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Objection 1: It seems that to baptize is not part of the priestly
office, but proper to that of bishops. Because, as stated above
(Article 1, Objection 1), the duties of teaching and baptizing
are enjoined in the same precept (Mt. 28:19). But to teach,
which is "to perfect," belongs to the office of bishop, as
Dionysius declares (Eccl. Hier. v, vi). Therefore to baptize
also belongs to the episcopal office.
Objection 2: Further, by Baptism a man is admitted to the body of
the Christian people: and to do this seems consistent with no other
than the princely office. Now the bishops hold the position of princes
in the Church, as the gloss observes on Lk. 10:1: indeed, they
even take the place of the apostles, of whom it is written (Ps.
44:17): "Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth."
Therefore it seems that to baptize belongs exclusively to the office of
bishops.
Objection 3: Further, Isidore says (Epist. ad Ludifred.)
that "it belongs to the bishop to consecrate churches, to anoint
altars, to consecrate [conficere] the chrism; he it is that confers
the ecclesiastical orders, and blesses the consecrated virgins." But
the sacrament of Baptism is greater than all these. Therefore much
more reason is there why to baptize should belong exclusively to the
episcopal office.
On the contrary, Isidore says (De Officiis. ii): "It is
certain that Baptism was entrusted to priests alone."
I answer that, Priests are consecrated for the purpose of celebrating
the sacrament of Christ's Body, as stated above (Question 65,
Article 3). Now that is the sacrament of ecclesiastical unity,
according to the Apostle (1 Cor. 10:17): "We, being
many, are one bread, one body, all that partake of one bread and one
chalice." Moreover, by Baptism a man becomes a participator in
ecclesiastical unity, wherefore also he receives the right to approach
our Lord's Table. Consequently, just as it belongs to a priest to
consecrate the Eucharist, which is the principal purpose of the
priesthood, so it is the proper office of a priest to baptize: since
it seems to belong to one and the same, to produce the whole and to
dispose the part in the whole.
Reply to Objection 1: Our Lord enjoined on the apostles, whose
place is taken by the bishops, both duties, namely, of teaching and
of baptizing, but in different ways. Because Christ committed to
them the duty of teaching, that they might exercise it themselves as
being the most important duty of all: wherefore the apostles themselves
said (Acts 6:2): "It is not reason that we should leave the
word of God and serve tables." On the other hand, He entrusted the
apostles with the office of baptizing, to be exercised vicariously;
wherefore the Apostle says (1 Cor. 1:17): "Christ sent me
not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel." And the reason for this
was that the merit and wisdom of the minister have no bearing on the
baptismal effect, as they have in teaching, as may be seen from what
we have stated above (Question 64, Article 1, ad 2; Articles
5,9). A proof of this is found also in the fact that our Lord
Himself did not baptize, but His disciples, as John relates
(4:2). Nor does it follow from this that bishops cannot baptize;
since what a lower power can do, that can also a higher power.
Wherefore also the Apostle says (1 Cor. 1:14,16) that he
had baptized some.
Reply to Objection 2: In every commonwealth minor affairs are
entrusted to lower officials, while greater affairs are restricted to
higher officials; according to Ex. 18:22: "When any great
matter soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them
judge the lesser matters only." Consequently it belongs to the lower
officials of the state to decide matters concerning the lower orders;
while to the highest it belongs to set in order those matters that
regard the higher orders of the state. Now by Baptism a man attains
only to the lowest rank among the Christian people: and consequently
it belongs to the lesser officials of the Church
to baptize, namely, the priests, who hold the place of the
seventy-two disciples of Christ, as the gloss says in the passage
quoted from Luke 10.
Reply to Objection 3: As stated above (Question 65, Article
3), the sacrament of Baptism holds the first place in the order of
necessity; but in the order of perfection there are other greater
sacraments which are reserved to bishops.
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