Trent, Decree on Justification
CHAPTER VII.
What the justification of the impious is, and what are the causes thereof.
This disposition, or preparation, is followed by Justification itself, which is not remission of sins merely, but also the sanctification and renewal of the inward man, through the voluntary reception of the grace, and of the gifts, whereby man of unjust becomes just, and of an enemy a friend, that so he may be an heir according to hope of life everlasting.
Of this Justification the causes are these: the final cause indeed is the glory of God and of Jesus Christ, and life everlasting; while the efficient cause is a merciful God who washes and sanctifies gratuitously, signing, and anointing with the holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance; but 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 Justification for us by His most holy Passion on the wood of the cross, and made satisfaction for us unto God the Father; the instrumental cause is the sacrament of baptism, which is the sacrament of faith, without which (faith) no man was ever justified; lastly, the alone formal cause is the justice of God, not that whereby He Himself is just, but that whereby He maketh us just, that, to wit, with which we being endowed by Him, are renewed in the spirit of our mind, and we are not only reputed, but are truly called, and are, just, receiving justice within us, each one according to his own measure, which the Holy Ghost distributes to every one as He wills, and according to each one’s proper disposition and co-operation. For, although no one can be just, but he to whom the merits of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ are communicated, yet is this done in the said justification of the impious, when by the merit of that same most holy Passion, the charity of God is poured forth, by the Holy Spirit, in the hearts of those that are justified, and is inherent therein: whence, man, through Jesus Christ, in whom he is ingrafted, receives, in the said justification, together with the remission of sins, all these (gifts) infused at once, faith, hope, and charity. For faith, unless hope and charity be added thereto, neither unites man perfectly with Christ, nor makes him a living member of His body. For which reason it is most truly said, that Faith without works is dead and profitless; and, In Christ Jesus neither circuмcision, availeth anything, nor uncircuмcision, but faith which worketh by charity. This faith, Catechumen’s beg of the Church-agreeably to a tradition of the apostles-previously to the sacrament of Baptism; when they beg for the faith which bestows life everlasting, which, without hope and charity, faith cannot bestow: whence also do they immediately hear that word of Christ; If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Wherefore, when receiving true and Christian justice, they are bidden, immediately on being born again, to preserve it pure and spotless, as the first robe given them through Jesus Christ in lieu of that which [Page 36] Adam, by his disobedience, lost for himself and for us, that so they may bear it before the judgment-seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, and may have life everlasting.
Whoever wrote this at Trent must have been looking at this very Scripture passage when he wrote it.
24 The day after that, they reached Caesarea, where Cornelius was awaiting them; he had gathered his kinsmen and his closest friends about him. 25 And as soon as Peter had entered, he was met by Cornelius, who fell at his feet and did reverence to him; 26 but Peter raised him; Stand up, he said, I am a man like thyself. 27 So he went in, still conversing with him, and found a great company assembled. 28 You know well enough, he told them, that a Jew is contaminated if he consorts with one of another race, or visits him; but God has been shewing me that we ought not to speak of any man as profane or unclean; 29 and so, when I was sent for, I came without demur. Tell me then, why you have sent for me. 30 And Cornelius said, Three days ago, at this very time, I was making my afternoon prayer in my house,[4] when suddenly I saw a man standing before me, in white clothes, 31 who said to me, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, thy almsdeeds have won remembrance in God’s sight. 32 Thou art to send to Joppa, and summon thence that Simon who is also called Peter; he is lodging with a tanner called Simon, close to the sea.[5] 33 I lost no time, therefore, in sending for thee, and thou hast done me a favour in coming. Now thou seest us assembled in thy presence, ready to listen to whatever charge the Lord has given thee.
34 Thereupon Peter began speaking; I see clearly enough, he said, that God makes no distinction between man and man; 35 he welcomes anybody, whatever his race, who fears him and does what piety demands. 36 God has sent his word to the sons of Israel, giving them news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You have heard the story, a story which ran through the whole of Judaea, though it began in Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed; 38 about Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, so that he went about doing good, and curing all those who were under the devil’s tyranny, with God at his side. 39 We are witnesses of all he did in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem. And they killed him, hanging him on a gibbet; 40 but on the third day God raised him up again, and granted the clear sight of him, 41 not to the people at large, but to us, the witnesses whom God had appointed beforehand; we ate and drank in his company after his rising from the dead. 42 And he gave us a commission to preach to the people, and to bear witness that he, and none other, has been chosen by God to judge the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets bear him this testimony, that everyone who has faith in him is to find remission of sins through his name.
44 Before Peter had finished speaking to them thus, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to his message.[6] 45 The faithful who had come over with Peter, holding to the tradition of circuмcision as they did, were astonished to find that the free gift of the Holy Spirit could be lavished upon the Gentiles, 46 whom they heard speaking with tongues, and proclaiming the greatness of God. 47 Then Peter said openly, Who will grudge us the water for baptizing these men, that have received the Holy Spirit just as we did? 48 And he gave orders that they should be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And after this, they asked him to stay on some days with them.
Notice how the scene unfolds with the events illustrating the doctrine being set out. A couple of thing to keep in mind; God does not require an instrumental cause, the Apostles were confirmed directly by the Holy Ghost without chrism or a minister. Secondly, a person is considered a chatechumen when they resolve to embrace the Faith.
These Catechumens are sanctified directly by the Holy Ghost before water baptism and after the Ascension.
Here's a canonized BoB Saint I found, I'll keep looking for more.
Jan 7th, At Melitene in ancient Armenia, Saint Polyeuctus, martyr: as a soldier, forced by the edict of Emperor Decius to sacrifice to the gods, he tore the statues to pieces and for this he suffered many torments, until he was beheaded and baptized in his own blood.
Topic: Miraculous Baptisms (Read 113583 times)