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
fashion, 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 assertion, 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 God's minister,
and its effect cannot be taken away by man, according to Matt. 19:6:
"What God 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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