Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/108

76 mind; Let a man prove himself. But ecclesiastical usage declares that necessary proof to be, that no one, conscious to himself of deadly sin, how contrite soever he may seem to himself, ought to approach the sacred Eucharist without sacramental confession preceding. This the holy synod hath decreed is to be perpetually observed by all Christians, even by those priests on whom by their office it may be incumbent to celebrate, provided the opportunity of a confessor fail them not. But if, necessity being urgent, a priest should celebrate without previous confession, let him confess as soon as possible.

CHAPTER VIII. On the Use of this admirable Sacrament. Now as regards the use, our Fathers have rightly and wisely distinguished three ways of receiving this holy sacrament. For they have taught that some receive it sacramentally only, to wit, sinners: others spiritually only, those, to wit, who eating in desire that heavenly bread which is set before them, are, by the lively faith which worketh by love, made sensible of the fruit and utility thereof: whereas the third receive 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. Now as to the reception of the sacrament, it was always the custom in the Church of God, that laymen should receive the communion from the priests; but that the priests when celebrating should communicate themselves; which custom, as coming down from an apostolical tradition, ought with justice and reason to be retained. And finally, this holy synod with fatherly affection admonishes, exhorts, entreats, and beseeches, by the bowels of the mercy of our God, that all and each of those who are reckoned under the Christian name, would now at length join and agree 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 unto us His own beloved soul as the price of our salvation, and gave unto us His own flesh to eat, they would