xed with the blood, which water denotes the
people. And because deacons are between priest and people, the
dispensing of the blood is in the competency of deacons, rather than
the dispensing of the body.

Reply Obj. 2: For the reason given above, it belongs to the same
person to dispense and to consecrate this sacrament.

Reply Obj. 3: As the deacon, in a measure, shares in the priest's
"power of enlightening" (Eccl. Hier. v), inasmuch as he dispenses the
blood, so the priest shares in the "perfective dispensing" (Eccl.
Hier. v) of the bishop, inasmuch as he dispenses this sacrament
whereby man is perfected in himself by union with Christ. But other
perfections whereby a man is perfected in relation to others, are
reserved to the bishop.
_______________________

FOURTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 82, Art. 4]

Whether the Priest Who Consecrates Is Bound to Receive This Sacrament?

Objection 1: It seems that the priest who consecrates is not bound to
receive this sacrament. Because, in the other consecrations, he who
consecrates the matter does not use it, just as the bishop
consecrating the chrism is not anointed therewith. But this sacrament
consists in the consecration of the matter. Therefore, the priest
performing this sacrament need not use the same, but may lawfully
refrain from receiving it.

Obj. 2: Further, in the other sacraments the minister does not give
the sacrament to himself: for no one can baptize himself, as stated
above (Q. 66, A. 5, ad 4). But as Baptism is dispensed in due order,
so also is this sacrament. Therefore the priest who consecrates this
sacrament ought not to receive it at his own hands.

Obj. 3: Further, it sometimes happens that Christ's body appears upon
the altar under the guise of flesh, and the blood under the guise of
blood; which are unsuited for food and drink: hence, as was said
above (Q. 75, A. 5), it is on that account that they are given under
another species, lest they beget revulsion in the communicants.
Therefore the priest who consecrates is not always bound to receive
this sacrament.

_On the contrary,_ We read in the acts of the (Twelfth) Council of
Toledo (Can. v), and again (De Consecr., dist. 2): "It must be
strictly observed that as often as the priest sacrifices the body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the altar, he must himself be a
partaker of Christ's body and blood."

_I answer that,_ As stated above (Q. 79, AA. 5, 7), the Eucharist is
not only a sacra