Elderly Father-in-Law: Not Catholic receiving communion [edited]

[ChristusVincit]

Then what do you do in the case of lifelong faithful Catholics who gradually slide into Alzheimers or other dementia? At what point does one decide that they no longer know enough to receive the Eucharist?

This is what I want to know. And in addition - can one really persevere to the end with dementia? If not - what happens to them after death?

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Then what do you do in the case of lifelong faithful Catholics who gradually slide into Alzheimers or other dementia? At what point does one decide that they no longer know enough to receive the Eucharist?

I also wonder who has the authority to deny someone Communion. It is my understanding that an EMHC must minister the Body and Blood to whomever appears in front of them.

I can’t believe anyone would presume to have the authority to deny an elderly Catholic person Communion, or the arrogance to think they can know for sure what the person understands.

I have volunteered in a nursing home, and we always offer the Catholic residents Communion, unless they clearly refuse it. Most really light up when it is offered, even if they do not understand much else.

Lux

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

It is not my intention to disrespect the Church’s conditions one bit. I’m thinking out loud, mostly about the difference between East and West, and who makes these kinds of decisions and how they make them pastorally when it isn’t always clear cut. I have deviated from the initial question, so I’ll stop now, at least with the out loud part.

Hi,

I certainly agree that this is a complicated situation, which must be handled by the Pastor. You are definitely not disrespectful.

The instruction against a blessing is a liturgical norm, (not even considered a grave abuse), rather than a matter of faith or morals, so I’m sure the Pastor could make an exception for this elderly man (there is no fasting rule for hospital patients)

Also, I agree conversion could be considered.

God bless all who care for the sick and elderly.

Lux

 

[kathrynsue]

While i realize that it is not correct for non-communicating persons to approach the priest for a blessing during Communion, perhaps the priest (if you are in a small enough parish that he would know who you are, and if this is the local custom) would be willing to bless your father in law when he approaches for communion. Given his mental state, perhaps this would allow you to keep him safe and supervised, and prevent an outburst if he felt ignored or shamed if he were denied the sacrament.

thats done every sunday at the church ive been going to and its not a small church

 

[benedictgal]

thats done every sunday at the church ive been going to and its not a small church

Unfortunately, this is not an option, nor should it be. Please read the notice from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments:

1. The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.

1. Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest (cf. Ecclesia de Mysterio, Notitiae 34 (15 Aug. 1997), art. 6, § 2; Canon 1169, § 2; and Roman Ritual De Benedictionibus (1985), n. 18).

1. Furthermore, the laying on of a hand or hands — which has its own sacramental significance, inappropriate here — by those distributing Holy Communion, in substitution for its reception, is to be explicitly discouraged.

1. The Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio n. 84, “forbids any pastor, for whatever reason to pretext even of a pastoral nature, to perform ceremonies of any kind for divorced people who remarry”. To be feared is that any form of blessing in substitution for communion would give the impression that the divorced and remarried have been returned, in some sense, to the status of Catholics in good standing.

1. In a similar way, for others who are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in accord with the norm of law, the Church’s discipline has already made clear that they should not approach Holy Communion nor receive a blessing. **This would include non-Catholics **and those envisaged in can. 915 (i.e., those under the penalty of excommunication or interdict, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin).

Even though they are studying the issue, I draw your attention to the fifth sentence. So, this is not an option and should not be recommended for the time being.

 

[Newbie2]

I’d speak with the parish priest and see what he says.

I doubt that this situation comes up very often, RCIA does not seem to be an option, I would guess there’s some sort of alternative way of converting. The RCC has to provide a way for him to convert and take the sacrament in full communion

Otherwise, she would pretty much be proclaiming doom on those who may be mentally incapacitated…

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I’d speak with the parish priest and see what he says.

I doubt that this situation comes up very often, RCIA does not seem to be an option, I would guess there’s some sort of alternative way of converting. The RCC has to provide a way for him to convert and take the sacrament in full communion

Otherwise, she would pretty much be proclaiming doom on those who may be mentally incapacitated…

Many people are received into the Catholic Church without RCIA — some even on their death beds. There must be a way to accommodate him, IF he desires to become Catholic (we can’t make that decision for another person).