What did the Council of Trent say about Baptism of Desire?
In its Decree on Justification, the Council of Trent speaks of the washing of regeneration or the desire for it. The following passages are the texts cited in our historical source collection.
Session VI, Chapter 4: Decree on Justification
And this translation, since the promulgation of the Gospel, cannot be effected, without the laver of regeneration, or the desire thereof, as it is written; unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
Read Session VI, including Chapter 4 (PDF).
Session VII, Canon 4: The Sacraments in General
If anyone shall say that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation, but are superfluous, and that, although all are not necessary for every individual, without them or without the desire of them, through faith alone men obtain from God the grace of justification; let him be anathema.
Read the Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent (PDF).
Did Trent speak about Baptism of Desire?
Chapter 4 speaks of the desire for the washing of regeneration. Canon 4 addresses the sacraments in general and also refers to the desire for them. Our response to the objection gives the fuller argument and cites St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Alphonsus Liguori on how they read Trent.