The Right Form, Matter, Intent, and The Proper Minister
When I was an undergrad, the Theology professor asked the class, can we use Doritos and Coke for Holy Communion? The clear answer was no, although I was surprised to see how many of the students were unsure. Thankfully, the professor went on to explain why we must use bread and wine in Holy Communion as opposed to Doritos and Coke.
The sacraments are vital ways God shares His grace with us. They are means by which we receive Christ, are joined to him, formed into his image, and strengthened for the Christian life. They’re more than rituals; they’re deep, meaningful acts established by Christ Himself. But what is needed for a sacrament to be valid? For a sacrament to be considered valid, it needs to meet essential criteria: the right form, matter, intent, and the proper minister.
Form is about the specific words and actions that need to be used. In Anglicanism, these are laid out in the Book of Common Prayer. St. Augustine pointed out, "The word is added to the element, and this becomes a sacrament, also itself a kind of visible word" (Tractates on the Gospel of John 80.3). This means the words said during a sacrament are powerful and transformative. For example, during the Eucharist, if the words of consecration are changed or skipped, the sacrament isn’t valid because it doesn’t follow the established form. There must be the words of institution and the invocation of the Spirit, often called the epiclesis. While the dinner table reminds us of our great heavenly feast in Communion, a prayer over the food does not make it the Sacrament.
Matter refers to the physical stuff or actions involved in the sacrament. St. Augustine emphasized that the right materials are crucial. He said, "The water, then, has the virtue of sanctification… because the Holy Spirit is given through a visible element" (On the Gospel of John, Tractate 80.3). In Baptism, the matter is water, symbolizing spiritual cleansing. For the Eucharist, it’s bread and wine, just as Jesus used. They are tied to the history and blessings of God to his people in the Old Testament and they join us to Jesus’ original actions and intentions. Even grape juice, which is a relatively new invention beginning in 1869, is not licit because it alters the elements in such a way that does not follow what Christ used. Additionally, it takes away any figurative force as the yeast is killed in the pasteurization. That which is to unite us to the one who is Life has had all forms of life removed from it.
Intent is about the purpose and mindset of both the person giving the sacrament and the person receiving it. St. Augustine stressed that the minister must aim to do what the Church intends. St. Augustine also said, "When the word is joined to the element, it becomes a sacrament, not because it is spoken, but because it is believed" (Sermon 272). Intention is key to the sacrament’s validity. You can’t baptize someone who actively does not want to be baptized.
The proper minister is also important. Sacraments need to be performed by ordained ministers. St. Augustine says, "For it is the same one who baptizes and the same one who baptizes by means of his ministers" (On Baptism, Against the Donatists, Book 6, Chapter 1). All Priests and Deacons act through the authority given to them by the Bishop who stands in Apostolic Succession empowered by the Spirit and sent by Christ. This tells us that the validity of the sacrament doesn’t depend on the minister’s sinlessness but on their proper authority.
St. Augustine’s principle of ex opere operato is crucial here. This idea means that the effectiveness of the sacrament comes from its correct performance, not the minister’s personal virtue. St. Augustine noted, "When Peter baptizes, it is Christ who baptizes; when Judas baptizes, it is Christ who baptizes" (On Baptism, Against the Donatists, Book 6, Chapter 1). So, as long as the right form, matter, and intent are there, the sacrament works, regardless of the minister’s moral state. While we certainly come to serve God having confessed our sins and seeking to serve him in all holiness, I can guarantee you I am not perfect. But thanks be to God who gives himself to us even in our imperfections. When we come having confessed our sins and stand before God knowing we cannot save ourselves, He is faithful to give himself.
A sacrament needs the right words, materials, intention, and the proper minister. But why does it matter? Isn't God's grace enough? These criteria, ensure that sacraments are genuine channels of God’s grace, staying true to what Christ established and the Church upholds. Through these sacred acts, believers are assured of receiving the divine grace intended by Christ. We seek to be faithful to what Christ has commanded not taking advantage of God's grace. We must always come in obedience to Christ.
Peace of Christ,
Fr. Aaron