Part IV (Tertia Pars) Part 155 (1/2)

EIGHTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 82, Art. 8]

Whether a Degraded Priest Can Consecrate This Sacrament?

Objection 1: It seems that a degraded priest cannot consecrate this sacrament. For no one can perform this sacrament except he have the power of consecrating. But the priest ”who has been degraded has no power of consecrating, although he has the power of baptizing” (App.

Gratiani). Therefore it seems that a degraded priest cannot consecrate the Eucharist.

Obj. 2: Further, he who gives can take away. But the bishop in ordaining gives to the priest the power of consecrating. Therefore he can take it away by degrading him.

Obj. 3: Further, the priest, by degradation, loses either the power of consecrating, or the use of such power. But he does not lose merely the use, for thus the degraded one would lose no more than one excommunicated, who also lacks the use. Therefore it seems that he loses the power to consecrate, and in consequence that he cannot perform this sacrament.

_On the contrary,_ Augustine (Contra Parmen. ii) proves that ”apostates” from the faith ”are not deprived of their Baptism,” from the fact that ”it is not restored to them when they return repentant; and therefore it is deemed that it cannot be lost.” But in like fas.h.i.+on, if the degraded man be restored, he has not to be ordained over again. Consequently, he has not lost the power of consecrating, and so the degraded priest can perform this sacrament.

_I answer that,_ The power of consecrating the Eucharist belongs to the character of the priestly order. But every character is indelible, because it is given with a kind of consecration, as was said above (Q. 63, A. 5), just as the consecrations of all other things are perpetual, and cannot be lost or repeated. Hence it is clear that the power of consecrating is not lost by degradation. For, again, Augustine says (Contra Parmen. ii): ”Both are sacraments,”

namely Baptism and order, ”and both are given to a man with a kind of consecration; the former, when he is baptized; the latter when he is ordained; and therefore it is not lawful for Catholics to repeat either of them.” And thus it is evident that the degraded priest can perform this sacrament.

Reply Obj. 1: That Canon is speaking, not as by way of a.s.sertion, but by way of inquiry, as can be gleaned from the context.

Reply Obj. 2: The bishop gives the priestly power of order, not as though coming from himself, but instrumentally, as G.o.d's minister, and its effect cannot be taken away by man, according to Matt. 19:6: ”What G.o.d hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” And therefore the bishop cannot take this power away, just as neither can he who baptizes take away the baptismal character.

Reply Obj. 3: Excommunication is medicinal. And therefore the ministry of the priestly power is not taken away from the excommunicate, as it were, perpetually, but only for a time, that they may mend; but the exercise is withdrawn from the degraded, as though condemned perpetually.

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NINTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 82, Art. 9]

Whether It Is Permissible to Receive Communion from Heretical, Excommunicate, or Sinful Priests, and to Hear Ma.s.s Said by Them?

Objection 1: It seems that one may lawfully receive Communion from heretical, excommunicate, or even sinful priests, and to hear ma.s.s said by them. Because, as Augustine says (Contra Petilian. iii), ”we should not avoid G.o.d's sacraments, whether they be given by a good man or by a wicked one.” But priests, even if they be sinful, or heretics, or excommunicate, perform a valid sacrament. Therefore it seems that one ought not to refrain from receiving Communion at their hands, or from hearing their ma.s.s.

Obj. 2: Further, Christ's true body is figurative of His mystical body, as was said above (Q. 67, A. 2). But Christ's true body is consecrated by the priests mentioned above. Therefore it seems that whoever belongs to His mystical body can communicate in their sacrifices.

Obj. 3: Further, there are many sins graver than fornication. But it is not forbidden to hear the ma.s.ses of priests who sin otherwise.

Therefore, it ought not to be forbidden to hear the ma.s.ses of priests guilty of this sin.

_On the contrary,_ The Canon says (Dist. 32): ”Let no one hear the ma.s.s of a priest whom he knows without doubt to have a concubine.”

Moreover, Gregory says (Dial. iii) that ”the faithless father sent an Arian bishop to his son, for him to receive sacrilegiously the consecrated Communion at his hands. But, when the Arian bishop arrived, G.o.d's devoted servant rebuked him, as was right for him to do.”

_I answer that,_ As was said above (AA. 5, 7), heretical, schismatical, excommunicate, or even sinful priests, although they have the power to consecrate the Eucharist, yet they do not make a proper use of it; on the contrary, they sin by using it. But whoever communicates with another who is in sin, becomes a sharer in his sin.

Hence we read in John's Second Canonical Epistle (11) that ”He that saith unto him, G.o.d speed you, communicateth with his wicked works.”

Consequently, it is not lawful to receive Communion from them, or to a.s.sist at their ma.s.s.

Still there is a difference among the above, because heretics, schismatics, and excommunicates, have been forbidden, by the Church's sentence, to perform the Eucharistic rite. And therefore whoever hears their ma.s.s or receives the sacraments from them, commits sin.

But not all who are sinners are debarred by the Church's sentence from using this power: and so, although suspended by the Divine sentence, yet they are not suspended in regard to others by any ecclesiastical sentence: consequently, until the Church's sentence is p.r.o.nounced, it is lawful to receive Communion at their hands, and to hear their ma.s.s. Hence on 1 Cor. 5:11, ”with such a one not so much as to eat,” Augustine's gloss runs thus: ”In saying this he was unwilling for a man to be judged by his fellow man on arbitrary suspicion, or even by usurped extraordinary judgment, but rather by G.o.d's law, according to the Church's ordering, whether he confess of his own accord, or whether he be accused and convicted.”

Reply Obj. 1: By refusing to hear the ma.s.ses of such priests, or to receive Communion from them, we are not shunning G.o.d's sacraments; on the contrary, by so doing we are giving them honor (hence a host consecrated by such priests is to be adored, and if it be reserved, it can be consumed by a lawful priest): but what we shun is the sin of the unworthy ministers.

Reply Obj. 2: The unity of the mystical body is the fruit of the true body received. But those who receive or minister unworthily, are deprived of the fruit, as was said above (A. 7; Q. 80, A. 4). And therefore, those who belong to the unity of the Faith are not to receive the sacrament from their dispensing.

Reply Obj. 3: Although fornication is not graver than other sins, yet men are more p.r.o.ne to it, owing to fleshly concupiscence.