Section — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
§ I. On the Remote Matter of Baptism
- Principles. - I. The valid matter of Baptism is natural water alone, or elemental water, suitable for washing. It is of Faith. This is clear: 1. from the words of Christ, John 3.5: Unless a man be born again of water, etc. - It is clear: 2. from the Councils, especially from the Council of Florence in the Decree for the Armenians, and from Trent, sess. 7, can. 2, on Baptism: If anyone shall say that true and natural water is not of the necessity of Baptism, and therefore shall twist to some metaphor those words of our Lord Jesus Christ: Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, let him be anathema.
II. The licit matter of Baptism, outside a case of necessity, is only blessed or consecrated water, and mixed with chrism according to the rite of the Church, at least for solemn Baptism. This is clear from Canon Law. See below, on the ceremonies of Baptism. But he certainly sins gravely by a sin of sacrilege who, without grave necessity, uses impure, turbid, or feculent water, although this matter is valid. - St. Ligorius, n. 102, etc.
III. In danger of death, if matter certainly valid cannot be had, doubtful matter must be used under this condition: If this matter is sufficient... Then even a slight probability concerning the value of the matter suffices, because in necessity one must come to the aid of the neighbor in the best way in which it can be done. But if one so baptized survives, when there is an abundance of matter certainly valid, he must again be baptized under this condition: If thou art not baptized, I baptize thee, etc. - Common.
- Resolves. - 1. Valid matter is: 1. water of springs, wells, rivers, the sea, ponds, marshes, lakes, cisterns; 2. water resolved from ice, snow, or hail, because it preserves the same substance, although accidentally it has been changed as to color, taste, or smell; 3. sulphurous or mineral water, water collected from vapor, dew, or flowing in stormy weather from a wall, leaves, etc.; 4. turbid water, mixed with another substance, provided that water is the matter truly and certainly predominating, so that according to the use or estimation of men it can still be called water. - St. Ligorius, n. 103. - Elbel, n. 8, and others commonly.
- Invalid matter is: 1. milk, blood, tears, sweat, saliva, spittle, urine; 2. wine, oil, beer, thick broth from fat, etc.; 3. mud, ink; 4. snow, ice, hoarfrost, and other similar things not yet resolved, because in this state they are not natural water 1.
1 ** Better, as the VV. observe (p. 929, n. 87), St. Alphonsus (lib. 6, n. 104): It is doubted, 4. whether ice or snow not melted is suitable matter. Concina and Croix likewise deny it (lib. 6, p. 1, n. 262) with Tanner; but Aversa, cited by Croix, and Hurtado, Praepositus, and Puteanus, cited by Renzi, doubt; therefore they say that in necessity it can be used under condition.
- Doubtful matter is: 1. very thin broth, lye, weak beer, water from dissolved salt; thus commonly with St. Ligorius, n. 103; 2. humor flowing from a vine and from other plants. - St. Ligorius, n. 104.