MyCatholicSource.com: 'Quick Help' Page

My Catholic Source.com 'Volunteer Live Chat'

'Quick Help' Page: Can A Wicked Priest Validly Administer Sacraments?

 

My Catholic Source.com Home | Index of QH Pages | Help For QH Pages | Site Help | Search | FAQs | Terms of Use | Notice: This is a sponsored page.**

Click Here For Important Information Regarding This Site | Keep Us Online

Related Terms...

Sacrament | Sacraments

Bad Priest | Bad Priests

Wicked Priest | Wicked Priests

Sinful Priest | Sinful Priests

Help For 'Quick Help' Pages

Submit Comment About This Page

Need More Help?

Inappropriate Term?


Click the button below to display this page's URL and copy it into your clipboard for sharing...

Click Here For More Information

Troubleshooting


Need More Help?

Try Searching MyCatholicSource.com



Click Here to Request a New 'Quick Help' Page OR to Submit a Comment/Suggestion

Thank You For Your Feedback!

 

Arrow Question / Issue:

Can a wicked priest validly administer sacraments?

 

Arrow Answer / Resources:

[click link(s) below, as applicable]

Yes. According to the Catechism of the Council of Trent...

"...a Sacrament is validly administered even by the wicked [priest], provided all the essentials have been duly observed. For we are to believe that all these depend not on the merit of the minister, but are operated by the virtue and power of Christ our Lord."

In fact, an unworthy minister (providing he has the proper intention) has no effect whatsoever on the validity of the Sacrament...

"The effect of the Sacraments does not depend on the worthiness or unworthiness of the one who administers them, but on the merits of Jesus Christ, who instituted them, and on the worthy dispositions of those who receive them." (Baltimore Catechism)

"Remember that the evil lives of wicked men are not prejudicial to God's sacraments, by rendering them either invalid or less holy." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church)

"The evil life of a bishop or a priest does not invalidate either the baptism of an infant, or the consecration of the Eucharist, or other ecclesiastical duties performed for the faithful." (Pope Innocent III)

"For the unworthiness of the minister does not make void the Sacraments he administers; since the Sacraments derive their efficacy from the Blood of Christ, independently of the sanctity of the instrument, or, as scholastic language expresses it, the Sacraments work their effect ex opere operato ['by the very fact of the action's being performed']." (Pope Pius XI, "Ad Catholici Sacerdotii", 1935 A.D.)

Although an unworthy minister doesn't invalidate the Sacrament, such a minister does sin by his improper behavior...

"It should never be forgotten that the Sacraments, although they cannot lose the divine efficacy inherent in them, bring eternal death and perdition to him who dares administer them unworthily. Holy things, it cannot be too often repeated, should be treated holily and with due reverence. To the sinner, says the Prophet, God has said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth, seeing that thou hast hated discipline? If then, for him who is defiled by sin it is unlawful to speak on divine things, how enormous the guilt of that man, who, conscious of many crimes, dreads not to accomplish with polluted lips the holy mysteries, to take them into his befouled hands, to touch them, and to present and administer them to others? All the more since St. Denis says that the wicked may not even touch the symbols, as he calls the Sacraments. It therefore becomes the first duty of the minister of holy things to follow holiness of life, to approach with purity the administration of the Sacraments, and so to exercise himself in piety, that, from their frequent administration and use, he may every day receive, with the divine assistance, more abundant grace." (Catechism of the Council of Trent)


Reminder: We make no guarantee whatsoever regarding any item herein. Items herein may be the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect our views. All applicable items may be subject to change at any time without notice. Utilize any link(s) appearing on this page at your own risk. For more terms information, see "Important Notice" below.

  

Other Resources:

[click link(s) below, as applicable]

Sacraments (Topic Page)

Priests (Topic Page)

 

  

Share This Page | Search Site

(after clicking above, see left)


  

(donate by mail)

Please Help!


Click Here for MyCatholicSource.com Media (Books, Ebooks)

Great Catholic Books & Ebooks!


Click Here for MyCatholicSource.com Apps

Great Catholic Apps!


Referral/Incentive Program - Shop At Other Sites To Support This Site!

Note: For pricing, availability, shipping, product & seller info. click links below

Catechism of the Council of Trent [Book] (Click to buy & for more info.)

'Staff Favorite' (click for more info. on the 'staff favorite' designation)

Catechism of the Council of Trent [Book] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Catholic Statues [Amazon Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Catholic Statues [Amazon Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Scapulars [Amazon Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Scapulars [Amazon Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Rosary [Amazon Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Rosary [Amazon Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Catholic Bracelets [Amazon Jewelry Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Catholic Bracelets [Amazon Jewelry Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Crucifix [Amazon Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Crucifix [Amazon Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Catholic Medals [Amazon Jewelry Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Catholic Medals [Amazon Jewelry Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Crucifixes [Amazon Jewelry Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Crucifixes [Amazon Jewelry Search] (Click to buy & for more info.)

Click to Support This Site Via Purchases on Amazon.com

Support This Site Via Purchases on Amazon.com!

Thousands More Items To Choose From! - Click Here To Shop

Report Problem With Link

 

Commercial / Sponsored Messages...**

  

Click to shop at Amazon.com in support of MyCatholicSource.com

Click to shop at Amazon.com in support of MyCatholicSource.com [Click this image for Amazon Search - 'Catholic statues'] Click to shop at Amazon.com in support of MyCatholicSource.com [Click this image for Amazon Search - 'Catholic jewelry medals'] Click to shop at Amazon.com in support of MyCatholicSource.com [Click this image for Amazon Search - 'Crucifix'] Click to shop at Amazon.com in support of MyCatholicSource.com [Click this image for Amazon Search - 'Rosary beads'] Click to shop at Amazon.com in support of MyCatholicSource.com [Click this image for Amazon Search - 'Catholic artwork'] Click to shop at Amazon.com in support of MyCatholicSource.com Notice: Clicking image/links above leaves this site. We do not recommend any website/product/service/seller/etc.

Reminder: Available items may differ from those pictured above.

More Information | Problem With Link?

Thanks For Visiting My Catholic Source.com!

** Page may contain third party advertisement(s) in any location. We are not responsible for content. Not an endorsement.

Important Notice: We make no guarantee whatsoever regarding any item herein. Items herein may be the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect our views. Items herein may not be comprehensive, may not be current, may be subject to change at any time without notice, may not apply to all persons, may be subjective / debatable / erroneous, etc. Interpretation and application of items herein should not be contrary to the perennial, official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. Do not take items out of context. Do not inflict harm on yourself or others, break laws, take unsuitable/incautious or inappropriate/drastic actions, or take figurative items literally. Inclusion of any item herein does not imply endorsement. Clicking on a third party link leaves our site. We are not responsible for any third party site / product / service / content / etc. Third parties may not be Catholic. All use of this site is at your own risk and is subject to our terms of use. By using this site you indicate agreement to all terms. For terms information, click here.

MyCatholicSource.com , MyCatholicSource.org , CatholicCommunityCenter.com , CatholicCommunityCenter.org , BFSMedia , BFSApps , and other indicated & related items are trademarks of B.F.S.

MyCatholicSource.com, BFSApps, and BFSMedia are divisions of B.F.S.

Copyright © 2001-2024, B.F.S. All Rights Reserved.

Top | My Catholic Source.com Home | Help | Search | Commercial Sections | Provide Feedback About 'Quick Help' Pages | Terms of Use