178 Christ Himself is at Work in The Sacraments

YOUCAT Lesson 178

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

178  If a sacrament is administered by someone who is unworthy, does it fail to have its effect?

No.  The sacraments are effective on the basis of the sacramental action that is carried out (ex opera operato), in other words, independently of the moral conduct or spiritual outlook of the minister.  It is enough for him to intend to do what the Church does.  [1127-1128, 1131]

By all means, ministers of the sacraments ought to live an exemplary life.  But the sacraments take effect, not because of the holiness of their ministers, but rather because Christ himself is at work in them.  In any case, he respects our freedom when we receive the sacraments.  That is why they have a positive effect only if we rely on Christ.

The following three paragraphs are taken from  the “Diary” of Saint Faustina (see accompanying book cover). 

Jesus said to Saint Faustina (Diary, 1602): “When you go to confession, to this fountain of mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul.  ...(Diary 1448): In the Tribunal of Mercy (the Sacrament of Reconciliation)...the greatest miracles take place and are incessantly repeated. ...(Diary 1602): Here the misery of the soul meets the God of Mercy. ”

And again, Jesus said to Saint Faustina (Diary 1448): “Come with faith to the feet of My representative .  I Myself am waiting there for you.  I am only hidden by the priest.  ...(Diary 1602): I Myself act in your soul .  Make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen.  ...(Diary 1725): Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light ”

And again, Jesus said to Saint Faustina (Diary 1448): “Were a soul like a decaying corpse, so that from a human standpoint, there would be no hope of restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God.  The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full.  Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God’s mercy! .”

…….THE SACRAMENTS OF SALVATION

…….1127 Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify. (compare Council of Trent (1547): Denzinger-Schönmetzer 1605; DS 1606)⁴⁸    They are efficacious because in them Christ himself is at work: it is he who baptizes, he who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies. The Father always hears the prayer of his Son's Church which, in the epiclesis of each sacrament, expresses her faith in the power of the Spirit. As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life whatever is subjected to his power. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1128  This is the meaning of the Church's affirmation (compare Council of Trent (1547): Denzinger-Schönmetzer 1608) ⁴⁹  that the sacraments act ex opere operato (literally: "by the very fact of the action's being performed"), i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for all. It follows that "the sacrament is not wrought by the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient, but by the power of God." (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III, 68,8) ⁵⁰    From the moment that a sacrament is celebrated in accordance with the intention of the Church, the power of Christ and his Spirit acts in and through it, independently of the personal holiness of the minister. Nevertheless, the fruits of the sacraments also depend on the disposition of the one who receives them. --CCC