Dist. 13, Art. 1, Q. 2
by St. Bonaventure
Source text: Public Domain Mark 1.0. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://bonaventure.wrootpress.com/browse/4/d/13/q/bon-sent-IV-d13-a1-q2
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### Question II. *Whether only priests can confect [the Eucharist].*

Secondly it is asked, whether only priests can confect. And that they can, it seems:

1. Because Hugh says: "For this Sacrament there concur order, intention, and action." And the Master also says this, and the custom of holy Church holds it.

2. Likewise, it seems by reason: because in the Old Testament, from the time the temple was built, it was permitted to priests alone to offer sacrifice: therefore if the figure was true, truth must also correspond to it: this is clear, etc.

3. Likewise, this Sacrament is to be held in great reverence: therefore the dispensing of it ought not to have been granted to all, therefore it has been granted to some, therefore others do not have the power; but those to whom this power is given, we call priests: therefore etc.

4. Likewise, the Apostle in Hebrews, chapter five, says that *a high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins:* therefore one who is not appointed a priest cannot.

4. Likewise, in every nation, even among idolaters, among whom worship is established, the power of offering is specially committed to certain persons, who are called priests: therefore if the Church is most well-ordered, therefore it seems that Christ ought to have given this office to certain persons. But the distribution of offices in the Church ought to be ordered to one [end]: therefore only those can do this who are ordained to it by the princes and pontiffs of the Church; but these are priests: therefore etc.

**On the contrary:** 1. Although it befits priests alone by office to baptize, nevertheless if a layman baptizes, [the one] is baptized: therefore likewise, if he confects, [the thing] is confected.

2. Likewise, a good layman is more worthy to minister to God than an impious priest: therefore if at the invocation of an evil priest the Lord converts bread into [His] body, much more strongly [would He do so] at the word of a good layman.

3. Likewise, just as the Lord said to the disciples alone: *Take,* and: *As often as you do [this]* etc., so He said: *Teach all nations, baptizing [them];* but the power of baptizing has been granted to all: therefore by similarity also the power of confecting.

4. Likewise, blessed Peter, in the first Canonical [epistle], chapter two: *You are a holy nation, a royal priesthood;* he speaks to all the good: therefore etc.

> **Conclusion.** Only priests can confect the Eucharist.

**I respond:** It must be said that only priests can confect, and if others do [it], they do nothing at all. And this indeed our *faith* teaches, which we have received from the Apostles, and they from the Lord; whence they ordered the Church according to God's institution. And because the Apostles and afterward their successors conferred the power of confecting upon special persons, whom they also named priests; therefore faith holds it lawful for those alone.

To this *reason* is consonant: because that Sacrament, which had to be held in great reverence, was committed and ought to have been committed to special persons; either therefore by reason of *holiness,* or by reason of *authority.* If by holiness, as the heretics say; then therefore no one is certain whether he confects, and our salvation depends on another's goodness. If by authority; and authority can be granted to good and evil alike, and this we call the order of the priesthood: it is established therefore that those alone can [do it].

1. To the objection which is raised concerning baptism, it must be said that it is not similar: because that is the first and necessary Sacrament and is not to be held in such great veneration.

2. To the objection which is raised, that a good layman is more worthy; it must be said that in the power of confecting *worthiness* is not considered, but only *authority,* which is in priests by reason of [their] character.

3. To the objection which is raised, that it was said to the Apostles alone: *Take and eat;* likewise: *Go and baptize;* the response is clear: for just as they themselves expounded by deed, the one was committed in one way, the other in another. For just as they instituted in the Church, it is clear that they permitted [people] to be baptized indifferently, but conferred special power and authority upon special persons, especially for confecting this Sacrament; and this we call the order, and the persons having that power are called priests.

4. To the objection which is raised, that the Saints are called priests; it must be said that they are not called priests from the offering of the Lord's body, but of their own, because each one offers his own body as *a living host,* in Romans, chapter twelve.

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