Question First. On the Nature of the Sacraments

9. Essential parts of a sacrament. Things and words, or, as we are now accustomed to speak, matter and form, intrinsically constitute a sacrament, a sensible sign, as essential parts; and these indeed must be performed by the minister with the intention of doing what the Church does: for by this intention the sacramental action is truly constituted as sacramental, or as signifying and causing sanctifying grace.

Therefore sacraments intrinsically consist of matter and form as of a material and formal cause; but they are perfected by this, that to these there accedes, as an efficient cause (ministerial), the intention of the minister performing the sacramental action. Therefore three things are essentially required for confecting a sacrament: matter, form, and the intention of the minister. For this reason the Council of Florence has these words in the decree for the Armenians: "All sacraments are perfected by three things, namely by things as matter, by words as form, and by the person of the minister conferring the sacrament with the intention of doing what the Church does; if any of these is lacking, the sacrament is not perfected."¹

¹ Cf. Denzinger, Enchiridion symbolorum et definitionum, n. 590.

10. On valid, licit, worthy, and fruitful reception. a. Sacraments are said to be conferred and received validly, when none of those things is lacking which are essentially required for confecting a sacrament: for if these are present, the sacramental action is of itself apt to produce its effect. Therefore, if a sacrament is conferred or received invalidly, no sacrament is really had; and he who knowingly confers or receives a sacrament invalidly commits sacrilege.

b. Sacraments are said to be conferred or received licitly, if all those things are observed by the one conferring or receiving which, from the will of Christ and of the Church, must be observed besides the essentials of the sacrament. Therefore he who confers or receives a sacrament illicitly indeed confers or receives a true sacrament, but in its conferral or reception he commits grave or light sin, according as he neglects a precept of greater or lesser moment.

c. Sacraments are said to be conferred and received worthily, when in the minister and the receiver there are present the dispositions of soul which, from the will of God, are required for the sacrament to be administered or received rightly. Therefore he who knowingly receives or administers a sacrament unworthily commits sacrilege.

d. Sacraments are said to be received fruitfully, if they are received in such a way that their effect is actually obtained. He who receives a sacrament worthily, on his own part also receives it fruitfully.