catholicism, particularly in terms of their symbolic meaning.
Stoicoiu's argument that the sacraments symbolize a real absence because nothing of this world can fully make present the entirety of the divine mercy would be considered false.
In traditional Catholic teaching, sacraments are understood not merely as symbols, but as effective signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, through which divine life is dispensed to us.
The essential spiritual rituals conducted by ordained priests are not just symbols; they are believed to actually confer the grace they signify.
The practical power of the Church historically stemmed from the belief that only priests could administer the sacraments.
This notion made the Church an essential part of spiritual salvation for medieval Christians. The sacraments include rituals such as baptism, the Eucharist, and penance, among others.
Each is considered a means by which believers can experience and receive God's grace in a tangible way.