Monday, June 4, 2012

No sacrament is valid unless 'the intention of the priest goes with it.'

Back to Top 44. Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament? 'The Sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord's Supper.'
Back to Top 45. How may Sacraments are there according to Rome? The Church of Rome's teaching on the subject of the Sacraments is as follows:
'Our Lord has instituted seven Sacraments, because they are necessary for our spiritual life. Baptism causes us to be born in Jesus Christ; Confirmation fortifies us; the Eucharist nourisheth us; Penance heals us; Extreme Unction renews our strength in the hour of death; Holy Orders perpetuates the ministers of the Sacrament, and Matrimony perpetuates the faithful who are to receive them.'
These Sacraments can be easily remembered by keeping in mind the two words 'become up.' Taking the letters that make up those words you have Rome's seven Sacraments:-
'B' - Baptism
'E' - Eucharist
'C' - Confirmation
'O' - Orders
'M' - Matrimony
'EU' - Extreme Unction
'P' - 'Penance'
Belief in these seven Sacraments first was made binding in the year 1437 at the Council of Florence.
Back to Top 46. What does Rome teach in regard to what is necessary for the validity of a Sacrament? No sacrament is valid unless 'the intention of the priest goes with it.' Where there is no right intention on the part of the priest there can be no Sacrament.
Back to Top 47. Does Rome's Doctrine of Intention not put uncertainty upon all her religious Sacraments and works? Yes. It follows from the Roman doctrine of Intention that no man can be certain with the certainty of faith that he receives a true Sacrament, since the Sacrament is not formed without the intention of the minister, and no one can see the intention of another. Intention makes the priest master of the Sacraments. He can dispense or withhold grace at his will and consequently salvation. He leaves his flock in uncertainty as to whether they have ever truly been baptised, confirmed or absolved, or of ever partaken of the benefits of the Lord's Supper or Extreme Unction! Nor on the same hypothesis can he be sure he is a priest himself, or the Pope is truly the Pope.

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