Who can consecrate the bread and wine?

[ab3427]

I am Lutheran. Our pastors say the same words and use the same hand gestures that Catholic priests do, that Presbyterian ministers do, and I even saw Rick Warren say and do. In addition, Marcus Grodi and some of his guests who used to be non Catholic ministers and then became Catholic priests say and do the same things as a Catholic Priest as they did as Protestant ministers - does the bread and wine not become the body and blood in a Lutheran or Presbyterian church but does become the body and blood in a Catholic church.

So I have worked myself into a corner. Is it the words, the gestures, the church that the person was ordained in, what the particular priest/minister believes that determines the consecration? this same question applies to marriage and probably all of the sacraments.

Thanks,

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[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

From the Catholic standpoint, the problem with Protestant clergy and a valid Eucharist isn’t with the words. The problem is with their church’s ordination and sacramental theology. The Protestant reformers dropped the belief that the Mass is the same sacrifice that was offered on Calvary. Since they denied this essential element of the priesthood, their bishops from then on could not validly ordain men to the priesthood.

The Eastern Orthodox Churches, however, retained the essential understanding of the Mass and priesthood, and therefore still have valid ordinations and valid sacraments.

As for Marcus Grodi, he is a layman in the Catholic Church and does not have the power to validly consecrate the sacred elements at Mass—and has not attempted to do so since becoming a Catholic. Some of his guests who used to be Protestant ministers have since been ordained Catholic priests and can validly celebrate Mass. Marcus has not.

The Catholic Church does recognize as valid, marriages between non Catholics and it also recognizes the baptisms of Protestants. Baptism can be validly conferred by anyone who uses the proper formula and intends to baptize the person in the name of the Trinity. The Catholic Church teaches that the man and woman confer the sacrament of matrimony on each other. Neither of these sacraments depend of a validly ordained clergy for non-Catholics.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.