sometimes certain masses in honour and memory of the saints, nevertheless it teaches that sacrifice is not offered to them, but to God only, who has crowned them with glory; whence the priest doth not say, 'I offer sacrifice to thee, Peter, or Paul,' but giving thanks to God for their victories, he implores their patronage, that they whom we commemorate on earth may vouchsafe to intercede for us in heaven.

"And since it is fit that holy services should be administered in a holy manner, and this sacrifice is the holiest of all, the Catholic church hath many ages ago instituted a sacred canon, in order that it might be worthily and reverently offered and received; which canon is so free from every error, as to contain nothing which does not powerfully savour of holiness and piety, and tend to raise the minds of the worshippers to God; for it is composed of the words of our Lord himself, the traditions of the apostles, and the pious institutions of holy pontiffs.

Chap. V. Solemn Ceremonies of the Sacrifice of the Mass.

66

Seeing that such is the nature of man, that he cannot easily be raised to the contemplation of divine things without external aid, holy mother church hath instituted certain rites, as for instance, that some parts of the mass should be spoken in a low tone of voice, others in a louder. Ceremonies are also used, such as mystical benedictions, lights, incense, vestments, and others of the same kind, gath

ered from apostolic discipline and tradition, whereby the majesty of this great sacrifice is set forth, and by these visible signs of religion and piety the minds of the faithful are excited to the contemplation of the deep truths which are therein contained.

Chap. VI. Masses in which the Priest only Communicates.

"This holy council could wish, that at every mass the faithful who are present would communicate, not in spiritual affection only, but also in the sacramental reception of the eucharist, in order that the fruit of this most holy sacrifice might be more plentifully enjoyed. But although this is not always done, the council does not therefore condemn those masses in which the priest only sacramentally communicates, as if they were private and unlawful, but approves and commends them. For even such masses ought to be deemed common to all, partly because in them the people do spiritually communicate, and partly because they are celebrated by the public minister of the church, not for himself only, but also for all the faithful who belong to the body of Christ.

Chap. VII. Mixing Water with the Wine in offering the Cup.

"Further, the holy council reminds all men that the priests are commanded by the church to mix water with the wine in the cup, when they offer the sacrifice; partly, because Christ the Lord is believed to have done the same, and partly because water, together with blood, flowed from his side, which sacrament is brought to rememberance by this

mixture and since people are represented by water, in the apocalypse of blessed John, the union of believers with Christ the head is thus also represented.

Chap. VIII. The Mass not to be celebrated in the Vulgar Tongue-its Mysteries to be explained to the People.

66

Although the mass comprises abundant instruction for those who believe, it has not been deemed expedient by the fathers that it should be every where celebrated in the vernacular tongue. Wherefore, lest the sheep of Christ hunger, and the children ask bread and there be none to break it to them, through the universal retention of a custom which has been approved by the holy Roman church, the mother and mistress of all churches, the holy council commands all priests having cure of souls, to intersperse in the celebration of the mass, either personally or by others, explanations of what has been read, and frequently to expound the mystery of this most holy sacrifice, especially on Sundays and feast-days.

Chap. IX. Prologue to the subjoined Canons.

"Seeing that in this age many errors are disseminated, and many persons teach and dispute in opposition to this ancient faith, which is founded on the holy gospel, the traditions of the apostles, and the doctrine of venerable fathers; this most holy council, having frequently, seriously, and maturely discussed the subject, hath determined by unanimous consent to condemn and root out of the church all that is contrary to this pure faith and sacred doctrine, by the canons hereto subjoined.

"Canon 1. Whoever shall affirm, that a true and proper sacrifice is not offered to God in the mass; or that the offering is nothing else than giving Christ to us, to eat: let him be accursed.

2. Whoever shall affirm, that by those words, 'Do this for a commemoration of me,' Christ did not appoint his apostles priests, or did not ordain that they and other priests should offer his body and blood: let him be accursed.

"3. Whoever shall affirm, that the sacrifice of the mass is only a service of praise and thanksgiving, or a bare commemoration of the sacrifice made on the cross, and not a propitiatory offering; or that it only benefits him who receives it, and ought not to be offered for the living and the dead, for sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities: let him be accursed.

"4. Whoever shall affirm, that the most holy sacrifice of Christ, made on the cross, is blasphemed by the sacrifice of the mass; or that the latter derogates from the glory of the former: let him be accursed.

"5. Whoever shall affirm, that to celebrate masses in honour of the saints, and in order to obtain their intercession with God, according to the intention of the church, is an imposture: let him be accursed.

"6. Whoever shall affirm, that the canon of the mass contains errors, and ought therefore to be abolished: let him be accursed.

"7. Whoever shall affirm, that the ceremonies, vestments, and external signs used by the Catholic church, in the celebration of the mass, are excite

ments to irreligion, rather than helps to piety: let him be accursed.

"8. Whoever shall affirm, that those masses in which the priest only communicates sacrainentally are unlawful, and therefore ought to be abolished: let him be accursed.

"9. Whoever shall affirm, that the practice of the Roman church, in uttering with a low voice ́ part of the canon and the words of consecration, is to be condemned; or that the mass should be cele. brated in the vernacular language only; or that water is not to be mixed in the cup with wine, when the sacrifice is offered, because it is contrary to Christ's institution: let him be accursed."

I SESSION TWENTY-THIRD, HELD JULY 15, 1563.

[At this stage of the Council of Trent the most violent contests, and outrageous divisions existed in it. The Spanish and French party maintained a resolute opposition to the Papal party. It was an arena of gladiators, or a council of demons incarnate. Pandemonium, as Fra Palo said, rather than "a most holy council."]

DECREE ON ORDERS.

Chap. I. Institution of the Priesthood of the New Law.

"Sacrifice and priesthood are so joined by the ordinance of God, that both are found together in every dispensation. Since, therefore, under the New Testament, the Catholic church has received by divine institution the holy and visible sacrifice of the eucharist, it must be acknowledged that she nas a new, and visible, and external priesthood, in the place of the old. Now the sacred scriptures show, and the tradition of the Catholic church has always taught, that this priesthood was instituted