in persona Christi
In persona Christi
in per-SOH-nah KREES-tee
The teaching that when a priest consecrates the Eucharist or absolves sins, it is Christ himself who acts through him.
in the person of Christ (the Head)
When the priest says “This is my Body” or “I absolve you,” he does not say “this is Christ's Body” or “Christ absolves you.” He speaks in the first person because, by the sacrament of Holy Orders, he acts in persona Christi Capitis — in the person of Christ the Head of the Church. The Catechism teaches that it is Christ who baptizes, Christ who acts in the sacraments, and that the priest is his living instrument; the priest's own unworthiness does not block Christ's action.
Councils
Where the Church settled or debated this. Follow a council to read our article on it, or the decrees themselves.
- 1545–1563Council of Trentthe decrees
- 1962–1965Second Vatican Councilthe decrees
Sources checked 29 September 2026