Articulus 6 Article 6 Utrum in nomine Christi possit dari Baptismus Whether Baptism can be conferred in the name of Christ? Ad sextum sic proceditur. Videtur quod in nomine Christi possit dari Baptismus. Sicut enim una est fides, et unum Baptisma, ut dicitur Ephes. IV. Sed Act. VIII dicitur quod in nomine Iesu Christi baptizabantur viri et mulieres. Ergo etiam nunc potest dari Baptismus in nomine Christi. Objection 1: It seems that Baptism can be conferred in the name of Christ. For just as there is one Faith, so is there one Baptism (Eph 4:5). But it is related (Acts 8:12) that in the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized, both men and women. Therefore now also can Baptism be conferred in the name of Christ. Praeterea, Ambrosius dicit, si Christum dicas, et patrem, a quo unctus est, et ipsum qui unctus est, filium, et spiritum, quo unctus est, designasti. Sed in nomine Trinitatis potest fieri Baptismus. Ergo et in nomine Christi. Obj. 2: Further, Ambrose says (De Spir. Sanct. i): If you mention Christ, you designate both the Father by Whom He was anointed, and the Son Himself, Who was anointed, and the Holy Spirit with Whom He was anointed. But Baptism can be conferred in the name of the Trinity: therefore also in the name of Christ. Praeterea, Nicolaus Papa, ad consulta Bulgarorum respondens, dicit, qui in nomine sanctae Trinitatis, vel tantum in nomine Christi, sicut in actibus apostolorum legitur, baptizati sunt, unum quippe idemque est, ut sanctus ait Ambrosius, rebaptizari non debent. Rebaptizarentur autem si in hac forma baptizati sacramentum Baptismi non reciperent. Ergo potest consecrari Baptismus in nomine Christi sub hac forma, ego te baptizo in nomine Christi. Obj. 3: Further, Pope Nicholas I, answering questions put to him by the Bulgars, said: Those who have been baptized in the name of the Trinity, or only in the name of Christ, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles (it is all the same, as Blessed Ambrose saith), must not be rebaptized. But they would be baptized again if they had not been validly baptized with that form. Therefore Baptism can be celebrated in the name of Christ by using this form: I baptize thee in the name of Christ. Sed contra est quod Pelagius Papa scribit Gaudentio episcopo, si hi qui in locis dilectionis tuae vicinis commorari dicuntur, se solummodo in nomine domini baptizatos fuisse confitentur, sine cuiusquam dubitationis ambiguo, eos ad fidem Catholicam venientes in sanctae Trinitatis nomine baptizabis. Didymus etiam dicit, in libro de spiritu sancto, licet quis possit existere mentis alienae qui ita baptizaret ut unum de praedictis nominibus, scilicet trium personarum, praetermittat, sine perfectione baptizabit. On the contrary, Pope Pelagius II wrote to the Bishop Gaudentius: If any people living in your Worship’s neighborhood, avow that they have been baptized in the name of the Lord only, without any hesitation baptize them again in the name of the Blessed Trinity, when they come in quest of the Catholic Faith. Didymus, too, says (De Spir. Sanct.): If indeed there be such a one with a mind so foreign to faith as to baptize while omitting one of the aforesaid names, viz. of the three Persons, he baptizes invalidly. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut supra dictum est, sacramenta habent efficaciam ab institutione Christi. Et ideo, si praetermittatur aliquid eorum quae Christus instituit circa aliquod sacramentum, efficacia caret, nisi ex speciali dispensatione eius, qui virtutem suam sacramentis non alligavit. Christus autem instituit sacramentum Baptismi dari cum invocatione Trinitatis. Et ideo quidquid desit ad invocationem plenam Trinitatis, tollit integritatem Baptismi. I answer that, As stated above (Q. 64, A. 3), the sacraments derive their efficacy from Christ’s institution. Consequently, if any of those things be omitted which Christ instituted in regard to a sacrament, it is invalid; save by special dispensation of Him Who did not bind His power to the sacraments. Now Christ commanded the sacrament of Baptism to be given with the invocation of the Trinity. And consequently whatever is lacking to the full invocation of the Trinity, destroys the integrity of Baptism. Nec obstat quod in nomine unius personae intelligitur alia, sicut in nomine patris intelligitur filius; aut quod ille qui nominat unam solam personam, potest habere rectam fidem de tribus. Quia ad sacramentum, sicut requiritur materia sensibilis, ita et forma sensibilis. Unde non sufficit intellectus vel fides Trinitatis ad perfectionem sacramenti, nisi sensibilibus verbis Trinitas exprimatur. Unde et in Baptismo Christi, ubi fuit origo sanctificationis nostri Baptismi, affuit Trinitas sensibilibus, scilicet pater in voce, filius in humana natura, Spiritus Sanctus in columba. Nor does it matter that in the name of one Person another is implied, as the name of the Son is implied in that of the Father, or that he who mentions the name of only one Person may believe aright in the Three; because just as a sacrament requires sensible matter, so does it require a sensible form. Hence, for the validity of the sacrament it is not enough to imply or to believe in the Trinity, unless the Trinity be expressed in sensible words. For this reason at Christ’s Baptism, wherein was the source of the sanctification of our Baptism, the Trinity was present in sensible signs: viz. the Father in the voice, the Son in the human nature, the Holy Spirit in the dove. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod ex speciali Christi revelatione apostoli in primitiva Ecclesia in nomine Christi baptizabant, ut nomen Christi, quod erat odiosum Iudaeis et gentibus, honorabile redderetur, per hoc quod ad eius invocationem Spiritus Sanctus dabatur in Baptismo. Reply Obj. 1: It was by a special revelation from Christ that in the primitive Church the apostles baptized in the name of Christ; in order that the name of Christ, which was hateful to Jews and Gentiles, might become an object of veneration, in that the Holy Spirit was given in Baptism at the invocation of that Name. Ad secundum dicendum quod Ambrosius assignat rationem quare convenienter talis dispensatio fieri potuit in primitiva Ecclesia, quia scilicet in nomine Christi tota Trinitas intelligitur; et ideo servabatur ad minus integritate intelligibili forma quam Christus tradidit in Evangelio. Reply Obj. 2: Ambrose here gives this reason why exception could, without inconsistency, be allowed in the primitive Church; namely, because the whole Trinity is implied in the name of Christ, and therefore the form prescribed by Christ in the Gospel was observed in its integrity, at least implicitly. Ad tertium dicendum quod Nicolaus Papa dictum suum confirmat ex duobus praemissis. Et ideo eius responsio patet ex primis duabus solutionibus. Reply Obj. 3: Pope Nicolas confirms his words by quoting the two authorities given in the preceding objections: wherefore the answer to this is clear from the two solutions given above. Articulus 7 Article 7 Utrum immersio in aqua sit de necessitate Baptismi Whether immersion in water is necessary for Baptism? Ad septimum sic proceditur. Videtur quod immersio in aqua sit de necessitate Baptismi. Ut enim dicitur Ephes. IV, una fides, unum Baptisma. Sed apud multos communis modus baptizandi est per immersionem. Ergo videtur quod non possit esse Baptismus sine immersione. Objection 1: It seems that immersion in water is necessary for Baptism. Because it is written (Eph 4:5): One faith, one baptism. But in many parts of the world the ordinary way of baptizing is by immersion. Therefore it seems that there can be no Baptism without immersion. Praeterea, apostolus dicit, Rom. VI, quicumque baptizati sumus in Christo Iesu, in morte ipsius baptizati sumus, consepulti enim sumus cum illo per Baptismum in morte. Sed hoc fit per immersionem, dicit enim Chrysostomus, super illud Ioan. III, nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua et spiritu sancto, etc., sicut in quodam sepulcro, in aqua, submergentibus nobis capita, vetus homo sepelitur, et submersus deorsum occultatur, deinde novus rursus ascendit. Ergo videtur quod immersio sit de necessitate Baptismi. Obj. 2: Further, the Apostle says (Rom 6:3, 4): All we who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in His death: for we are buried together with Him, by Baptism into death. But this is done by immersion: for Chrysostom says on John 3:5: Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, etc.: When we dip our heads under the water as in a kind of tomb, our old man is buried, and being submerged, is hidden below, and thence he rises again renewed. Therefore it seems that immersion is essential to Baptism. Praeterea, si sine immersione totius corporis posset fieri Baptismus, sequeretur quod pari ratione sufficeret quamlibet partem aqua perfundi. Sed hoc videtur inconveniens, quia originale peccatum, contra quod praecipue datur Baptismus, non est in una tantum corporis parte. Ergo videtur quod requiratur immersio ad Baptismum, et non sufficiat sola aspersio. Obj. 3: Further, if Baptism is valid without total immersion of the body, it would follow that it would be equally sufficient to pour water over any part of the body. But this seems unreasonable; since original sin, to remedy which is the principal purpose of Baptism, is not in only one part of the body. Therefore it seems that immersion is necessary for Baptism, and that mere sprinkling is not enough. Sed contra est quod Heb. X dicitur, accedamus ad eum vero corde in plenitudine fidei, aspersi corda a conscientia mala, et abluti corpus aqua munda. On the contrary, It is written (Heb 10:22): Let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with clean water. Respondeo dicendum quod aqua assumitur in sacramento Baptismi ad usum ablutionis corporalis, per quam significatur interior ablutio peccatorum. Ablutio autem fieri potest per aquam non solum per modum immersionis, sed etiam per modum aspersionis vel effusionis. Et ideo, quamvis tutius sit baptizare per modum immersionis, quia hoc habet communior usus; potest tamen fieri Baptismus per modum aspersionis; vel etiam per modum effusionis, secundum illud Ezech. XXXVI, effundam super vos aquam mundam, sicut et beatus Laurentius legitur baptizasse. Et hoc praecipue propter necessitatem. Vel quia est magna multitudo baptizandorum, sicut patet Act. II et IV, ubi dicitur quod crediderunt una die tria millia, et alia quinque millia. Quandoque autem potest imminere necessitas propter paucitatem aquae; vel propter debilitatem ministri, qui non potest sustentare baptizandum; vel propter debilitatem baptizandi, cui posset imminere periculum mortis ex immersione. Et ideo dicendum est quod immersio non est de necessitate Baptismi. I answer that, In the sacrament of Baptism water is put to the use of a washing of the body, whereby to signify the inward washing away of sins. Now washing may be done with water not only by immersion, but also by sprinkling or pouring. And, therefore, although it is safer to baptize by immersion, because this is the more ordinary fashion, yet Baptism can be conferred by sprinkling or also by pouring, according to Ezech. 36:25: I will pour upon you clean water, as also the Blessed Lawrence is related to have baptized. And this especially in cases of urgency: either because there is a great number to be baptized, as was clearly the case in Acts 2 and 4, where we read that on one day three thousand believed, and on another five thousand: or through there being but a small supply of water, or through feebleness of the minister, who cannot hold up the candidate for Baptism; or through feebleness of the candidate, whose life might be endangered by immersion. We must therefore conclude that immersion is not necessary for Baptism. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod ea quae sunt per accidens, non variant substantiam rei. Per se autem requiritur ad Baptismum corporalis ablutio per aquam, unde et Baptismus lavacrum nominatur, secundum illud Ephes. V, mundans eam lavacro aquae in verbo vitae. Sed quod fiat ablutio hoc vel illo modo, accidit Baptismo. Et ideo talis diversitas non tollit unitatem Baptismi. Reply Obj. 1: What is accidental to a thing does not diversify its essence. Now bodily washing with water is essential to Baptism: wherefore Baptism is called a laver, according to Eph. 5:26: Cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life. But that the washing be done this or that way, is accidental to Baptism. And consequently such diversity does not destroy the oneness of Baptism. Ad secundum dicendum quod in immersione expressius repraesentatur figura sepulturae Christi, et ideo hic modus baptizandi est communior et laudabilior. Sed in aliis modis baptizandi repraesentatur aliquo modo, licet non ita expresse, nam, quocumque modo fiat ablutio, corpus hominis, vel aliqua pars eius, aquae supponitur, sicut corpus Christi fuit positum sub terra. Reply Obj. 2: Christ’s burial is more clearly represented by immersion: wherefore this manner of baptizing is more frequently in use and more commendable. Yet in the other ways of baptizing it is represented after a fashion, albeit not so clearly; for no matter how the washing is done, the body of a man, or some part thereof, is put under water, just as Christ’s body was put under the earth. Ad tertium dicendum quod principalis pars corporis, praecipue quantum ad exteriora membra, est caput, in quo vigent omnes sensus et interiores et exteriores. Et ideo, si totum corpus aqua non possit perfundi, propter aquae paucitatem vel propter aliquam aliam causam, oportet caput perfundere, in quo manifestatur principium animalis vitae. Reply Obj. 3: The principal part of the body, especially in relation to the exterior members, is the head, wherein all the senses, both interior and exterior, flourish. And therefore, if the whole body cannot be covered with water, because of the scarcity of water, or because of some other reason, it is necessary to pour water over the head, in which the principle of animal life is made manifest. Et licet per membra quae generationi deserviunt peccatum originale traducatur, non tamen sunt membra illa potius aspergenda quam caput, quia per Baptismum non tollitur transmissio originalis in prolem per actum generationis, sed liberatur anima a macula et reatu peccati quod incurrit. Et ideo debet praecipue lavari illa pars corporis in qua manifestantur opera animae. And although original sin is transmitted through the members that serve for procreation, yet those members are not to be sprinkled in preference to the head, because by Baptism the transmission of original sin to the offspring by the act of procreation is not deleted, but the soul is freed from the stain and debt of sin which it has contracted. Consequently that part of the body should be washed in preference, in which the works of the soul are made manifest. In veteri tamen lege remedium contra originale peccatum institutum erat in membro generationis, quia adhuc ille per quem originale erat amovendum, nasciturus erat ex semine Abrahae, cuius fidem circumcisio significabat, ut dicitur Rom. IV. Nevertheless in the Old Law the remedy against original sin was affixed to the member of procreation; because He through Whom original sin was to be removed, was yet to be born of the seed of Abraham, whose faith was signified by circumcision according to Rom. 4:11. Articulus 8 Article 8 Utrum trina immersio sit de necessitate Baptismi Whether trine immersion is essential to Baptism? Ad octavum sic proceditur. Videtur quod trina immersio sit de necessitate Baptismi. Dicit enim Augustinus, in quodam sermone de symbolo ad baptizatos, recte tertio mersi estis, quia accepistis Baptismum in nomine Trinitatis. Recte tertio mersi estis, quia accepistis Baptismum in nomine Iesu Christi, qui tertia die resurrexit a mortuis. Illa enim tertio repetita immersio typum dominicae exprimit sepulturae, per quam Christo consepulti estis in Baptismo. Sed utrumque videtur ad necessitatem Baptismi pertinere, scilicet et quod significetur in Baptismo Trinitas personarum; et quod fiat configuratio ad sepulturam Christi. Ergo videtur quod trina immersio sit de necessitate Baptismi. Objection 1: It seems that trine immersion is essential to Baptism. For Augustine says in a sermon on the Symbol, addressed to the Neophytes: Rightly were you dipped three times, since you were baptized in the name of the Trinity. Rightly were you dipped three times, because you were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, Who on the third day rose again from the dead. For that thrice repeated immersion reproduces the burial of the Lord by which you were buried with Christ in Baptism. Now both seem to be essential to Baptism, namely, that in Baptism the Trinity of Persons should be signified, and that we should be conformed to Christ’s burial. Therefore it seems that trine immersion is essential to Baptism. Praeterea, sacramenta ex mandato Christi efficaciam habent. Sed trina immersio est ex mandato Christi, scripsit enim Pelagius Papa Gaudentio episcopo, evangelicum praeceptum, ipso domino Deo et salvatore nostro Iesu Christo tradente, nos admonet in nomine Trinitatis, trina etiam immersione, sanctum Baptismum unicuique tribuere. Ergo, sicut baptizare in nomine Trinitatis est de necessitate Baptismi, ita baptizare trina immersione videtur esse de necessitate Baptismi. Obj. 2: Further, the sacraments derive their efficacy from Christ’s mandate. But trine immersion was commanded by Christ: for Pope Pelagius II wrote to Bishop Gaudentius: The Gospel precept given by our Lord God Himself, our Savior Jesus Christ, admonishes us to confer the sacrament of Baptism to each one in the name of the Trinity and also with trine immersion. Therefore, just as it is essential to Baptism to call on the name of the Trinity, so is it essential to baptize by trine immersion. Praeterea, si trina immersio non sit de necessitate Baptismi, ergo ad primam immersionem aliquis Baptismi consequitur sacramentum. Si vero addatur secunda et tertia, videtur quod secundo vel tertio baptizetur, quod est inconveniens. Non ergo una immersio sufficit ad sacramentum Baptismi, sed trina videtur esse de necessitate ipsius. Obj. 3: Further, if trine immersion be not essential to Baptism, it follows that the sacrament of Baptism is conferred at the first immersion; so that if a second or third immersion be added, it seems that Baptism is conferred a second or third time, which is absurd. Therefore one immersion does not suffice for the sacrament of Baptism, and trine immersion is essential thereto. Sed contra est quod Gregorius scribit Leandro episcopo, reprehensibile esse nullatenus potest infantem in Baptismate vel tertio vel semel immergere, quoniam et in tribus immersionibus personarum Trinitas, et una potest divinitatis singularitas designari. On the contrary, Gregory wrote to the Bishop Leander: It cannot be in any way reprehensible to baptize an infant with either a trine or a single immersion: since the Trinity can be represented in the three immersions, and the unity of the Godhead in one immersion. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut prius dictum est, ad Baptismum per se requiritur ablutio aquae, quae est de necessitate sacramenti, modus autem ablutionis per accidens se habet ad sacramentum. Et ideo, sicut ex praedicta auctoritate Gregorii patet, quantum est de se, utrumque licite fieri potest, scilicet et semel et ter immergere, quia unica immersione significatur unitas mortis Christi, et unitas deitatis; per trinam autem immersionem significatur triduum sepulturae Christi, et etiam Trinitas personarum. I answer that As stated above (A. 7, ad 1), washing with water is of itself required for Baptism, being essential to the sacrament: whereas the mode of washing is accidental to the sacrament. Consequently, as Gregory in the words above quoted explains, both single and trine immersion are lawful considered in themselves; since one immersion signifies the oneness of Christ’s death and of the Godhead; while trine immersion signifies the three days of Christ’s burial, and also the Trinity of Persons. Sed diversis ex causis, secundum ordinationem Ecclesiae, quandoque institutus est unus modus, quandoque alius. Quia enim a principio nascentis Ecclesiae quidam de Trinitate male sentiebant, Christum purum hominem aestimantes, nec dici filium Dei et Deum nisi per meritum eius, quod praecipue fuit in morte, ideo non baptizabant in nomine Trinitatis, sed in commemorationem mortis Christi, et una immersione. Quod reprobatum fuit in primitiva Ecclesia. Unde in canonibus apostolorum legitur, si quis presbyter aut episcopus non trinam immersionem unius ministerii, sed semel mergat in Baptismate, quod dari a quibusdam dicitur in morte domini, deponatur, non enim nobis dixit dominus, in morte mea baptizate, sed, in nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti. But for various reasons, according as the Church has ordained, one mode has been in practice, at one time, the other at another time. For since from the very earliest days of the Church some have had false notions concerning the Trinity, holding that Christ is a mere man, and that He is not called the Son of God or God except by reason of His merit, which was chiefly in His death; for this reason they did not baptize in the name of the Trinity, but in memory of Christ’s death, and with one immersion. And this was condemned in the early Church. Wherefore in the Apostolic Canons (xlix) we read: If any priest or bishop confer baptism not with the trine immersion in the one administration, but with one immersion, which baptism is said to be conferred by some in the death of the Lord, let him be deposed: for our Lord did not say, Baptize ye in My death, but In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Postmodum vero inolevit quorundam schismaticorum et haereticorum error homines rebaptizantium, sicut de Donatistis Augustinus narrat, super Ioan. Et ideo, in detestationem erroris eorum, fuit statutum in Concilio Toletano quod fieret una sola immersio, ubi sic legitur, propter vitandum schismatis scandalum, vel haeretici dogmatis usum, simplam teneamus Baptismi immersionem. Later on, however, there arose the error of certain schismatics and heretics who rebaptized: as Augustine (Super. Joan., cf. De Haeres. lxix) relates of the Donatists. Wherefore, in detestation of their error, only one immersion was ordered to be made, by the (fourth) council of Toledo, in the acts of which we read: In order to avoid the scandal of schism or the practice of heretical teaching let us hold to the single baptismal immersion. Sed, cessante tali causa, communiter observatur in Baptismo trina immersio. Et ideo graviter peccaret aliter baptizans, quasi ritum Ecclesiae non observans. Nihilominus tamen esset Baptismus. But now that this motive has ceased, trine immersion is universally observed in Baptism: and consequently anyone baptizing otherwise would sin gravely, through not following the ritual of the Church. It would, however, be valid Baptism. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod Trinitas est sicut agens principale in Baptismo. Similitudo autem agentis pervenit ad effectum secundum formam, et non secundum materiam. Et ideo significatio Trinitatis fit in Baptismo per verba formae. Nec est de necessitate quod significetur Trinitas per usum materiae, sed hoc fit ad maiorem expressionem. Reply Obj. 1: The Trinity acts as principal agent in Baptism. Now the likeness of the agent enters into the effect, in regard to the form and not in regard to the matter. Wherefore the Trinity is signified in Baptism by the words of the form. Nor is it essential for the Trinity to be signified by the manner in which the matter is used; although this is done to make the signification clearer. Similiter etiam mors Christi figuratur sufficienter in unica immersione. Triduum autem sepulturae non est de necessitate nostrae salutis, quia etiam si una die fuisset sepultus vel mortuus, suffecisset ad perficiendam nostram redemptionem; sed triduum illud ordinatur ad manifestandam veritatem mortis, ut supra dictum est. Et ideo patet quod trina immersio nec ex parte Trinitatis, nec ex parte passionis Christi, est de necessitate sacramenti. In like manner Christ’s death is sufficiently represented in the one immersion. And the three days of His burial were not necessary for our salvation, because even if He had been buried or dead for one day, this would have been enough to consummate our redemption: yet those three days were ordained unto the manifestation of the reality of His death, as stated above (Q. 53, A. 2). It is therefore clear that neither on the part of the Trinity, nor on the part of Christ’s Passion, is the trine immersion essential to the sacrament. Ad secundum dicendum quod Pelagius Papa intelligit trinam immersionem esse ex mandato Christi in suo simili, in hoc scilicet quod Christus praecepit baptizari in nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti. Non tamen est similis ratio de forma et de usu materiae, ut dictum est. Reply Obj. 2: Pope Pelagius understood the trine immersion to be ordained by Christ in its equivalent; in the sense that Christ commanded Baptism to be conferred in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Nor can we argue from the form to the use of the matter, as stated above (ad 1).