Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Question IV: Whether, besides sacrifice, first fruits are to be offered
Although the oblations of first-fruits commanded in the Old Law were figurative, and therefore abrogated at this time, yet insofar as something was given to God out of Religion they were not abrogated; and therefore even at this time they can be offered to God, as D. Thom. says here, and Valentia disp. 6. quaest. 4. p. 4. The reason is given by S. Bonav. in 4. dist. 1. p. 1. quaest. 3.: because these are offered to God as due to the Creator, Benefactor, and Giver of all things; therefore they were offered from the instinct of nature even by those who did not acknowledge the figures, and now also they ought to endure for this reason, that we are bound to acknowledge God as the giver of all things.
Tametsi oblationes primitiarum in Veteri Lege praeceptae figurales essent, et ideo hoc tempore evacuatae, tamen quatenus aliquid Deo ex Religione donabant non sunt evacuatae; et ideo hoc etiam tempore possunt Deo offerri; ut ait D. Thom. hic Valentia disp. 6. quaest. 4. p. 4. Rationem affert S. Bonav. in 4. dist. 1. p. 1. quaest. 3. quia haec Deo exhibentur, ut debitae Creatori, Benefactori, ac rerum omnium Datori; ideo ex naturae instinctu offerebantur etiam a non agnoscentibus figuras, et nunc etiam ideo durare debent, quia tenemur Deum agnoscere, ut rerum omnium datorem.
This rite Gregory VII approves in cap. 11 Omnis de consecr. dist. 1., saying: Let every Christian take care to offer something at the solemnities of the Mass.
Hunc ritum approbat Gregorius VII. in cap. 11 Omnis de consecr. dist. 1. dicens: Omnis Christianus procuret ad missarum solemnia aliquid offerre.
Nauar. Man. cap. 13. num. 19. and Sylvest. verbo decima say that where there is the custom of offering at Mass, it suffices if the greater part of the people offer, and therefore he does not sin who once or twice does not offer, unless he omits it out of contempt, or is the cause that the greater part of the people do not offer.
Dicunt autem Nauar. Man. cap. 13. num. 19. Sylvest. verbo decima; ubi est consuetudo offerendi ad missam, sufficere, si maior populi pars offerat, et ideo non peccare eum, qui semel, vel iterum non offert, nisi omittat ex contemptu, vel sit causa, ut maior pars populi non offerat.
D. Thom. also notes art. 1. ad 3., with Cajetan, that although the one who is unwilling to make oblations should be punished by a superior, yet the priest, to whom those oblations were to be made, ought not to deny him the sacraments.
Notat etiam D. Thom. art. 1. ad 3. cum Caietano, quamvis debeat is a superiore puniri, qui oblationes non vult facere; tamen sacerdotem, cui faciendae illae erant, non debere ei negare sacramenta.
These oblations accrue to the Rector of the Church. So Sylvest. loc. cit. and Valentia here, following D. Thom. art. 2. The things offered, moreover, must be good, not vitiated. See Cajetan and Valentia. But this is so provided other things are also guarded against, namely that the things be not by the natural precept owed to others, for instance for the use of poor parents; or that they come from base gain. Hence nothing is to be offered from the wages of a brothel, as D. Thom. notes art. 3., commonly with D. Bonav. in 4. dist. 15. p. 2. art. 2. quaest. 1.; for this was commanded even in Deuter. 23.
Hae oblationes Rectori Ecclesiae cedunt. Ita Sylvest. loc. cit. Valentia hic ex D. Thom. art. 2. sunt autem offerendae res bonae, non vitiosae. Vide Caietanum, et Valentiam. Ita vero, ut alia etiam caveantur, nempe ne res sint ex naturali praecepto aliis exhibendae, puta in usum parentum pauperum: Vel sint e turpi lucro. Hinc non est offerendum e mercede prostibuli, ut notat D. Thom. art. 3. et communiter cum D. Bonav. in 4. dist. 15. p. 2. art. 2. quaest. 1. sic enim praecipiebatur etiam Deuter. 23.
Moreover, all Theologians and Canonists, as cited by Suar. tract. 1. l. 1. cap. 8. num. 14, assert that in the Church of grace the precept of offering first-fruits to God is broad in scope. See C. Revertimini 16. quaest. 1. and Greg. VII. cap. decimas 16. quaest. 7.
Porro in Ecclesia gratiae latum esse praeceptum de primitiis Deo offerendis asserunt Theologi omnes et Canonistae apud Suar. tract. 1. l. 1. cap. 8. num. 14. Habetur C. Revertimini 16. quaest. 1. et Greg. VII. cap. decimas 16. quaest. 7.