| Traditional Roman Catholicism |
| The Council Of Trent and The Desire To Receive The Sacraments |
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There are those who would have you think that the Council of Trent taught that baptism of desire can somehow
get people to salvation, even without the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. This is 100% not true! They begin by
misquoting the Council. It is as follow:
" This translation (to the state of grace) after the promulgation of the Gospel cannot be effected except through
the laver of regeneration or a desire for it."
However it actually reads:
" This translation ( to the state of grace ) after the promulgation of the Gospel cannot be effected except through
the laver of regeneration or the vowed intention to receive it.
This is a correct translation of the original Latin, " aut eius voto". If the Council intended to say " or desire" it would
have written, " aut eius desiderio."
The two are not the same. Lets see what the Council of Trent taught and to see what context desire and resolve
to receive the sacraments exist as part of the infallible truths of the Council.
1. The Catholic Faith is the foundation of Justification.
Session 6, Chapter VI, Decree Concerning Justification ( January 13, 1547):
" Now, they are disposed to that justice when, aroused and aided by divine grace, receiving faith by hearing, they
are moved freely toward God, believing to be true what has been divinely revealed and promised, especially that
the sinner is justified by God and His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; and when,
understanding themselves to be sinners, they, by turning themselves from the fear of divine justice, by which they
are salutarily aroused, to consider the mercy of God, are raised to hope, trusting that God will be propitious to
them for Christ's sake; and they begin to love Him as the fountain of all justice, and on that account are moved
against sin by a certain hatred and destination, that is, by that repentance that must be performed before baptism;
finally, when they resolve to receive baptism, to begin a new life and to keep the commandments of God."
So we see a personal adherence to the Catholic Faith is required justification. We continue:
Session 6, Chapter VII, Decree Concerning Justification ( Jan. 13, 1547):
" This disposition or preparation is followed by justification itself,..."
Session 6, Chapter VIII, Decree Concerning Justification ( Jan.13, 1547 )
" But when the Apostle says that man is justified by faith and freely, those words are to be understood in that
sense in which the uninterrupted unanimity of the Catholic Church has held and expressed them, namely, that we
are therefore said to be justified by faith, because faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation and
root of all justification, without which it is impossible to please God and to come to the fellowship of His sons;..."
Session 5, The Decree Concerning Original Sin ( June 17, 1546 ):
" our Catholic Faith, without which it is impossible to please God,..."
2. A Person who has the Catholic Faith can attain the state of Justification if that person receives the Sacraments
or has the resolve to receive them.
Session 6, Chapter IV, Decree Concerning Justification ( Jan.13, 1547):
" In which words is given a brief description of the justification of the sinner, as being a translation from the state in
which man is born a child of the first Adam, to the state of grace and of the adoption of the sons of God through
the second Adam, Jesus Christ, our Savior. This translation however cannot, since the promulgation of the
Gospel, be effected except through the laver of regeneration or its desire, as it is written: Unless a man be born
again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."
Session 7, Canon 4 of the Sacraments in General from the Decree Concerning the
Sacraments ( March 3, 1547 ):
" Can.4 " If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation but are superfluous,
and that without them or without the desire of them men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of
justification, though all are not necessary for each one, let him be anathema."
Notice, faith and desire are necessary for justification, not only desire and not only faith.
3. The Reception of the Sacraments is required for Salvation.
Session 6, Chapter VII, Decree Concerning Justification:
" This disposition or preparation is followed by justification itself, which is not only a remission of sins but also the
sanctification and renewal of the inward man through the voluntary reception of the grace and gifts whereby an
unjust man becomes just and from being an enemy becomes a friend, that he may be an heir according to the
hope of life everlasting. The causes of justification are: the final cause is the glory of God and of Christ and life
everlasting; the efficient cause is the merciful God who washes and sanctifies gratuitously, signing and anointing
with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance; the meritorious cause is His most beloved
only begotten, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, when we were enemies, for the exceeding charity wherewith He loved
us, merited for us justification by His most holy Passion on the wood of the cross and made satisfaction for us to
God the Father; the instrumental cause is the sacrament of baptism, which is the sacrament of faith, without which
no man was ever justified,..."
Session 7, Canon 4 of the Sacraments in General from the Decree Concerning the
Sacraments:
" Can.4. If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation but are superfluous,
and that without them or without the desire of them men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of
justification, though all are not necessary for each one, let him be anathema".
Session 7, Canons 2 & 5 of the Canons on Baptism from the Decree Concerning the Sacraments:
Canon 5. If anyone says that baptism is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation, let him be anathema."
" Can.2 If anyone says that true and natural water is not necessary for baptism and thus twists into some
metaphor the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: " Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost," let him
be anathema.
In terms of syllogism we have the infallible major premise: " Baptism is necessary for salvation," the infallible minor
premise: " True and natural water is necessary for Baptism,: and the infallible conclusion: " True and natural water
is necessary for salvation"
4. In conclusion, Justification can be attained by a person with the Catholic Faith together with at least a desire for
the Sacraments. He cannot attain Salvation unless he receives the Sacraments.
Reference source: The quotes from the Council of Trent are taken from:
" Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent" English translation, by Fr. H.J. Schroeder , O.P. 1941 by B.Herber
Book Co.
Nihil Obstat- Father Humbertus Kane , O.P. , Fr. Alexius Driscoll, O.P.
Imprimi Potest- Father Petrus O"Brian, O.P.
Nihil Obstat -A.A. Esswein, Censor Deputatus
Imprimatur - Archbishop Joannes J. Glennon, September 5, 1941
"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. But John stayed him , saying: I
ought to be baptized by thee, comest thou to me? And Jesus answering, said to him: suffer it to be so now. For so
it becometh us to fulfill all justice."
( St. Matthew 3: 13-15 ).
Finally:
So we see Our Lord Himself was baptized and teaches us that before baptism, a person can be in the state of
unfulfilled justice, or justification, but only after water Baptism is a person in the state of fulfilled justice, or
salvation. Our Lord was Baptized in water to fulfill all justice, how can we fulfill all justice without water Baptism?
Please pray for all those who have not reached the waters of salvation.
get people to salvation, even without the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. This is 100% not true! They begin by
misquoting the Council. It is as follow:
" This translation (to the state of grace) after the promulgation of the Gospel cannot be effected except through
the laver of regeneration or a desire for it."
However it actually reads:
" This translation ( to the state of grace ) after the promulgation of the Gospel cannot be effected except through
the laver of regeneration or the vowed intention to receive it.
This is a correct translation of the original Latin, " aut eius voto". If the Council intended to say " or desire" it would
have written, " aut eius desiderio."
The two are not the same. Lets see what the Council of Trent taught and to see what context desire and resolve
to receive the sacraments exist as part of the infallible truths of the Council.
1. The Catholic Faith is the foundation of Justification.
Session 6, Chapter VI, Decree Concerning Justification ( January 13, 1547):
" Now, they are disposed to that justice when, aroused and aided by divine grace, receiving faith by hearing, they
are moved freely toward God, believing to be true what has been divinely revealed and promised, especially that
the sinner is justified by God and His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; and when,
understanding themselves to be sinners, they, by turning themselves from the fear of divine justice, by which they
are salutarily aroused, to consider the mercy of God, are raised to hope, trusting that God will be propitious to
them for Christ's sake; and they begin to love Him as the fountain of all justice, and on that account are moved
against sin by a certain hatred and destination, that is, by that repentance that must be performed before baptism;
finally, when they resolve to receive baptism, to begin a new life and to keep the commandments of God."
So we see a personal adherence to the Catholic Faith is required justification. We continue:
Session 6, Chapter VII, Decree Concerning Justification ( Jan. 13, 1547):
" This disposition or preparation is followed by justification itself,..."
Session 6, Chapter VIII, Decree Concerning Justification ( Jan.13, 1547 )
" But when the Apostle says that man is justified by faith and freely, those words are to be understood in that
sense in which the uninterrupted unanimity of the Catholic Church has held and expressed them, namely, that we
are therefore said to be justified by faith, because faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation and
root of all justification, without which it is impossible to please God and to come to the fellowship of His sons;..."
Session 5, The Decree Concerning Original Sin ( June 17, 1546 ):
" our Catholic Faith, without which it is impossible to please God,..."
2. A Person who has the Catholic Faith can attain the state of Justification if that person receives the Sacraments
or has the resolve to receive them.
Session 6, Chapter IV, Decree Concerning Justification ( Jan.13, 1547):
" In which words is given a brief description of the justification of the sinner, as being a translation from the state in
which man is born a child of the first Adam, to the state of grace and of the adoption of the sons of God through
the second Adam, Jesus Christ, our Savior. This translation however cannot, since the promulgation of the
Gospel, be effected except through the laver of regeneration or its desire, as it is written: Unless a man be born
again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."
Session 7, Canon 4 of the Sacraments in General from the Decree Concerning the
Sacraments ( March 3, 1547 ):
" Can.4 " If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation but are superfluous,
and that without them or without the desire of them men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of
justification, though all are not necessary for each one, let him be anathema."
Notice, faith and desire are necessary for justification, not only desire and not only faith.
3. The Reception of the Sacraments is required for Salvation.
Session 6, Chapter VII, Decree Concerning Justification:
" This disposition or preparation is followed by justification itself, which is not only a remission of sins but also the
sanctification and renewal of the inward man through the voluntary reception of the grace and gifts whereby an
unjust man becomes just and from being an enemy becomes a friend, that he may be an heir according to the
hope of life everlasting. The causes of justification are: the final cause is the glory of God and of Christ and life
everlasting; the efficient cause is the merciful God who washes and sanctifies gratuitously, signing and anointing
with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance; the meritorious cause is His most beloved
only begotten, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, when we were enemies, for the exceeding charity wherewith He loved
us, merited for us justification by His most holy Passion on the wood of the cross and made satisfaction for us to
God the Father; the instrumental cause is the sacrament of baptism, which is the sacrament of faith, without which
no man was ever justified,..."
Session 7, Canon 4 of the Sacraments in General from the Decree Concerning the
Sacraments:
" Can.4. If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation but are superfluous,
and that without them or without the desire of them men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of
justification, though all are not necessary for each one, let him be anathema".
Session 7, Canons 2 & 5 of the Canons on Baptism from the Decree Concerning the Sacraments:
Canon 5. If anyone says that baptism is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation, let him be anathema."
" Can.2 If anyone says that true and natural water is not necessary for baptism and thus twists into some
metaphor the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: " Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost," let him
be anathema.
In terms of syllogism we have the infallible major premise: " Baptism is necessary for salvation," the infallible minor
premise: " True and natural water is necessary for Baptism,: and the infallible conclusion: " True and natural water
is necessary for salvation"
4. In conclusion, Justification can be attained by a person with the Catholic Faith together with at least a desire for
the Sacraments. He cannot attain Salvation unless he receives the Sacraments.
Reference source: The quotes from the Council of Trent are taken from:
" Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent" English translation, by Fr. H.J. Schroeder , O.P. 1941 by B.Herber
Book Co.
Nihil Obstat- Father Humbertus Kane , O.P. , Fr. Alexius Driscoll, O.P.
Imprimi Potest- Father Petrus O"Brian, O.P.
Nihil Obstat -A.A. Esswein, Censor Deputatus
Imprimatur - Archbishop Joannes J. Glennon, September 5, 1941
"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. But John stayed him , saying: I
ought to be baptized by thee, comest thou to me? And Jesus answering, said to him: suffer it to be so now. For so
it becometh us to fulfill all justice."
( St. Matthew 3: 13-15 ).
Finally:
So we see Our Lord Himself was baptized and teaches us that before baptism, a person can be in the state of
unfulfilled justice, or justification, but only after water Baptism is a person in the state of fulfilled justice, or
salvation. Our Lord was Baptized in water to fulfill all justice, how can we fulfill all justice without water Baptism?
Please pray for all those who have not reached the waters of salvation.