Thirteenth Session, held October 11, 1551.
Thirteenth Session, held October 11, 1551.
Sessio Decimatertia,
Thirteenth Session,
celebrata die XI. Octobris
held October 11, 1551.
DECRETUM DE SANCTISSIMO EUCHARISTIÆ.
DECREE CONCERNING THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST.
Caput I.
Chapter I.
De reali præsentiæ Domini nostri Iesu Christi in sanctissimo Eucharistiæ sacramento.
On the real presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist.
Principio docet sancta synodus, et aperte ac simpliciter profitetur, in almo sanctæ Eucharistiæ sacramento, post panis, et vini consecrationem, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, verum Deum atque hominem, vere, realiter, ac substantialiter sub specie illarum rerum sensibilium contineri. Neque enim hæc inter se pugnant, ut ipse Salvator noster semper ad dexteram Patris in cœlis assideat juxta modum existendi naturalem, et ut multis nihilominus aliis in locis sacramentaliter præsens sua substantia nobis adsit, ea existendi ratione, quam etsi verbis exprimere vix possumus,
In the first place, the holy Synod teaches, and openly and simply professes, that, in the august sacrament of the holy Eucharist, after the consecration of the bread and wine, our Lord Jesus Christ, true God and man, is truly, really, and substantially contained under the species of those sensible things. For neither are these things mutually repugnant,—that our Saviour himself always sitteth at the right hand of the Father in heaven, according to the natural mode of existing, and that, nevertheless, he be, in many other places, sacramentally present to us in his own substance, by a manner of existing, which, though we can scarcely express it in words, yet
possibilem tamen esse Deo, cogitatione per fidem illustrata assequi possumus, et constantissime credere debemus: ita enim majores nostri omnes, quotquot in vera Christi ecclesia fuerunt, qui de sanctissimo hoc sacramento disseruerunt, apertissime professi sunt, hoc tam admirabile sacramentum in ultima cæna redemptorem nostrum instituisse, cum post panis vinique benedictionem se suum ipsius corpus illis præbere, ac suum sanguinem, disertis et perspicuis verbis testatus est; quæ verba a sanctis evangelistis commemorata et a divo Paulo postea repetita, cum propriam illam et apertissimam significationem præ se ferant, secundum quam a patribus intellecta sunt; indignissimum sane flagitium est, ea a quibusdam contentiosis et pravis hominibus ad fictitios et imaginarios tropos, quibus veritas carnis et sanguinis Christi negatur, contra universum ecclesiæ sensum detorqueri; quæ, tamquam columna et firmamentum veritatis, hæc ab impiis hominibus excogitata commenta velut satanica detestata est, grato semper et memore animo præstantissimum hoc Christi beneficium agnoscens.
the pillar and ground of truth
Caput II.
Chapter II.
De ratione institutionis sanctissimi hujus sacramenti.
On the reason of the institution of this most holy sacrament.
Ergo Salvator noster, discessurus ex hoc mundo ad Patrem, sacramentum hoc instituit, in quo divitias divini sui erga homines amoris velut effudit, memoriam faciens mirabilium suorum; et in illius sumptione colere nos sui memoriam præcepit, suamque annunciare mortem, donec ipse ad judicandum mundum veniat. Sumi autem voluit sacramentum hoc, tamquam spiritualem animarum cibum, quo alantur, et confortentur viventes vita illius, qui dixit: Qui manducat me, et ipse vivet propter me: et tamquam antidotum, quo liberemur a culpis quotidianis, et a peccatis mortalibus præservemur. Pignus præterea id esse voluit futuræ nostræ gloriæ, et perpetuæ felicitatis, adeoque symbolum unius illius corporis, cujus ipse caput existit, cuique nos, tamquam membra, arctissima fidei, spei et caritatis connexione adstrictos esse voluit, ut idipsum omnes diceremus, nec essent in nobis schismata.
making a remembrance of his wonderful works;
193
memory
show forth his death until he come
194
He that eateth me, the same also shall live by me;
195
that we might all speak the same things, and there might be no schisms amongst us.
196
Caput III.
Chapter III.
De excellentia sanctissimæ Eucharistiæ super reliqua sacramenta.
On the excellency of the most holy Eucharist over the rest of the sacraments.
Commune hoc quidem est sanctissimæ Eucharistiæ cum ceteris sacramentis, symbolum esse rei sacræ, et invisibilis gratiæ formam visibilem; verum illud in ea excellens et singulare reperitur, quod reliqua sacramenta tunc primum sanctificandi vim habent, cum quis illis utitur: at in Eucharistia ipse sanctitatis auctor ante usum est. Nondum enim Eucharistiam de manu Domini apostoli susceperant, cum vere tamen ipse affirmaret corpus suum esse, quod præbebat.
The most holy Eucharist has indeed this in common with the rest of the sacraments, that it is a symbol of a sacred thing, and is a visible form of an invisible grace; but there is found in the Eucharist this excellent and peculiar thing, that the other sacraments have then first the power of sanctifying when one uses them, whereas in the Eucharist, before being used, there is the Author himself of sanctity. For the apostles had not as yet received the Eucharist from the hand of the Lord, when nevertheless himself affirmed with truth that to be his own body which he presented [to them].
Et semper hæc fides in Ecclesia Dei fuit, statim post consecrationem verum Domini nostri corpus verumque ejus sanguinem sub panis et vini specie una cum ipsius anima et divinitate existere; sed corpus quidem sub specie panis et sanguinem sub vini specie ex vi verborum; ipsum autem corpus sub specie vini, et sanguinem sub specie panis, animamque sub utraque, vi naturalis illius connexionis et concomitantiæ, qua partes Christi Domini, qui jam ex mortuis resurrexit non amplius
And this faith has ever been in the Church of God, that, immediately after the consecration, the veritable body of our Lord, and his veritable blood, together with his soul and divinity, are under the species of bread and wine; but the body indeed under the species of bread, and the blood under the species of wine, by the force of the words; but the body itself under the species of wine, and the blood under the species of bread, and the soul under both, by the force of that natural connection and concomitancy whereby the parts of Christ
moriturus, inter se copulantur, divinitatem porro propter admirabilem illam ejus cum corpore et anima hypostaticam unionem. Quapropter verissimum est, tantumdem sub alterutra specie atque sub utraque contineri: totus enim, et integer Christus sub panis specie et sub quavis ipsius speciei parte, totus item sub vini specie et sub ejus partibus existit.
who hath now risen from the dead, to die no more
197
Caput IV.
Chapter IV.
De Transsubstantiatione.
On Transubstantiation.
Quoniam autem Christus, redemptor noster, corpus suum id, quod sub specie panis offerebat, vere esse dixit; ideo persuasum semper in Ecclesia Dei fuit, idque nunc denuo sancta hæc synodus declarat, per consecrationem panis et vini conversionem fieri totius substantiæ panis in substantiam corporis Christi Domini nostri, et totius substantiæ vini in substantiam sanguinis ejus: quæ conversio convenienter et proprie a sancta Catholica Ecclesia Transsubstantiatio est appellata.
And because that Christ, our Redeemer, declared that which he offered under the species of bread to be truly his own body, therefore has it ever been a firm belief in the Church of God, and this holy Synod doth now declare it anew, that, by the consecration of the bread and of the wine, a conversion is made of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord, and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood; which conversion is, by the holy Catholic Church, suitably and properly called Transubstantiation.
Caput V.
Chapter V.
De cultu et veneratione huic sanctissimo Sacramento exhibenda.
On the cult and veneration to be shown to this most holy sacrament.
Nullus itaque dubitandi locus relinquitur, quin omnes Christi fideles pro more in Catholica Ecclesia semper recepto latriæ cultum, qui vero Deo debetur, huic sanctissimo sacramento in veneratione exhibeant: neque enim ideo minus est adorandum, quod fuerit a Christo Domino, ut sumatur, institutum: nam illum eumdem Deum præsentem in eo adesse credimus, quem Pater æternus introducens in orbem terrarum dicit: Et adorent eum omnes angeli Dei; quem magi procidentes adoraverunt; quem denique in Galilæa ab apostolis adoratum fuisse, scriptura testatur.
And let all the angels of God adore him;
198
falling down, adored;
199
Declarat præterea sancta synodus, pie et religiose admodum in Dei Ecclesiam inductum fuisse hunc morem, ut singulis annis peculiari quodam et festo die præcelsum hoc et venerabile sacramentum singulari veneratione ac solemniter celebraretur, utque in processionibus reverenter et honorifice illud per vias et loca publica circumferretur. Æquissimum est enim, sacros
The holy Synod declares, moreover, that very piously and religiously was this custom introduced into the Church, that this sublime and venerable sacrament be, with special veneration and solemnity, celebrated, every year, on a certain day, and that a festival; and that it be borne reverently and with honor in processions through the streets and public places. For it is most just that there be certain appointed
aliquos statutos esse dies, cum Christiani omnes singulari ac rara quadam significatione gratos et memores testentur animos erga communem Dominum et Redemptorem pro tam ineffabili et plane divino beneficio, quo mortis ejus victoria et triumphus repræsentatur. Ac sic quidem oportuit victricem veritatem de mendacio et hæresi triumphum agere, ut ejus adversarii in conspectu tanti splendoris, et in tanta universæ ecclesiæ lætitia positi, vel debilitati et fracti tabescant, vel pudore affecti et confusi aliquando resipiscant.
pine away
200
Caput VI.
Chapter VI.
De asservando sacræ Eucharistiæ Sacramento, et ad infirmos deferendo.
On reserving the sacrament of the sacred Eucharist, and bearing it to the sick.
Consuetudo asservandi in sacrario sanctam Eucharistiam adeo antiqua est, ut eam sæculum etiam Nicæni Concilii agnoverit. Porro deferri ipsam sacram Eucharistiam ad infirmos, et in hunc usum diligenter in ecclesiis conservari, præterquam quod cum summa æquitate et ratione conjunctum est, tum multis in conciliis præceptum invenitur et vetustissimo Catholicæ Ecclesiæ more est observatum.
The custom of reserving the holy Eucharist in the sacrarium is so ancient, that even the age of the Council of Nicæa recognized that usage. Moreover, as to carrying the sacred Eucharist itself to the sick, and carefully reserving it for this purpose in churches, besides that it is exceedingly conformable to equity and reason, it is also found, enjoined in numerous councils, and is a very ancient observance of the Catholic Church.
Quare sancta hæc synodus retinendum omnino salutarem hunc et necessarium morem statuit.
Wherefore, this holy Synod ordains that this salutary and necessary custom is to be by all means retained.
Caput VII.
Chapter VII.
De præparatione, quæ adhibenda est, ut digne quis sacram Eucharistiam percipiat.
On the preparation to be given that one may worthily receive the sacred Eucharist.
Si non decet ad sacras ullas functiones quempiam accedere nisi sancte, certe, quo magis sanctitas et divinitas cœlestis hujus sacramenti viro Christiano comperta est, eo diligentius cavere ille debet, ne absque magna reverentia et sanctitate ad id percipiendum accedat, præsertim cum illa plena formidinis verba apud apostolum legamus: Qui manducat et bibit indigne, judicium sibi manducat et bibit, non dijudicans corpus Domini. Quare communicare volenti revocandum est in memoriam ejus præceptum: Probet autem seipsum homo. Ecclesiastica autem consuetudo declarat, eam probationem necessariam esse, ut nullus sibi conscius peccati mortalis, quantumvis sibi contritus videatur, absque præmissæ sacramentali confessione ad sacram Eucharistiam accedere debeat. Quod a Christianis omnibus, etiam ab iis sacerdotibus,
He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself.
201
Let a man prove himself.
202
quibus ex officio incubuerit celebrare, hæc sancta synodus perpetuo servandum esse decrevit, modo non desit illis copia confessoris. Quod si necessitate urgente sacerdos absque prævia confessione celebraverit, quamprimum confiteatur.
even by those priests on whom it may be incumbent by their office to celebrate, provided the opportunity of a confessor do not fail them; but if, in an urgent necessity, a priest should celebrate without previous confession, let him confess as soon as possible.
Caput VIII.
Chapter VIII.
De usu admirabilis hujus sacramenti.
On the use of this admirable sacrament.
Quoad usum autem recte et sapienter Patres nostri tres rationes hoc sanctum sacramentum accipiendi distinxerunt. Quosdam enim docuerunt sacramentaliter dumtaxat id sumere ut peccatores; alios tantum spiritualiter, illos nimirum, qui voto propositum illum cœlestem panem edentes, fide viva, quæ per dilectionem operatur, fructum ejus et utilitatem sentiunt; tertios porro sacramentaliter simul et spiritualiter; hi autem sunt, qui ita se prius probant et instruunt, ut vestem nuptialem induti ad divinam hanc mensam accedant.
faith which worketh by charity
203
prove
clothed with the wedding garment.
204
In sacramentali autem sumptione semper in Ecclesia Dei mos fuit, ut laici a sacerdotibus communionem acciperent; sacerdotes autem celebrantes seipsos communicarent, qui mos,
tamquam ex traditione apostolica descendens, jure ac merito retineri debet.
which custom, as coming down from an apostolic tradition, ought with justice and reason to be retained.
Demum autem paterno affectu admonet sancta synodus, hortatur, rogat et obsecrat per viscera misericordiæ Dei nostri, ut omnes et singuli, qui Christiano nomine censentur, in hoc unitatis signo, in hoc vinculo caritatis, in hoc concordiæ symbolo jam tandem aliquando conveniant et concordent, memoresque tantæ majestatis, et tam eximii amoris Iesu Christi, Domini nostri, qui dilectam animam suam in nostræ salutis pretium et carnem suam nobis dedit ad manducandum, hæc sacra mysteria corporis et sanguinis ejus ea fidei constantia et firmitate ea animi devotione, ea pietate et cultu credant et venerentur, ut panem illum supersubstantialem frequenter suscipere possint, et is vere eis sit animæ vita et perpetua sanitas mentis, cujus vigore confortati, ex hujus miseræ peregrinationis itinere ad cœlestem patriam pervenire valeant, eumdem panem angelorum, quem modo sub sacris velaminibus edunt, absque ullo velamine manducaturi.
And finally this holy Synod, with true fatherly affection, admonishes, exhorts, begs, and beseeches, through the bowels of the mercy of our God, that all and each of those who bear the Christian name would now at length 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 the so great majesty, and the so exceeding love of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his own beloved soul as the price of our salvation, and gave us his own flesh to eat, they would believe and venerate these sacred mysteries of his body and blood, with such constancy and firmness of faith, with such devotion of soul, with such piety and worship, as to be able frequently to receive that supersubstantial bread, and that it may be to them truly the life of the soul and the perpetual health of their mind; that being invigorated by the strength thereof, they may, after the journeying of this miserable pilgrimage, be able to arrive at their heavenly country, there to eat, without any veil, that same bread of angels which they now eat under the sacred veils.
Quoniam autem non est satis
But forasmuch as it is not enough
veritatem dicere, nisi detegantur et refellantur errores: placuit sanctæ synodo hos canones subjungere, ut omnes, jam agnita Catholica doctrina, intelligant quoque, quæ ab illis hæreses caveri, vitarique debeant.
to declare the truth, if errors be not laid bare and repudiated, it hath seemed good to the holy Synod to subjoin these canons, that all,—the Catholic doctrine being already recognized,—may now also understand what are the heresies which they ought to guard against and avoid.
DE SACROSANCTO EUCHARISTIÆ SACRAMENTO.
ON THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST.
Si quis negaverit, in sanctissimæ Eucharistiæ sacramento contineri vere, realiter et substantialiter corpus et sanguinem una cum anima et divinitate Domini nostri Jesu Christi, ac proinde totum Christum; sed dixerit, tantummodo esse in eo, ut in signo, vel figura, aut virtute: anathema sit.
Canon I.—If any one denieth, that, in the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist, are contained truly, really, and substantially, the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ; but saith that he is only therein as in a sign, or in figure, or virtue: let him be anathema.
Si quis dixerit, in sacrosancto Eucharistiæ sacramento remanere substantiam panis et vini una cum corpore et sanguine Domini nostri Iesu Christi, negaveritque mirabilem illam et singularem conversionem totius substantiæ panis in corpus, et totius substantiæ vini in sanguinem, manentibus dumtaxat speciebus panis et vini; quam quidem conversionem Catholica Ecclesia aptissime
Canon II.—If any one saith, that, in the sacred and holy sacrament of the Eucharist, the substance of the bread and wine remains conjointly with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and denieth that wonderful and singular conversion of the whole substance of the bread into the body, and of the whole substance of the wine into the blood—the species only of the bread and wine remaining—which conversion indeed the Catholic
Transsubstantiationem appellat: anathema, sit.
Church most aptly calls Transubstantiation: let him be anathema.
Si quis negaverit, in venerabili sacramento Eucharistiæ sub unaquaque specie, et sub singulis cujusque speciei partibus, separatione facta, totum Christum contineri: anathema sit.
Canon III.—If any one denieth, that, in the venerable sacrament of the Eucharist, the whole Christ is contained under each species, and under every part of each species, when separated: let him be anathema.
Si quis dixerit, peracta consecratione, in admirabili Eucharistiæ sacramento non esse corpus et sanguinem Domini nostri Iesu Christi, sed tantum in usu, dum sumitur, non autem ante vel post, et in hostiis seu particulis consecratis, quæ post communionem reservantur vel supersunt, non remanere verum corpus Domini: anathema sit.
Canon IV.—If any one saith, that, after the consecration is completed, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are not in the admirable sacrament of the Eucharist, but [are there] only during the use, whilst it is being taken, and not either before or after; and that, in the hosts, or consecrated particles, which are reserved or which remain after communion, the true body of the Lord remaineth not: let him be anathema.
Si quis dixerit, vel præcipuum fructum sanctissimæ Eucharistiæ esse remissionem peccatorum, vel ex ea non alios effectus provenire: anathema sit.
Canon V.—If any one saith, either that the principal fruit of the most holy Eucharist is the remission of sins, or that other effects do not result therefrom: let him be anathema.
Si quis dixerit, in sancto Eucharistiæ sacramento Christum, unigenitum Dei Filium, non esse cultu latriæ etiam externo adorandum, atque ideo non festiva peculiari celebritate venerandum, neque in processionibus secundum laudabilem et universalem Ecclesiæ
Canon VI.—If any one saith, that, in the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, is not to be adored with the worship, even external of latria; and is, consequently, neither to be venerated with a special festive solemnity, nor to be solemnly borne about in procession, according
sanctæ ritum et consuetudinem solemniter circumgestandum, vel non publice, ut adoretur, populo proponendum, et ejus adoratores esse idololatras: anathema sit.
to the laudable and universal rite and custom of holy Church; or, is not to be proposed publicly to the people to be adored, and that the adorers thereof are idolaters: let him be anathema.
Si quis dixcerit, non licere sacram Eucharistiam in sacrario reservari, sed statim post consecrationem adstantibus necessario distribuendam; aut non licere, ut illa ad infirmos honorifice deferatur: anathema sit.
sacrarium
Si quis dixerit, Christum in Eucharistia exhibitum spiritualiter tantum manducari, et non etiam sacramentaliter ac realiter: anathema sit.
Canon VIII.—If any one saith, that Christ, given in the Eucharist, is eaten spiritually only, and not also sacramentally and really: let him be anathema.
Si quis negaverit, omnes et singulos Christi fideles utriusque sexus, cum ad annos discretionis pervenerint, teneri singulis annis, saltem in paschate, ad communicandum, juxta præceptum sanctæ matris Ecclesiæ: anathema sit.
Canon IX.—If any one denieth, that all and each of Christ's faithful of both sexes are bound, when they have attained to years of discretion, to communicate every year, at least at Easter, in accordance with the precept of holy Mother Church: let him be anathema.
Si quis dixerit, non licere sacerdoti celebranti seipsum communicare: anathema sit.
Canon X.—If any one saith, that it is not lawful for the celebrating priest to communicate himself: let him be anathema.
Si quis dixerit, solam fidem esse sufficientem præparationem ad sumendum sanctissimæ Eucharistiæ sacramentum:
Canon XI.—If any one saith, that faith alone is a sufficient preparation for receiving the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist: let him
anathema sit. Et, ne tantum sacramentum indigne, atque ideo in mortem et condemnationem sumatur, statuit atque declarat ipsa sancta synodus illis, quos conscientia peccati mortalis gravat, quantumcumque etiam se contritos existiment, habita copia confessoris, necessario præmittendam esse confessionem sacramentalem. Si quis autem contrarium docere, prædicare, vel pertinaciter asserere, seu etiam publice disputando defendere præsumpserit, eo ipso excommunicatus existat.
be anathema. And for fear lest so great a sacrament may be received unworthily, and so unto death and condemnation, this holy Synod ordains and declares, that sacramental confession, when a confessor may be had, is of necessity to be made beforehand, by those whose conscience is burthened with mortal sin, how contrite even soever they may think themselves. But if any one shall presume to teach, preach, or obstinately to assert, or even in public disputation to defend the contrary, he shall be thereupon excommunicated.
193 Psa. cx. 4.
194 1 Cor. xi. 26.
195 John vi. 58.
196 1 Cor. i. 10.
197 1 Cor. vi. 9.
198 Psa. xcvi. 7.
199 Matt. ii. 11.
200 Psa. cxi. 10.
201 1 Cor. xi. 29.
202 1 Cor. v. 28.
203 Gal. v. 6.
204 Matt. xxii. 11, 12.