Question XLVIII: Whether a man established in however small a charity is bound to undergo death for Christ

I ASSERT first, that in necessity, either of upholding justice or of dying, everyone is bound to undergo death for Christ.

IT IS PROVED first by St. Bonaventure, on Luke 9: Whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of man shall be ashamed, when he shall come in his majesty.

FURTHER it is proved by the Seraphic Doctor, from 1 John 3: Because he laid down his soul for us, and we ought to lay down our souls for the brethren.

THIRD: All are more bound to love God than all created things: Therefore if one must be lost, we ought to squander all created things.

I assert second. Outside of necessity, it is a work of supererogation.

IT IS PROVED by the Seraphic Doctor, first. John 15: Greater love than this no one has, than that a man lay down his soul for his friends: Therefore to undergo death for Christ is of the highest perfection; but the imperfect are not bound to heroic works: Therefore.

FURTHER he proves it from the Gloss on Rom. 6., asserting the same.

THIRD the Seraphic Doctor proves it, from D. Augustine, tractate 5 on the First Epistle of John. This is perfect Charity, that a man be ready to die for the brethren. But the Seraphic Doctor infers that Prelates are bound to a greater perfection than subjects are bound; for they are bound to lay down their souls for all. John 10: The Good Shepherd gives his soul for his Sheep. Which the Seraphic Doctor observes also on John, chapter 10.

THEREFORE in time of pestilence they are bound to expose themselves to danger of life, in administering the necessary Sacraments, as the Doctors commonly assert. But Diana admonishes, Treatise 4 on the Sacraments, resolution 167, that in time of pestilence a moribund person can be anointed with a long rod with Extreme Unction, and resolution 168, that one part can be anointed quickly, saying: By this holy unction, etc. may the Lord pardon you whatever you have sinned by sight, hearing, etc. So also Sylvester, part 3, question 32, article 2, and the Doctors of Louvain, in the years 1573 and 1588, as related by Octavius Tricornicensis, Apostolic Nuncio in Germany, and in the Directory of Ecclesiastical Discipline of Chappeau, chapter 5, question 30. Diana adds that he himself would anoint rather most rapidly, without a cross, one eye, one ear, etc.