In the waning days of the current Synod, it is good to read at last some clear language on Marriage and the Eucharist. Praise be to God for clear teaching so relevant to our times.
I am not publishing the English translation to all of the documents, which would indeed be lengthy, but only those most relevant to the issues the current Synod has been covering for the last year:
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ON THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY.
CANON I.-If any
one saith, that matrimony is not truly and properly one of the seven sacraments
of the evangelic law, (a sacrament) instituted by Christ the Lord; but that it
has been invented by men in the Church; and that it does not confer grace; let
him be anathema.
CANON II.-If any
one saith, that it is lawful for Christians to have several wives at the same
time, and that this is not prohibited by any divine law; let him be anathema.
CANON V.-If any
one saith, that on account of heresy, or irksome cohabitation, or the affected
absence of one of the parties, the bond of matrimony may be dissolved; let him
be anathema.
CANON VII.-If any
one saith, that the Church has erred, in that she hath taught, and doth teach,
in accordance with the evangelical and apostolical doctrine, that the bond of
matrimony cannot be dissolved on account of the adultery of one of the married
parties; and that both, or even the innocent one who gave not occasion to the
adultery, cannot contract another marriage, during the life-time of the other;
and, that he is guilty of adultery, who, having put away the adulteress, shall
take another wife, as also she, who, having put away the adulterer, shall take
another husband; let him be anathema.
ON THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST
CANON I.-If any
one denieth, that, in the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist, are contained
truly, really, and substantially, the body and blood together with the soul and
divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ; but saith
that He is only therein as in a sign, or in figure, or virtue; let him be
anathema.
CANON II.-If any
one saith, that, in the sacred and holy sacrament of the Eucharist, the
substance of the bread and wine remains conjointly with the body and blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and denieth that wonderful and singular conversion of
the whole substance of the bread into the Body, and of the whole substance of
the wine into the Blood-the species Only of the bread and wine remaining-which
conversion indeed the Catholic Church most aptly calls Transubstantiation; let
him be anathema.
CANON III.-If any
one denieth, that, in the venerable sacrament of the Eucharist, the whole
Christ is contained under each species, and under every part of each species,
when separated; let him be anathema.
CANON V.-If any
one saith, either that the principal fruit of the most holy Eucharist is the
remission of sins, or, that other effects do not result therefrom; let him be
anathema.
CANON VI.-If any
one saith, that, in the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, Christ, the
only-begotten Son of God, is not to be adored with the worship, even external
of latria; and is, consequently, neither to be venerated with a special festive
solemnity, nor to be solemnly borne about in processions, according to the laudable
and universal rite and custom of holy church; or, is not to be proposed
publicly to the people to be adored, and that the adorers thereof are
idolators; let him be anathema.
CANON VIII.-lf any
one saith, that Christ, given in the Eucharist, is eaten spiritually only, and
not also sacramentally and really; let him be anathema.
CANON XI.-lf any
one saith, that faith alone is a sufficient preparation for receiving the
sacrament of the most holy Eucharist; let him be anathema. And for fear lest so
great a sacrament may be received unworthily, and so unto death and
condemnation, this holy Synod ordains and declares, that sacramental
confession, when a confessor may be had, is of necessity to be made beforehand,
by those whose conscience is burthened with mortal sin, how contrite even
soever they may think themselves. But if any one shall presume to teach,
preach, or obstinately to assert, or even in public disputation to defend the
contrary, he shall be thereupon excommunicated.
--from the Council, or Synod as it sometimes refers to itself, of Trent