sight of so much splendour, and placed in the midst of so great joy of the universal Church, may either pine away, weakened and broken; or, touched with shame, and confounded, at length repent.
CHAPTER VI.
On Reserving the Sacrament of the sacred Eucharist and bearing it to the Sick.
The custom of reserving the holy Eucharist in the sacrarium[1] is so ancient, that even the age of the Council of Nicæa[2] recognized it. Moreover, as to the carrying the sacred Eucharist itself to the sick, and carefully reserving it unto this purpose in churches, besides that it is conformable with the highest practice, equity and reason, it is also found enjoined in numerous councils,[3] and observed according to the most ancient of the Catholic Church. Wherefore, this holy synod ordains, that this salutary and necessary custom be by all means retained.
CHAPTER VII.
On the Preparation which is to he given that one may worthily receive the sacred Eucharist.
If it becometh not for any one to approach any of the sacred functions, unless [he approach] holily; assuredly, the more the holiness and divinity of this heavenly sacrament be understood by a Christian man, so much the more diligently ought he to take heed that he approach not to receive it but with great reverence and holiness, especially as we read in the apostle those words full of terror; He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself.[4] Wherefore, by him who would communicate, must the precept of the apostle be recalled to
- ↑ A part of the altar, with a kind of box or case in which the Eucharist was kept. "Pars altaris, ubi reponitur pyxis, in qua sacra Eucharistia asservatur, nostris yulgo Tabernacle."—Du Cange. See Hoffmann's Lexicon, vol. iv. p. 18. The word is sometimes used for the space enclosed by the altar-rails, the chancel.
- ↑ See Conc. Nicæen. I. c. 13.
- ↑ See, for instance, Concil. Ancyr. c. 5; Concil. Agath. c. 15.
- ↑ 1 Cor. xi. 29.
