Section I. On Necessity of Means

After the sufficient promulgation of the Gospel, the sacrament of Baptism is necessary for salvation by necessity of means, yet not absolutely but hypothetically. It is said:

I. After the sufficient promulgation of the Gospel. Thus the Council of Trent.¹ Now sufficient promulgation for some, but not for all, was effected through the sermon of St. Peter on the day of Pentecost. For the rest, authors more commonly teach that the promulgation of the Gospel for different nations took place at different times, and that for the whole world it has already long since occurred, although its diffusion has not yet been extended everywhere.

II. The sacrament of Baptism is necessary for salvation by necessity of means; this proposition is of faith from the Council of Trent: "If anyone says that Baptism is free, that is, not necessary for salvation, let him be anathema."² Cf. canon 737, § 1.

III. Yet not absolutely, but hypothetically; by these words it is signified that there are means which can supply the place of Baptism, namely Baptism of desire and perhaps Baptism of blood, concerning which we shall speak in the scholia.

¹ Session 6, chapter 4.

² Session 7, On Baptism, canon 5.