We continue our review of Abbot Vonier's "A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist." Abbot Vonier here quotes St. Thomas:
A sacrament is so called because it contains something sacred. Now a thing may be sacred in two ways, either absolutely, or with reference to something else. The difference between the Eucharist and the other sacraments which have a matter known to the senses is this, that the Eucharist contains something sacred absolutely, namely Christ Himself; but the water of Baptism contains something sacred with regard to something else, that is to say, it contains the power of sanctifying; and the same thing may be said of the chrism and of the other sacramental things. Consequently, the sacrament of the Eucharist is fully accomplished (perficitur) in the very consecration of the matter, while the other sacraments are fully accomplished in the application of the matter to the man to be sanctified.
From this another difference follow; for in the sacrament of the Eucharist what is the "thing and the sacrament" (res et sacramentum) is in the matter itself; while what is the "thing only (res tantuni) - i.e., the grace which is given - is in the one who receives the Eucharist; but in Baptism both are in the recipient, that is to say, character, which is the "thing and the sacrament" and the grace of remission of sins, which is the "thing" only, and the same may be said of the other sacraments.
St. Thomas of Aquinas, pray for us.
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