Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent/Session XXII/Petition for the Concession of the Chalice
DECREE TOUCHING THE PETITION FOR THE CONCESSION OF THE CHALICE.
Yet, further, whereas the same sacred and holy synod, in the preceding session, reserved until another time, for an opportunity that might occur, two articles to be examined and defined, which had been proposed on another occasion, but had not then as yet been discussed, to wit, whether the reasons, by which the holy Catholic Church was led to communicate, under the one species of bread, laymen, and priests also when not celebrating, are in such wise to be adhered to, as that on no account is the use of the chalice to be allowed to any one soever; and, whether, if for reasons beseeming and agreeable to Christian charity, it appears that the use of the chalice is to be granted to any nation or kingdom, it is to be conceded under certain conditions; and what are those conditions; it has now, in its desire that the salvation of those, on whose behalf the petition is made, may be provided for in the best manner, decreed, that the entire matter be referred to our most holy lord, as by this present decree it doth refer it; who, of his singular prudence, will do that which he shall judge useful for the Christian commonweal, and salutary for those who ask for the use of the chalice.