Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut dictum est, ministri Ecclesiae instrumentaliter operantur in sacramentis, eo quod quodammodo eadem est ratio ministri et instrumenti. Sicut autem supra dictum est, instrumentum non agit secundum propriam formam, sed secundum virtutem eius a quo movetur. Et ideo accidit instrumento, inquantum est instrumentum, qualemcumque formam vel virtutem habeat, praeter id quod exigitur ad rationem instrumenti, sicut quod corpus medici, quod est instrumentum animae habentis artem, sit sanum vel infirmum; et sicut quod fistula per quam transit aqua, sit argentea vel plumbea. Unde ministri Ecclesiae possunt sacramenta conferre etiam si sint mali. I answer that, As stated above (A. 1), the ministers of the Church work instrumentally in the sacraments, because, in a way, a minister is of the nature of an instrument. But, as stated above (Q. 62, AA. 1, 4), an instrument acts not by reason of its own form, but by the power of the one who moves it. Consequently, whatever form or power an instrument has in addition to that which it has as an instrument, is accidental to it: for instance, that a physician’s body, which is the instrument of his soul, wherein is his medical art, be healthy or sickly; or that a pipe, through which water passes, be of silver or lead. Therefore the ministers of the Church can confer the sacraments, though they be wicked. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod ministri Ecclesiae neque a peccatis mundant homines ad sacramenta accedentes, neque gratiam conferunt, sua virtute, sed hoc facit Christus sua potestate per eos sicut per quaedam instrumenta. Et ideo effectus consequitur in suscipientibus sacramenta non secundum similitudinem ministrorum, sed secundum configurationem ad Christum. Reply Obj. 1: The ministers of the Church do not by their own power cleanse from sin those who approach the sacraments, nor do they confer grace on them: it is Christ Who does this by His own power while He employs them as instruments. Consequently, those who approach the sacraments receive an effect whereby they are enlikened not to the ministers but to Christ. Ad secundum dicendum quod per caritatem membra Christi uniuntur suo capiti ut ab eo vitam recipiant, quia, ut dicitur I Ioan. III, qui non diligit, manet in morte. Potest autem aliquis operari per instrumentum carens vita, et a se separatum quantum ad corporis unionem, dummodo sit coniunctum per quandam motionem, aliter enim operatur artifex per manum, et aliter per securim. Sic igitur Christus operatur in sacramentis et per malos, tanquam per instrumenta carentia vita; et per bonos, tanquam per membra viventia. Reply Obj. 2: Christ’s members are united to their Head by charity, so that they may receive life from Him; for as it is written (1 John 3:14): He that loveth not abideth in death. Now it is possible for a man to work with a lifeless instrument, and separated from him as to bodily union, provided it be united to him by some sort of motion: for a workman works in one way with his hand, in another with his axe. Consequently, it is thus that Christ works in the sacraments, both by wicked men as lifeless instruments, and by good men as living instruments. Ad tertium dicendum quod aliquid est debitum esse in sacramento dupliciter. Uno modo, sicut existens de necessitate sacramenti. Quod quidem si desit, non perficitur sacramentum, sicut si desit debita forma vel debita materia. Alio modo est aliquid debitum esse in sacramento secundum quandam decentiam. Et hoc modo debitum est ut ministri sacramentorum sint boni. Reply Obj. 3: A thing is required in a sacrament in two ways. First, as being essential to it: and if this be wanting, the sacrament is invalid; for instance, if the due form or matter be wanting. Second, a thing is required for a sacrament, by reason of a certain fitness. And in this way good ministers are required for a sacrament. Articulus 6 Article 6 Utrum mali ministrantes sacramenta peccent Whether wicked men sin in administering the sacraments? Ad sextum sic proceditur. Videtur quod mali ministrantes sacramenta non peccent. Sicut enim ministratur Deo in sacramentis, ita per opera caritatis, unde dicitur Heb. ult., beneficentiae et communionis nolite oblivisci, talibus enim hostiis promeretur Deus. Sed mali non peccant si ministrent Deo in operibus caritatis, quinimmo hoc est consulendum, secundum illud Dan. IV, consilium meum regi placeat, peccata tua eleemosynis redime. Ergo videtur quod mali non peccent in sacramentis ministrando. Objection 1: It seems that wicked men do not sin in administering the sacraments. For just as men serve God in the sacraments, so do they serve Him in works of charity; whence it is written (Heb 13:16): Do not forget to do good and to impart, for by such sacrifices God’s favor is obtained. But the wicked do not sin in serving God by works of charity: indeed, they should be persuaded to do so, according to Dan. 4:24: Let my counsel be acceptable to the king; Redeem thou thy sins with alms. Therefore it seems that wicked men do not sin in administering the sacraments. Praeterea, quicumque communicat alicui in peccato, etiam ipse est reus peccati, secundum illud Rom. I, dignus est morte non solum qui peccatum agit, sed etiam qui consentit facientibus. Sed si mali ministri peccent sacramenta ministrando, illi qui ab eis sacramenta recipiunt, eis in peccato communicant. Ergo etiam ipsi peccarent. Quod videtur inconveniens. Obj. 2: Further, whoever co-operates with another in his sin, is also guilty of sin, according to Rom. 1:32: He is worthy of death; not only he that commits the sin, but also he who consents to them that do them. But if wicked ministers sin in administering sacraments, those who receive sacraments from them, co-operate in their sin. Therefore they would sin also; which seems unreasonable. Praeterea, nullus videtur esse perplexus, quia sic homo cogeretur desperare, quasi non posset peccatum evadere. Sed si mali peccarent sacramenta tradendo, essent perplexi, quia etiam quandoque peccarent si sacramenta non traderent, puta cum eis ex officio incumbit necessitas; dicitur enim I Cor. IX, vae mihi est si non evangelizavero, necessitas enim mihi incumbit. Quandoque etiam propter periculum, sicut si puer, in periculo mortis existens, offeratur alicui peccatori baptizandus. Ergo videtur quod mali non peccent sacramenta ministrando. Obj. 3: Further, it seems that no one should act when in doubt, for thus man would be driven to despair, as being unable to avoid sin. But if the wicked were to sin in administering sacraments, they would be in a state of perplexity: since sometimes they would sin also if they did not administer sacraments; for instance, when by reason of their office it is their bounden duty to do so; for it is written (1 Cor 9:16): For a necessity lieth upon me: Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel. Sometimes also on account of some danger; for instance, if a child in danger of death be brought to a sinner for baptism. Therefore it seems that the wicked do not sin in administering the sacraments. Sed contra est quod Dionysius dicit, I cap. Eccles. Hier., quod malis non est fas neque tangere symbola, idest sacramentalia signa. Et in epistola ad Demophilum dicit, talis, scilicet peccator, audax videtur sacerdotalibus manum imponens; et non timet neque verecundatur, divina praeter dignitatem exequens, et Deum putans ignorare quod ipse in seipso cognovit; et decipere existimat falso nomine patrem ab ipso appellatum; et audet immundas infamias non dicam orationes, super divina signa Christiformiter enuntiare. On the contrary, Dionysius says (Eccl. Hier. i) that it is wrong for the wicked even to touch the symbols, i.e., the sacramental signs. And he says in the epistle to Demophilus: It seems presumptuous for such a man, i.e., a sinner, to lay hands on priestly things; he is neither afraid nor ashamed, all unworthy that he is, to take part in Divine things, with the thought that God does not see what he sees in himself: he thinks, by false pretenses, to cheat Him Whom he calls his Father; he dares to utter, in the person of Christ, words polluted by his infamy, I will not call them prayers, over the Divine symbols. Respondeo dicendum quod aliquis in agendo peccat ex hoc quod operatur non secundum quod oportet, ut patet per philosophum, in libro Ethicorum. Dictum est autem conveniens esse ut sacramentorum ministri sint iusti, quia ministri debent domino conformari, secundum illud Levit. XIX, sancti eritis, quoniam ego sanctus sum; et Eccli. X, secundum iudicem populi, sic et ministri eius. Et ideo non est dubium quin mali exhibentes se ministros Dei et Ecclesiae in dispensatione sacramentorum, peccent. Et quia hoc peccatum pertinet ad irreverentiam Dei et contaminationem sanctorum, quantum est ex parte ipsius hominis peccatoris, licet sancta secundum seipsa incontaminabilia sint, consequens est quod tale peccatum ex genere suo est mortale. I answer that, A sinful action consists in this, that a man fails to act as he ought to, as the Philosopher explains (Ethic. ii). Now it has been said (A. 5, ad 3) that it is fitting for the ministers of sacraments to be righteous; because ministers should be like unto their Lord, according to Lev. 19:2: Be ye holy, because I . . . am holy; and Ecclus. 10:2: As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his ministers. Consequently, there can be no doubt that the wicked sin by exercising the ministry of God and the Church, by conferring the sacraments. And since this sin pertains to irreverence towards God and the contamination of holy things, as far as the man who sins is concerned, although holy things in themselves cannot be contaminated; it follows that such a sin is mortal in its genus. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod opera caritatis non sunt aliqua consecratione sanctificata, sed ipsa pertinent ad iustitiae sanctitatem sicut quaedam iustitiae partes. Et ideo homo qui se exhibet Deo ministrum in operibus caritatis, si sit iustus, amplius sanctificabitur, si vero sit peccator, per hoc ad sanctitatem disponitur. Sed sacramenta in seipsis sanctificationem quandam habent per mysticam consecrationem. Et ideo praeexigitur in ministro sanctitas iustitiae, ut congruat suo ministerio. Et ideo incongrue agit et peccat, si in peccato existens ad tale ministerium accedat. Reply Obj. 1: Works of charity are not made holy by some process of consecration, but they belong to the holiness of righteousness, as being in a way parts of righteousness. Consequently, when a man shows himself as a minister of God, by doing works of charity, if he be righteous, he will be made yet holier; but if he be a sinner, he is thereby disposed to holiness. On the other hand, the sacraments are holy in themselves owing to their mystical consecration. Wherefore the holiness of righteousness is required in the minister, that he may be suitable for his ministry: for which reason he acts unbecomingly and sins, if while in a state of sin he attempts to fulfill that ministry. Ad secundum dicendum quod ille qui ad sacramenta accedit, suscipit quidem sacramentum a ministro Ecclesiae, non inquantum est talis persona, sed inquantum est Ecclesiae minister. Et ideo, quandiu ab Ecclesia toleratur in ministerio, ille qui ab eo suscipit sacramentum, non communicat peccato eius, sed communicat Ecclesiae, quae eum tanquam ministrum exhibet. Si vero ab Ecclesia non toleretur, puta cum degradatur vel excommunicatur vel suspenditur, peccat qui ab eo accipit sacramentum, quia communicat peccato ipsius. Reply Obj. 2: He who approaches a sacrament, receives it from a minister of the Church, not because he is such and such a man, but because he is a minister of the Church. Consequently, as long as the latter is tolerated in the ministry, he that receives a sacrament from him, does not communicate in his sin, but communicates with the Church from whom he has his ministry. But if the Church, by degrading, excommunicating, or suspending him, does not tolerate him in the ministry, he that receives a sacrament from him sins, because he communicates in his sin. Ad tertium dicendum quod ille qui est in peccato mortali, non est perplexus simpliciter, si ex officio ei incumbat sacramenta dispensare, quia potest poenitere de peccato et licite ministrare. Non est autem inconveniens quod sit perplexus supposito quodam, scilicet quod velit remanere in peccato. Reply Obj. 3: A man who is in mortal sin is not perplexed simply, if by reason of his office it be his bounden duty to minister sacraments; because he can repent of his sin and so minister lawfully. But there is nothing unreasonable in his being perplexed, if we suppose that he wishes to remain in sin. In articulo tamen necessitatis non peccaret baptizando in casu in quo etiam posset laicus dispensare. Sic enim patet quod non exhibet se ministrum Ecclesiae, sed subvenit necessitatem patienti. Secus autem est in aliis sacramentis, quae non sunt tantae necessitatis sicut Baptismus, ut infra patebit. However, in a case of necessity when even a lay person might baptize, he would not sin in baptizing. For it is clear that then he does not exercise the ministry of the Church, but comes to the aid of one who is in need of his services. It is not so with the other sacraments, which are not so necessary as baptism, as we shall show further on (Q. 65, AA. 3, 4; Q. 62, A. 3). Articulus 7 Article 7 Utrum angeli possent sacramenta ministrare Whether angels can administer sacraments? Ad septimum sic proceditur. Videtur quod Angeli possent sacramenta ministrare. Quidquid enim potest minister inferior, potest et superior, sicut quidquid potest diaconus, potest et sacerdos, sed non convertitur. Sed Angeli sunt superiores ministri in ordine hierarchico quam etiam quicumque homines, ut patet per Dionysium, in libro Cael. Hier. Ergo, cum homines possint ministrare in sacramentis, videtur quod multo magis Angeli. Objection 1: It seems that angels can administer sacraments. Because a higher minister can do whatever the lower can; thus a priest can do whatever a deacon can: but not conversely. But angels are higher ministers in the hierarchical order than any men whatsoever, as Dionysius says (Coel. Hier. ix). Therefore, since men can be ministers of sacraments, it seems that much more can angels be. Praeterea, homines sancti assimilantur Angelis in caelo, ut dicitur Matth. XXII. Sed aliqui sancti in caelo existentes possunt ministrare in sacramentis, quia character sacramentalis est indelebilis, ut dictum est. Ergo videtur quod etiam Angeli in sacris possint ministrare. Obj. 2: Further, in heaven holy men are likened to the angels (Matt 22:30). But some holy men, when in heaven, can be ministers of the sacraments; since the sacramental character is indelible, as stated above (Q. 63, A. 5). Therefore it seems that angels too can be ministers of sacraments. Praeterea, sicut supra dictum est, Diabolus est caput malorum, et mali sunt membra eius. Sed per malos possunt dispensari sacramenta. Ergo videtur quod etiam per Daemones. Obj. 3: Further, as stated above (Q. 8, A. 7), the devil is head of the wicked, and the wicked are his members. But sacraments can be administered by the wicked. Therefore it seems that they can be administered even by demons. Sed contra est quod dicitur Heb. V, omnis pontifex, ex hominibus assumptus, pro hominibus constituitur in his quae sunt ad Deum. Sed Angeli boni vel mali non sunt ex hominibus. Ergo ipsi non constituuntur ministri in his quae sunt ad Deum, idest in sacramentis. On the contrary, It is written (Heb 5:1): Every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God. But angels whether good or bad are not taken from among men. Therefore they are not ordained ministers in the things that appertain to God, i.e., in the sacraments. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut supra dictum est, tota virtus sacramentorum a passione Christi derivatur, quae est Christi secundum quod homo. Cui in natura conformantur homines, non autem Angeli, sed potius secundum passionem dicitur modico ab Angelis minoratus, ut patet Heb. II. Et ideo ad homines pertinet dispensare sacramenta et in eis ministrare, non autem ad Angelos. I answer that, As stated above (A. 3; Q. 62, A. 5), the whole power of the sacraments flows from Christ’s Passion, which belongs to Him as man. And Him in their very nature men, not angels, resemble; indeed, in respect of His Passion, He is described as being a little lower than the angels (Heb 2:9). Consequently, it belongs to men, but not to angels, to dispense the sacraments and to take part in their administration. Sciendum tamen quod, sicut Deus virtutem suam non alligavit sacramentis quin possit sine sacramentis effectum sacramentorum conferre, ita etiam virtutem suam non alligavit Ecclesiae ministris, quin etiam Angelis possit virtutem tribuere ministrandi in sacramentis. Et quia boni Angeli sunt nuntii veritatis, si aliquod sacramentale ministerium a bonis Angelis perficeretur, esset ratum habendum, quia deberet constare hoc fieri voluntate divina, sicut quaedam templa dicuntur angelico ministerio consecrata. Si vero Daemones, qui sunt spiritus mendacii, aliquod sacramentale ministerium exhiberent, non esset ratum habendum. But it must be observed that as God did not bind His power to the sacraments, so as to be unable to bestow the sacramental effect without conferring the sacrament; so neither did He bind His power to the ministers of the Church so as to be unable to give angels power to administer the sacraments. And since good angels are messengers of truth; if any sacramental rite were performed by good angels, it should be considered valid, because it ought to be evident that this is being done by the will of God: for instance, certain churches are said to have been consecrated by the ministry of the angels. But if demons, who are lying spirits, were to perform a sacramental rite, it should be pronounced as invalid. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod illud quod faciunt homines inferiori modo, scilicet per sacramenta sensibilia, quae sunt proportionata naturae ipsorum, faciunt Angeli, tanquam superiores ministri, superiori modo, scilicet invisibiliter purgando, illuminando et perficiendo. Reply Obj. 1: What men do in a less perfect manner, i.e., by sensible sacraments, which are proportionate to their nature, angels also do, as ministers of a higher degree, in a more perfect manner, i.e., invisibly—by cleansing, enlightening, and perfecting. Ad secundum dicendum quod sancti qui sunt in caelo, sunt similes Angelis quantum ad participationem gloriae, non autem quantum ad conditionem naturae. Et per consequens neque quantum ad sacramenta. Reply Obj. 2: The saints in heaven resemble the angels as to their share of glory, but not as to the conditions of their nature: and consequently not in regard to the sacraments. Ad tertium dicendum quod mali homines non habent quod possint ministrare in sacramentis ex hoc quod per malitiam sunt membra Diaboli. Et ideo non sequitur quod Diabolus, qui est eorum caput, magis hoc possit. Reply Obj. 3: Wicked men do not owe their power of conferring sacraments to their being members of the devil. Consequently, it does not follow that a fortiori the devil, their head, can do so. Articulus 8 Article 8 Utrum intentio ministri requiratur ad perfectionem sacramenti Whether the minister’s intention is required for the validity of a sacrament? Ad octavum sic proceditur. Videtur quod intentio ministri non requiratur ad perfectionem sacramenti. Minister enim in sacramento instrumentaliter operatur. Sed actio non perficitur secundum intentionem instrumenti, sed secundum intentionem principalis agentis. Ergo intentio ministri non requiritur ad perfectionem sacramenti. Objection 1: It seems that the minister’s intention is not required for the validity of a sacrament. For the minister of a sacrament works instrumentally. But the perfection of an action does not depend on the intention of the instrument, but on that of the principal agent. Therefore the minister’s intention is not necessary for the perfecting of a sacrament. Praeterea, non potest homini esse nota intentio alterius. Si igitur intentio ministri requiratur ad perfectionem sacramenti, non posset homini ad sacramentum accedenti esse notum quod sacramentum suscepisset. Et ita non posset habere certitudinem salutis, praecipue cum quaedam sacramenta sint de necessitate salutis, ut infra dicetur. Obj. 2: Further, one man’s intention cannot be known to another. Therefore if the minister’s intention were required for the validity of a sacrament, he who approaches a sacrament could not know whether he has received the sacrament. Consequently he could have no certainty in regard to salvation; the more that some sacraments are necessary for salvation, as we shall state further on (Q. 65, A. 4). Praeterea, intentio hominis non potest esse ad id circa quod non est attentus. Sed aliquando illi qui in sacramentis ministrant, non attendunt ad ea quae dicunt vel faciunt, alia cogitantes. Ergo, secundum hoc, non perficitur sacramentum, propter intentionis defectum. Obj. 3: Further, a man’s intention cannot bear on that to which he does not attend. But sometimes ministers of sacraments do not attend to what they say or do, through thinking of something else. Therefore in this respect the sacrament would be invalid through want of intention. Sed contra est quod ea quae sunt praeter intentionem, sunt casualia. Quod non est dicendum de operatione sacramentorum. Ergo sacramenta requirunt intentionem ministri. On the contrary, What is unintentional happens by chance. But this cannot be said of the sacramental operation. Therefore the sacraments require the intention of the minister. Respondeo dicendum quod, quando aliquid se habet ad multa, oportet quod per aliquid determinetur ad unum, si illud effici debeat. Ea vero quae in sacramentis aguntur, possunt diversimode agi, sicut ablutio aquae, quae fit in Baptismo, potest ordinari et ad munditiam corporalem, et ad sanitatem corporalem, et ad ludum et ad multa alia huiusmodi. Et ideo oportet quod determinetur ad unum, idest ad sacramentalem effectum, per intentionem abluentis. Et haec intentio exprimitur per verba quae in sacramentis dicuntur, puta cum dicit, ego te baptizo in nomine patris, et cetera. I answer that, When a thing is indifferent to many uses, it must needs be determined to one, if that one has to be effected. Now those things which are done in the sacraments, can be done with various intent; for instance, washing with water, which is done in baptism, may be ordained to bodily cleanliness, to the health of the body, to amusement, and many other similar things. Consequently, it needs to be determined to one purpose, i.e., the sacramental effect, by the intention of him who washes. And this intention is expressed by the words which are pronounced in the sacraments; for instance the words, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, etc. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod instrumentum inanimatum non habet aliquam intentionem respectu effectus, sed loco intentionis est motus quo movetur a principali agente. Sed instrumentum animatum, sicut est minister, non solum movetur, sed etiam quodammodo movet seipsum, inquantum sua voluntate movet membra ad operandum. Et ideo requiritur eius intentio, qua se subiiciat principali agenti, ut scilicet intendat facere quod facit Christus et Ecclesia. Reply Obj. 1: An inanimate instrument has no intention regarding the effect; but instead of the intention there is the motion whereby it is moved by the principal agent. But an animate instrument, such as a minister, is not only moved, but in a sense moves itself, in so far as by his will he moves his bodily members to act. Consequently, his intention is required, whereby he subjects himself to the principal agent; that is, it is necessary that he intend to do that which Christ and the Church do. Ad secundum dicendum quod circa hoc est duplex opinio. Quidam enim dicunt quod requiritur mentalis intentio in ministro, quae si desit, non perficitur sacramentum. Sed hunc defectum in pueris, qui non habent intentionem accedendi ad sacramentum, supplet Christus, qui interius baptizat. In adultis autem, quia intendunt sacramenta suscipere, supplet illum defectum fides et devotio. Reply Obj. 2: On this point there are two opinions. For some hold that the mental intention of the minister is necessary; in the absence of which the sacrament is invalid: and that this defect in the case of children who have not the intention of approaching the sacrament, is made good by Christ, Who baptizes inwardly: whereas in adults, who have that intention, this defect is made good by their faith and devotion. Sed hoc satis posset dici quantum ad ultimum effectum, qui est iustificatio a peccatis, sed quantum ad effectum qui est res et sacramentum, scilicet quantum ad characterem, non videtur quod per devotionem accedentis possit suppleri; quia character nunquam imprimitur nisi per sacramentum. This might be true enough of the ultimate effect, i.e., justification from sins; but as to that effect which is both real and sacramental, viz. the character, it does not appear possible for it to be made good by the devotion of the recipient, since a character is never imprinted save by a sacrament.