Decrees Concerning
the Most Holy Eucharist...chapter 8
On the use of this admirable Sacrament
As to the use of this holy sacrament, our Fathers have
rightly and wisely distinguished three ways of receiving it.
They have taught that some receive it sacramentally only, as
sinners; others spiritually only, namely, those who eating in
desire the heavenly bread set before them, are by a lively faith
which worketh by charity made sensible of it's fruit and
usefulness; while the third class receives it both sacramentally
and spiritually, and these are they who so prove and prepare
themselves beforehand that they approach this divine table clothed
with the wedding garment.
As regards the reception of the sacrament, it has always been
the custom in the Church of God that laics receive communion
from priests, but that priests when celebrating communicate
themselves, which custom ought with justice and reason to be
retained as coming down from Apostolic tradition.
Finally, the holy council with paternal affection, admonishes,
exhorts, prays and beseeches through the bowels of the mercy of
our God, that each and all who bear the Christian name will now
at last agree and be of one mind in this sign of unity, in this
bond of charity, in this symbol of concord, and that, mindful of
so great a majesty and such boundless love of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who gave His own beloved soul as the price of our
salvation and His own flesh to eat, they may believe and
venerate these sacred mysteries of His body and blood with such
constancy and firmness of faith, with such devotion of mind, with
such piety and worship, that they may be able to receive
frequently that supersubstantial bread and that it may truly be
to them the life of the soul and the perpetual health of their
mind; that being invigorated by it's strength, they may be able
after the journey of this miserable pilgrimage to arrive in their
heavenly country, there to eat, without any veil, the same bread
of angels which they now eat under sacred veils.
But since it is not enough to declare the truth unless errors
be exposed and repudiated, it has seemed good to the holy council
to subjoin these canons, so that, the Catholic doctrine being
already known, all may understand also what are the heresies
which they ought to guard against and avoid.
(Gal. 5:6 ; Cf. infra, can. 8 ; Matt 22:11 ; Cf. c.11. D.11 de cons.
and infra, can 10 ; Heb. 5:3 & 7:27 ; John 6:56 ff. ; Ps. 77:25)
Taken from: The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent
(pp 78-79)
Translated by: Rev. H.J. Schroeder, O.P.
Imprimatur: Joannes J. Glennon, Archiepiscopus
Published by: www.TanBooks.com
Copyright: Original 1941
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