Sacraments for the excommunicated

[ConstantineTG]

Alright, we know that if one is excommunicated, they can start its lifting by going to Confession. But what if they are dying? Can they also receive Anointing of the Sick? Can they receive Communion as part of the Last Rites provided that the Absolution would have restored them to the Church?

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Alright, we know that if one is excommunicated, they can start its lifting by going to Confession. But what if they are dying? Can they also receive Anointing of the Sick? Can they receive Communion as part of the Last Rites provided that the Absolution would have restored them to the Church?

I think a priest can absolve from most sins a person in extremis but I believe there are sins whose forgiveness is reserved to the Holy See even in such extreme circumstances.

 

[thomas_jd]

Alright, we know that if one is excommunicated, they can start its lifting by going to Confession. But what if they are dying? Can they also receive Anointing of the Sick? Can they receive Communion as part of the Last Rites provided that the Absolution would have restored them to the Church?

“In danger of death any priest , even if deprived of faculities for hearing confessions, can absolve from every sin and excommuniation.” CCC# 1463

 

[Pug]

Alright, we know that if one is excommunicated, they can start its lifting by going to Confession. But what if they are dying? Can they also receive Anointing of the Sick? Can they receive Communion as part of the Last Rites provided that the Absolution would have restored them to the Church?

A person who is dying can receive confession, communion, anointing, from an ordinary priest, even one who normally couldn’t hear a confession. The priest in that case can do these things, even for those “reserved” cases. The point of excommunication is to promote healing, not to make the sacraments unavailable to the dying.

 

[ConstantineTG]

“In danger of death any priest , even if deprived of faculities for hearing confessions, can absolve from every sin and excommuniation.” CCC# 1463

Wow, I can’t believe I missed that part. Thanks!

So after the person has been absolved, which is the first part of the Last Rites, the priest can then proceed to give Anointing and Communion.

Awesome

 

[thomas_jd]

Wow, I can’t believe I missed that part. Thanks!

So after the person has been absolved, which is the first part of the Last Rites, the priest can then proceed to give Anointing and Communion.

Awesome

You got it!

 

[dans0622]

Alright, we know that if one is excommunicated, they can start its lifting by going to Confession. But what if they are dying? Can they also receive Anointing of the Sick? Can they receive Communion as part of the Last Rites provided that the Absolution would have restored them to the Church?

In addition to what has been said, you can also look to the Code of Canon Law which says:

“Can. 1352 §1. If a penalty prohibits the reception of the sacraments or sacramentals, the prohibition is suspended as long as the offender is in danger of death.”

So, someone who is excommunicated, for example, wouldn’t even need to seek the remission of the penalty if he was in danger of death–the penalty is automatically suspended so that he can receive the Sacraments. Of course, such a person would tend to want to be freed from the penalty, but that is another matter covered by

“Can. 976 Even though a priest lacks the faculty to hear confessions, he absolves validly and licitly any penitents whatsoever in danger of death from any censures and sins, even if an approved priest is present.”

If this person were to recover from his illness or the danger of death passes, he is to have recourse to the proper authority:

“Can. 1357 §3. After they have recovered, those for whom an imposed or declared censure or one reserved to the Apostolic See has been remitted according to the norm of can. 976 are also obliged to make recourse.”

Dan

 

[Just_Lurking]

Didn’t Pope Pius XII send out some notice to Catholic priests about what they should do if Hitler wanted to receive sacramental confession?