sacramentally?
(4) Whether the sinner sins in eating it sacramentally?
(5) Of the degree of this sin;
(6) Whether this sacrament should be refused to the sinner that
approaches it?
(7) Whether nocturnal pollution prevents man from receiving this
sacrament?
(8) Whether it is to be received only when one is fasting?
(9) Whether it is to be given to them who lack the use of reason?
(10) Whether it is to be received daily?
(11) Whether it is lawful to refrain from it altogether?
(12) Whether it is lawful to receive the body without the blood?
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FIRST ARTICLE [III, Q. 80, Art. 1]
Whether There Are Two Ways to Be Distinguished of Eating Christ's
Body?
Objection 1: It seems that two ways ought not to be distinguished of
eating Christ's body, namely, sacramentally and spiritually. For, as
Baptism is spiritual regeneration, according to John 3:5: "Unless a
man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost," etc., so also this
sacrament is spiritual food: hence our Lord, speaking of this
sacrament, says (John 6:64): "The words that I have spoken to you are
spirit and life." But there are no two distinct ways of receiving
Baptism, namely, sacramentally and spiritually. Therefore neither
ought this distinction to be made regarding this sacrament.
Obj. 2: Further, when two things are so related that one is on
account of the other, they should not be put in contradistinction to
one another, because the one derives its species from the other. But
sacramental eating is ordained for spiritual eating as its end.
Therefore sacramental eating ought not to be divided in contrast with
spiritual eating.
Obj. 3: Further, things which cannot exist without one another ought
not to be divided in contrast with each other. But it seems that no
one can eat spiritually without eating sacramentally; otherwise the
fathers of old would have eaten this sacrament spiritually. Moreover,
sacramental eating would be to no purpose, if the spiritual eating
could be had without it. Therefore it is not right to distinguish a
twofold eating, namely, sacramental and spiritual.
_On the contrary,_ The gloss says on 1 Cor. 11:29: "He that eateth
and drinketh unworthily," etc.: "We hold that there are two ways of
eating, the one sacramental, and the other spiritual."
_I answer that,_ There are two things to be considered in the
receiving of this sacrament, namely, the sacrament itself, and its
fruits, and we have
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