THE
CATECHISM
OF
THE COUNCIL OF TRENT.
PART II.
ON THE SACRAMENTS.
IF the exposition of every part of the doctrines of Christianity demands knowledge and assiduity on the part of the pastor, that of the Sacraments, which, by the ordinance of God, are a necessary means of salvation, and a plenteous source of spiritual advantage, demands, in a special manner, the application of his combined talents and industry. [1] Thus, by accurate and frequent instruction, shall the faithful be enabled to approach worthily and with salutary effect, these inestimable and most holy institutions; and the pastor will not depart from the rule laid down in the divine prohibition: " Give not that which is holy to dogs: neither cast ye your pearls before swine." [2]
As then we are about to treat of the Sacraments in general, it is proper to begin, in the first place, by explaining the force and meaning of the word " Sacrament," and removing all ambiguity as to its signification, in order the more easily to comprehend the sense in which it is here used. The faithful, there fore, are to be informed that the word Sacrament is differently understood by sacred and profane writers; and to point out its different acceptations will be found pertinent to our present purpose. By some it has been used to express the obligation which arises from an oath, pledging to the performance of some service; and hence, the oath by which soldiers promise military service to the state, has been called a military Sacrament. Amongst profane writers, this seems to have been the most ordinary meaning of the word. But, by the Latin Fathers, who have written on theological subjects, the word Sacrament is used to signify a sacred thing which lies concealed. The Greeks, to express the same idea, made use of the word " Mystery." This, we understand to be the meaning of the word, when, in
