Quaestio 80 Question 80 De usu sive sumptione huius sacramenti The Use or Receiving of This Sacrament in General Deinde considerandum est de usu sive sumptione huius sacramenti. Et primo, in communi; secundo, quomodo Christus est usus hoc sacramento. We have now to consider the use or receiving of this sacrament, first of all in general; second, how Christ used this sacrament. Circa primum quaeruntur duodecim. Under the first heading there are twelve points of inquiry: Primo, utrum sint duo modi manducandi hoc sacramentum, scilicet sacramentaliter et spiritualiter. (1) Whether there are two ways of eating this sacrament, namely, sacramentally and spiritually? Secundo, utrum soli homini conveniat manducare spiritualiter. (2) Whether it belongs to man alone to eat this sacrament spiritually? Tertio, utrum solius hominis iusti sit manducare sacramentaliter. (3) Whether it belongs to the just man only to eat it sacramentally? Quarto, utrum peccator manducans sacramentaliter peccet. (4) Whether the sinner sins in eating it sacramentally? Quinto, de quantitate huius peccati. (5) Of the degree of this sin; Sexto, utrum peccator accedens ad hoc sacramentum sit repellendus. (6) Whether this sacrament should be refused to the sinner that approaches it? Septimo, utrum nocturna pollutio impediat hominem a sumptione huius sacramenti. (7) Whether nocturnal pollution prevents man from receiving this sacrament? Octavo, utrum sit solum a ieiunis sumendum. (8) Whether it is to be received only when one is fasting? Nono, utrum sit exhibendum non habentibus usum rationis. (9) Whether it is to be given to them who lack the use of reason? Decimo, utrum sit quotidie sumendum. (10) Whether it is to be received daily? Undecimo, utrum liceat omnino abstinere. (11) Whether it is lawful to refrain from it altogether? Duodecimo, utrum liceat percipere corpus sine sanguine. (12) Whether it is lawful to receive the body without the blood? Articulus 1 Article 1 Utrum debeant distingui duo modi manducandi corpus Christi, scilicet spiritualiter et sacramentaliter Whether there are two ways to be distinguished of eating Christ’s Body, namely, spiritually and sacramentally? Ad primum sic proceditur. Videtur quod non debeant distingui duo modi manducandi corpus Christi, scilicet spiritualiter et sacramentaliter. Sicut enim Baptismus est spiritualis regeneratio, secundum illud Ioan. III, nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua et spiritu sancto etc., ita etiam hoc sacramentum est cibus spiritualis, unde dominus, loquens de hoc sacramento, dicit, Ioan. VI, verba quae ego locutus sum vobis, spiritus et vita sunt. Sed circa Baptismum non distinguitur duplex modus sumendi, scilicet sacramentalis et spiritualis. Ergo neque circa hoc sacramentum debet haec distinctio adhiberi. Objection 1: It seems that two ways ought not to be distinguished of eating Christ’s body, namely, sacramentally and spiritually. For, as Baptism is spiritual regeneration, according to John 3:5: Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, etc., so also this sacrament is spiritual food: hence our Lord, speaking of this sacrament, says (John 6:64): The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are no two distinct ways of receiving Baptism, namely, sacramentally and spiritually. Therefore neither ought this distinction to be made regarding this sacrament. Praeterea, ea quorum unum est propter alterum, non debent ad invicem dividi, quia unum ab alio speciem trahit. Sed sacramentalis manducatio ordinatur ad spiritualem sicut ad finem. Non ergo debet sacramentalis manducatio contra spiritualem dividi. Obj. 2: Further, when two things are so related that one is on account of the other, they should not be put in contradistinction to one another, because the one derives its species from the other. But sacramental eating is ordained for spiritual eating as its end. Therefore sacramental eating ought not to be divided in contrast with spiritual eating. Praeterea, ea quorum unum non potest esse sine altero, non debent contra se dividi. Sed videtur quod nullus possit manducare spiritualiter nisi etiam sacramentaliter manducet, alioquin antiqui patres hoc sacramentum spiritualiter manducassent. Frustra etiam esset sacramentalis manducatio, si sine ea spiritualis esse posset. Non ergo convenienter distinguitur duplex manducatio, scilicet sacramentalis et spiritualis. Obj. 3: Further, things which cannot exist without one another ought not to be divided in contrast with each other. But it seems that no one can eat spiritually without eating sacramentally; otherwise the fathers of old would have eaten this sacrament spiritually. Moreover, sacramental eating would be to no purpose, if the spiritual eating could be had without it. Therefore it is not right to distinguish a twofold eating, namely, sacramental and spiritual. Sed contra est quod, super illud I Cor. XI, qui manducat et bibit indigne etc., dicit Glossa, duos dicimus esse modos manducandi, unum sacramentalem, et alium spiritualem. On the contrary, The gloss says on 1 Cor. 11:29: He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, etc.: We hold that there are two ways of eating, the one sacramental, and the other spiritual. Respondeo dicendum quod in sumptione huius sacramenti duo sunt consideranda, scilicet ipsum sacramentum, et effectus ipsius, de quorum utroque supra iam dictum est. Perfectus igitur modus sumendi hoc sacramentum est quando aliquis ita hoc sacramentum suscipit quod percipit eius effectum. Contingit autem quandoque, sicut supra dictum est, quod aliquis impeditur a percipiendo effectum huius sacramenti, et talis sumptio huius sacramenti est imperfecta. Sicut igitur perfectum contra imperfectum dividitur, ita sacramentalis manducatio, per quam sumitur solum sacramentum sine effectu ipsius, dividitur contra spiritualem manducationem, per quam aliquis percipit effectum huius sacramenti quo spiritualiter homo Christo coniungitur per fidem et caritatem. I answer that, There are two things to be considered in the receiving of this sacrament, namely, the sacrament itself, and its fruits, and we have already spoken of both (QQ. 73, 79). The perfect way, then, of receiving this sacrament is when one takes it so as to partake of its effect. Now, as was stated above (Q. 79, AA. 3, 8), it sometimes happens that a man is hindered from receiving the effect of this sacrament; and such receiving of this sacrament is an imperfect one. Therefore, as the perfect is divided against the imperfect, so sacramental eating, whereby the sacrament only is received without its effect, is divided against spiritual eating, by which one receives the effect of this sacrament, whereby a man is spiritually united with Christ through faith and charity. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod etiam circa Baptismum, et alia huiusmodi sacramenta, similis distinctio adhibetur, nam quidam suscipiunt tantum sacramentum, quidam vero sacramentum et rem sacramenti. Hic tamen differt quia, cum alia sacramenta perficiantur in usu materiae, percipere sacramentum est ipsa perfectio sacramenti, hoc autem sacramentum perficitur in consecratione materiae, et ideo uterque usus est consequens hoc sacramentum. In Baptismo autem, et aliis sacramentis characterem imprimentibus, illi qui accipiunt sacramentum, recipiunt aliquem spiritualem effectum, scilicet characterem, quod non accidit in hoc sacramento. Et ideo magis in hoc sacramento distinguitur usus sacramentalis a spirituali quam in Baptismo. Reply Obj. 1: The same distinction is made regarding Baptism and the other sacraments: for, some receive the sacrament only, while others receive the sacrament and the reality of the sacrament. However, there is a difference, because, since the other sacraments are accomplished in the use of the matter, the receiving of the sacrament is the actual perfection of the sacrament; whereas this sacrament is accomplished in the consecration of the matter: and consequently both uses follow the sacrament. On the other hand, in Baptism and in the other sacraments that imprint a character, they who receive the sacrament receive some spiritual effect, that is, the character, which is not the case in this sacrament. And therefore, in this sacrament, rather than in Baptism, the sacramental use is distinguished from the spiritual use. Ad secundum dicendum quod sacramentalis manducatio quae pertingit ad spiritualem, non dividitur contra spiritualem, sed includitur ab ea. Sed illa sacramentalis manducatio contra spiritualem dividitur quae effectum non consequitur, sicut imperfectum quod non pertingit ad perfectionem speciei, dividitur contra perfectum. Reply Obj. 2: That sacramental eating which is also a spiritual eating is not divided in contrast with spiritual eating, but is included under it; but that sacramental eating which does not secure the effect, is divided in contrast with spiritual eating; just as the imperfect, which does not attain the perfection of its species, is divided in contrast with the perfect. Ad tertium dicendum quod, sicut supra dictum est, effectus sacramenti potest ab aliquo percipi, si sacramentum habeatur in voto, quamvis non habeatur in re. Et ideo, sicut aliqui baptizantur Baptismo flaminis, propter desiderium Baptismi, antequam baptizentur Baptismo aquae; ita etiam aliqui manducant spiritualiter hoc sacramentum antequam sacramentaliter sumant. Sed hoc contingit dupliciter. Uno modo, propter desiderium sumendi ipsum sacramentum, et hoc modo dicuntur baptizari et manducare spiritualiter et non sacramentaliter, illi qui desiderant sumere haec sacramenta iam instituta. Alio modo, propter figuram, sicut dicit apostolus, I Cor. X, quod antiqui patres baptizati sunt in nube et in mari, et quod spiritualem escam manducaverunt et spiritualem potum biberunt. Nec tamen frustra adhibetur sacramentalis manducatio, quia plenius inducit sacramenti effectum ipsa sacramenti susceptio quam solum desiderium, sicut supra circa Baptismum dictum est. Reply Obj. 3: As stated above (Q. 73, A. 3), the effect of the sacrament can be secured by every man if he receive it in desire, though not in reality. Consequently, just as some are baptized with the Baptism of desire, through their desire of baptism, before being baptized in the Baptism of water; so likewise some eat this sacrament spiritually ere they receive it sacramentally. Now this happens in two ways. First of all, from desire of receiving the sacrament itself, and thus are said to be baptized, and to eat spiritually, and not sacramentally, they who desire to receive these sacraments since they have been instituted. Second, by a figure: thus the Apostle says (1 Cor 10:2), that the fathers of old were baptized in the cloud and in the sea, and that they did eat . . . spiritual food, and . . . drank . . . spiritual drink. Nevertheless sacramental eating is not without avail, because the actual receiving of the sacrament produces more fully the effect of the sacrament than does the desire thereof, as stated above of Baptism (Q. 69, A. 4, ad 2). Articulus 2 Article 2 Utrum solius hominis sit hoc sacramentum sumere spiritualiter, sed etiam angelorum Whether it belongs to man alone to eat this sacrament spiritually, or also to the angels? Ad secundum sic proceditur. Videtur quod non solius hominis sit hoc sacramentum sumere spiritualiter, sed etiam Angelorum. Quia super illud Psalmi, panem Angelorum manducavit homo, dicit Glossa, idest, corpus Christi, qui est vere cibus Angelorum. Sed hoc non esset si Angeli spiritualiter Christum non manducarent. Ergo Angeli spiritualiter Christum manducant. Objection 1: It seems that it does not belong to man alone to eat this sacrament spiritually, but likewise to angels. Because on Ps. 77:25: Man ate the bread of angels, the gloss says: that is, the body of Christ, Who is truly the food of angels. But it would not be so unless the angels were to eat Christ spiritually. Therefore the angels eat Christ spiritually. Praeterea, Augustinus dicit, super Ioan., hunc cibum et potum societatem vult intelligi corporis et membrorum suorum, quod est Ecclesia in praedestinatis. Sed ad istam societatem non solum pertinent homines, sed etiam sancti Angeli. Ergo etiam sancti Angeli spiritualiter manducant. Obj. 2: Further, Augustine (Tract. xxvi in Joan.) says: By this meat and drink, He would have us to understand the fellowship of His body and members, which is the Church in His predestined ones. But not only men, but also the holy angels belong to that fellowship. Therefore the holy angels eat of it spiritually. Praeterea, Augustinus, in libro de verbis domini, dicit, spiritualiter manducandus est Christus, quomodo ipse dicit, qui manducat meam carnem et bibit meum sanguinem, in me manet et ego in eo. Sed hoc convenit non solum hominibus, sed etiam sanctis Angelis, in quibus per caritatem est Christus, et ipsi in eo. Ergo videtur quod spiritualiter manducare non solum sit hominum, sed etiam Angelorum. Obj. 3: Further, Augustine in his book De Verbis Domini (Serm. cxlii) says: Christ is to be eaten spiritually, as He Himself declares: ‘He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, abideth in Me, and I in him.’ But this belongs not only to men, but also to the holy angels, in whom Christ dwells by charity, and they in Him. Consequently, it seems that to eat Christ spiritually is not for men only, but also for the angels. Sed contra est quod Augustinus dicit, super Ioan., panem de altari spiritualiter manducate, innocentiam ad altare portate. Sed Angelorum non est accedere ad altare, tanquam aliquid inde sumpturi. Ergo Angelorum non est spiritualiter manducare. On the contrary, Augustine (Tract. xxvi in Joan.) says: Eat the bread of the altar spiritually; take innocence to the altar. But angels do not approach the altar as for the purpose of taking something therefrom. Therefore the angels do not eat spiritually. Respondeo dicendum quod in hoc sacramento continetur ipse Christus, non quidem in specie propria, sed in specie sacramenti. Dupliciter ergo contingit manducare spiritualiter. Uno modo, ipsum Christum prout in sua specie consistit. Et hoc modo Angeli spiritualiter manducant ipsum Christum, inquantum ei uniuntur fruitione caritatis perfectae et visione manifesta (quem panem expectamus in patria), non per fidem, sicut nos hic ei unimur. I answer that, Christ Himself is contained in this sacrament, not under His proper species, but under the sacramental species. Consequently there are two ways of eating spiritually. First, as Christ Himself exists under His proper species, and in this way the angels eat Christ spiritually inasmuch as they are united with Him in the enjoyment of perfect charity, and in clear vision (and this is the bread we hope for in heaven), and not by faith, as we are united with Him here. Alio modo contingit spiritualiter manducare Christum prout est sub speciebus huius sacramenti, inquantum scilicet aliquis credit in Christum cum desiderio sumendi hoc sacramentum. Et hoc non solum est manducare Christum spiritualiter, sed etiam spiritualiter manducare hoc sacramentum. Quod non competit Angelis. Et ideo Angeli, etsi spiritualiter manducent Christum, non convenit tamen eis spiritualiter manducare hoc sacramentum. In another way one may eat Christ spiritually, as He is under the sacramental species, inasmuch as a man believes in Christ, while desiring to receive this sacrament; and this is not merely to eat Christ spiritually, but likewise to eat this sacrament; which does not fall to the lot of the angels. And therefore although the angels feed on Christ spiritually, yet it does not belong to them to eat this sacrament spiritually. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod sumptio Christi sub hoc sacramento ordinatur, sicut ad finem, ad fruitionem patriae, qua Angeli eo fruuntur. Et quia ea quae sunt ad finem, derivantur a fine, inde est quod ista manducatio Christi qua eum sumimus sub hoc sacramento, quodammodo derivatur ab illa manducatione qua Angeli fruuntur Christo in patria. Et ideo dicitur homo manducare panem Angelorum, quia primo et principaliter est Angelorum, qui eo fruuntur in propria specie; secundario autem est hominum, qui Christum sub sacramento accipiunt. Reply Obj. 1: The receiving of Christ under this sacrament is ordained to the enjoyment of heaven, as to its end, in the same way as the angels enjoy it; and since the means are gauged by the end, hence it is that such eating of Christ whereby we receive Him under this sacrament, is, as it were, derived from that eating whereby the angels enjoy Christ in heaven. Consequently, man is said to eat the bread of angels, because it belongs to the angels to do so first and principally, since they enjoy Him in his proper species; and second it belongs to men, who receive Christ under this sacrament. Ad secundum dicendum quod ad societatem corporis mystici pertinent quidem et homines per fidem, Angeli autem per manifestam visionem. Sacramenta autem proportionantur fidei, per quam veritas videtur in speculo et in aenigmate. Et ideo hic, proprie loquendo, non Angelis, sed hominibus proprie convenit manducare spiritualiter hoc sacramentum. Reply Obj. 2: Both men and angels belong to the fellowship of His mystical body; men by faith, and angels by manifest vision. But the sacraments are proportioned to faith, through which the truth is seen through a glass and in a dark manner. And therefore, properly speaking, it does not belong to angels, but to men, to eat this sacrament spiritually.