Treatise IV. On The Eucharist

Prefatory note. Among all the sacraments the Eucharist is the most worthy. And truly the Church of God has nothing holier, nothing more worthy, nothing more salutary than this sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord. For while the other sacraments give or increase grace, the Eucharist furnishes to us the very Author of grace, who willed to be our spiritual nourishment and perennial sacrifice. Moreover, the other sacraments are transient actions; the Eucharist, however, does not consist in use alone, but is something permanent. Therefore, it is customary to distinguish the sacrament in fieri, that is, the consecration, and in facto esse, that is, the real presence of Christ under the species. The Eucharist can be considered under a twofold aspect: namely, as a sacrament insofar as it is received, and as a sacrifice insofar as it is offered.¹

Accordingly, almost all theologians divide the treatise on the Eucharist into two sections: namely, on the Eucharist as it is a sacrament, and on the Eucharist as it is a sacrifice. Dogmatic theologians are accustomed first to set forth the proof and explanation of the real existence of Christ under the Eucharistic species. We presuppose this real existence and transubstantiation and, accordingly, begin immediately with the Eucharist as it is a sacrament; afterward we shall treat of the Eucharist as it is a sacrifice.

Innumerable theologians have written concerning the most august sacrament of the Eucharist. Besides St. Thomas, who is not undeservedly called the Doctor of the Eucharist, and who not only explained this mystery most profoundly but also celebrated it with the most beautiful liturgical Office of the feast of Corpus Christi, the following may be consulted: St. Bonaventure, St. Alphonsus, Drouven, Billuart, Chr. Pesch, Gihr, Schanz, and, especially for the canonical part, Gasparri, De eucharistia, 2 vols., Parisiis 1897; Many, Praelect. de Missa, Parisiis 1903. The Roman Catechism, especially in this matter, is of great authority and utility.

¹ St. Thomas, S. theol. 3, q. 79, a. 5.

The Holy Eucharist

Within this treatise

Section I. On The Eucharist As It Is A Sacramentnn. 165–228
- Chapter I. On The Notion And Institution Of The Eucharistnn. 165–168
- Chapter II. On The Matter And Form Of The Eucharistnn. 169–179
  - Article I. On The Remote Matter Of The Eucharistnn. 169–173
    § 1. On The Valid And Licit Matter Of Breadnn. 170–171
    § 2. On The Valid And Licit Matter Of Winenn. 172–173
  - Article II. The Proximate Matter of the Eucharistnn. 174–177
  - Article III. The Form of the Eucharistnn. 178–179
- Chapter III. The Effects of the Eucharistnn. 180–185
- Chapter IV. The Subject of the Eucharistnn. 186–215
  - Article I. The Person of the Subject Himselfnn. 186–189
  - Article II. The Dispositions Required for Receiving the Eucharistnn. 190–204
    § 1. The Disposition of the Soulnn. 191–195
    § 2. The Disposition of the Bodynn. 196–204
  - Article III. The Obligation of Receiving the Eucharistnn. 205–214
  - Article IV. On Frequent Communionn. 215
- Chapter V. On the Minister of the Eucharistnn. 216–228
  - Article I. On the Consecration of the Eucharistn. 216
  - Article II. On the Distribution of the Eucharistnn. 217–224
  - Article III. On the Reservation of the Eucharistnn. 225–228
Section II. On the Eucharist Insofar as It Is a Sacrificenn. 229–304
- Chapter I. On the Nature and Effects of the Sacrifice of the Massnn. 229–250
  - Article I. On the Nature of the Sacrifice of the Massnn. 229–234
  - Article II. On the Value, Effects, and Fruits of the Massnn. 235–244
    § 1. On the Value and Effects of the Mass in Generalnn. 235–242
    § 2. On the Fruits of the Mass in Particular, Insofar as They Are Participatednn. 243–244
  - Article III. On the Application of the Massnn. 245–250
    § 1. On the Manner of Applicationnn. 245–248
    § 2. On Those for Whom the Mass Can Be Appliednn. 249–250
- Chapter II. On the Obligation of Celebrating Massnn. 251–280
  - Article I. On the Obligation by Reason of the Priesthood Receivednn. 251–253
  - Article II. On the Obligation by Reason of Officenn. 254–258
  - Article III. On the Obligation by Reason of a Beneficenn. 259–261
  - Article IV. On the Obligation by Reason of an Accepted Stipendnn. 262–278
  - Article V. On the Obligation by Reason of a Promisen. 279
  - Article VI. On the Obligation by Reason of Obediencen. 280
- Chapter III. On the Liturgical Requisites for Celebratingnn. 281–304
  - Article I. On the Time of Celebrating Massnn. 281–292
    § 1. On Masses During the Last Three Days of Holy Weeknn. 281–283
    § 2. On Several Masses to Be Said on the Same Daynn. 284–289
    § 3. On the Hour at Which Mass Is to Be Celebratednn. 290–292
  - Article II. On the Place of Celebrationnn. 293–296
  - Article III. On Sacred Furnishingsnn. 297–301
  - Article IV. On the Rites to Be Observednn. 302–304