Abouna Robert Matheus: On Ministerial IntentionIntroductionToday we live in a very confusing time inside Christianity; even the Catholic Church does not escape to it.The most fundamental dogmas are denied, even by those who are supposed to teach them. As a consequence,respect for all what concerns God has diminished dramatically. Liturgy, once celebrated with fear and trem-bling, became an area of experimentation and self-realisation, an area where one can show his artistic talents.New liturgies were introduced accompanied by a new catechesis, a new idea and ideal of priesthood, a newchurch with a new doctrine completely cut off from the living tradition, even often in fragrant contradictionwith it. People, even bishops and theologians start to wonder what to think about certain celebrations: Euchar-ist, ordinations, baptisms, where even the most fundamental parts arbitrarily are changed. Even people highlyplaced in authority use non-approved texts for the Eucharist, ordinations, etc. In the area of evangelisation ad-aptation has become inculturation, and when this one didn't satisfy those minds always searching for some-thing new, it was replaced by 'in-religionisation', i.e., to adopt as far as possible the rituals, vocabulary andtheology of the pagan other religions.In this context it might be useful to examine the question of the minimum intention required from the part ofthe minister to administrate validly the sacraments. Since the intention is a hidden element in the minister,somehow we must be able to discern it through the external sign of the ceremonies. We will examine the con -troversial theory of the exterior, or better 'exteriorised intention'. Finally, we will see an application: the fam -ous case of the Anglican ordinations, declared by Leo XIII in an unreformable decision as invalid and void be-cause of defect of intention and of form.AbbreviationsD: Denzinger & Schönmetzer: Enchiridion Symbolorum definitionum et declarationum...NRT: Nouvelle Revue ...