Part I. On the Person Ministering

The minister of a sacrament is he to whom the administration of the sacraments belongs by legitimate authority. A twofold minister is distinguished, namely principal and secondary, according as the administration of the sacraments belongs to someone by his own authority, or by authority communicated by the primary minister. The principal minister is Christ as man. The secondary minister is only the priest of the first or second order. Except Baptism and Matrimony. Concerning these there will be fuller discussion in the treatise on the individual sacraments.