lly.

Reply Obj. 1: When Christ appeared under His proper species, He did
not give Himself to be touched by men as a sign of spiritual union
with Himself, as He gives Himself to be received in this sacrament.
And therefore sinners in touching Him under His proper species did
not incur the sin of lying to Godlike things, as sinners do in
receiving this sacrament.

Furthermore, Christ still bore the likeness of the body of sin;
consequently He fittingly allowed Himself to be touched by sinners.
But as soon as the body of sin was taken away by the glory of the
Resurrection, he forbade the woman to touch Him, for her faith in Him
was defective, according to John 20:17: "Do not touch Me, for I am
not yet ascended to My Father," i.e. "in your heart," as Augustine
explains (Tract. cxxi in Joan.). And therefore sinners, who lack
living faith regarding Christ are not allowed to touch this sacrament.

Reply Obj. 2: Every medicine does not suit every stage of sickness;
because the tonic given to those who are recovering from fever would
be hurtful to them if given while yet in their feverish condition. So
likewise Baptism and Penance are as purgative medicines, given to
take away the fever of sin; whereas this sacrament is a medicine
given to strengthen, and it ought not to be given except to them who
are quit of sin.

Reply Obj. 3: By the greatest gifts Augustine understands the soul's
virtues, "which no one uses to evil purpose," as though they were
principles of evil. Nevertheless sometimes a man makes a bad use of
them, as objects of an evil use, as is seen in those who are proud of
their virtues. So likewise this sacrament, so far as the sacrament is
concerned, is not the principle of an evil use, but the object
thereof. Hence Augustine says (Tract. lxii in Joan.): "Many receive
Christ's body unworthily; whence we are taught what need there is to
beware of receiving a good thing evilly . . . For behold, of a good
thing, received evilly, evil is wrought": just as on the other hand,
in the Apostle's case, "good was wrought through evil well received,"
namely, by bearing patiently the sting of Satan.

Reply Obj. 4: Christ's body is not received by being seen, but only
its sacrament, because sight does not penetrate to the substance of
Christ's body, but only to the sacramental species, as stated above
(Q. 76, A. 7). But he who eats, receives not only the sacramental
species, but likewise Christ Himself Who is under them. C