Page:The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII.djvu/410



404 ANGLICAN ORDERS.

in so far as it is something by its nature internal; but in so far as it is manifested externally she is bound to judge concerning it. When any one has rightly and serioush- made use of the due form and the matter requisite for effecting or conferring the sacrament he is considered by the very fact to do what the Church does. On this prin- ciple rests the doctrine that a sacrament is truly conferred by the ministry of one who is a heretic or unbaptized, provided the Catholic rite be employed. On the other hand, if the rite be changed, with the manifest intention of introducing another rite not approved by the Church and of rejecting what the Church does, and what by the institution of Christ belongs to the nature of the sacra- ment, then it is clear that not only is the necessary in- tention wanting to the sacrament, but that the intention is adverse to and destructive of the sacrament.

All these matters have been long and carefully con- sidered by Ourselves and by Our Venerable Brethren, the Judges of the Supreme Council, of whom it has pleased Us to call a special meeting on the " Feria V.," the 16th day of July last, upon the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. They with one accord agreed that the question laid before them had been already adjudicated upon with full knowledge of the Apostolic See, and that this re- newed discussion and examination of the issues had only served to bring out more clearly the wisdom and accuracy mth which that decision had been made. Never- theless We deemed it well to postpone a decision in order to afford time, both to consider whether it would be fitting or expedient that We should make a fresh authoritative declaration upon the m^atter, and to humbly pray for a fuller measure of divine guidance. Then, considering that this matter of practice, although already decided, had been by certain persons, for whatever reason, re- called into discussion, and that thence it might follow that a pernicious error would be fostered in the minds of many who might suppose that they possessed the Sacrament and