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Christ becomes present in the Sacrament of the
Altar by the transformation of the whole substance of the bread into His Body
and of the whole substance of the wine into His Blood.
If anyone says that in the sacred and
holy sacrament of the Eucharist there remains the substance of bread and wine
together with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and denies that
wonderful and singular conversion of the whole substance of the bread into the
body, and of the entire substance of the wine into the blood, the species of the
bread and wine only remaining, a change which the Catholic Church most fittingly
calls transubstantiation, let him be anathema. (Council of Trent,
DS 1652)
The Worship of Adoration (latria) must be given to
Christ present in the Eucharist.
If anyone says that in the holy
sacrament of the Eucharist the only-begotten Son of God is not to be adored even
outwardly with the worship of latria (the act of adoration), and therefore not
to be venerated with a special festive celebration, nor to be borne about in
procession according to the praiseworthy and universal rite and custom of the
holy Church, or is not to be set before the people publicly to be adored, and
that the adorers of it are idolators, let him be anathema. (Council of Trent,
DS 1656)
For the worthy reception of the Eucharist the state
of grace as well as the proper and pious disposition are
necessary.
If anyone says that faith alone is
sufficient preparation for receiving the sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist,
let him be anathema. And that so great a Sacrament may not be unworthily
received, and therefore unto death and condemnation, this holy Council ordains
and declares that sacramental confession must necessarily be made beforehand by
those whose conscience is burdened by mortal sin, however contrite they may
consider themselves. If anyone moreover teaches the contrary or preaches or
obstinately asserts, or even publicly by disputation shall presume to defend the
contrary, by that fact itself he is excommunicated. (Council of Trent,
DS 1661)
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