Respondeo dicendum quod hoc sacramentum habet triplicem significationem. Unam quidem respectu praeteriti, inquantum scilicet est commemorativum dominicae passionis, quae fuit verum sacrificium, ut supra dictum est. Et secundum hoc nominatur sacrificium. I answer that, This sacrament has a threefold significance. One with regard to the past, inasmuch as it is commemorative of our Lord’s Passion, which was a true sacrifice, as stated above (Q. 48, A. 3), and in this respect it is called a Sacrifice. Aliam autem significationem habet respectu rei praesentis, scilicet ecclesiasticae unitatis, cui homines congregantur per hoc sacramentum. Et secundum hoc nominatur communio vel synaxis, dicit enim Damascenus, IV libro, quod dicitur communio, quia communicamus per ipsam Christo; et quia participamus eius carne et deitate; et quia communicamus et unimur ad invicem per ipsam. With regard to the present it has another meaning, namely, that of Ecclesiastical unity, in which men are aggregated through this Sacrament; and in this respect it is called Communion or Synaxis. For Damascene says (De Fide Orth. iv) that it is called Communion because we communicate with Christ through it, both because we partake of His flesh and Godhead, and because we communicate with and are united to one another through it. Tertiam significationem habet respectu futuri, inquantum scilicet hoc sacramentum est praefigurativum fruitionis Dei, quae erit in patria. Et secundum hoc dicitur viaticum, quia hoc praebet nobis viam illuc perveniendi. Et secundum hoc etiam dicitur Eucharistia, idest bona gratia, quia gratia Dei est vita aeterna, ut dicitur Rom. VI; vel quia realiter continet Christum, qui est plenus gratia. With regard to the future it has a third meaning, inasmuch as this sacrament foreshadows the Divine fruition, which shall come to pass in heaven; and according to this it is called Viaticum, because it supplies the way of winning thither. And in this respect it is also called the Eucharist, that is, good grace, because the grace of God is life everlasting (Rom 6:23); or because it really contains Christ, Who is full of grace. Dicitur etiam in Graeco metalepsis, idest assumptio, quia, ut Damascenus dicit, per hoc filii deitatem assumimus. In Greek, moreover, it is called Metalepsis, i.e., Assumption, because, as Damascene says (De Fide Orth. iv), we thereby assume the Godhead of the Son. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod nihil prohibet idem pluribus nominibus nominari secundum diversas proprietates vel effectus. Reply Obj. 1: There is nothing to hinder the same thing from being called by several names, according to its various properties or effects. Ad secundum dicendum quod id quod est commune omnibus sacramentis, attribuitur antonomastice ei, propter eius excellentiam. Reply Obj. 2: What is common to all the sacraments is attributed antonomastically to this one on account of its excellence. Ad tertium dicendum quod hoc sacramentum dicitur sacrificium, inquantum repraesentat ipsam passionem Christi. Dicitur autem hostia, inquantum continet ipsum Christum, qui est hostia suavitatis, ut dicitur Ephes. V. Reply Obj. 3: This sacrament is called a Sacrifice inasmuch as it represents the Passion of Christ; but it is termed a Host inasmuch as it contains Christ, Who is a host (sacrifice) . . . of sweetness (Eph 5:2). Articulus 5 Article 5 Utrum fuerit conveniens institutio istius sacramenti Whether the institution of this sacrament was appropriate? Ad quintum sic proceditur. Videtur quod non fuerit conveniens institutio istius sacramenti. Ut enim philosophus dicit, in II de Generat., ex eisdem nutrimur ex quibus sumus. Sed per Baptismum, qui est spiritualis regeneratio, accipimus esse spirituale, ut Dionysius dicit, II cap. Eccles. Hier. Ergo per Baptismum etiam nutrimur. Non ergo fuit necessarium instituere hoc sacramentum quasi spirituale nutrimentum. Objection 1: It seems that the institution of this sacrament was not appropriate, because as the Philosopher says (De Gener. ii): We are nourished by the things from whence we spring. But by Baptism, which is spiritual regeneration, we receive our spiritual being, as Dionysius says (Eccl. Hier. ii). Therefore we are also nourished by Baptism. Consequently there was no need to institute this sacrament as spiritual nourishment. Praeterea, per hoc sacramentum homines Christo uniuntur sicut membra capiti. Sed Christus est caput omnium hominum, etiam qui fuerunt ab initio mundi, ut supra dictum est. Ergo non debuit institutio huius sacramenti differri usque ad cenam domini. Obj. 2: Further, men are united with Christ through this sacrament as the members with the head. But Christ is the Head of all men, even of those who have existed from the beginning of the world, as stated above (Q. 8, AA. 3, 6). Therefore the institution of this sacrament should not have been postponed till the Lord’s supper. Praeterea, hoc sacramentum dicitur esse memoriale dominicae passionis, secundum illud Matth. XXVI, hoc facite in meam commemorationem. Sed memoria est praeteritorum. Ergo hoc sacramentum non debuit institui ante Christi passionem. Obj. 3: Further, this sacrament is called the memorial of our Lord’s Passion, according to Matt. 26 (Luke 22:19): Do this for a commemoration of Me. But a commemoration is of things past. Therefore, this sacrament should not have been instituted before Christ’s Passion. Praeterea, per Baptismum aliquis ordinatur ad Eucharistiam, quae non nisi baptizatis dari debet. Sed Baptismus institutus fuit post Christi passionem et resurrectionem, ut patet Matth. ult. Ergo inconvenienter hoc sacramentum fuit ante passionem Christi institutum. Obj. 4: Further, a man is prepared by Baptism for the Eucharist, which ought to be given only to the baptized. But Baptism was instituted by Christ after His Passion and Resurrection, as is evident from Matt. 28:19. Therefore, this sacrament was not suitably instituted before Christ’s Passion. Sed contra est quod hoc sacramentum institutum est a Christo, de quo dicitur Marc. VII, bene omnia fecit. On the contrary, This sacrament was instituted by Christ, of Whom it is said (Mark 7:37) that He did all things well. Respondeo dicendum quod convenienter hoc sacramentum institutum fuit in cena, in qua scilicet Christus ultimo cum discipulis suis fuit conversatus. Primo quidem, ratione continentiae huius sacramenti. Continetur enim ipse Christus in Eucharistia sicut in sacramento. Et ideo, quando ipse Christus in propria specie a discipulis discessurus erat, in sacramentali specie seipsum eis reliquit, sicut in absentia imperatoris exhibetur veneranda eius imago. Unde Eusebius dicit, quia corpus assumptum ablaturus erat ab oculis et illaturus sideribus, necesse erat ut die cenae sacramentum corporis et sanguinis sui consecraret nobis, ut coleretur iugiter per mysterium quod semel offerebatur in pretium. I answer that, This sacrament was appropriately instituted at the supper, when Christ conversed with His disciples for the last time. First of all, because of what is contained in the sacrament: for Christ is Himself contained in the Eucharist sacramentally. Consequently, when Christ was going to leave His disciples in His proper species, He left Himself with them under the sacramental species; as the Emperor’s image is set up to be reverenced in his absence. Hence Eusebius says: Since He was going to withdraw His assumed body from their eyes, and bear it away to the stars, it was needful that on the day of the supper He should consecrate the sacrament of His body and blood for our sakes, in order that what was once offered up for our ransom should be fittingly worshiped in a mystery. Secundo, quia sine fide passionis Christi nunquam potuit esse salus, secundum illud Rom. III, quem proposuit Deus propitiatorem per fidem in sanguine ipsius. Et ideo oportuit omni tempore apud homines esse aliquod repraesentativum dominicae passionis. Cuius in veteri quidem testamento praecipuum sacramentum erat agnus paschalis, unde et apostolus dicit, I Cor. V, Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus. Successit autem ei in novo testamento Eucharistiae sacramentum, quod est rememorativum praeteritae passionis, sicut et illud fuit praefigurativum futurae. Et ideo conveniens fuit, imminente passione, celebrato priori sacramento, novum sacramentum instituere, ut Leo Papa dicit. Second, because without faith in the Passion there could never be any salvation, according to Rom. 3:25: Whom God hath proposed to be a propitiation, through faith in His blood. It was necessary accordingly that there should be at all times among men something to show forth our Lord’s Passion; the chief sacrament of which in the old Law was the Paschal Lamb. Hence the Apostle says (1 Cor 5:7): Christ our Pasch is sacrificed. But its successor under the New Testament is the sacrament of the Eucharist, which is a remembrance of the Passion now past, just as the other was figurative of the Passion to come. And so it was fitting that when the hour of the Passion was come, Christ should institute a new Sacrament after celebrating the old, as Pope Leo I says (Serm. lviii). Tertio, quia ea quae ultimo dicuntur, maxime ab amicis recedentibus, magis memoriae commendantur, praesertim quia tunc magis inflammatur affectus ad amicos, ea vero ad quae magis afficimur, profundius animo imprimuntur. Quia igitur, ut beatus Alexander Papa dicit, nihil in sacrificiis maius esse potest quam corpus et sanguis Christi, nec ulla oblatio hac potior est, ideo, ut in maiori veneratione haberetur, dominus in ultimo discessu suo a discipulis hoc sacramentum instituit. Et hoc est quod Augustinus dicit, in libro responsionum ad Ianuarium, salvator, quo vehementius commendaret mysterii illius altitudinem, ultimum hoc voluit infigere cordibus et memoriae discipulorum, a quibus ad passionem discessurus erat. Third, because last words, chiefly such as are spoken by departing friends, are committed most deeply to memory; since then especially affection for friends is more enkindled, and the things which affect us most are impressed the deepest in the soul. Consequently, since, as Pope Alexander I says, among sacrifices there can be none greater than the body and blood of Christ, nor any more powerful oblation; our Lord instituted this sacrament at His last parting with His disciples, in order that it might be held in the greater veneration. And this is what Augustine says (Respons. ad Januar. i): In order to commend more earnestly the death of this mystery, our Savior willed this last act to be fixed in the hearts and memories of the disciples whom He was about to quit for the Passion. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod ex eisdem nutrimur ex quibus sumus, non tamen eodem modo nobis advenientibus. Nam ea ex quibus sumus, nobis adveniunt per generationem, eadem autem, inquantum ex eis nutrimur, nobis adveniunt per manducationem. Unde et, sicut per Baptismum regeneramur in Christo, ita per Eucharistiam manducamus Christum. Reply Obj. 1: We are nourished from the same things of which we are made, but they do not come to us in the same way; for those out of which we are made come to us through generation, while the same, as nourishing us, come to us through being eaten. Hence, as we are new-born in Christ through Baptism, so through the Eucharist we eat Christ. Ad secundum dicendum quod Eucharistia est sacramentum perfectum dominicae passionis, tanquam continens ipsum Christum passum. Et ideo non potuit institui ante incarnationem, sed tunc habebant locum sacramenta quae erant tantum praefigurativa dominicae passionis. Reply Obj. 2: The Eucharist is the perfect sacrament of our Lord’s Passion, as containing Christ crucified; consequently it could not be instituted before the Incarnation; but then there was room for only such sacraments as were prefigurative of the Lord’s Passion. Ad tertium dicendum quod sacramentum illud fuit institutum in cena ut in futurum esset memoriale dominicae passionis, ea perfecta. Unde signanter dicit, haec quotiescumque feceritis, de futuro loquens. Reply Obj. 3: This sacrament was instituted during the supper, so as in the future to be a memorial of our Lord’s Passion as accomplished. Hence He said expressively: As often as ye shall do these things, speaking of the future. Ad quartum dicendum quod institutio respondet ordini intentionis. Sacramentum autem Eucharistiae, quamvis sit posterius Baptismo in perceptione, est tamen prius in intentione. Et ideo debuit prius institui. Vel potest dici quod Baptismus iam erat institutus in ipso Christi Baptismo. Unde et iam aliqui ipso Christi Baptismo erant baptizati, ut legitur Ioan. III. Reply Obj. 4: The institution responds to the order of intention. But the sacrament of the Eucharist, although after Baptism in the receiving, is yet previous to it in intention; and therefore it behooved to be instituted first. Or else it can be said that Baptism was already instituted in Christ’s Baptism; hence some were already baptized with Christ’s Baptism, as we read in John 3:22. Articulus 6 Article 6 Utrum agnus paschalis fuerit praecipua figura huius sacramenti Whether the Paschal Lamb was the chief figure of this sacrament? Ad sextum sic proceditur. Videtur quod agnus paschalis non fuerit praecipua figura huius sacramenti. Christus enim dicitur sacerdos secundum ordinem Melchisedech, propter hoc quod Melchisedech gessit figuram sacrificii Christi, offerens panem et vinum. Sed expressio similitudinis facit quod unum ab alio denominetur. Ergo videtur quod oblatio Melchisedech fuerit potissima figura huius sacramenti. Objection 1: It seems that the Paschal Lamb was not the chief figure of this sacrament, because (Ps 109:4) Christ is called a priest according to the order of Melchisedech, since Melchisedech bore the figure of Christ’s sacrifice, in offering bread and wine. But the expression of likeness causes one thing to be named from another. Therefore, it seems that Melchisedech’s offering was the principal figure of this sacrament. Praeterea, transitus maris rubri fuit figura Baptismi, secundum illud I Cor. X, omnes baptizati sunt in nube et in mari. Sed immolatio agni paschalis praecessit transitum maris rubri, quem subsecutum est manna, sicut Eucharistia sequitur Baptismum. Ergo manna est expressior figura huius sacramenti quam agnus paschalis. Obj. 2: Further, the passage of the Red Sea was a figure of Baptism, according to 1 Cor. 10:2: All . . . were baptized in the cloud and in the sea. But the immolation of the Paschal Lamb was previous to the passage of the Red Sea, and the Manna came after it, just as the Eucharist follows Baptism. Therefore the Manna is a more expressive figure of this sacrament than the Paschal Lamb. Praeterea, potissima virtus huius sacramenti est quod introducit nos in regnum caelorum, sicut quoddam viaticum. Sed hoc maxime figuratum fuit in sacramento expiationis, quando pontifex intrabat semel in anno cum sanguine in sancta sanctorum, sicut apostolus probat, Heb. IX. Ergo videtur quod illud sacrificium fuerit expressior figura huius sacramenti quam agnus paschalis. Obj. 3: Further, the principal power of this sacrament is that it brings us into the kingdom of heaven, being a kind of viaticum. But this was chiefly prefigured in the sacrament of expiation when the high-priest entered once a year into the Holy of Holies with blood, as the Apostle proves in Heb. 9. Consequently, it seems that that sacrifice was a more significant figure of this sacrament than was the Paschal Lamb. Sed contra est quod apostolus dicit, I Cor. V, Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus. Itaque epulemur in azymis sinceritatis et veritatis. On the contrary, The Apostle says (1 Cor 5:7, 8): Christ our Pasch is sacrificed; therefore let us feast . . . with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Respondeo dicendum quod in hoc sacramento tria considerare possumus, scilicet id quod est sacramentum tantum, scilicet panis et vinum; et id quod est res et sacramentum, scilicet corpus Christi verum; et id quod est res tantum, scilicet effectus huius sacramenti. Quantum igitur ad id quod est sacramentum tantum potissima figura fuit huius sacramenti oblatio Melchisedech, qui obtulit panem et vinum. Quantum autem ad ipsum Christum passum, qui continetur in hoc sacramento, figurae eius fuerunt omnia sacrificia veteris testamenti; et praecipue sacrificium expiationis, quod erat solemnissimum. Quantum autem ad effectum, fuit praecipua eius figura manna, quod habebat in se omnis saporis suavitatem, ut dicitur Sap. XVI, sicut et gratia huius sacramenti quantum ad omnia reficit mentem. I answer that, We can consider three things in this sacrament: namely, that which is sacrament only, and this is the bread and wine; that which is both reality and sacrament, to wit, Christ’s true body; and lastly that which is reality only, namely, the effect of this sacrament. Consequently, in relation to what is sacrament only, the chief figure of this sacrament was the oblation of Melchisedech, who offered up bread and wine. In relation to Christ crucified, Who is contained in this sacrament, its figures were all the sacrifices of the Old Testament, especially the sacrifice of expiation, which was the most solemn of all. While with regard to its effect, the chief figure was the Manna, having in it the sweetness of every taste (Wis 16:20), just as the grace of this sacrament refreshes the soul in all respects. Sed agnus paschalis quantum ad haec tria praefigurabat hoc sacramentum. Quantum enim ad primum, quia manducabatur cum panibus azymis, secundum illud Exod. XII, edent carnes et azymos panes. Quantum vero ad secundum, quia immolabatur ab omni multitudine filiorum Israel quartadecima luna, quod fuit figura passionis Christi, qui propter innocentiam dicitur agnus. Quantum vero ad effectum, quia per sanguinem agni paschalis protecti sunt filii Israel a devastante Angelo, et educti de Aegyptiaca servitute. Et quantum ad hoc, ponitur figura huius sacramenti praecipua agnus paschalis, quia secundum omnia eam repraesentat. The Paschal Lamb foreshadowed this sacrament in these three ways. First of all, because it was eaten with unleavened loaves, according to Ex. 12:8: They shall eat flesh . . . and unleavened bread. As to the second because it was immolated by the entire multitude of the children of Israel on the fourteenth day of the moon; and this was a figure of the Passion of Christ, Who is called the Lamb on account of His innocence. As to the effect, because by the blood of the Paschal Lamb the children of Israel were preserved from the destroying Angel, and brought from the Egyptian captivity; and in this respect the Paschal Lamb is the chief figure of this sacrament, because it represents it in every respect. Et per hoc patet responsio ad obiecta. From this the answer to the Objections is manifest. Quaestio 74 Question 74 De materia Eucharistae The Matter of The Eucharist Deinde considerandum est de materia huius sacramenti. Et primo, de specie materiae; secundo, de conversione panis et vini in corpus Christi; tertio, de modo existendi corporis Christi in hoc sacramento; quarto, de accidentibus panis et vini quae in hoc sacramento remanent. We have now to consider the matter of this sacrament: and first of all as to its species; second, the change of the bread and wine into the body of Christ; third, the manner in which Christ’s body exists in this sacrament; fourth, the accidents of bread and wine which continue in this sacrament. Circa primum quaeruntur octo. Under the first heading there are eight points for inquiry: Primo, utrum panis et vinum sint materia huius sacramenti. (1) Whether bread and wine are the matter of this sacrament? Secundo, utrum ad materiam huius sacramenti requiratur determinata quantitas. (2) Whether a determinate quantity of the same is required for the matter of this sacrament?