The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

THE CHALICE FOR THE LAITY. 295
gation the draft of a decree, in four chapters and twelve
canons, on the essence, institution and fruits of the holy sacri-
fice of the Mass. The fathers of the Council discussed this
from August nth to the 27th, the theological question as to
whether Christ had already offered Mass at the Last Supper
especially giving rise to diificulties.^
Ever since August 22nd the thorny question had been
waiting for an answer, whether the chalice was to be granted
or refused to the laity. Pius IV. had left the Council free to
make the concession in a letter of July i8th ; he thought
it wiser, however, to defer the decision until the end of the
Council. 2 Borromeo informed the legates on July 29th that
the Pope desired that all possible satisfaction should be given
to the Emperor in this matter, as far as was consistent with a
good conscience and Christian charity. At the same time
Gonzaga also received the intimation that Pius IV. approved
his view that the decree as to the chalice should be formulated
by the Council and not by the Pope.^ The deliberations on
this difficult question were taken in hand during the last week
of August.*
Opinions as to the practical utility of granting the chalice
to the laity differed very widely. Besides the impetuous
and eloquent Bishop of Fiinfkirchen,^ Cardinal Madruzzo,
Bishop Andreas Sbardalato of Knin, and Archbishop Marini
of Lanciano were in favour of granting it. Among the opponents
of the concession Castagna, Archbishop of Rossano, and
Oslo, Bishop of Rieti especially distinguished themselves
by the learning and clearness of the arguments they adduced.
^ See Theiner, II., 73-95; Raynaldus, 1562, n. 97-100;
Le Plat, V., 428-31 ; Mendoqa,
SUSTA, II., 3II-I3, 338.
648 ; Pallavicini, 18, i and 2 ;
2 SusTA, II., 270 seq. Cf. Steinherz, III., 113.
3 SUSTA, II., 289-91.
* See Raynaldus, 1562, n. 73, 75-80; Le Plat, V., 455 seq.,
463-88 ; Theiner, II, 96-116 ; Paleotto in Theiner, II., 579-87 ;
Mendo^a, 649 seq. ; Pallavicini, 18, 3-5. Cf. also Susta, II.,
542 seq., 545 seq., 550 seq.
5 See Le Plat, V., 459, 462. Cf. Kassowitz, xxv.