XXXVII.
The Reality of Sacramental Grace
The sacraments are not mere symbols, but true vehicles through which Christ feeds the faithful soul.
XXXVII. We believe (as has been said) that both in the Lord's Supper and in baptism, God really and effectually gives us what he figures there.1 And therefore we join to the signs the true possession and enjoyment of what is presented to us there.2 Consequently, all who bring a pure faith to the sacred table of Christ, as a vessel, truly receive what the signs testify: that the body and blood of Jesus Christ serve as food and drink for the soul no less than bread and wine do for the body.
Read the original French
XXXVII. Nous croyons (ainsi qu’il a été dit), que tant en la cène qu’au baptême, Dieu nous donne réellement et par effet ce qu’il y figure. Et partant, nous joignons avec les signes la vraie possession et jouissance de ce qui nous est là présenté. Et ainsi, tous ceux qui apportent à la table sacrée de Christ une pure foi, comme un vaisseau, reçoivent vraiment ce que les signes y testifient; c’est que le corps et le sang de Jésus-Christ ne servent pas moins de manger et de boire à l’âme, que le pain et le vin font au corps.
Notes
- 1 ↩French réellement et par effet insists on an actual conferring of what the signs figure, not a gift in imagination only. 'Effectually' renders par effet; it does not mean 'basically' or 'more or less.'
- 2 ↩Jouissance is the actual having-and-using of the thing presented, not mere delight. Possession and enjoyment are kept as a pair to mark that the reality is truly received, not the sign alone.
French Confession of Faith (Confession de La Rochelle / Gallican Confession) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit