ST Suppl., q. 31, a. 2Of the Minister of This Sacrament
Whether deacons can confer this sacrament?
Supplement — compiled posthumously from Aquinas's early Sentences commentary
Objection 1not Aquinas's viewST Suppl., q. 31, a. 2, obj. 1
It would seem that deacons can confer this sacrament. For, according to Dionysius (Eccl. Hier. v) "deacons have the power to cleanse." Now this sacrament was instituted precisely to cleanse from sickness of the mind and body. Therefore deacons also can confer it.
Objection 2not Aquinas's viewST Suppl., q. 31, a. 2, obj. 2
Further, Baptism is a more excellent sacrament than the one of which we are speaking. But deacons can baptize, as instanced by the Blessed Laurence. Therefore they can confer this sacrament also.
On the contraryan authority Aquinas citesST Suppl., q. 31, a. 2, s.c.
It is written (James 5:14): "Let him bring in the priests of the Church."
I answer thatAquinas's own answerST Suppl., q. 31, a. 2, co.
A deacon has the power to cleanse but not to enlighten. Hence, since enlightenment is an effect of grace, no sacrament whereby grace is conferred can be given by a deacon in virtue of his office: and so he cannot confer this sacrament, since grace is bestowed therein.
Reply to Objection 1ST Suppl., q. 31, a. 2, ad 1
This sacrament cleanses by enlightening through the bestowal of grace: wherefore a deacon is not competent to confer it.
Reply to Objection 2ST Suppl., q. 31, a. 2, ad 2
This is not a necessary sacrament, as Baptism is. Hence its bestowal is not committed to all in cases of necessity, but only to those who are competent to do so in virtue of their office. Nor are deacons competent to baptize in virtue of their office.