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Was the Mass of Padre Pio Equal to the Mass of Fr Marcial Maciel (St Thomas Aquinas Answers This Question)

Padre Pio, a holy priest of Christ

Yesterday’s post “Are you part of the Great Catholic Migration of the 21st Century” certainly stirred the pot in the comments section. The idea of a “migration” is controversial but this blog is not afraid of a little controversy. As I stated yesterday, I’m not interested in doing an exposé on everything wrong with the Catholic Church. It’s easy to take pop-shots. It’s difficult to find solutions.

One such question is whether we should “migrate” to parishes where the priests have laid out a vision of holiness, reverence, and personal sanctity. I argue that we should migrate to those parishes, convents, monasteries, and colleges where the Catholic Faith is practiced reverently.

However, some voices in the comments were accusing me and others of the heresy of Donatism. Donatism wrongfully teaches that unworthy or sinful clergy cannot validly provide the sacraments to the laity. Of course, I don’t believe this. Fr Marcial Maciel was able to confect the sacraments. He was an evil priest, even a Judas priest. Nevertheless, Maciel’s Mass was as valid as the Mass of Padre Pio.

However, Saint Thomas Aquinas makes a nuance about the efficacy of the Holy Mass regarding the sanctity of the priest. Saint Thomas Aquinas dedicates an article of his Summa theologiae to this question: “Whether the Mass of a sinful priest is of less worth than the Mass of a good priest?” Saint Thomas, the Angelic Doctor, answers affirmatively. Yes, the Mass of a sinful priest is of less worth than the Mass of a good priest. Let’s look at his reasoning.

Note that this is not a question of a valid Eucharist. Saint Thomas Aquinas assumes that the Eucharist of a sinful priest is valid, so long as the priest uses the valid form, matter, and intention. However, Saint Thomas explicitly teaches that the Mass of a holy priest has greater efficacy than a sinful priest. Saint Thomas, citing the Decretals, writes:

“It is stated in Decretal i, q. 1: ‘The worthier the priest, the sooner is he heard in the needs for which he prays.'”

Allow Saint Thomas Aquinas to explain what he means. Here’s a direct quote:

“Again, the prayer put up in the mass can be considered in two respects: first of all, in so far as it has its efficacy from the devotion of the priest interceding, and in this respect there is no doubt but that the mass of the better priest is the more fruitful. In another respect, inasmuch as the prayer is said by the priest in the Mass in the place of the entire Church, of which the priest is the minister; and this ministry remains even in sinful men, as was said above (Article 5) in regard to Christ’s ministry. Hence, in this respect the prayer even of the sinful priest is fruitful, not only that which he utters in the Mass, but likewise all those he recites in the ecclesiastical offices, wherein he takes the place of the Church. On the other hand, his private prayers are not fruitful, according to Proverbs 28:9: “He that turneth away his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination.” (Summa theologiae III q. 82, a. 6, resp)

Saint Thomas refers to the intercessory power of the priest during Holy Mass. The sacrament is valid regardless of the priest’s sanctity or sinfulness, but the efficacy of the prayers and intentions differ from priest to priest. In his reply to the third objection, Thomas writes: “the private blessing in the Mass of a good priest is fruitful to others.”

Will you and your children be blessed by attending Holy Masses of holy priests? Yes. This is why we should pray daily for our priests. None of us knows the interior lives of priests and we should not judge by appearances. However, we can make a judgment about whether the priest follows the rubrics prescribed by Holy Mother Church. It’s an objective and public manifestation of obedience on the part of the clergy. If the priest will break the simple rubrics of the Church in the context of the Holy Sacrifice of Mass when he is acting in persona Christi, what rules or laws will he not break? If he breaks the rules while handling the Body of the Second Person of the Trinity, will he obey rules as they pertain to other areas?

Now it’s your turn. Please leave a comment. Here are my two chief concerns:

1) While this is the teaching of Saint Thomas, we cannot engage in a “holy priest” hunt, and become obsessed with who is celebrating a certain Holy Mass. There is a practical and prudential element to this. Mostly, we should pray for our priests with true charity in our hearts.

2) Secondly, can we be deceived? We may gravitate to a priest whom we think is a holy man. Think of the huge followings of Fr Marciel Maciel or other priests who have fallen. How do we avoid being fooled?

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