Whether the Sacraments Can Be Conferred by Evil Ministers?
Objection 1: It seems that the sacraments cannot be conferred by evil
ministers. For the sacraments of the New Law are ordained for the
purpose of cleansing from sin and for the bestowal of grace. Now evil
men, being themselves unclean, cannot cleanse others from sin,
according to Ecclus. 34:4: "Who [Vulg.: 'What'] can be made clean by
the unclean?" Moreover, since they have not grace, it seems that they
cannot give grace, for "no one gives what he has not." It seems,
therefore, that the sacraments cannot be conferred by wicked men.
Obj. 2: Further, all the power of the sacraments is derived from
Christ, as stated above (A. 3; Q. 62, A. 5). But evil men are cut off
from Christ: because they have not charity, by which the members are
united to their Head, according to 1 John 4:16: "He that abideth in
charity, abideth in God, and God in him." Therefore it seems that the
sacraments cannot be conferred by evil men.
Obj. 3: Further, if anything is wanting that is required for the
sacraments, the sacrament is invalid; for instance, if the required
matter or form be wanting. But the minister required for a sacrament
is one who is without the stain of sin, according to Lev. 21:17, 18:
"Whosoever of thy seed throughout their families, hath a blemish, he
shall not offer bread to his God, neither shall he approach to
minister to Him." Therefore it seems that if the minister be wicked,
the sacrament has no effect.
_On the contrary,_ Augustine says on John 1:33: "He upon Whom thou
shalt see the Spirit," etc. (Tract. v in Joan.), that "John did not
know that our Lord, having the authority of baptizing, would keep it
to Himself, but that the ministry would certainly pass to both good
and evil men . . . What is a bad minister to thee, where the Lord is
good?"
_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.
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.
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.
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.
Secondly, a thing is required for a sacrament, by reason of a certain
fitness. And in this way good ministers are required for a sacrament.
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