al food and spiritual
medicine, according to Ps. 103:5: "(That) bread strengthens [Vulg.:
'may strengthen'] man's heart." Augustine likewise says (Tract. xxvi
in Joan.): "Approach without fear; it is bread, not poison."
Secondly, inasmuch as it is a sign of Christ's Passion, whereby the
devils are conquered, it repels all the assaults of demons. Hence
Chrysostom says (Hom. xlvi in Joan.): "Like lions breathing forth
fire, thus do we depart from that table, being made terrible to the
devil."

Reply Obj. 1: The effect of this sacrament is received according to
man's condition: such is the case with every active cause in that its
effect is received in matter according to the condition of the
matter. But such is the condition of man on earth that his free-will
can be bent to good or evil. Hence, although this sacrament of itself
has the power of preserving from sin, yet it does not take away from
man the possibility of sinning.

Reply Obj. 2: Even charity of itself keeps man from sin, according to
Rom. 13:10: "The love of our neighbor worketh no evil": but it is due
to the mutability of free-will that a man sins after possessing
charity, just as after receiving this sacrament.

Reply Obj. 3: Although this sacrament is not ordained directly to
lessen the fomes, yet it does lessen it as a consequence, inasmuch as
it increases charity, because, as Augustine says (Q. 83), "the
increase of charity is the lessening of concupiscence." But it
directly strengthens man's heart in good; whereby he is also
preserved from sin.
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SEVENTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 79, Art. 7]

Whether This Sacrament Benefit Others Besides the Recipients?

Objection 1: It seems that this sacrament benefits only the
recipients. For this sacrament is of the same genus as the other
sacraments, being one of those into which that genus is divided. But
the other sacraments only benefit the recipients; thus the baptized
person alone receives effect of Baptism. Therefore, neither does this
sacrament benefit others than the recipients.

Obj. 2: Further, the effects of this sacrament are the attainment of
grace and glory, and the forgiveness of sin, at least of venial sin.
If therefore this sacrament were to produce its effects in others
besides the recipients, a man might happen to acquire grace and glory
and forgiveness of sin without doing or receiving anything himself,
through another receiving or offering this sacrament.

Obj. 3: Furth