| Sessio Septima, | Seventh Session, |
| celebrata die III. Martii 1547. | held March 3, 1547. |
| DECRETUM DE SACRAMENTIS. | DECREE ON THE SACRAMENTS. |
| Proœmium. | Proëm. |
| Ad consummationem salutaris de justificatione doctrinæ, quæ in præcedenti proxima sessione uno omnium patrum consensu promulgata fuit; consentaneum visum est de sanctissimis ecclesiæ sacramentis agere, per quæ omnis vera justitia vel incipit, vel cœpta augetur, vel amissa reparatur. Propterea sacrosancta, œcumenica et generalis Tridentina synodus, in Spiritu Sancto legitime congregata, præsidentibus in ea eisdem | For the completion of the salutary doctrine on Justification, which was promulgated with the unanimous consent of the Fathers in the last preceding Session, it hath seemed suitable to treat of the most holy Sacraments of the Church, through which all true justice either begins, or being begun is increased, or being lost is repaired. With this view, in order to destroy the errors and to extirpate the heresies which have appeared in these our days on the subject of the said most holy sacraments,— |
| apostolicæ sedis legatis, ad errores eliminandos et extirpandas hæreses, quæ circa sanctissima ipsa sacramenta hac nostra tempestate, tum de damnatis olim a patribus nostris hæresibus suscitatæ, tum etiam de novo adinventæ sunt, quæ Catholicæ Ecclesiæ puritati et animarum saluti magnopere officiunt; sanctarum scripturarum doctrinæ, apostolicis traditionibus atque aliorum conciliorum et patrum consensui inhærendo, hos præsentes canones statuendos et decernendos censuit, reliquos, qui supersunt ad cœpti operis perfectionem, deinceps, divino Spiritu adjuvante, editura. | as well those which have been revived from the heresies condemned of old by our Fathers, as also those newly invented, and which are exceedingly prejudicial to the purity of the Catholic Church, and to the salvation of souls,—the sacred and holy, œcumenical and general Synod of Trent, lawfully assembled in the Holy Ghost, the same legates of the Apostolic See presiding therein, adhering to the doctrine of the holy Scriptures, to the apostolic traditions, and to the consent of other councils and of the Fathers, has thought fit that these present canons be established and decreed; intending, the divine Spirit aiding, to publish later the remaining canons which are wanting for the completion of the work which it has begun. |
| DE SACRAMENTIS IN GENERE. | ON THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL. |
| Canon I.—Si quis dixerit, sacramenta novæ legis non fuisse omnia a Iesu Christo Domino nostro instituta; aut esse plura vel pauciora quam septem, videlicet: baptismum, confirmationem, eucharistiam, pœnitentiam, extremam unctionem, ordinem, et matrimonium; aut etiam aliquod horum septem non esse vere et proprie sacramentum: anathema sit. | Canon I.—If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law were not all instituted by Jesus Christ, our Lord; or, that they are more, or less, than seven, to wit, Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Order, and Matrimony; or even that any one of these seven is not truly and properly a sacrament: let him be anathema. |
| Canon II.—Si quis dixerit, ea ipsa novæ legis sacramenta a sacramentis antiquæ legis non differre, nisi quia ceremoniæ sunt aliæ et alii ritus externi: anathema, sit. | Canon II.—If any one saith, that these said sacraments of the New Law do not differ from the sacraments of the Old Law, save that the ceremonies are different, and different the outward rites: let him be anathema. |
| Canon III.—Si quis dixerit, hæc septem sacramenta ita esse inter se paria, ut nulla ratione aliud sit alio dignius; anathema sit. | Canon III.—If any one saith, that these seven sacraments are in such wise equal to each other, as that one is not in any way more worthy than another: let him be anathema. |
| Canon IV.—Si quis dixerit, sacramenta novæ legis non esse ad salutem necessaria, sed superflua; et sine eis aut eorum voto per solam fidem homines a Deo gratiam justificationis adipisci; licet omnia singulis necessaria non sint: anathema sit. | Canon IV.—If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation, but superfluous; and that, without them, or without the desire thereof, men obtain of God, through faith alone, the grace of justification;—though all [the sacraments] are not indeed necessary for every individual: let him be anathema. |
| Canon V.—Si quis dixerit, hæc sacramenta propter solam fidem nutriendam instituta fuisse: anathema sit. | Canon V.—If any one saith, that these sacraments were instituted for the sake of nourishing faith alone: let him be anathema. |
| Canon VI.—Si quis dixerit, sacramenta novæ legis non continere gratiam, quam significant; aut gratiam ipsam non ponentibus obicem non conferre; quasi signa tantum externa sint acceptæ per fidem gratiæ, vel justitiæ, et notæ quædam Christianæ professionis, quibus apud homines | Canon VI.—If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law do not contain the grace which they signify; or, that they do not confer that grace on those who do not place an obstacle thereunto; as though they were merely outward signs of grace or justice received through faith, and certain marks of the Christian |
| discernuntur fideles ab infidelibus; anathema sit. | profession, whereby believers are distinguished amongst men from unbelievers: let him be anathema. |
| Canon VII.—Si quis dixerit, non dari gratiam per hujusmodi sacramenta semper et omnibus, quantum est ex parte Dei, etiam si rite ea suscipiant, sed aliquando et aliquibus: anathema sit. | Canon VII.—If any one saith, that grace, as far as God's part is concerned, is not given through the said sacraments, always, and to all men, even though they receive them rightly, but [only] sometimes, and to some persons: let him be anathema. |
| Canon VIII.—Si quis dixerit, per ipsa novæ legis sacramenta ex opere operato non conferri gratiam, sed solam fidem divinæ promissionis ad gratiam consequendam sufficere: anathema sit. | Canon VIII.—If any one saith, that by the said sacraments of the New Law grace is not conferred through the act performed, but that faith alone in the divine promise suffices for the obtaining of grace: let him be anathema. |
| Canon IX.—Si quis dixerit, in tribus sacramentis, baptismo scilicet, confirmatione et ordine, non imprimi characterem in anima, hoc est signum quoddam spirituale et indelebile, unde ea iterari non possunt: anathema sit. | Canon IX.—If any one saith, that, in the three sacraments, to wit, Baptism, Confirmation, and Order, there is not imprinted in the soul a character, that is, a certain spiritual and indelible sign, on account of which they can not be repeated: let him be anathema. |
| Canon X.—Si quis dixerit, Christianos omnes in verbo, et omnibus sacramentis administrandis habere potestatem: anathema sit. | Canon X.—If any one saith, that all Christians have power to administer the word, and all the sacraments: let him be anathema. |
| Canon XI.—Si quis dixerit, in ministris, dum sacramenta conficiunt et conferunt, non requiri intentionem saltem faciendi, quod facit ecclesia: anathema sit. | Canon XI.—If any one saith, that, in ministers, when they effect, and confer the sacraments, there is not required the intention at least of doing what the Church does: let him be anathema. |
| Canon XII.—Si quis dixerit, | Canon XII.—If any one saith, |
| ministrum in peccato mortali existentem, modo omnia essentialia, quæ ad sacramentum conficiendum aut conferendum pertinent, servaverit, non conficere aut conferre sacramentum: anathema sit. | that a minister, being in mortal sin,—if so be that he observe all the essentials which belong to the effecting, or conferring of, the sacrament,—neither effects, nor confers the sacrament: let him be anathema. |
| Canon XIII.—Si quis dixerit, receptos et approbates Ecclesiæ Catholicæ ritus, in solemni sacramentorum administratione adhiberi consuetos, aut contemni, aut sine peccato a ministris pro libito omitti, aut in novos alios per quemcumque ecclesiarum pastorem mutari posse: anathema sit. | Canon XIII.—If any one saith, that the received and approved rites of the Catholic Church, wont to be used in the solemn administration of the sacraments, may be contemned, or without sin be omitted at pleasure by the ministers, or be changed, by every pastor of the churches, into other new ones: let him be anathema. |
| DE BAPTISMO. | ON BAPTISM. |
| Canon I.—Si quis dixerit, baptismum Ioannis habuisse eamdem vim cum baptismo Christi: anathema sit. | Canon I.—If any one saith, that the baptism of John had the same force as the baptism of Christ: let him be anathema. |
| Canon II.—Si quis dixerit, aquam veram et naturalem non esse de necessitate baptismi; atque ideo verba illa Domini nostri Iesu Christi: Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua et Spiritu Sancto; ad metaphoram aliquam detorserit: anathema sit. | Canon II.—If any one saith, that true and natural water is not of necessity for baptism, and, on that account, wrests, to some sort of metaphor, those words of our Lord Jesus Christ: Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost:191191 let him be anathema. |
| Canon III.—Si quis dixerit, in Ecclesiæ Romana, quæ omnium ecclesiarum mater est et magistra, non esse veram de baptismi | Canon III.—If any one saith, that in the Roman Church, which is the mother and mistress of all churches, there is not the true doctrine concerning |
| sacramento doctrinam: anathema sit. | the sacrament of baptism: let him be anathema. |
| Canon IV.—Si quis dixerit, baptismum, qui etiam datur ab hæreticis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, cum intentione faciendi, quod facit ecclesia, non esse verum baptismum: anathema sit. | Canon IV.—If any one saith, that the baptism which is even given by heretics in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the intention of doing what the Church doth, is not true baptism: let him be anathema. |
| Canon V.—Si quis dixerit, baptismum liberum esse, hoc est, non necessarium ad salutem: anathema, sit. | Canon V.—If any one saith, that baptism is free, that is, not necessary unto salvation: let him be anathema. |
| Canon VI.—Si quis dixerit, baptizatum non posse, etiam si velit, gratiam amittere, quantumcumque peccet, nisi nolit credere: anathema sit. | Canon VI.—If any one saith, that one who has been baptized can not, even if he would, lose grace, let him sin ever so much, unless he will not believe: let him be anathema. |
| Canon VII.—Si quis dixerit, baptizatos per baptismum ipsum, solius tantum fidei debitores fieri, non autem universæ legis Christi servandæ: anathema sit. | Canon VII.—If any one saith, that the baptized are, by baptism itself, made debtors but to faith alone, and not to the observance of the whole law192192 of Christ: let him be anathema. |
| Canon VIII.—Si quis dixerit, baptizatos liberos esse ab omnibus sanctæ ecclesiæ præceptis, quæ vel scripta vel tradita sunt, ita ut ea observare non teneantur, nisi se sua sponte illis submittere voluerint: anathema sit. | Canon VIII.—If any one saith, that the baptized are freed from all the precepts, whether written or transmitted, of holy Church, in such wise that they are not bound to observe them, unless they have chosen of their own accord to submit themselves thereunto: let him be anathema. |
| Canon IX.—Si quis dixerit, ita revocandos esse homines ad | Canon IX.—If any one saith, that the remembrance of the baptism |
| baptismi suscepti memoriam, ut vota omnia, quæ post baptismum fiunt, vi promissionis in baptismo ipso jam factæ, irrita esse intelligant, quasi per ea et fidei, quam professi sunt, detrahatur et ipsi baptismo: anathema sit. | which they have received is so to be recalled unto men, as that they are to understand that all vows made after baptism are void, in virtue of the promise already made in that baptism; as if, by those vows, they both derogated from that faith which they have professed, and from that baptism itself: let him be anathema. |
| Canon X.—Si quis dixerit, peccata omnia, quæ post baptismum fiunt, sola recordatione et fide suscepti baptismi vel dimitti, vel venialia fieri: anathema sit. | Canon X.—If any one saith, that by the sole remembrance and the faith of the baptism which has been received, all sins committed after baptism are either remitted, or made venial: let him be anathema. |
| Canon XI.—Si quis dixerit, verum et rite collatum baptismum iterandum esse illi, qui apud infideles fidem Christi negaverit, cum ad pœnitentiam convertitur: anathema sit. | Canon XI.—If any one saith, that baptism, which was true and rightly conferred, is to be repeated, for him who has denied the faith of Christ amongst Infidels, when he is converted unto penitence: let him be anathema. |
| Canon XII.—Si quis dixerit, neminem esse baptizandum, nisi ea ætate, qua Christus baptizatus est, vel in ipso mortis articulo: anathema sit. | Canon XII.—If any one saith, that no one is to be baptized save at that age at which Christ was baptized, or in the very article of death: let him be anathema. |
| Canon XIII.—Si quis dixerit, parvulos, eo quod actum credendi non habent, suscepto baptismo inter fideles computandos non esse, ac propterea, cum ad annos discretionis pervenerint, esse rebaptizandos; aut præstare, omitti eorum baptisma, | Canon XIII.—If any one saith, that little children, for that they have not actual faith, are not, after having received baptism, to be reckoned amongst the faithful; and that, for this cause, they are to be rebaptized when they have attained to years of discretion; or, that it is |
| quam eos non acta, proprio credentes, baptizari in sola fide ecclesiæ: anathema sit. | better that the baptism of such be omitted, than that, while not believing by their own act, they should be baptized in the faith alone of the Church: let him be anathema. |
| Canon XIV.—Si quis dixerit, hujusmodi parvulos baptizatos, cum adoleverint, interrogandos esse, an ratum habere velint, quod patrini eorum nomine, dum baptizarentur, polliciti sunt; et, ubi se nolle responderint, suo esse arbitrio relinquendos; nec alia interim pœna ad Christianam vitam cogendos, nisi ut ab Eucharistiæ aliorumque sacramentorum perceptione arceantur, donec resipiscant: anathema sit. | Canon XIV.—If any one saith, that those who have been thus baptized when children, are, when they have grown up, to be asked whether they will ratify what their sponsors promised in their names when they were baptized; and that, in case they answer that they will not, they are to be left to their own will; and are not to be compelled meanwhile to a Christian life by any other penalty, save that they be excluded from the participation of the Eucharist, and of the other sacraments, until they repent: let him be anathema. |
| DE CONFIRMATIONE. | ON CONFIRMATION. |
| Canon I.—Si quis dixerit, confirmationem baptizatorum otiosam ceremoniam esse, et non potius verum et proprium sacramentum; aut olim nihil aliud fuisse, quam catechesim quamdam, qua adolescentiæ, proximi fidei suæ rationem coram ecclesia exponebant: anathema sit. | Canon I.—If any one saith, that the confirmation of those who have been baptized is an idle ceremony, and not rather a true and proper sacrament; or that of old it was nothing more than a kind of catechism, whereby they who were near adolescence gave an account of their faith in the face of the Church: let him be anathema. |
| Canon II.—Si quis dixerit, injurios esse Spiritui Sancto eos, qui sacro confirmationis chrismati | Canon II.—If any one saith, that they who ascribe any virtue to the sacred chrism of confirmation, offer |