The Minister of the Holy Eucharist

The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is of such dignity thatit is confected only in the Person and by the authority of Christ himself. Hence, a priest is one ordained and appointed to act as Christ’s instrument, and to use Christ’s own voice and authority in confecting the Holy Eucharist at Mass. Only a dulyordained priest can consecrate the elements of bread and wine andso confect the sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Only the priest can offer this sacrament as sacrifice, and he does this when he celebrates Holy Mass.

It is possible for several priests to consecrate one and the same host. And, at ordination, the newly ordained priestscon-celebrate the Mass with the ordaining bishop. All say the words of consecration together, and jointly consecrate the host which is held in the bishop’s hands.

Apart from cases of necessity (as, for example, whenthe sacred species is in danger from fire or flood or desecration),no one but the priest should touch the consecrated hosts. Therefore, the priest is not only the minister of consecration(that is, of confecting the sacrament of Holy Eucharist at Mass),but he is also the minister of distributing the Blessed Sacrament to all who receive it in Holy Communion. A deacon may distribute Holy Communion, with pastor’s or bishop’s permission, when there is a reasonable cause for having him do so.

The Holy Eucharist is both a sacrament and a sacrifice. Whoever offers a sacrifice must share in it. Hence, the priest who offers the Eucharistic Sacrifice (that is,the Mass), must receive the Eucharist as sacrament. Otherwise the sacrifice would not be complete.

The power of consecration, of confecting the Holy Eucharist, is given to the priest, and as often as he celebrates Mass he exercises this power. It is a power independent of the priest’s own condition as virtuous or wicked. Even a priest in serious sin confects the Holy Eucharist when he offers Mass.

In itself, the Mass of a wicked priest is of equal value with the Mass of a good priest. In either case, it is thesame sacrifice. And the prayers of a sinful priest during Mass andin all his ecclesiastical offices, are fruitful prayers inasmuch as they are offered by one set and qualified to speak officially forthe Church. But the private prayers of a bad priest are not fruitful, for scripture says (Prov. 28:9): “He that turnethaway his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination.”

If a duly ordained priest should become a heretic,schismatic, or be excommunicated, he would still have the power toconsecrate,although he would sin gravely in using that power. Even those who are validly ordained priests outside the Church (byheretical, schismatic, or excommunicated bishops) have the power toconsecrate.

A priest degraded and deprived of the right toconsecrate is not deprived of the power to consecrate.

One may not lawfully assist at Mass offered by aheretical, schismatic, or excommunicated priest, nor may one lawfully receive Holy Communion at his hands. However, this prohibition applies only when the official condemnation of the Church has been pronounced, and the priest in question has been declared heretical, schismatical, or excommunicated.

A priest, even if he have not the care of souls, is under obligation of offering the Mass on some occasions, as forexample, on the major feast days. Such obligation is in the priesthood itself, which calls for sacrifice, not only in the service of the people, but for the glory of God. If the priest never consecrated the Holy Eucharist in Mass, he would be a priest in vain. Scripture says (II Cor. 6:1): “We exhort you that you receive not the grace of God in vain.”