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
220 MICHAEL CARRAGHER 1) First because the dispensation of the sacraments has been entrusted only to human beings, who share human nature with the Word Incarnate, from whom in the nature he assumed the sacraments are derived. 2) Secondly, if the devil pretended to baptize there would always be the fear that he did not do so with the intention of baptizing which is needful for the sacrament, but with the intention of deceiving; because it is unlikely that he would secure so great a good for a human being as spiritual rebirth. This is a very clear statement of the need of a sincere intention: the words can be used for mere pretence. The close parallel between the object of the subject’s intention and that of the minister is to be noted. The minister’s intention is required to direct the sacramental action to a determined purpose. 3. May an evil person baptize? What is consecrated is not re-consecrated. The powers of orders persist in the ministers of the Church perpetually and is not taken away by sin. Even sinners and evil men, provided they have orders, are able to confer the sacraments of the Church. As we have seen a person being good or bad does not render that person incapable of conferring baptism but rather suitable or unsuitable. Moreover, the goodness or malice of another person cannot be judged by human beings. This capacity pertains to God alone. Therefore if the malice of a minister could block the effect of the sacrament a candidate could not have a sure confidence about his salvation. It seems awkward that one put the hope of his salvation in the goodness of a mere man. Furthermore, Our Lord teaches us to obey bad prelates, whose works we must not imitate (Matthew 23:2-3). And the reason for this as that the and wisdom of the minister have no bearing on the baptismal effect. the ministers of the Church work instrumcntally in the sacraments, because, in a way, a minister is of the nature of an instrument. But, 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.25 25 Summa Theologiae lit, q. 64, a 5 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.
