Conditional sacrament

A conditional sacrament or sacrament sub conditione ("under condition") is in some Christian denominations a sacrament administered "on the condition that the faithful [receiving it is] able and legitimately entitled to receive the sacrament".^[1] An example of conditional sacrament is conditional baptism.

Conditional sacraments are practised by the Catholic Church,^[2][3] the Eastern Orthodox Church,^[4] the Anglican church,^[5] the Lutheran church, and the Methodist church.^[6]

Conditional sacraments are usually performed when there is doubt the previous sacrament(s) was (were) performed or valid, as receiving some specific sacraments more than once is considered impossible in the Catholic Church^[2][7][8][9] and the Eastern Orthodox Church.^[4]

Catholic Church

If there is doubt concerning the ability of a person to receive any sacrament, the sacrament can be administered conditionally, whether the person is supposed to have already received said sacrament or not.^[10]

In the Catholic Church, the sacraments which, due to their sacramental character, cannot be repeated and can conditionally administered are "the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and order".^[8][9]

It is a custom in the Catholic Church to express the conditionality of the conditional sacrament, either audibly or mentally.^[10] For example, the person performing the ritual will add the condition "if you are capable" to the sacrament's formula;^[3] or in the case of a conditional baptism, the person performing the ritual will add "If you are not baptised" before conferring the conditional baptism.^[2] Indeed, it is not necessary to express verbally the conditionality. However, the conditionality "should be expressed audibly when reasons for doubt about the condition of the subject are public. The purpose of the condition is to avoid scandal or confusion in the faithful and, out of reverence for the sacraments, to avoid subjecting them to the possibility of invalidity".^[10]

Eastern Orthodox Church

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, sacraments which cannot be repeated and can conditionally administered may include baptism and chrismation.^[4]

Church of England

In the Church of England, sacraments which cannot be repeated and can be conditionally administered include baptism.^[5]

Methodist Churches

In Methodism, baptisms are conditionally administered in cases of doubt concerning their validity.^[6]

Independent sacramental movement

According to the Utrecht Old Catholic priest Bernard Vignot, conditional consecration is "very common" within the independent sacramental movement (ISM). The practice of receiving conditional consecration is either performed by ISM bishops who want to receive as many lines of apostolic succession of various origins as possible, or by ISM clergy who doubt the validity of their holy order and "want to avoid any questioning".^[11]

See also

• Validity and liceity (Catholic Church)
• Sacramental character
• Ex opere operato
• Rebaptism
• Hugh George de Willmott Newman
• Sacramental matter and form
• Valid but irregular

References

1. Tutino, Stefania (2018). "Chapter 11. All That Live Must Die, Passing Through Nature to Eternity: Baptizing Fetuses". Uncertainty in Post-Reformation Catholicism: A History of Probabilism. Oxford University Press. p. 335. ISBN 978-0-19-069409-8.
2. "Dictionary : CONDITIONAL BAPTISM". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
3. "Dictionary : CONDITIONAL ADMINISTRATION". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
4. "Acceptance into the Orthodox Church". Holy Trinity Cathedral. Archived from the original on 2000-01-22. Retrieved 2021-11-07. The Orthodox Church has a special rule, which concerns all cases in which the condition is not clear. This is a conditional performance of a sacrament. In such cases anyone may be baptized. However, prior to the Sacrament, the priest should say: 'If not yet baptized, being baptized nowä 'if not chrismated yet, receive the grace of the Holy Spirit now...' etc. This practice is presently widely used in atheistic countries, where frequently there are no reliable information about the baptism of a child. Equally, such a practice is acceptable, if the convert to Orthodoxy is not sure about the legality of his baptism or has any doubts.
5. Procter; Frere (1902). A New History of the Book of Common Prayer. London: MacMillan & Co. pp. 591-2.
6. Yrigoyen, Charles Jr. (25 September 2014). T&T Clark Companion to Methodism. A&C Black. p. 263. ISBN 9780567290779. Methodists historically do not rebaptize unless the ecumenical formula was not used or another major impediment calls into question the adequacy of an earlier rite. When questions arise of a very grievous nature, there is the possibility of conditional baptism using the words 'If you are not already baptized, I baptize you in the name, etc.'
7. "Can sacraments be repeated?". Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception – Springfield, IL. Archived from the original on 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-11-07. However, even if somebody were to be "re-baptized" or "re-confirmed" in another church or religious group, we believe that nothing is taking place. It is simply a simulation of a sacrament that had already been received.
8. "Code of Canon Law - Book IV - Function of the Church (Cann. 834-878)". www.vatican.va. Archived from the original on 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2021-11-07. Can. 845 §1 Because they imprint a character, the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and order cannot be repeated.
   §2 If after diligent enquiry a prudent doubt remains as to whether the sacraments mentioned in §1 have been conferred at all, or conferred validly, they are to be conferred conditionally.
9. "CCEO: text - IntraText CT". www.intratext.com. Archived from the original on 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2021-11-07. Canon 672
   1. The sacraments of baptism, chrismation with holy myron and sacred ordination cannot be repeated. 2. If a prudent doubt exists as to whether they have been truly or validly celebrated, and the doubt remains after a serious investigation, they are to be administered conditionally.
10. Feingold, Lawrence (2021-05-07). "Chapter Six: The Subject and the Minister of the Sacraments — 2. Necessary Conditions in the Recipient of the Sacraments – Living and Baptized; Conditional Administration". Touched by Christ: The Sacramental Economy. Emmaus Academic. ISBN 978-1-64585-098-4.
11. Vignot, Bernard (2010). "Glossaire". Le phénomène des Eglises parallèles. Santier, Michel. Paris: Les éditions du Cerf. p. 114. ISBN 978-2-204-08801-5. OCLC 708360774. Ordination sous condition : en latin, sub conditiones. Il s'agit d'une pratique très courante dans les Églises parallèles. Un évêque voulant accumuler sur sa tête un maximum de successions apostoliques d'origines diverses (romaine, vieille-catholique, orthodoxe, syrienne, copte...) se fera réordonner de multiples fois 'sous conditions'. On pense aussi que certains ecclésiastes d'Églises parallèles, doutant de la validité de leurs ordres et tenant à éviter toute contestation, se font réordonner pour plus de sûreté.