Case XXXVIII: The Administration of the Last Sacraments (Incl. Viaticum) to Dangerously Sick Children Under Six Years of Age

In the preceding paper there is discussed the question whether the last Sacraments may be administered to dangerously sick children over six years of age. Of course it was not intended to say that the Sacraments there mentioned may not even be administered to children of five (or four) years of age, at least conditionally.

Let us pass, therefore, to the question: May the Viaticum be given to such children? and, if so, is the priest obliged to do so?

We must here observe first of all, that for the reception of Holy Communion a greater maturity of mind is required than for the reception of Extreme Unction and the Sacrament of Penance. On the other hand it should not be forgotten that there is not requisite for the reception of the Holy Eucharist modo Viatice the same maturity of mind as for the Communion ex devotione. Suarez states—and in this opinion he is supported by other theologians: “The same principle does not apply to Communion to be made at the point of death.” At any rate it suffices here that the child is able to distinguish the Sacrament from ordinary food, to adore it and receive it reverently. In this sense BENEDICT XIV expresses himself:

“By a synodal constitution the bishop will be able to compel parish priests to administer the Most Holy Viaticum to children soon to die, if they find that the children have attained such maturity of judgment that they distinguish this heavenly and supernal food from common and material food; for we believe that those do not sin lightly who allow children even twelve years old and of keen intelligence to depart this life without Viaticum for this one reason, namely that through the negligence and indifference of parish priests they had never before tasted the Eucharistic bread.” (De Synod. dioec. 1. VII, c. 12, n. 1 et 3).

Under this supposition St. ALPHONSUS regards it a sententia communissima, that the Viaticum not merely may, but should be administered. “To children who are now possessed of reason, at the point of death Communion not only can be given, but even ought to be given” (S. ALPH. 6, n. 301). BENEDICT XIV denotes the contrary practise of parish priests as a gravem abusum radicitus extirpandum. According to BENEDICT XIV, and to St. Alphonsus, it is therefore a strict duty to administer the Viaticum pueris, qui rationis compotes sunt. GURY expresses himself still more positively. He replies to the question:

“Whether in danger of death Communion is to be given to children who have not yet been admitted to the sacred banquet? I answer affirmatively, as regards children who are possessed of reason. Indeed, it not only can be given to them, but even ought to be given. The reason is that, on the one hand, children placed in such danger are bound by divine precept to receive Communion; on the other hand, the usefulness of the Eucharist then does not demand a greater disposition. Therefore parish priests who refuse to administer Viaticum to children of this kind err gravely” (Gury II, n. 320).

These are probably the most important ecclesiastical precepts and utterances of theologians about the administration of the Viaticum to dangerously sick children. However, for our question whether to children before their sixth year the Viaticum may be administered,: there is nothing gained from these quotations, as none of the passages quoted speak of children of six years of age. Indeed the above words of BENEDICT XIV appear to me as denying our question. He censures only parish priests who refused the Viaticum to children of twelve years on the ground that they had not before received Holy Communion, He would without doubt have censured also those who refused the Viaticum to six-year-old children were they to be censured. These children have not only never received Holy Communion, but have not even received the Sacrament of Penance. It appears to me also that the passages, given before, in proof that Extreme Unction and the Sacrament of Penance are to be given to six-year-old children, speak against the administration of Viaticum. It is said there repeatedly: although they have not yet received Communion, or although they have not yet received their first Communion. There is, therefore, a distinction made here between the capability to receive the two first Sacraments, and the capability to receive the Viaticum. In Suarez there is, however, a passage which does not make this distinction. He says: “I judge that at the point of death Communion is to be given to every person who has the use of reason sufficient for sinning and is capable of confession and extreme unction.” He also adds that the child is obliged to receive, and the priest obliged to administer. Suarez, however, stands alone in this opinion. All others make use of the universal expression: Those who are possessed of reason. To these belong under normal conditions six-year-old children. But as I have already pointed out there is a distinction to be made between children who have sufficiently attained the use of reason to be capable of actual sin, and those who are so advanced even that they can reverently adore the Eucharist, and who are aware of what they are partaking. This is rarely the case with six-year-old children, and yet we must require this at least. It must be admitted that there may be six-year-old children who, after previous instruction, are capable of receiving the Viaticum. But even in such cases I believe the administering of the Viaticum should be omitted for reasons of prudence. In some cases of grave illness it will be impossible to prepare children sufficiently. If the priest administers Holy Communion to a certain capable and sufficiently instructed child, and not to others, it is easy to see that unpleasantness will arise, on part of parents, etc. That such cases where the Sacrament can properly be administered will be rare, experience teaches. Experienced and zealous priests therefore observe this practise.

My opinion is that children before their sixth year may receive Extreme Unction and the Sacrament of Penance, and that the priest is obliged to administer them (sometimes conditionally). The Viaticum, however, can only be given in rare cases, and even then there is no obligation to administer it.

N. B.—It is evident that such children must be interred according to the ordo sepeliendi adultos. The ordo sepeliendi parvulos applies, as its wording demonstrates and as also the Rit. Rom. expressly declares, only to children who are taken away before the use of reason and do not need the prayer of the Church. This is not the case of six-year-old children,

Vicar LEBHERZ.