Ad primum ergo dicendum quod potest contingere quod aliquis patiatur defectum fidei circa aliquid aliud, et non circa veritatem sacramenti quod exhibet, puta si aliquis credat iuramentum esse in omni casu illicitum, et tamen credat Baptismum efficaciam habere ad salutem. Et sic talis infidelitas non impedit intentionem conferendi sacramentum. Si vero patiatur fidei defectum circa ipsum sacramentum quod exhibet, licet credat per id quod agitur exterius nullum sequi interiorem effectum, non tamen ignorat quod Ecclesia Catholica intendit per huiusmodi quae exterius aguntur, sacramentum praebere. Unde, non obstante infidelitate, potest intendere facere id quod facit Ecclesia, licet existimet id nihil esse. Et talis intentio sufficit ad sacramentum, quia, sicut supra dictum est, minister sacramenti agit in persona totius Ecclesiae, ex cuius fide suppletur id quod deest fidei ministro. Reply Obj. 1: It may happen that a man’s faith is defective in regard to something else, and not in regard to the reality of the sacrament which he confers: for instance, he may believe that it is unlawful to swear in any case whatever, and yet he may believe that baptism is an efficient cause of salvation. And thus such unbelief does not hinder the intention of conferring the sacrament. But if his faith be defective in regard to the very sacrament that he confers, although he believe that no inward effect is caused by the thing done outwardly, yet he does know that the Catholic Church intends to confer a sacrament by that which is outwardly done. Wherefore, his unbelief notwithstanding, he can intend to do what the Church does, albeit he esteem it to be nothing. And such an intention suffices for a sacrament: because as stated above (A. 8, ad 2) the minister of a sacrament acts in the person of the Church by whose faith any defect in the minister’s faith is made good. Ad secundum dicendum quod haereticorum quidam in collatione sacramentorum formam Ecclesiae non servant. Et tales neque sacramentum conferunt, neque rem sacramenti. Quidam vero servant Ecclesiae formam. Et tales conferunt quidem sacramentum, sed non conferunt rem sacramenti. Et hoc dico, si sunt manifeste ab Ecclesia praecisi. Quia ex hoc ipso quod aliquis accipit sacramenta ab eis, peccat, et per hoc impeditur ne effectum sacramenti consequatur. Unde Augustinus dicit, in libro de fide ad Petrum, firmissime tene, et nullatenus dubites, extra Ecclesiam baptizatis, si ad Ecclesiam non redierint, Baptismo cumulari perniciem. Et per hunc modum dicit Leo Papa in sede Alexandrina sacramentorum lumen esse extinctum, scilicet, quantum ad rem sacramenti, non autem quantum ad ipsum sacramentum. Reply Obj. 2: Some heretics in conferring sacraments do not observe the form prescribed by the Church: and these confer neither the sacrament nor the reality of the sacrament. But some do observe the form prescribed by the Church: and these confer indeed the sacrament but not the reality. I say this in the supposition that they are outwardly cut off from the Church; because from the very fact that anyone receives the sacraments from them, he sins; and consequently is hindered from receiving the effect of the sacrament. Wherefore Augustine (Fulgentius, De Fide ad Pet.) says: Be well assured and have no doubt whatever that those who are baptized outside the Church, unless they come back to the Church, will reap disaster from their Baptism. In this sense Pope Leo says that the light of the sacraments was extinguished in the Church of Alexandria; viz. in regard to the reality of the sacrament, not as to the sacrament itself. Cyprianus autem nec sacramentum conferre haereticos credebat, sed in hoc eius sententia non tenetur. Unde Augustinus dicit, martyrem Cyprianum, qui apud haereticos vel schismaticos datum Baptismum nolebat cognoscere, tanta merita, usque ad triumphum martyrii, secuta sunt, ut caritatis qua excellebat luce obumbratio illa fugaretur, et, si quid purgandum erat, passionis falce tolleretur. Cyprian, however, thought that heretics do not confer even the sacrament: but in this respect we do not follow his opinion. Hence Augustine says (De unico Baptismo xiii): Though the martyr Cyprian refused to recognize Baptism conferred by heretics or schismatics, yet so great are his merits, culminating in the crown of martyrdom, that the light of his charity dispels the darkness of his fault, and if anything needed pruning, the sickle of his passion cut it off. Ad tertium dicendum quod potestas ministrandi sacramenta pertinet ad spiritualem characterem, qui indelebilis est, ut ex supra dictis patet. Et ideo per hoc quod aliquis ab Ecclesia suspenditur vel excommunicatur, vel etiam degradatur, non amittit potestatem conferendi sacramentum, sed licentiam utendi hac potestate. Et ideo sacramentum quidem confert, sed tamen peccat conferendo. Et similiter ille qui ab eo accipit sacramentum, et sic non percipit rem sacramenti, nisi forte per ignorantiam excusetur. Reply Obj. 3: The power of administering the sacraments belongs to the spiritual character which is indelible, as explained above (Q. 63, A. 3). Consequently, if a man be suspended by the Church, or excommunicated or degraded, he does not lose the power of conferring sacraments, but the permission to use this power. Wherefore he does indeed confer the sacrament, but he sins in so doing. He also sins that receives a sacrament from such a man: so that he does not receive the reality of the sacrament, unless ignorance excuses him. Articulus 10 Article 10 Utrum intentio recta ministri requiratur ad perfectionem sacramenti Whether the validity of a sacrament requires a good intention in the minister? Ad decimum sic proceditur. Videtur quod intentio recta ministri requiratur ad perfectionem sacramenti. Intentio enim ministri debet conformari intentioni Ecclesiae, ut ex dictis patet. Sed intentio Ecclesiae semper est recta. Ergo de necessitate ad sacramenti perfectionem requiritur intentio recta ministri. Objection 1: It seems that the validity of a sacrament requires a good intention in the minister. For the minister’s intention should be in conformity with the Church’s intention, as explained above (A. 8, ad 1). But the intention of the Church is always good. Therefore the validity of a sacrament requires of necessity a good intention in the minister. Praeterea, perversa intentio deterior esse videtur quam intentio iocosa. Sed intentio iocosa tollit sacramentum, puta si aliquis non serio, sed ludo aliquem baptizaret. Ergo multo magis perversa intentio aufert sacramentum, puta si aliquis aliquem baptizaret ut postmodum eum occideret. Obj. 2: Further, a perverse intention seems worse than a playful one. But a playful intention destroys a sacrament: for instance, if someone were to baptize anybody not seriously but in fun. Much more, therefore, does a perverse intention destroy a sacrament: for instance, if somebody were to baptize a man in order to kill him afterwards. Praeterea, perversa intentio facit totum opus vitiosum, secundum illud Luc. XI, si oculus tuus fuerit nequam, totum corpus tuum tenebrosum erit. Sed sacramenta Christi non possunt inquinari per malos homines, sicut Augustinus dicit, contra Petilianum. Ergo videtur quod, si sit perversa intentio ministri, non sit ibi verum sacramentum. Obj. 3: Further, a perverse intention vitiates the whole work, according to Luke 11:34: If thy eye be evil, thy whole body will be darksome. But the sacraments of Christ cannot be contaminated by evil men; as Augustine says against Petilian (Cont. Litt. Petil ii). Therefore it seems that, if the minister’s intention is perverse, the sacrament is invalid. Sed contra est quod perversa intentio pertinet ad malitiam ministri. Sed malitia ministri non tollit sacramentum. Ergo nec perversa intentio. On the contrary, A perverse intention belongs to the wickedness of the minister. But the wickedness of the minister does not annul the sacrament: neither, therefore, does his perverse intention. Respondeo dicendum quod intentio ministri potest perverti dupliciter. Uno modo, respectu ipsius sacramenti, puta cum aliquis non intendit sacramentum conferre, sed delusorie aliquid agere. Et talis perversitas tollit veritatem sacramenti, praecipue quando suam intentionem exterius manifestat. I answer that, The minister’s intention may be perverted in two ways. First in regard to the sacrament: for instance, when a man does not intend to confer a sacrament, but to make a mockery of it. Such a perverse intention takes away the truth of the sacrament, especially if it be manifested outwardly. Alio modo potest perverti intentio ministri quantum ad id quod sequitur sacramentum, puta si sacerdos intendat aliquam feminam baptizare ut abutatur ea; vel si intendat conficere corpus Christi ut eo ad veneficia utatur. Et quia prius non dependet a posteriori, inde est quod talis intentionis perversitas veritatem sacramenti non tollit, sed ipse minister ex tali intentione graviter peccat. Second, the minister’s intention may be perverted as to something that follows the sacrament: for instance, a priest may intend to baptize a woman so as to be able to abuse her; or to consecrate the Body of Christ, so as to use it for sorcery. And because that which comes first does not depend on that which follows, consequently such a perverse intention does not annul the sacrament; but the minister himself sins grievously in having such an intention. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod Ecclesiae intentio recta est et quantum ad sacramenti perfectionem, et quantum ad sacramenti usum, sed prima rectitudo perficit sacramentum, secunda operatur ad meritum. Et ideo minister qui conformat intentionem suam Ecclesiae quantum ad primam rectitudinem, non autem quantum ad secundam, perficit quidem sacramentum, sed non est sibi ad meritum. Reply Obj. 1: The Church has a good intention both as to the validity of the sacrament and as to the use thereof: but it is the former intention that perfects the sacrament, while the latter conduces to the meritorious effect. Consequently, the minister who conforms his intention to the Church as to the former rectitude, but not as to the latter, perfects the sacrament indeed, but gains no merit for himself. Ad secundum dicendum quod intentio ludicra vel iocosa excludit primam rectitudinem intentionis, per quam perficitur sacramentum. Et ideo non est similis ratio. Reply Obj. 2: The intention of mimicry or fun excludes the first kind of right intention, necessary for the validity of a sacrament. Consequently, there is no comparison. Ad tertium dicendum quod perversa intentio pervertit opus intendentis, non autem opus alterius. Et ideo ex perversa intentione ministri pervertitur id quod agit in sacramentis inquantum est opus eius, non inquantum est opus Christi, cuius est minister. Et est simile si minister alicuius hominis prava intentione deferret pauperibus eleemosynam, quam dominus recta intentione mandaret. Reply Obj. 3: A perverse intention perverts the action of the one who has such an intention, not the action of another. Consequently, the perverse intention of the minister perverts the sacrament in so far as it is his action: not in so far as it is the action of Christ, Whose minister he is. It is just as if the servant of some man were to carry alms to the poor with a wicked intention, whereas his master had commanded him with a good intention to do so. Quaestio 65 Question 65 De numero sacramentorum The Number of the Sacraments Deinde considerandum est de numero sacramentorum. Et circa hoc quaeruntur quatuor. We have now to consider the number of the sacraments: and concerning this there are four points of inquiry: Primo, utrum sint septem sacramenta. (1) Whether there are seven sacraments? Secundo, de ordine eorum ad invicem. (2) The order of the sacraments among themselves; Tertio, de comparatione eorum. (3) Their mutual comparison; Quarto, utrum omnia sint de necessitate salutis. (4) Whether all the sacraments are necessary for salvation? Articulus 1 Article 1 Utrum debeant esse septem sacramenta Whether there should be seven sacraments? Ad primum sic proceditur. Videtur quod non debeant esse septem sacramenta. Sacramenta enim efficaciam habent ex virtute divina, et ex virtute passionis Christi. Sed una est virtus divina, et una est Christi passio, una enim oblatione consummavit sanctificatos in sempiternum, ut dicitur Heb. X. Ergo non debuit esse nisi unum sacramentum. Objection 1: It seems that there ought not to be seven sacraments. For the sacraments derive their efficacy from the Divine power, and the power of Christ’s Passion. But the Divine power is one, and Christ’s Passion is one; since by one oblation He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (Heb 10:14). Therefore there should be but one sacrament. Praeterea, sacramentum ordinatur contra defectum peccati. Hic autem est duplex, scilicet poena et culpa. Ergo sufficeret esse duo sacramenta. Obj. 2: Further, a sacrament is intended as a remedy for the defect caused by sin. Now this is twofold, punishment and guilt. Therefore two sacraments would be enough. Praeterea, sacramenta pertinent ad actiones ecclesiasticae hierarchiae, ut patet per Dionysium. Sed, sicut ipse dicit, tres sunt actiones hierarchicae, purgatio, illuminatio et perfectio. Ergo non debent esse nisi tria sacramenta. Obj. 3: Further, sacraments belong to the actions of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, as Dionysius explains (Eccl. Hier. v). But, as he says, there are three actions of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, namely, to cleanse, to enlighten, to perfect. Therefore there should be no more than three sacraments. Praeterea, Augustinus dicit, XIX contra Faustum, sacramenta novae legis sunt numero pauciora quam sacramenta veteris legis. Sed in veteri lege non erat aliquod sacramentum quod responderet confirmationi et extremae unctioni. Ergo neque debent numerari inter sacramenta novae legis. Obj. 4: Further, Augustine says (Contra Faust. xix) that the sacraments of the New Law are less numerous than those of the Old Law. But in the Old Law there was no sacrament corresponding to Confirmation and Extreme Unction. Therefore these should not be counted among the sacraments of the New Law. Praeterea, luxuria non est gravius inter cetera peccata, ut patet ex his quae in secunda parte dicta sunt. Sed contra alia peccata non instituitur aliquod sacramentum. Ergo neque contra luxuriam debuit institui sacramentum matrimonii. Obj. 5: Further, lust is not more grievous than other sins, as we have made clear in the Second Part (I-II, Q. 74, A. 5; II-II, Q. 154, A. 3). But there is no sacrament instituted as a remedy for other sins. Therefore neither should matrimony be instituted as a remedy for lust. Sed contra, videtur quod sint plura sacramenta. Sacramenta enim dicuntur quaedam sacra signa. Sed multae aliae sanctificationes fiunt in Ecclesia secundum sensibilia signa, sicut aqua benedicta, consecratio altaris, et alia huiusmodi. Ergo sunt plura sacramenta quam septem. Obj. 6: On the other hand, It seems that there should be more than seven sacraments. For sacraments are a kind of sacred sign. But in the Church there are many sanctifications by sensible signs, such as Holy Water the Consecration of Altars, and such like. Therefore there are more than seven sacraments. Praeterea, Hugo de sancto Victore dicit quod sacramenta veteris legis fuerunt oblationes, decimae et sacrificia. Sed sacrificium Ecclesiae est unum sacramentum, quod dicitur Eucharistia. Ergo etiam oblationes et decimae debent dici sacramenta. Obj. 7: Further, Hugh of St. Victor (De Sacram. i) says that the sacraments of the Old Law were oblations, tithes and sacrifices. But the Sacrifice of the Church is one sacrament, called the Eucharist. Therefore oblations also and tithes should be called sacraments. Praeterea, tria sunt genera peccatorum, originale, mortale et veniale. Sed contra originale peccatum ordinatur Baptismus; contra mortale autem poenitentia. Ergo deberet esse aliud, praeter septem, quod ordinetur contra veniale. Obj. 8: Further, there are three kinds of sin, original, mortal and venial. Now Baptism is intended as a remedy against original sin, and penance against mortal sin. Therefore besides the seven sacraments, there should be another against venial sin. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut supra dictum est, ordinantur sacramenta Ecclesiae ad duo, scilicet, ad perficiendum hominem in his quae pertinent ad cultum Dei secundum religionem Christianae vitae; et etiam in remedium contra defectum peccati. Utroque autem modo convenienter ponuntur septem sacramenta. I answer that, As stated above (Q. 62, A. 5; Q. 63, A. 1), the sacraments of the Church were instituted for a twofold purpose: namely, in order to perfect man in things pertaining to the worship of God according to the religion of Christian life, and to be a remedy against the defects caused by sin. And in either way it is becoming that there should be seven sacraments. Vita enim spiritualis conformitatem aliquam habet ad vitam corporalem, sicut et cetera corporalia similitudinem quandam spiritualium habent. In vita autem corporali dupliciter aliquis perficitur, uno modo, quantum ad personam propriam; alio modo, per respectum ad totam communitatem societatis in qua vivit, quia homo naturaliter est animal sociale. Respectu autem sui ipsius perficitur homo in vita corporali dupliciter, uno modo, per se, acquirendo scilicet aliquam vitae perfectionem; alio modo, per accidens, scilicet removendo impedimenta vitae, puta aegritudines, vel aliquid huiusmodi. Per se autem perficitur corporalis vita tripliciter. Primo quidem, per generationem, per quam homo incipit esse et vivere. Et loco huius in spirituali vita est Baptismus, qui est spiritualis regeneratio, secundum illud ad Tit. III, per lavacrum regenerationis, et cetera. Secundo, per augmentum, quo aliquis perducitur ad perfectam quantitatem et virtutem. Et loco huius in spirituali vita est confirmatio, in qua datur Spiritus Sanctus ad robur. Unde dicitur discipulis iam baptizatis, Luc. ult., sedete in civitate quousque induamini virtute ex alto. Tertio, per nutritionem, qua conservatur in homine vita et virtus. Et loco huius in spirituali vita est Eucharistia. Unde dicitur Ioan. VI, nisi manducaveritis carnem filii hominis et biberitis eius sanguinem, non habebitis vitam in vobis. For spiritual life has a certain conformity with the life of the body: just as other corporeal things have a certain likeness to things spiritual. Now a man attains perfection in the corporeal life in two ways: first, in regard to his own person; second, in regard to the whole community of the society in which he lives, for man is by nature a social animal. With regard to himself man is perfected in the life of the body, in two ways; first, directly (per se), i.e., by acquiring some vital perfection; second, indirectly (per accidens), i.e., by the removal of hindrances to life, such as ailments, or the like. Now the life of the body is perfected directly, in three ways. First, by generation whereby a man begins to be and to live: and corresponding to this in the spiritual life there is Baptism, which is a spiritual regeneration, according to Titus 3:5: By the laver of regeneration, etc. Second, by growth whereby a man is brought to perfect size and strength: and corresponding to this in the spiritual life there is Confirmation, in which the Holy Spirit is given to strengthen us. Wherefore the disciples who were already baptized were bidden thus: Stay you in the city till you be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Third, by nourishment, whereby life and strength are preserved to man; and corresponding to this in the spiritual life there is the Eucharist. Wherefore it is said (John 6:54): Except you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you. Et hoc quidem sufficeret homini si haberet et corporaliter et spiritualiter impassibilem vitam, sed quia homo incurrit interdum et corporalem infirmitatem et spiritualem, scilicet peccatum, ideo necessaria est homini curatio ab infirmitate. Quae quidem est duplex. Una quidem est sanatio, quae sanitatem restituit. Et loco huius in spirituali vita est poenitentia, secundum illud Psalmi, sana animam meam, quia peccavi tibi. Alia autem est restitutio valetudinis pristinae per convenientem diaetam et exercitium. Et loco huius in spirituali vita est extrema unctio, quae removet peccatorum reliquias, et hominem paratum reddit ad finalem gloriam. Unde dicitur Iac. V, et si in peccatis sit, dimittetur ei. And this would be enough for man if he had an impassible life, both corporally and spiritually; but since man is liable at times to both corporal and spiritual infirmity, i.e., sin, hence man needs a cure from his infirmity; which cure is twofold. One is the healing, that restores health: and corresponding to this in the spiritual life there is penance, according to Ps. 40:5: Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. The other is the restoration of former vigor by means of suitable diet and exercise: and corresponding to this in the spiritual life there is Extreme Unction, which removes the remainder of sin, and prepares man for final glory. Wherefore it is written (Jas 5:15): And if he be in sins they shall be forgiven him. Perficitur autem homo in ordine ad totam communitatem dupliciter. Uno modo, per hoc quod accipit potestatem regendi multitudinem, et exercendi actus publicos. Et loco huius in spirituali vita est sacramentum ordinis, secundum illud Heb. VII, quod sacerdotes hostias offerunt non solum pro se, sed etiam pro populo. Secundo, quantum ad naturalem propagationem. Quod fit per matrimonium, tam in corporali quam in spirituali vita, eo quod est non solum sacramentum, sed naturae officium. In regard to the whole community, man is perfected in two ways. First, by receiving power to rule the community and to exercise public acts: and corresponding to this in the spiritual life there is the sacrament of order, according to the saying of Heb. 7:27, that priests offer sacrifices not for themselves only, but also for the people. Second in regard to natural propagation. This is accomplished by Matrimony both in the corporal and in the spiritual life: since it is not only a sacrament but also a function of nature.