Part II. On the Essence of the Sacrament of Order

There will also be discussion of the essence of Orders which are not sacraments.

I. The essence, or matter and form, of Orders which are not numbered among the sacraments. 1. The matter of the minor Orders, according to the opinion of all, is the handing over of the instruments;¹ the form is the words which accompany the respective handing over.

2. The matter of the Subdiaconate² according to some is the handing over of the empty chalice with the paten, while the form is the correlative words; according to others, the handing over of the chalice with the paten and of the book of Epistles, and the form the respective words; according to a very few, finally, all the things prescribed in the ordination constitute the matter and form.

Corollary I. According to the more common opinion, to the handing over of the instruments there must correspond for validity an acceptance made by physical contact, so that moral acceptance, for example by a nod, does not suffice. The reason is that the word "touching," which the Pontifical uses, designates physical touch. Nevertheless, it does not obstruct validity that the acceptance is made by a hand covered with a glove.

Corollary II. Once the almost morally certain opinion is admitted which does not hold the minor Orders to be sacraments and teaches that they are of ecclesiastical institution - once, I say, this opinion is admitted - the Supreme Pontiff can sanate in the root all defects, even substantial ones. There are also those who think that they are certainly validly conferred if the essentials have been observed according to a probable interpretation, since the Church is considered to supply insofar as there is need. But these things cannot practically be applied to the Subdiaconate, since the opinion which denies the character of a sacrament to that Order is indeed very probable, but still is not certain.

¹ In the Greek Church, imposition of hands is performed outside the church.

² The source note marker is attached to the Subdiaconate heading; the surrounding note text gives no further substantive detail beyond the preceding observation.

II. The essence, or matter and form, of Orders which are sacraments.

1. Matter and form of the Diaconate. In the ordination of a Deacon: 1. "The Pontiff, extending his right hand, places it upon the head of each one to be ordained, ... saying to each: Receive the Holy Spirit, for strength, and for resisting the devil and his temptations, in the Name of the Lord."¹ 2. The Pontiff continues, holding his right hand extended, even to the end of the Preface: "Send forth upon them, we ask, O Lord, the Holy Spirit," etc. 3. Lastly, he hands to all the book of the Gospels, saying: "Receive," etc. Now:

a) The matter of the Diaconate according to some is only the imposition of the right hand; according to others it is only the handing over of the instruments; according to still others it is each ceremony (St. Alphonsus, VI, 748, 737).

Corollary. In order that the matter be indubitable, the last opinion must be followed. In addition, in the imposition of the hand, physical touch is required, at least so that every doubt be forestalled, although mediated touch suffices, for example through a hand wrapped in a glove or over the small cap of the ordinand.²

b) The form of the Diaconate according to some consists only in the words "Receive the Holy Spirit," etc., which the Bishop pronounces while imposing the right hand on each; according to others it is only the preface or eucharistic prayer; according to others it is the words "Receive power," which the Bishop pronounces while handing to all the book of the Gospels; according to still others it is both the words "Receive the Holy Spirit," the preface, and the words "Receive power" (St. Alphonsus, VI, 748, 737).

Corollary. In order that the form be indubitable, the last opinion must be followed. In addition, if the Diaconate has been doubtfully validly conferred, provision should be made for convalidation (cf. n. 594).

¹ Roman Pontifical, p. 41.

² Holy Office, June 22, 1892.

2. Matter and form of the Presbyterate. In the ordination of a Presbyter: 1. The Bishop "at the same time imposes both hands upon the head of each one to be ordained successively, saying nothing. The same is done after him by all the Priests who are present." This is called by many the first imposition. 2. Then "both the Pontiff and the priests hold their right hands extended over them"; this extension is called by many the second imposition, but it should rather be called a continuation of the first. While the Pontiff holds his hand extended, he says: "Let us pray, dearest brethren," etc. Afterwards "the Pontiff, having laid aside the miter, turned toward the altar, says: Let us pray. And the ministers: Let us bend the knees. Response: Arise. And immediately, turned toward the ordinands, he says: Hear us, we ask," etc. Then, with hands extended before the breast, he says the Preface. 3. The Pontiff "hands to each one successively the chalice with wine and water and the paten placed over it with the host, and they, the ordinands, receive it between the index and middle fingers, and touch the cup of the chalice and the paten at the same time, the Pontiff saying to each: Receive the power to offer Sacrifice to God and to celebrate Masses, both for the living and for the dead, in the Name of the Lord." 4. Finally, he places both hands upon the heads of the ordinands, saying: "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."² This is called the last imposition. Now:

a) The matter of the Presbyterate according to some is only the imposition of hands upon each; according to others, only the extension of the hand toward all; according to others, the imposition of hands upon each and the extension of the hand, which extension is regarded as a continuation of the first imposition, so that both constitute one imposition; according to others, only the handing over of the instruments; according to others, both the imposition of hands upon each, the extension of the hand, and the handing over of the instruments; others hold that the power of sacrificing is conferred in the handing over of the instruments, and the power of absolving in the last imposition of hands (St. Alphonsus, VI, 749). Now:

a) It is most probable that the imposition of hands alone is the matter of the Presbyterate; this opinion Cardinal van Rossum solidly proves.³ Nevertheless, as we said, it is further disputed whether the imposition of hands upon each alone, or the subsequent extension of the hand, or both, constitutes the matter.

b) Those who hold also either the handing over of the instruments alone as matter, more commonly require physical touch of those instruments, although mediated touch, or touch performed by a veiled hand, suffices (St. Alphonsus, VI, 742, 743). Three things must be touched: the chalice, the paten, and the host; and, so that all anxiety be forestalled, care must be taken that each be touched. Nevertheless, for validity these suffice: 1. the touch of the chalice and host, the paten not being touched;⁴ 2. the touch of the chalice and paten, the host not being touched⁵ (St. Alphonsus, VI, 751, 752). Almost the same seems to have to be said of the touch of the paten and host.⁶ It is more doubted: 1. whether the touch of the chalice alone, or of the paten alone, or of the host alone suffices; 2. whether the chalice and paten must be consecrated; 3. whether the paten and chalice without host and wine suffice⁷ (St. Alphonsus, VI, 750).

b) The form of the Presbyterate consists in the words which correspond to the matter; but in designating the form, authors differ according to the diversity of the matter which they admit. Of those who hold only the imposition of hands as the matter, some place the form in the words alone which are said during the extension of the hand which follows the imposition of hands upon each, in other words, in the prayer "Let us pray, brethren," etc.; others in the prayer "Hear us," etc. alone; others in the Preface alone; others in the prayer "Hear us," etc. and the Preface; others in the prayer "Let us pray, brethren," etc., and the prayer "Hear us," etc. and the Preface.

Corollary. In order that the Presbyterate be conferred certainly validly, there are required: 1. imposition of hands upon each; 2. extension of the hand toward all together with the exhortation "Let us pray, brethren," the prayer "Hear us," and the following Preface; 3. handing over of the consecrated chalice and paten with bread and wine, together with the accompanying words; 4. physical touch of the chalice, paten, and host, or at least of the chalice and host, or of the chalice and paten; 5. imposition of hands at the end of Mass with the words "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins," etc.

¹ Cf. G. Cardinal van Rossum, De essentia sacramenti Ordinis.

² Roman Pontifical.

³ De essentia sacramenti Ordinis, p. 62 sq.

⁴ Holy Office, July 25, 1866; November 22, 1871; June 9, 1875; July 22, 1892.

⁵ Holy Office, responses just cited.

⁶ Holy Office, March 17, 1897; cf. Sacred Congregation of Rites, December 3, 1661, n. 1221.

⁷ Sacred Congregation of the Council, February 11, 1708; Holy Office, July 6, 1898; January 11, 1899.

3. Matter and form of the Episcopate. In the ordination of a Bishop: 1. The Consecrator, with the assisting Bishops helping, places the open book of the Gospels upon the neck and shoulders of the one to be consecrated, saying nothing. 2. The Consecrator and the assisting Bishops touch the head of the one to be consecrated with both hands, saying: "Receive the Holy Spirit." When this has been done, the Consecrator, standing, with the miter laid aside, says: "Be propitious, O Lord," etc. 3. The Consecrator, with hands extended before the breast, says the Preface. 4. The Consecrator hands the closed book of the Gospel to the consecrated one, saying: "Receive the Gospel," etc.

a) The matter of the Episcopate according to some is only the imposition of the hands of the Consecrator; according to others, only the imposition of the three Bishops; according to others, the imposition of hands and of the book of the Gospels upon the neck and shoulders of the one to be consecrated;¹ according to a very few, besides the things enumerated, the handing over of the book of the Gospels is also required.

b) The form of the Episcopate according to very many is only the preface said or sung by the consecrating Bishop; according to others it consists in the words of the Consecrator alone pronounced in the imposition of hands, namely "Receive the Holy Spirit"; according to others, the same words pronounced by the three Bishops; according to others, the words cited and the prayer "Be propitious," etc.; according to others, the cited words, the prayer "Be propitious," etc., and the following Preface; according to a very few, even the words pronounced in the handing over of the book pertain to the form.

Corollary. In order that the Episcopate be conferred certainly validly, all things are required which with some probability are said to pertain to the matter or form.

¹ Roman Pontifical. In the imposition of the book the Consecrator says nothing; but those who hold it to be partial matter refer also to the imposition of the book the words to be pronounced in the imposition of hands.