May 29, 2012 – Catechism 1548 – 1553

I think there is a lot of confusion with the understanding of a sinful priest and its effects on the Sacraments.  Basically, there is no effect on the Sacraments.  A priest, if he follows the prescribed wording and uses the correct materials, can perform the Sacraments legitimately, even if he is in a state of mortal sin.  The reason is that Christ is performing the Sacraments, not the priest.  The priest is there in appearance and he is what we see, but Christ is the actor, using the priest as His instrument.  When the priest is at the altar saying the words of consecration, it is Christ standing there, saying the words, in a mysterious way.  When you are in confession, Christ is sitting there listening to you, advising you, forgiving and absolving you of your sins.

I wonder if it is like the Eucharist or if that is a bad analogy.  In the Eucharist, the Body and Blood maintain the appearance of bread and wine even though their substance has changed.  I wonder if we can use our understanding of that to better reflect on what happens with the priest when he is performing the Sacraments.  It cannot be a perfect analogy because the priest comes back into his own self and is not always in the person of Christ, but I wonder if during those moments he is transubstantiated in some form or fashion.