Confused Jesuit Wonders "What Christ Meant With Words of Consecration"

Indeed, Dr. Maria's comment does hold! The intention of the minister does matter -- even though whether or not he is a sinner does NOT matter for the validity of the sacraments. "Some light has been thrown on this vexed question by the Bull Apostolicae Curae against Anglican Orders. 'The Church,' says Pope Leo XIII., 'does not judge about the mind or intention 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 seriously 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 principle 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 sacrament, then it is clear that not only is the necessary intention wanting to the sacrament, but that the intention is adverse to and destructive of the sacrament.'"

The question raised by these loosey-goosey priests, who have lost Supernatural Faith, is precisely this: at what point does their agnosticism, and in some cases out right apostasy, start to reject "what the Church does, and what by the institution of Christ belongs to the nature of the sacrament" - which, as the quote above states, would mean "it is clear that not only is the necessary intention wanting to the sacrament, but that the intention is adverse to and destructive of the sacrament.'"?

We have all turned a blind-eye to this apostasy and agnosticism for far too long - and simply accepted it as the 'new normal' -- without considering the fact that this 'new normal' has led to the loss of Grace -- and its effects -- which we now see so manifest around us everywhere.

Of course, intention is an essential factor in Sacramental validity (along with Sacramental Form and Matter). What is necessary is minimal intention, which is always general and always the same for every Sacrament. It is to have the intention to do what the Church does (cf St Thomas and Trent). General intention is sufficient because the essence of a Sacrament is specified in the Sacramental Form (e.g., Hoc est enim corpus meum).

This is why anyone, including an atheist, can validly Baptize. It is also why an ex-priest who is an atheist can give valid absolution in the case of impending death, e.g, automobile accident

At Sacerdotal Ordination a man receives the power to confect the Eucharist. This power remains whether or not he is in mortal sin or denies the existence of God.

The basic principle found in Apostolicae Curae is that Anglicanism actively denies the Sacrificial nature of the Eucharist. This is a denial of what the Church does, thus contradicting even minimal intention. And this denial is reflected in the Sacramental Form.

Exactly the point, Dr. Bobus!! These so-called priests who say they are not even sure what is going on at the moment of Consecration - are not merely poorly formed, as you noted in one of your posts in this thread. At what point do we admit that they have become apostates - who deny the very reality of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?! Now, that is the question! Again, we have turned a blind-eye to all this apostasy for so long - that we now accept it as the 'new normal'! Please look at the state of affairs - what do we see? A world without Grace, that is growing more and more Godless by the day, because the "salt has lost its flavor" - with the salt being Catholic clergy!
Our Lady warned us of this for many, many years now - in various apparitions - if we are slow to hear Her words, or worse than that, obstinate - then we are the losers ~~~ and so is the world.