CHAPTER II 



THE SACRAMENTS AS DIVINELY INSTITUTED 

 MEANS OF GRACE 



SECTION i 



THE MORAL REQUISITES OF VALID 

 ADMINISTRATION 



I. The efficacy of the Sacraments depends 

 solely on the will of God, and hence all that is 

 required for their valid administration on the part 

 of the minister is power and jurisdiction, proper 

 application of matter and form, and an actual or 

 at least a virtual intention of doing what the 

 Church does. 1 



It is a mortal sin for any one not in the state 

 of sanctifying grace to administer a Sacra- 

 ment solemnly. Ignorance, of course, is an 

 excuse, and so is urgent necessity, as when the 

 administration of Baptism or Penance cannot be 

 postponed without danger to the salvation of 

 others. In such urgent cases the minister is 



1 Cone. Trident, Sess. VII, De De Poenit., can. 10 (Denzinger- 

 Sacr., can. 10, II, 12; Sess. XIV, Bannwart, n. 853, 854, 85s, 920). 



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