The Catholic Reformation 159 If any one saith that the New Testament does not provide for a distinct, visible priesthood ; or that this priesthood has not any power of consecrating and offering up the true body and blood of the Lord, and of forgiving and retaining sins, but is only an office and bare ministry of preaching the gos- pel ; or that those who do not preach are not priests at all ; let him be anathema. . . . If any one saith that by sacred ordination the Holy Ghost is not given, and that vainly therefore do the bishops say, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost"; or that a character is not imprinted by that ordination ; or that he who has once been a priest can again become a layman ; let him be anath- ema. . . . If any one saith that in the Catholic Church there is not a hierarchy instituted by divine ordination, consisting of bishops, priests, and ministers; let him be anathema. 1 If any one saith that the sacraments of the new law were not all instituted by Jesus Christ, our Lord ; or that they are more or less than seven, to wit, baptism, confirmation, the eucharist, penance, extreme unction, orders, and matri- mony ; or even that any one of these seven is not truly and properly a sacrament ; let him be anathema. Of the reform decrees, the following relating to the conduct and teaching of the clergy may be cited. In order that the faithful may approach and receive the sacraments with greater reverence and devotion of mind, this holy Council enjoins on all bishops that, not only when they are themselves about to administer them to the people they shall first explain, in a manner suited to the capacity of those who receive them, the efficacy and use of those sacraments, but they shall endeavor that the same be done piously and prudently by every parish priest ; and this even in the ver- nacular tongue, if need be, and if it can be conveniently done. Such instruction shall be given in accordance with the form which will be prescribed for each of the sacraments by 277a. Those who reject the hier- archy and the sacra- ments declared accursed. 277b. Bish- ops and priests should care- fully ex- plain the sacraments to the people. 1 Compare Luther's and Calvin's doctrines above, pp. 76 sg., 81 sq., and 133.
