ted by Christ Himself, Who is God and man. And though they
are not all handed down by the Scriptures, yet the Church holds them
from the intimate tradition of the apostles, according to the saying
of the Apostle (1 Cor. 11:34): "The rest I will set in order when I
come."

Reply Obj. 2: From their very nature sensible things have a certain
aptitude for the signifying of spiritual effects: but this aptitude
is fixed by the Divine institution to some special signification.
This is what Hugh of St. Victor means by saying (De Sacram. i) that
"a sacrament owes its signification to its institution." Yet God
chooses certain things rather than others for sacramental
signification, not as though His choice were restricted to them, but
in order that their signification be more suitable to them.

Reply Obj. 3: The apostles and their successors are God's vicars in
governing the Church which is built on faith and the sacraments of
faith. Wherefore, just as they may not institute another Church, so
neither may they deliver another faith, nor institute other
sacraments: on the contrary, the Church is said to be built up with
the sacraments "which flowed from the side of Christ while hanging on
the Cross."
_______________________

THIRD ARTICLE [III, Q. 64, Art. 3]

Whether Christ As Man Had the Power of Producing the Inward
Sacramental Effect?

Objection 1: It seems that Christ as man had the power of producing
the interior sacramental effect. For John the Baptist said (John
1:33): "He, Who sent me to baptize in water, said to me: He upon Whom
thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, He it is
that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." But to baptize with the Holy
Ghost is to confer inwardly the grace of the Holy Ghost. And the Holy
Ghost descended upon Christ as man, not as God: for thus He Himself
gives the Holy Ghost. Therefore it seems that Christ, as man, had the
power of producing the inward sacramental effect.

Obj. 2: Further, our Lord said (Matt. 9:6): "That you may know that
the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins." But forgiveness
of sins is an inward sacramental effect. Therefore it seems that
Christ as man produces the inward sacramental effect.

Obj. 3: Further, the institution of the sacraments belongs to him who
acts as principal agent in producing the inward sacramental effect.
Now it is clear that Christ instituted the sacraments. Therefore it
is He that produces the inward sacramenta