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Brownson got it exactly right (full quote in my post here at #103):


Note what he says: "receiving the visible sacrament at least in voto et proxima dispositione." I think Lad would agree that's that's the main issue. I think this requires an "explicit desire," but that's besides the point and perhaps my problem. I talked about the "core concept" in this or another thread, and that's it: the possibility (a positive formulation of the Brownson's negation of the negative, "not impossible") of justification/salvation by votum.

Msgr. Fention expressed it thus:




Fenton says this is "the revealed teaching," and includes "an implicit votum." I'm not sure of that, but I'll accept that; anyway, as I said elsewhere, it doesn't matter: explicit or implicit, the core remains: the real possibility of salvation in Christ by votum.

St. Robert Bellarmine expressed it thus:

The "absolute necessity" would be the receipt of the grace of the sacrament either in re or by votum.

I understand being done with the discussion. You express your view and clarify as necessary, then at some point it  becomes redundant unless some other issue introduces itself.

Ok, but not for St. Robert, St. Alphonsus, etc., and they were aware of, and cited, the Council of Trent.

"The heretics say that no sacrament is necessary, inasmuch as they hold that man is justified by faith alone, and that the sacraments only serve to excite and nourish this faith, which (as they say) can be equally excited and nourished by preaching.  But this is certainly false, and is condemned in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth canons:  for as we know from the Scriptures, some of the sacraments are necessary (necessitate Medii) as a means without which salvation is impossible. Thus Baptism is necessary for all, Penance for them who have fallen into sin after Baptism, and the Eucharist is necessary for all at least in desire ( in voto)." - Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Taken from:  (An Exposition and Defence of All the Points of Faith Discussed and Defined by the Sacred Council of Trent, Along With the Refutation of the Errors of the Pretended Reformers, Dublin, 1846.)