intention for the sacraments
The minister of a sacrament must determine the purpose of his action by an act of his will, called intention.
Therefore for a valid sacrament, the minister must have the intention of making and administering a sacrament, "at least of doing what the Church does".
This intention must be interior, and at least virtual.
The adult recipient of a sacrament must have a positive intention to receive a sacrament, except in the sacraments of Penance and Matrimony, in which cases an habitual intention suffices.
New Catholic Dictionary
