Article. 5 - Whether the sacraments can be conferred by evil ministers?

Objection 1: It seems that the cannot be conferred by evil ministers. For the of the New Law are ordained for the purpose of cleansing from sin and for the bestowal of . 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 , it seems that they cannot give , for "no one gives what he has not." It seems, therefore, that the cannot be conferred by wicked men.

Objection 2: Further, all the power of the 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 , by which the members are united to their Head, according to 1 Jn. 4:16: "He that in , in God, and God in him." Therefore it seems that the cannot be conferred by evil men.

Objection 3: Further, if anything is wanting that is required for the , the is invalid; for instance, if the required matter or form be wanting. But the minister required for a 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 has no effect.

On the contrary, Augustine says on Jn. 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 , 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 , though they be wicked.

Reply to Objection 1: The ministers of the Church do not by their own power cleanse from sin those who approach the , nor do they confer on them: it is Christ Who does this by His own power while He employs them as instruments. Consequently, those who approach the receive an effect whereby they are enlikened not to the ministers but to Christ.

Reply to Objection 2: Christ's members are united to their Head by , so that they may receive life from Him; for as it is written (1 Jn. 3:14): "He that loveth not 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 , both by wicked men as lifeless instruments, and by good men as living instruments.

Reply to Objection 3: A thing is required in a in two ways. First, as being essential to it: and if this be wanting, the is invalid; for instance, if the due form or matter be wanting. Secondly, a thing is required for a , by reason of a certain fitness. And in this way good ministers are required for a .