Eleanor Finch
The Catholic Mass is a complex and ancient ritual with a rich history, and the consecration is a key part of it. The consecration is the act of transforming the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. This is done through the power of the Holy Spirit and the priest's words of consecration. The validity of the consecration is a matter of debate, with some Catholics questioning the new order of the Mass, or the Novus Ordo, and the modifications to the words of consecration. The Church teaches that the use of the correct form and matter (bread and wine) by the minister is enough for the validity of the sacrament. The intention of the priest also plays a role in the validity of the consecration, with a genuine defect of intention involving the priest denying that he intends to do what the Church teaches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Words of Consecration | "This is my body" for the bread; "This is my blood" or "This is the chalice of my blood" for the wine |
| Intent | The priest must intend to consecrate the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ |
| Rite | Tridentine Mass or Novus Ordo |
| Form | The Eucharist and baptism are sacraments established by Christ, and the form is found in the New Testament |
| Matter | Bread and wine |
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What You'll Learn
The Eucharist and baptism are sacraments established by Christ
Baptism is also a sacrament of initiation, and it washes away Original Sin and any past personal sins. It is the second of the sacraments of initiation, where the "fullness of the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit and the character of a Christian Soldier is given." The Gospel of John recounts Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, and Jesus also provided evidence of the need for baptism through his words. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commands the Apostles to "baptize all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." During the rite of baptism, holy water is usually sprinkled or poured on the head by a priest who simultaneously invokes the Trinity with the words, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
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The Tridentine Mass and Novus Ordo forms
The Tridentine Mass and the Novus Ordo are two forms of celebrating the Catholic Mass. The Tridentine Mass, also known as the Traditional Latin Mass, has been celebrated for over 1400 years and was the primary form of the Mass until the introduction of the Novus Ordo in 1969. The Novus Ordo, or the Mass of Pope Paul VI, is now the Mass with which most Catholics are familiar.
The Tridentine Mass uses the following words of consecration: "For this is my body ... For this is the chalice of my blood of the new and eternal covenant: the mystery of faith: which shall be shed for you and for many unto the remission of sins." The Novus Ordo phrases it as follows: "This is my body, which will be given up for you ... This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all [men, in Latin "for many"] so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me."
Disputes regarding the validity of the Novus Ordo centre on the words of consecration of the wine, as both forms contain the clause "This is my body." Theologians have debated what constitutes the essential form for the consecration of the chalice. Some argue that "This is the chalice of my blood" is sufficient, while others maintain that the rest of the form is necessary. However, it is important to note that the Church teaches that when a minister uses the correct form and matter (bread and wine for the Eucharist), the sacrament is valid.
The Novus Ordo places emphasis on the congregation's active participation, with responses traditionally reserved for the deacon or altar server. On the other hand, the Tridentine Mass maintains a largely silent congregation, except for the singing of hymns. The normative musical form for both the Novus Ordo and the Tridentine Mass is Gregorian chant, although it is rarely used in the Novus Ordo today.
While some traditionalist Catholics believe that modifications to the words of consecration in the Novus Ordo have invalidated the rite, the Church's authority to modify the form and its indefectibility are well-established. The Eucharist is a sacrament established by Christ, and the record of the form or words to be used is found in the New Testament. The Council of Trent taught that the Tridentine Mass was free of error, but it did not teach that it was the only valid form of consecration.
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The priest's intention
While the specific words used in the consecration may vary between the Tridentine Mass and the Novus Ordo, the priest's intention remains the same: to perform the consecration according to the teachings of the Church. The priest must have the basic intention to follow the Church's instructions and perform the consecration in the prescribed manner.
If a priest were to intentionally deviate from the approved ordering of the Mass or refuse to use the correct form and matter (bread and wine), it could indicate a lack of proper intent. For example, if a priest consistently refuses to elevate the Eucharist at the consecration and instead offers it directly to the congregation, it could be seen as a clear and intentional rejection of the rubrics of the Mass. Such an action may call into question the priest's intention to perform the consecration as intended by the Church.
However, it is important to note that a priest's personal beliefs or lack of belief do not invalidate the sacrament. As long as the priest uses the correct form and matter, the Church presumes that the priest intends to do what the Church teaches. This means that even a priest who is a heretic or unbaptized can validly confer the sacrament as long as they follow the Catholic rite.
In rare cases, a priest may celebrate the Mass alone or with only other priests present. In these instances, the invitation and acclamation are typically omitted, and the consecration ends when the priest says, "Do this in memory of me" and genuflects in adoration. Even in these more intimate settings, the priest's intention remains the same: to consecrate the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ according to the teachings of the Church.
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The power of the Holy Spirit
The words of consecration are essential to a valid Mass. The approved and minimally necessary words for a Roman/Latin Rite are "This is my body" when offering the bread and "This is my blood" or "This is the chalice of my blood" when offering the wine. These words are derived from the New Testament accounts of the Eucharist in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and 1 Corinthians. The priest, through the power of the Holy Spirit, speaks in the person of Christ, declaring "This is my body, this is my blood."
The validity of the consecration does not depend on the priest's personal beliefs or intentions. The Church teaches that as long as the priest uses the correct form and matter (bread and wine), the sacrament is valid. Even a lack of belief by the celebrant does not invalidate the sacrament. This is because the power of the Holy Spirit acts through the priest, regardless of their personal beliefs or intentions.
However, some theologians argue that a priest's intention to follow the Church's teachings is necessary for a valid consecration. A clear and intentional rejection of the rubrics of the Mass, such as refusing to elevate the Eucharist, could indicate a defective intention. While the priest's personal beliefs may not invalidate the sacrament, their intention to perform the consecration in accordance with the Church's teachings is essential.
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The Council of Trent's teachings
The Council of Trent was convened by Pope Paul III on 13 December 1545. It reaffirmed the seven sacraments and pronounced the Eucharist a true propitiatory sacrifice and a sacrament. The council used the term transubstantiation to describe the change of the whole substance of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.
The Council of Trent taught that the Tridentine Mass form of consecration was free of error, but not the only form. It clarified that when a minister uses the correct form and matter (bread and wine for the Eucharist), the Church does not doubt the validity of the sacrament. The council also emphasised that even a lack of belief by the celebrant does not invalidate the sacrament. This is because the Church presumes that a person who has correctly and seriously used the requisite matter and form intended to do what the Church does.
The council also addressed the language of the Mass, condemning the insistence that only vernacular languages be used, while affirming the use of Latin for the Roman rite. Elements of the Prône, the vernacular catechetical preaching service, became mandatory for Sundays and feast days.
The Tridentine Mass, as codified following the Council of Trent, remained the Church's primary form of the Mass for the next four hundred years.
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Frequently asked questions
The approved and minimally necessary words for a valid consecration are "This is my body" when offering the bread and "This is my blood" or "This is the chalice of my blood" when offering the wine.
The Novus Ordo Mass is a valid form of consecration. The Eucharist is consecrated by the power of the Holy Spirit and the presiding priest saying the essential words of consecration.
A defect of intention would involve the priest denying that he intends to do what the Church teaches. For example, if the priest decides that he does not intend to consecrate the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, or that he does not want to effect a consecration in the way that the Church intends.
