Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae

Objection 1: It seems that the minister's intention is not required for the validity of a sacrament. For the minister of a sacrament works instrumentally. But the perfection of an action does not depend on the intention of the instrument, but on that of the principal agent. Therefore the minister's intention is not necessary for the perfecting of a sacrament.

Objection 2: Further, one man's intention cannot be known to another. Therefore if the minister's intention were required for the validity of a sacrament, he who approaches a sacrament could not know whether he has received the sacrament. Consequently he could have no certainty in regard to salvation; the more that some sacraments are necessary for salvation, as we shall state further on (Question 65, Article 4).

Objection 3: Further, a man's intention cannot bear on that to which he does not attend. But sometimes ministers of sacraments do not attend to what they say or do, through thinking of something else. Therefore in this respect the sacrament would be invalid through want of intention.

On the contrary, What is unintentional happens by chance. But this cannot be said of the sacramental operation. Therefore the sacraments require the intention of the minister.

I answer that, When a thing is indifferent to many uses, it must needs be determined to one, if that one has to be effected. Now those things which are done in the sacraments, can be done with various intent; for instance, washing with water, which is done in baptism, may be ordained to bodily cleanliness, to the health of the body, to amusement, and many other similar things. Consequently, it needs to be determined to one purpose, i.e. the sacramental effect, by the intention of him who washes. And this intention is expressed by the words which are pronounced in the sacraments; for instance the words, "I baptize thee in the name of the Father," etc.

Reply to Objection 1: An inanimate instrument has no intention regarding the effect; but instead of the intention there is the motion whereby it is moved by the principal agent. But an animate instrument, such as a minister, is not only moved, but in a sense moves itself, in so far as by his will he moves his bodily members to act. Consequently, his intention is required, whereby he subjects himself to the principal agent; that is, it is necessary that he intend to do that which Christ and the Church do.

Reply to Objection 2: On this point there are two opinions. For some hold that the mental intention of the minister is necessary; in the absence of which the sacrament is invalid: and that this defect in the case of children who have not the intention of approaching the sacrament, is made good by Christ, Who baptizes inwardly: whereas in adults, who have that intention, this defect is made good by their faith and devotion.

This might be true enough of the ultimate effect, i.e. justification from sins; but as to that effect which is both real and sacramental, viz. the character, it does not appear possible for it to be made good by the devotion of the recipient, since a character is never imprinted save by a sacrament.

Consequently, others with better reason hold that the minister of a sacrament acts in the person of the whole Church, whose minister he is; while in the words uttered by him, the intention of the Church is expressed; and that this suffices for the validity of the sacrament, except the contrary be expressed on the part either of the minister or of the recipient of the sacrament.

Reply to Objection 3: Although he who thinks of something else, has no actual intention, yet he has habitual intention, which suffices for the validity of the sacrament; for instance if, when a priest goes to baptize someone, he intends to do to him what the Church does. Wherefore if subsequently during the exercise of the act his mind be distracted by other matters, the sacrament is valid in virtue of his original intention. Nevertheless, the minister of a sacrament should take great care to have actual intention. But this is not entirely in man's power, because when a man wishes to be very intent on something, he begins unintentionally to think of other things, according to Ps. 39:18: "My heart hath forsaken me."

Articulus 8

Argumentum 1

Ad octavum sic proceditur. Videtur quod intentio ministri non requiratur ad perfectionem sacramenti. Minister enim in sacramento instrumentaliter operatur. Sed actio non perficitur secundum intentionem instrumenti, sed secundum intentionem principalis agentis. Ergo intentio ministri non requiritur ad perfectionem sacramenti.

Argumentum 2

Praeterea, non potest homini esse nota intentio alterius. Si igitur intentio ministri requiratur ad perfectionem sacramenti, non posset homini ad sacramentum accedenti esse notum quod sacramentum suscepisset. Et ita non posset habere certitudinem salutis, praecipue cum quaedam sacramenta sint de necessitate salutis, ut infra dicetur.

Argumentum 3

Praeterea, intentio hominis non potest esse ad id circa quod non est attentus. Sed aliquando illi qui in sacramentis ministrant, non attendunt ad ea quae dicunt vel faciunt, alia cogitantes.

Ergo, secundum hoc, non perficitur sacramentum, propter intentionis defectum.

Sed Contra

Sed contra est quod ea quae sunt praeter intentionem, sunt casualia. Quod non est dicendum de operatione sacramentorum.

Ergo sacramenta requirunt intentionem ministri.

Corpus

Respondeo dicendum quod, quando aliquid se habet ad multa, oportet quod per aliquid determinetur ad unum, si illud effici debeat. Ea vero quae in sacramentis aguntur, possunt diversimode agi, sicut ablutio aquae, quae fit in baptismo, potest ordinari et ad munditiam corporalem, et ad sanitatem corporalem, et ad ludum et ad multa alia huiusmodi. Et ideo oportet quod determinetur ad unum, idest ad sacramentalem effectum, per intentionem abluentis. Et haec intentio exprimitur per verba quae in sacramentis dicuntur, puta cum dicit, ego te baptizo in nomine patris, etc..

Ad 1

Ad primum ergo dicendum quod instrumentum inanimatum non habet aliquam intentionem respectu effectus, sed loco intentionis est motus quo movetur a principali agente. Sed instrumentum animatum, sicut est minister, non solum movetur, sed etiam quodammodo movet seipsum, inquantum sua voluntate movet membra ad operandum.

Et ideo requiritur eius intentio, qua se subiiciat principali agenti, ut scilicet intendat facere quod facit christus et ecclesia.

Ad 2

Ad secundum dicendum quod circa hoc est duplex opinio.

Quidam enim dicunt quod requiritur mentalis intentio in ministro, quae si desit, non perficitur sacramentum. Sed hunc defectum in pueris, qui non habent intentionem accedendi ad sacramentum, supplet christus, qui interius baptizat.

In adultis autem, quia intendunt sacramenta suscipere, supplet illum defectum fides et devotio.

Sed hoc satis posset dici quantum ad ultimum effectum, qui est iustificatio a peccatis, sed quantum ad effectum qui est res et sacramentum, scilicet quantum ad characterem, non videtur quod per devotionem accedentis possit suppleri; quia character nunquam imprimitur nisi per sacramentum.

Et ideo alii melius dicunt quod minister sacramenti agit in persona totius ecclesiae, cuius est minister; in verbis autem quae proferuntur, exprimitur intentio ecclesiae; quae sufficit ad perfectionem sacramenti, nisi contrarium exterius exprimatur ex parte ministri et recipientis sacramentum.

Ad 3

Ad tertium dicendum quod, licet ille qui aliud cogitat, non habeat actualem intentionem, habet tamen habitualem, quae sufficit ad perfectionem sacramenti, puta si, cum sacerdos accedit ad baptizandum, intendit facere circa baptizandum quod facit ecclesia. Unde, si postea in ipso exercitio actus cogitatio eius ad alia rapiatur, ex virtute primae intentionis perficitur sacramentum. Quamvis studiose curare debeat sacramenti minister ut etiam actualem intentionem adhibeat. Sed hoc non totaliter est positum in hominis potestate, quia praeter intentionem, cum homo vult multum intendere, incipit alia cogitare; secundum illud Psalmi, cor meum dereliquit me.