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PART I. GENERAL RULES FOR ADMINISTERING THE SACRAMENTS
1. The rites and ceremonies of the sacraments prescribed in this book,
based as they are on ancient usage, the sacred canons of the Catholic
Church, and on decrees of the popes, should be regarded with due
understanding and reverence, and faithfully observed everywhere. Thus
it is fitting above all to know and consider what the Sacred Council of
Trent (Sess. VII, Can. XIII) has decreed about these rites, namely:
2. "If anyone says that the received and approved rites of the Catholic
Church, wont to be used in the solemn administration of the sacraments,
may be contemned, or arbitrarily omitted by the ministers without sin,
or be changed into other new ones at the option of any pastor of the
churches: let him be anathema."
3. Since in God's Church nothing is holier, loftier, more beneficial,
or more divine than the sacraments instituted by Christ the Lord for
the salvation of mankind, let every pastor, in fact, every priest to
whom pertains their administration, bear uppermost in mind that he is
dealing with holy things, and that he must be prepared almost every
moment to discharge this sacred office.
4. Therefore, let him ever be solicitous about leading a blameless, a
chaste, and holy life. For even though the sacraments cannot be sullied
by the unclean nor their effects impeded through an evil minister, yet
they who administer them while unworthy and unclean are guilty of
grievous sin. Should a priest be conscious of mortal sin (which God
forbid), let him not dare to administer the sacraments without first
disposing himself through sincere contrition. Moreover, if there is
sufficient opportunity for confession, and if time and place allow, he
ought to go to confession.
5. No matter at what hour day or night he is called upon to dispense
the sacraments, let him exercise his sacred ministry without delay,
especially in urgent cases. On this account he will take frequent
occasion to advise his people that they should call him immediately for
such ministration, regardless of the hour or any inconvenience
whatsoever.
6. Before he proceeds to exercise this office, he should if possible
spend a little time in prayer and reflection on the sacred act he is
about to perform; and he should review the ceremony and rubrics as time
permits.
7. Every time he administers the sacraments he will be vested in
surplice and stole of the proper color as the rite requires. Exception
is made for the sacrament of penance, where conditions of time, place,
or custom may dictate otherwise.
8. He will be assisted by at least one cleric, if possible, or by
several as the nature of the sacrament or circumstance of place will
dictate. The latter should wear a proper garb and also the surplice.
9. He will take care that the sacred vessels, vestments, linens, and
other requisites be kept clean and in good condition.
10. As the Council of Trent prescribes, he will use the opportunity
afforded at the administration of the sacraments to explain with
diligence their power, efficacy, and use, as well as the signification
of the ceremonies, whenever this can conveniently be done, basing the
instruction on the teaching of the holy fathers and on the Roman
catechism.
11. When he dispenses any sacrament he will pronounce attentively,
distinctly, reverently, and clearly all words pertaining to its form
and administration. Likewise he should say all other prayers with
devotion, not trusting to memory which often fails, but reciting
everything from the book. And he should perform the ceremonies and
rites with such solemn demeanor that those who assist thereat will be
attentive and duly edified.
12. As he is about to administer a sacrament, let him be intent on what
he is about to do, avoiding unnecessary conversation with another. And
during the administration itself he should endeavor to have actual or
at least virtual attention, intending to do what the Church does in the
matter.
13. Especially, he should sedulously avoid, directly or indirectly, any
impression of seeking or demanding gain from dispensing the sacraments.
But let him do so gratuitously, absolutely immune from the crime or
even suspicion of simony or avarice. If after the sacrament has been
conferred the faithful freely make an offering as an alms or in devout
appreciation, he may lawfully accept it in accordance with local
custom, unless the bishop decides otherwise. Nevertheless, it is
permissible to ask or exact such offerings or taxes which have been
fixed by a provincial council or at a meeting of the bishops of a
province, and approved by the Holy See. But a pastor should never
refuse his gratuitous ministry to those who are unable to give the
stipend.
14. It is forbidden to administer the sacraments of the Church to
heretics or schismatics, even though they may mistakenly ask for them
in good faith, unless they first renounce their errors and are
reconciled to the Church.
15. The recipients of the sacraments should be admonished on opportune
occasion to assist thereat with piety and devotion, free from levity in
word or act, receiving them with the reverence they demand.
16. The priest should always have the Ritual with him (wherever
necessary) when he dispenses the sacraments, and should carefully
observe the rites and ceremonies prescribed in it.
17. This book, by the way, contains only the rites of those sacraments
which pertain to priests, namely: baptism, penance, Eucharist,
anointing of the sick, and matrimony.* The rites of the two remaining
sacraments, confirmation and holy orders, since they pertain to
bishops, are given in the Pontifical. Whatever else a pastor must know,
teach, or observe in connection with the sacraments can be learned from
other books, especially the Code of Canon Law and the Roman catechism.
Therefore, the scope of this book must restrict itself mainly to the
rites pertaining to the five sacraments cited.
18. Finally, whoever is bound to administer the sacraments should
possess the necessary books pertaining to his office, particularly
those to be used as permanent registers of the various parochial
functions, as exemplified at the end of the Ritual.
* The rite of confirmation has since been included in the Ritual.--
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