Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae

Objection 1: It seems that the consecration of this sacrament does not belong exclusively to a priest. Because it was said above (Question 78, Article 4) that this sacrament is consecrated in virtue of the words, which are the form of this sacrament. But those words are not changed, whether spoken by a priest or by anyone else. Therefore, it seems that not only a priest, but anyone else, can consecrate this sacrament.

Objection 2: Further, the priest performs this sacrament in the person of Christ. But a devout layman is united with Christ through charity. Therefore, it seems that even a layman can perform this sacrament. Hence Chrysostom (Opus imperfectum in Matth., Hom. xliii) says that "every holy man is a priest."

Objection 3: Further, as Baptism is ordained for the salvation of mankind, so also is this sacrament, as is clear from what was said above (Question 74, Article 1; Question 79, Article 2). But a layman can also baptize, as was stated above (Question 67, Article 3). Consequently, the consecration of this sacrament is not proper to a priest.

Objection 4: Further, this sacrament is completed in the consecration of the matter. But the consecration of other matters such as the chrism, the holy oil, and blessed oil, belongs exclusively to a bishop; yet their consecration does not equal the dignity of the consecration of the Eucharist, in which the entire Christ is contained. Therefore it belongs, not to a priest, but only to a bishop, to perform this sacrament.

On the contrary, Isidore says in an Epistle to Ludifred (Decretals, dist. 25): "It belongs to a priest to consecrate this sacrament of the Lord's body and blood upon God's altar."

I answer that, As stated above (Question 78, Articles 1,4), such is the dignity of this sacrament that it is performed only as in the person of Christ. Now whoever performs any act in another's stead, must do so by the power bestowed by such a one. But as the power of receiving this sacrament is conceded by Christ to the baptized person, so likewise the power of consecrating this sacrament on Christ's behalf is bestowed upon the priest at his ordination: for thereby he is put upon a level with them to whom the Lord said (Lk. 22:19): "Do this for a commemoration of Me." Therefore, it must be said that it belongs to priests to accomplish this sacrament.

Reply to Objection 1: The sacramental power is in several things, and not merely in one: thus the power of Baptism lies both in the words and in the water. Accordingly the consecrating power is not merely in the words, but likewise in the power delivered to the priest in his consecration and ordination, when the bishop says to him: "Receive the power of offering up the Sacrifice in the Church for the living as well as for the dead." For instrumental power lies in several instruments through which the chief agent acts.

Reply to Objection 2: A devout layman is united with Christ by spiritual union through faith and charity, but not by sacramental power: consequently he has a spiritual priesthood for offering spiritual sacrifices, of which it is said (Ps. 1:19): "A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit"; and (Rm. 12:1): "Present your bodies a living sacrifice." Hence, too, it is written (1 Pt. 2:5): "A holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices."

Reply to Objection 3: The receiving of this sacrament is not of such necessity as the receiving of Baptism, as is evident from what was said above (Question 65, Articles 3,4; Question 80, Article 11, ad 2). And therefore, although a layman can baptize in case of necessity, he cannot perform this sacrament.

Reply to Objection 4: The bishop receives power to act on Christ's behalf upon His mystical body, that is, upon the Church; but the priest receives no such power in his consecration, although he may have it by commission from the bishop. Consequently all such things as do not belong to the mystical body are not reserved to the bishop, such as the consecration of this sacrament. But it belongs to the bishop to deliver, not only to the people, but likewise to priests, such things as serve them in the fulfillment of their respective duties. And because the blessing of the chrism, and of the holy oil, and of the oil of the sick, and other consecrated things, such as altars, churches, vestments, and sacred vessels, makes such things fit for use in performing the sacraments which

belong to the priestly duty, therefore such consecrations are reserved to the bishop as the head of the whole ecclesiastical order.

Articulus 1

Argumentum 1

Ad primum sic proceditur. Videtur quod consecratio huius sacramenti non proprie sit sacerdotis.

Dictum est enim supra quod hoc sacramentum consecratur virtute verborum quae sunt forma huius sacramenti. Sed illa verba non mutantur sive dicantur a sacerdote sive a quocumque alio. Ergo videtur quod non solus sacerdos, sed etiam quilibet alius possit hoc sacramentum consecrare.

Argumentum 2

Praeterea, sacerdos hoc sacramentum conficit in persona christi.

Sed laicus sanctus est unitus christo per caritatem. Ergo videtur quod etiam laicus possit hoc sacramentum conficere.

Unde et chrysostomus dicit, super Matth., quod omnis sanctus est sacerdos.

Argumentum 3

Praeterea, sicut baptismus ordinatur ad hominum salutem, ita et hoc sacramentum, ut ex supra dictis patet.

Sed etiam laicus potest baptizare, ut supra habitum est.

Ergo non est proprium sacerdotis conficere hoc sacramentum.

Argumentum 4

Praeterea, hoc sacramentum perficitur in consecratione materiae.

Sed alias materias consecrare, scilicet chrisma et oleum sanctum et oleum benedictum, pertinet ad solum episcopum, quarum tamen consecratio non est tantae dignitatis sicut consecratio eucharistiae, in qua est totus christus. Ergo non est proprium sacerdotis, sed solius episcopi, hoc sacramentum conficere.

Sed Contra

Sed contra est quod Isidorus dicit, in quadam epistola, et habetur in decretis, dist. XXV, ad presbyterum pertinet sacramentum corporis et sanguinis domini in altari dei conficere.

Corpus

Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut supra dictum est, hoc sacramentum tantae est dignitatis quod non conficitur nisi in persona christi. Quicumque autem aliquid agit in persona alterius, oportet hoc fieri per potestatem ab illo concessam.

Sicut autem baptizato conceditur a christo potestas sumendi hoc sacramentum, ita sacerdoti, cum ordinatur, confertur potestas hoc sacramentum consecrandi in persona christi, per hoc enim ponitur in gradu eorum quibus dictum est a domino, hoc facite in meam commemorationem.

Et ideo dicendum est quod proprium est sacerdotum conficere hoc sacramentum.

Ad 1

Ad primum ergo dicendum quod virtus sacramentalis in pluribus consistit, et non in uno tantum, sicut virtus baptismi consistit et in verbis et in aqua. Unde et virtus consecrativa non solum consistit in ipsis verbis, sed etiam in potestate sacerdoti tradita in sua consecratione vel ordinatione, cum ei dicitur ab episcopo, accipe potestatem offerendi sacrificium in ecclesia tam pro vivis quam pro mortuis.

Nam et virtus instrumentalis in pluribus instrumentis consistit, per quae agit principale agens.

Ad 2

Ad secundum dicendum quod laicus iustus unitus est christo unione spirituali per fidem et caritatem, non autem per sacramentalem potestatem. Et ideo habet spirituale sacerdotium ad offerendum spirituales hostias, de quibus dicitur in Psalmo, sacrificium deo spiritus contribulatus, et Rom. XII, exhibeatis corpora vestra hostiam viventem.

Unde et I Petri II dicitur, sacerdotium sanctum offerre spirituales hostias.

Ad 3

Ad tertium dicendum quod perceptio huius sacramenti non est tantae necessitatis sicut perceptio baptismi, ut ex supra dictis patet.

Et ideo, licet in necessitatis articulo laicus possit baptizare, non tamen potest hoc sacramentum conficere.

Ad 4

Ad quartum dicendum quod episcopus accipit potestatem ut agat in persona christi supra corpus eius mysticum, idest super ecclesiam, quam quidem potestatem non accipit sacerdos in sua consecratione, licet possit eam habere ex episcopi commissione.

Et ideo ea quae non pertinent ad dispositionem corporis mystici, non reservantur episcopo, sicut consecratio huius sacramenti. Ad episcopum vero pertinet non solum tradere populo, sed etiam sacerdotibus, ea ex quibus possunt propriis officiis uti.

Et quia benedictio chrismatis et olei sancti et olei infirmorum, et aliorum quae consecrantur, puta altaris, ecclesiae, vestium et vasorum, praestat quandam idoneitatem ad sacramenta perficienda quae pertinent ad officium sacerdotum, ideo tales consecrationes episcopo reservantur, tanquam principi totius ecclesiastici ordinis.