Sarah Mitchell
In the Catholic Church, intention is an important concept when it comes to determining the morality of an act and whether it is a sin. According to the Church, intention is an act of the will, aiming to reach an end by employing means. While good intentions do not justify immoral acts, they can diminish the evil associated with intrinsically evil acts. The Church teaches that for a sacrament to be valid, it must have valid matter and intention, with the intention being to intend what the Church intends. The value of an action is determined by the type of intention behind it, and the Church distinguishes between actual, virtual, habitual, and interpretative intentions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Intention | An act of the will by which that faculty efficaciously desires to reach an end by employing the means |
| Types of intentions | Actual intention, virtual intention, habitual intention, interpretative intention |
| Intention and acts | Good intentions or circumstances can never transform an act that is intrinsically evil into a good act |
| Intention and sacraments | For the valid conferring of the sacraments, the minister must have the intention of doing at least what the Church does |
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What You'll Learn
Good intentions cannot justify intrinsically evil acts
The Catholic Church teaches that good intentions cannot justify acts that are intrinsically evil. This means that certain actions are always evil and cannot be made good, regardless of the intentions or circumstances that motivated them. For example, Saint Augustine writes that sins such as theft, fornication, and blasphemy cannot be justified by good motives.
The Church's moral tradition identifies certain acts as "intrinsically evil" because they contradict the good of the person made in the image of God. These acts are considered evil in themselves, regardless of the intentions of the person performing them. The Church acknowledges the existence of intrinsic evil in human acts to remain faithful to the truth about man, respecting and promoting his dignity and vocation.
Moral theologians distinguish between various types of intentions, such as actual intention, virtual intention, habitual intention, and interpretative intention. While intentions can influence the morality of an act, they cannot change the intrinsic nature of an evil act. Even with good intentions, an act that is intrinsically evil remains "irremediably" evil and cannot be ordered towards God and the good of the person.
Furthermore, circumstances or intentions cannot transform an act that is intrinsically evil into a subjectively good or defensible choice. The determination of whether an act is intrinsically evil is based on its object and whether it can be "ordered" to God. Acts that are "not capable of being ordered" to God are considered to be in conflict with the true good of the person.
While intentions matter, they do not justify acts that are intrinsically evil. Good intentions may mitigate the severity of an evil act, but they cannot make it morally correct. The Church teaches that individuals must first look to its teachings to determine if an act is ever permissible and only then consider if the circumstances warrant the action in a particular case.
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Actual vs virtual intention
The Catholic Church makes a clear distinction between actual and virtual intention, which play a role in determining the morality of an act and the validity of sacraments.
Actual intention, the first type, operates with the advertence of the intellect, meaning a person's will is concentrated on a resolve to reach an end or achieve a goal. In other words, it is a conscious and deliberate act.
Virtual intention, on the other hand, is an intention that was once made and continues to influence the present act, but it is not present in the person's consciousness at the moment of action. It is a power or virtue that comes about as an effect of a former act and works towards the attainment of an end. For example, a person deciding to go on a journey may become preoccupied with other thoughts during the trip, but they still have the virtual intention of reaching their destination. Virtual intention is sufficient for a human act to be considered voluntary and, therefore, morally responsible.
In the context of sacraments, the Church teaches that the minister must have the intention to do what the Church does or what Christ instituted the sacraments to effect. This intention need not be actual but can be virtual. For penance and matrimony, a virtual intention is typically required, while for other sacraments, an habitual intention (one that once existed but has no present continuance) is sufficient.
The determination of whether an act is morally good or evil also involves considering intention. Moralists argue that intention is the chief determinant of the morality of a human act. A slightly or grievously bad motive can taint an otherwise good act, making it evil. However, good intentions cannot justify intrinsically evil acts, such as theft or blasphemy, according to Saint Augustine.
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Intention and the sacraments
Intention is an important concept in Catholic theology, and it plays a significant role in the sacraments. In the Catholic tradition, intention is seen as an act of the will, a desire to reach an end by employing certain means. There are several types of intentions, including actual intention, virtual intention, habitual intention, and interpretative intention, each with its own nuances.
When it comes to the sacraments, intention is crucial for their validity. For a sacrament to be considered valid, it must have two elements: valid matter and intention. This means that the person administering the sacrament, such as a priest, must have the intention to do what the Church intends. This is often referred to as "ex opere operato," meaning that the sacrament is effective by the very fact of its being performed. The internal intention of the minister is more important than their external actions or ritual precision.
The specific type of intention required for a sacrament can vary. For example, for penance and matrimony, a virtual intention is typically required. This means that the person intends to reach a certain end, even if their mind wanders during the sacrament. For other sacraments, an habitual intention may be sufficient. This refers to an intention that once existed but may no longer be actively present, as long as it has never been retracted.
In the case of adults receiving sacraments, some intention is generally required for the sacrament to be valid. This is because their justification requires their cooperation and a rational will to profit from the means of sanctification. However, for children who have not yet reached the age of reason or for individuals who lack the capacity for reason, no intention is necessary for the validity of the sacraments they receive.
While intention is essential for the validity of sacraments, it is important to note that intentions do not justify intrinsically evil acts. According to Catholic doctrine, certain acts are considered "intrinsically evil," meaning they contradict the good of the person and cannot be ordered to God. Good intentions or particular circumstances may diminish the evil associated with such acts, but they cannot make them subjectively good or defensible.
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Interpretative intention
An interpretative intention is one that has never been explicitly stated or decided upon; it is simply the purpose that one is assumed to have had in a given situation, had they considered the matter.
In the context of Catholic doctrine, intention is an important concept when determining the morality of an act. The Church teaches that for a sacrament to be valid, two things are required: valid matter and intention. The intention must be to intend what the Church intends. This is known as the doctrine of intent. For example, if a priest is performing a baptism but is thinking of something else, it is not considered a valid baptism.
While good intentions can diminish the evil of an act, they cannot remove it. Acts that are intrinsically evil, such as theft, fornication, and blasphemy, remain evil regardless of the intention behind them. Saint Augustine writes, "who would dare affirm that, by doing them for good motives, they would no longer be sins, or, what is even more absurd, that they would be sins that are justified?".
The value of an action is often determined by the intention behind it. There are several types of intentions, including actual intention, which operates with the advertence of the intellect, and virtual intention, which is not a present act of the will but rather a power that arises from a former act.
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Intention and volition
Intention, derived from the Latin "intendere", means "to stretch toward" or "to aim at". It is an act of the will, where a person desires to reach an end by employing certain means. In the Catholic Church, intention is a key factor in determining the morality of a human act.
There are several types of intentions: actual intention, which operates with the advertence of the intellect; virtual intention, which is borrowed from a prior volition or will; habitual intention, which once existed but no longer does, yet has never been retracted; and interpretative intention, which is assumed to be the purpose a person would have had if they had given thought to the matter.
The Catholic Church teaches that for a sacrament to be valid, two things are required: valid matter and intention. The Church interprets valid intention broadly, stating that the person administering the sacrament must intend what the Church intends. This means that the minister must have the intention to do what the Church does when conferring the sacrament.
In terms of the recipients of the sacraments, children who have not yet reached the age of reason or individuals who are incapable of understanding do not need to have a specific intention for the sacrament to be valid. However, for adults, some intention is necessary. The amount of intention required can vary depending on the sacrament, with some requiring a virtual intention and others requiring only an habitual intention.
While intention is crucial, it is important to note that good intentions do not justify immoral or intrinsically evil acts. Acts that contradict the good of a person made in God's image are considered "intrinsically evil" and cannot be justified by good intentions or circumstances. Saint Augustine writes, "who would dare affirm that, by doing them [sins] for good motives, they would no longer be sins, or, what is even more absurd, that they would be sins that are justified?".
In conclusion, intention and volition are distinct concepts, with intention referring to the aim or desire to reach an end, and volition being the act of carrying out that desire. While intention is a key factor in determining the morality of an act, it does not justify immoral or evil acts.
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Frequently asked questions
Intention, from the Latin 'intendere', means to stretch toward or aim at something. It is an act of the will, where a person desires to reach an end by employing certain means.
No, good intentions do not justify an act. While intentions and circumstances can diminish the evil of an act, they cannot remove it. Acts that are intrinsically evil, such as theft, fornication, and blasphemy, remain evil despite any good intentions.
For a sacrament to be valid, it requires valid matter and intention. While children or those who have not reached the age of reason do not need intention, adults must have the intention to cooperate and receive the sacrament.
Intention is a key factor in determining the morality of a human act. A grievous or bad motive can turn an otherwise good act into an evil one. However, good intentions cannot make an immoral act moral. The Church teaches that certain acts are intrinsically evil and cannot be justified, regardless of intention.
