3. Scotus’ own Position

34. Whatever, at any rate, may be the case as to this controversy about episcopacy, the simply noblest act in the Church is the consecration of the Eucharist, and so the supreme or noblest rank (because of the nobility of the act for which it disposes) is the priesthood. And consequently, taking the description of order in this way, according to the description put in the first article [n.22] and to the distinction of order in the Church, there are only seven orders. Of these the first is the rank that disposes for consecration of the Eucharist, and it is the priesthood; the second rank, that disposes for the dispensation of the Eucharist (at least of the blood), is the diaconate; the third, that disposes for the offering of the Eucharistic matter to be consecrated, is the subdiaconate.

35. And the reason why these three are called orders is sufficiently plain, because they immediately dispose someone for an act or ministry about the Eucharist, or about presenting the matter of it.

36. Further, some ranks dispose for acts that are remotely related to the Eucharist: either for suitable disposition in the people, for adoring or receiving the Eucharist, or for removing impediment or unsuitable disposition. In the first way, a suitable disposition (pertaining to affection) is devotion, and for this devotion the acolyte attends by lighting the waxen candles. Another disposition, pertaining to understanding, is knowledge, and for this does the lector act. If the ranks dispose in the second way, namely by removing impediment or preventing the unworthy from coming near - then either unworthy men and to this pertains the office of gatekeeper, or demons and to this pertains the office of exorcist.

37. From these points it is plain that the first act of the deacon is not to read the Gospel, nor of the subdeacon to read the Epistle, but these are remote and less perfect acts; and the most perfect acts of them and proper to those orders are the acts that the one has immediately as to dispensing the Eucharist and the other as to offering its matter.