VALID ADMINISTRATION in 



case of necessity, a matter or form of doubtful validity ; 

 since this would endanger the Sacrament. In cases of 

 necessity (iusta causa) a doubtful matter or form may 

 be employed, because the Sacraments are instituted for 

 the sake of men (sacramenta propter homines). It is 

 likewise sinful (mortally or venially, according to the 

 circumstances of each case) to alter or mutilate the words 

 of the form, to utter them inarticulately or without 

 devotion, or to omit important rites or ceremonies pre- 

 scribed by the Church. If this is done out of contempt 

 for Christ or the Church, or if it causes grave scandal, 

 the minister commits a mortal sin, and even when the mo- 

 tive is mere negligence, a mortal sin is committed every 

 time the object is materia gravis. 9 



2. The faithful have a right to the Sacraments, 

 and hence all duly appointed ministers of the 

 Church are bound in justice to administer the 

 same whenever they are asked, and should al- 

 ways be ready and willing to comply with every 

 reasonable request, nay exhort their people to 

 make frequent use of the divinely appointed 

 means of grace. 7 It is a mortal sin for a priest 

 entrusted with the care of souls to refuse to ad- 

 minister a Sacrament without good reason, or to 

 administer it with manifest reluctance. Such 

 conduct is apt to deter the faithful from the re- 

 ception of the Sacraments and easily causes scan- 



6 Cfr. Cone. Trident., Sess. VII, 1 Cfr. Concilium Trident., Sess. 



De Sacr., can. 13 (Denzinger-Bann- XXIII, De Ref., C. 1; Rit. Rom., 



wart, n. 856) ; Rit. Rom., De Ad- De Administr. Sacram., n. 5. 

 minis tr. Sacram., tit. 1, n. 11. 



