Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae

Objection 1: It seems that the effect of this sacrament is not hindered by venial sin. For Augustine (Tract. xxvi in Joan.), commenting on Jn. 6:52, "If any man eat of this bread," etc., says: "Eat the heavenly bread spiritually; bring innocence to the altar; your sins, though they be daily, let them not be deadly." From this it is evident that venial sins, which are called daily sins, do not prevent spiritual eating. But they who eat spiritually, receive the effect of this sacrament. Therefore, venial sins do not hinder the effect of this sacrament.

Objection 2: Further, this sacrament is not less powerful than Baptism. But, as stated above (Question 69, Articles 9,10), only pretense checks the effect of Baptism, and venial sins do not belong to pretense; because according to Wis. 1:5: "the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful," yet He is not put to flight by venial sins. Therefore neither do venial sins hinder the effect of this sacrament.

Objection 3: Further, nothing which is removed by the action of any cause, can hinder the effect of such cause. But venial sins are taken away by this sacrament. Therefore, they do not hinder its effect.

On the contrary, Damascene says (De Fide Orth. iv): "The fire of that desire which is within us, being kindled by the burning coal," i.e. this sacrament, "will consume our sins, and enlighten our hearts, so that we shall be inflamed and made godlike." But the fire of our desire or love is hindered by venial sins, which hinder the fervor of charity, as was shown in the 1.2, Question 81, Article 4; 2.2, Question 24, Article 10. Therefore venial sins hinder the effect of this sacrament.

I answer that, Venial sins can be taken in two ways: first of all as past, secondly as in the act of being committed. Venial sins taken in the first way do not in any way hinder the effect of this sacrament. For it can come to pass that after many venial sins a man may approach devoutly to this sacrament and fully secure its effect. Considered in the second way venial sins do not utterly hinder the effect of this sacrament, but merely in part. For, it has been stated above (Article 1), that the effect of this sacrament is not only the obtaining of habitual grace or charity, but also a certain actual refreshment of spiritual sweetness: which is indeed hindered if anyone approach to this sacrament with mind distracted through venial sins; but the increase of habitual grace or of charity is not taken away.

Reply to Objection 1: He that approaches this sacrament with actual venial sin, eats spiritually indeed, in habit but not in act: and therefore he shares in the habitual effect of the sacrament, but not in its actual effect.

Reply to Objection 2: Baptism is not ordained, as this sacrament is, for the fervor of charity as its actual effect. Because Baptism is spiritual regeneration, through which the first perfection is acquired, which is a habit or form; but this sacrament is spiritual eating, which has actual delight.

Reply to Objection 3: This argument deals with past venial sins, which are taken away by this sacrament.

Articulus 8

Argumentum 1

Ad octavum sic proceditur. Videtur quod per veniale peccatum non impediatur effectus huius sacramenti.

Dicit enim Augustinus, super illud Ioan. VI, si quis ex ipso manducaverit etc., panem caelestem spiritualiter manducate; innocentiam ad altare portate; peccata, etsi sint quotidiana, non sint mortifera.

Ex quo patet quod quotidiana peccata, quae dicuntur venialia, spiritualem manducationem non impediunt. Sed spiritualiter manducantes effectum huius sacramenti percipiunt.

Ergo peccata venialia non impediunt effectum huius sacramenti.

Argumentum 2

Praeterea, hoc sacramentum non est minoris virtutis quam baptismus. Sed effectum baptismi, sicut supra dictum est, impedit sola fictio, ad quam non pertinent peccata venialia, quia, sicut Sap. I dicitur, spiritus sanctus disciplinae effugiet fictum, qui tamen per peccata venialia non fugatur.

Ergo neque effectum huius sacramenti impediunt peccata venialia.

Argumentum 3

Praeterea, nihil quod removetur per actionem alicuius causae, potest impedire eius effectum. Sed peccata venialia tolluntur per hoc sacramentum. Ergo non impediunt eius effectum.

Sed Contra

Sed contra est quod Damascenus dicit, in IV libro, ignis eius quod in nobis est desiderii, assumens eam quae ex carbone, idest hoc sacramento, ignitionem, comburet nostra peccata, et illuminabit nostra corda, ut participatione divini ignis igniamur et deificemur.

Sed ignis nostri desiderii vel amoris impeditur per peccata venialia, quae impediunt fervorem caritatis, ut in secunda parte habitum est.

Ergo peccata venialia impediunt effectum huius sacramenti.

Corpus

Respondeo dicendum quod peccata venialia dupliciter accipi possunt, uno modo, prout sunt praeterita; alio modo, prout sunt actu exercita. Primo quidem modo, peccata venialia nullo modo impediunt effectum huius sacramenti. Potest enim contingere quod aliquis post multa peccata commissa venialia, devote accedat ad hoc sacramentum, et plenarie huius sacramenti consequetur effectum.

Secundo autem modo, peccata venialia non ex toto impediunt effectum huius sacramenti, sed in parte.

Dictum est enim quod effectus huius sacramenti non solum est adeptio habitualis gratiae vel caritatis, sed etiam quaedam actualis refectio spiritualis dulcedinis. Quae quidem impeditur si aliquis accedat ad hoc sacramentum mente distracta per peccata venialia.

Non autem tollitur augmentum gratiae habitualis vel caritatis.

Ad 1

Ad primum ergo dicendum quod ille qui cum actu venialis peccati ad hoc sacramentum accedit, habitualiter quidem manducat spiritualiter, sed non actualiter. Et ideo habitualem effectum huius sacramenti percipit, non autem actualem.

Ad 2

Ad secundum dicendum quod baptismus non ita ordinatur ad actualem effectum, idest ad fervorem caritatis, sicut hoc sacramentum. Nam baptismus est spiritualis regeneratio, per quam acquiritur prima perfectio, quae est habitus vel forma, hoc autem sacramentum est spiritualis manducatio, quae habet actualem delectationem.

Ad 3

Ad tertium dicendum quod illa ratio procedit de venialibus praeteritis, quae per hoc sacramentum tolluntur.