Consecration, the Priest, and Mortal Sin

[Mt19_26]

Is the consecration valid if it’s performed by a priest who is in mortal sin at the time of consecration?

 

[gelsbern]

Mt19:26:

Is the consecration valid if it’s performed by a priest who is in mortal sin at the time of consecration?

This should answer it for you

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur68.htm

Q: If a priest is in the state of mortal sin, is his Mass and/or consecration of the Eucharist viable? I understand someone would not know if a priest is in this state, but Our Lord would know. — A.A., Springfield, Massachusetts

A: When receiving or celebrating the sacraments, the priest is subject to the same requirements of sanctity and state of grace as every other Catholic; that is, the state of grace is required for fruitful reception of all sacraments except those that actually forgive sins.

Therefore a priest who is in a state of mortal sin should seek to confess as soon as possible and refrain from celebrating the sacraments until he has done so.

Normally, to celebrate Mass or receive Communion while in a state of mortal sin would be to commit a sacrilege. Yet, the sacrament would be valid; that is, there would be a true consecration and a true sacrifice.

The reason is: Christ is the principal actor of the sacraments, so they are efficacious even when performed by an unworthy minister. As St. Thomas Aquinas says: Christ may act even through a minister who is spiritually dead.

However, a priest who has fallen into mortal sin, but who is unable to make his confession despite his desire to do so, may celebrate Mass for the benefit of the faithful without adding a further sin of sacrilege.

MORE

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Mt19:26:

Is the consecration valid if it’s performed by a priest who is in mortal sin at the time of consecration?

YES! Without any doubt.

 

[rwoehmke]

Didn’t the Donatist heritics that Augustine preached against hold that Sacraments ministered by an unworthy priest were invalid?

 

[gelsbern]

rwoehmke:

Didn’t the Donatist heritics that Augustine preached against hold that Sacraments ministered by an unworthy priest were invalid?

Yes, they believed that the priests who handed sacred books to be burned by their persecutors instead of becoming martyrs had lost their state of grace and therefore could not confer the Sacraments validly.

Of course they were wrong. St. Augustine wrote a lot against them.