Folia Canonica 11. (2008)

PROCEEDINGS OF TENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. "Questioni attuali intorno al Battesimo" Budapest, 4th February 2008 - Michael Carragher: Intention of the Minister as Substantive Element of Baptism

INTENTION OF THE MINISTER AND BAPTISM

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In the context of intention and choice means are human actions. Technical means are used in acting which is the carrying out of the means properly so called. Human means actions are themselves characteristically also ends. That is why intention can be applied directly or by some close analogy all the way down to the most basic performance or omission.

Heretics may have sufficient intention provided their prevalent intention is to do what the true church does, or to do what Christ wished.

D. Minister: otherworldly and exceptional: angel, devil pagan,

HERETIC, UNBELIEVER

1. May an Angel baptize?22

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.

St. Thomas’ view is nuanced.23

For angels are not competent to dispense the sacraments; this belongs to human beings clothed in visible flesh. For the apostle says: ‘Every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God’ (Hebrews 5:1)

2. May the Deuil baptize?24

The devil, if he appeared in the manner of a priest, could present the ceremonies of baptism but not confer the sacrament, and this for two reasons.

22 Summa Theologiae 111, q. 64, a.7. 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.

25 Summa Contra Gentiles Book 4 No. 74. Manifestum est autem ex praedictis, quod in omnibus sacramentis de quibus iam actum est, spiritualis confertur gratia sub sacramento visibilium rerum. Omnis autem actio debet esse proportionata agenti. Oportet igitur quod praedictorum dispensatio sacramentorum fiat per homines visibiles, spiritualem virtutem habentes. Non enim Angelis competit sacramentorum dispensatio, sed hominibus visibili came indutis: unde et apostolus dicit, ad Hebr. 5—1: omnis pontifex, ex hominibus assumptus, pro hominibus constituitur in his quae sunt ad deum.

24 IV Sent., D. 5, q.2, a. 3 sol. 1. Respondeo dicendum ad primam quaestionem, quod diabolus in figura sacerdotis apparens potest immergere, sed non sacramentum conferre, propter duas rationes. Primo, quia dispensatio sacramentorum non est concessa nisi hominibus, qui conveniunt cum verbo incarnato, a quo sacramenta fluxerunt in natura assumpta; et etiam cum sacramentis, in quibus est spiritualis virtus in corporeis elementis, sicut et homines ex natura spirituali et corporali compositi sunt. Secundo si baptizare se fingeret, semper esset timendum quod non faceret intentione baptizandi, quae ad sacramentum exigitur, sed intentione decipiendi: quia non esset probabile quod tantum bonum homini procuraret, sicut est spiritualis regeneratio