Chapter II — On the value of the Mass; for whom, and by what minister, the Sacrifice can be offered

I. QUESTION I. Is the value of the Sacrifice of the Mass infinite? ANSWER. There is a twofold value: one ex opere operato, which proceeds from the work itself immediately instituted by Christ; another ex opere operantis, which is the effect of the merit and dignity of the minister. Theologians dispute on either side whether the value ex opere operato be infinite: for that the other is finite we all maintain. In few words I resolve the question. If the value be regarded absolutely, and inasmuch as it expresses power and sufficiency, without doubt it is infinite: since the Sacrifice of the Mass is the same as regards sufficiency as the Sacrifice of the Cross; the manner only of offering is diverse. But if it be regarded as it is offered by ministers and in second act, thus it is limited and finite. What of this, that the Sacrifice of the Cross itself as regards the application produces a limited effect in us, because the disposition of the subject is finite? If the effect of the Sacrifice of the Mass were infinite, it would profit all equally as much as one or another; a single Mass would free all the souls of Purgatory; and yet the Church never ceases from offering sacrifices for the dead.

II. QUESTION II. What are the effects of the Sacrifice of the Mass? ANSWER. The Council of Trent, session 22, chapter 2, teaches here that the Sacrifice of the Mass is rightly offered, according to the tradition of the Apostles, not only for the sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities of the living faithful, but also for the dead in Christ not yet fully purged. Since the Sacrifice of the Mass is propitiatory, it avails for the pardon of sins and for satisfaction, as the same Council in the same place, canon 3, defined. Through the Sacrifice sins are remitted mediately, inasmuch as God bestows upon the sinner actual graces by which he is stirred up and disposed to penitence. Upon the just it confers an increase of grace, and profits them for the remission of venial sins. By this Sacrifice also we obtain temporal goods, inasmuch as the use of them conduces to eternal life. The Sacrifice of the Mass therefore is ordained to temporal goods not as to an end, but as to means whose use marks out the way to the end.

III. QUESTION III. To whom and for whom is the Sacrifice of the Mass offered? ANSWER. All Catholics teach that the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered to God alone, and that as temples and altars are erected and consecrated to God alone, as Trent defined, session 22, chapter 3.

IV. But the Sacrifice of the Mass can be offered for all men — pagans, Jews, schismatics, heretics, the excommunicated — but especially for catechumens, and for the faithful. And this is drawn from St. Paul himself, who in 1 Timothy 2 says: For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Christ suffered for all: therefore for all the Sacrifice can be offered. By a stronger right it is offered for the faithful, who are joined to Christ by the bond of faith. That the sacrifice is not to be offered for the damned all teach. Neither is sacrifice offered for the saints reigning with God, because there is nothing to be sought in them.

V. QUESTION IV. Can the Sacrifice be offered for the pious souls detained in Purgatory? ANSWER. All Catholics affirm it, and this is gathered from the perennial tradition of the Church and from holy Scripture, especially from 2 Maccabees, chapter 12. And this Trent defined, session 22, chapter 2: that the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered not only for the sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities of the living faithful, but also for the dead, rightly, according to the tradition of the Apostles. This same it declared in canon 3. The testimonies of the Fathers and of other councils I pass over for brevity's sake.

VI. QUESTION V. Who is the minister of the Sacrifice of the Mass? ANSWER. That priests alone are the ministers of this Sacrifice the Catholic Church has always taught, and against the innovators Trent defined, session 7, canon 10: If anyone shall say that all Christians have power in the word and in administering all the sacraments, let him be anathema. And again, session 22, canon 2, it adds: If anyone shall say that by those words, "Do this for a commemoration of me," Christ did not institute the Apostles priests, or did not ordain that they and other priests should offer his body and blood, let him be anathema. Christ the Lord, as the eternal priest according to the order of Melchisedech, is the principal offerer. Priests offer as ministers and vicars of the same Christ. They offer indeed as true priests ordained to this ministry, but ministerially. The faithful people offers by desire, by will, and by spiritual conjunction with the offerer.

VII. QUESTION VI. Do wicked priests — heretics, schismatics, the suspended, the excommunicated, the degraded — validly perform the sacrifice? ANSWER. That priests stained with mortal sin validly consecrate all Catholics teach. That the others recounted also validly perform the Sacrifice all theologians teach with St. Thomas, III, q. 82, art. 7, reply 3. Since although the exercise of the order can be suspended by a lawful superior, the power of the order nevertheless cannot be blotted out. It is not lawful nevertheless either to assist at the Sacrifice or to seek communion from excommunicated, suspended, degraded, heretical, or schismatic priests.

VIII. Private Masses, in which the priests alone communicate, are lawful, as the Council of Trent defined, session 22, chapter 6, against the innovators.