The Minister of the Sacraments

Twofold Ministry of the Sacraments.—(a) The ministry of production (confectio) is the application of form to matter that makes the Sacrament (e.g., the consecration of bread and wine); (b) the ministry of bestowal (administratio) is the application of the Sacrament to the human recipient (e.g., the Communion). The Eucharist is a permanent object, whereas Baptism and the rest are transitory actions. Hence it is that in the Eucharist, but not in the other Sacraments, the two ministries are separated, and hence it is also that the Eucharist may be validly given or validly received by those who cannot validly consecrate.