On the holy sacrament Now wine alone may be used for the sacrament, not plain water neither the unfermented juice of grapes; and the wine must be strong wine and undiluted. Anyone who seeks to substitute some other drink for the pure, strong, fermented and undilute wine of the sacrament - they are guilty of a grave sin; and whatever reasons they might have, however noble they might seem, will not lessen the sinfulness thereof. Now if anyone be unable to drink of the wine, they may drink not; the cakes are sufficient of them. But if a priestess or priest may not drink of the wine, the same wine which by every other priestess and priest is consecrated, then they must refrain from the celebration of this holy sacrament. It is not a right for any priestess or priest to celebrate this holy sacrament, it is a privilege; and if some misfortune render them unworthy of that privilege, such is the will of Maratrea; if they truly desire to be free of this misfortune, then without doubt she shall free them wholly, if not in this life, then in the life to come; if not in these here branches, then in others besides them. And the holy Travancus said: Now the cakes be consecrated not save that the wine be consecrated along with them, and the wine be consecrated not save that the cakes be consecrated along with them. Thus whosoever seeks to consecrate one without the other, consecrates naught. And if there be any defect in one of them, such as to make the consecration thereof be invalid, then the consecration of the other is also invalid, even if the other be without defect. |
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