We could translate the title above into a simpler formulation: does a good cannon work in the hands of a bad soldier? Or: what good is a cannon if used by an enemy?
We know that a good cannon loses nothing of its quality, no matter how inept the gunner – although its accuracy may suffer… While this fact may be consoling, it is also extremely alarming if we consider the possibility of this effectiveness being used by a traitor against his own army.
Leaving metaphors aside, let us delve into the subject at hand: what is the value – if any – of a Mass celebrated by an unfaithful priest?
Firstly, the evidence confirms that everything done by a virtuous priest is better than what comes from an unworthy one. We need to know if this observation also applies to the Mass.
Considered in itself, the Angelic Doctor teaches, the Mass has an intrinsic value that is independent of the holiness of the celebrant. Seen from this point of view, the Mass of a bad priest is worth no less than that of a good one, because “the same sacrifice is offered by both” (Summa Theologiæ. III, q.82, a.6).
Since the priest acts in persona Christi, the Lord’s Passion is always renewed in an unbloody way at Holy Mass – whether by the hands of a saint or a sinner – with its own infinite merits, and the Heavenly Father is glorified.
However, at Mass there are also prayers that the minister raises to God for the faithful, both living and deceased. And the efficacy of these does in fact depend on the fervour and holiness of the celebrant.
According to the Aquinate, “in this respect there is no doubt but that the Mass of the better priest is the more fruitful” (a.6). As for the unfaithful minister, the words of Scripture apply to him: “even his prayer is an abomination” (Prv 28:9).
Therefore, if we really want to benefit from all the fruits of the Holy Sacrifice, the choice between attending Mass with a good priest or a bad one is not as indifferent as a superficial analysis, even if based on solid theology, might suggest.
There remains the problem of the “traitorous soldier”… Can the cannon aimed at its own army be effectively harmful to it?
Mass of St. Gregory the Great – Museum of St. Catherine’s Convent, Utrecht (Netherlands)
The bad priest is capable, like no one else, of offending the God-Man in the Eucharist. Only he, a validly ordained minister, can take on this nefarious role of executioner of the Divinity, forcing the Eternal King down from Heaven to be insulted, trampled and outraged.
However – paradoxical though it may seem – due to the intrinsic value of the Holy Sacrifice, even a Mass celebrated with the aim of outraging God glorifies Him!
St. Thomas goes on to explain why Our Lord allows bad priests to have the power to consecrate: “And this belongs to Christ’s excellence, whom, as the true God, things both good and evil serve, since they are ordained by His providence for His glory” (a.5). Nevertheless, the sacrilegious priest is still guilty of a most grievous sin.
In short, the cannon – to return to the initial metaphor – will be extremely effective whenever it is fired, and the primary objectives will always be achieved. But how many more marvels might it attain if used well!… ◊
