§ 3. On The Administration Of The Sacrament

2271. • PASTORS are held THROUGH THEMSELVES TO MINISTER SACRAMENTS to all parishioners needing them, or asking for them, from a reasonable cause. This is clear from what was said concerning Residence (n. 2266).

Hence "the Pastor sins who renders himself morose or difficult to his subjects. And therefore St. Charles Borromeo rightly warned: 'At whatever hour of day or night the pastor will be called for administering the Sacraments to the sick, let him interpose no delay; indeed let him forewarn the people that when there is need of parochial administration, they freely summon him, no account being taken of time or of distance of place, etc.' Yet he will be excused from mortal sin (St. Alphonsus continues) if once, or again, outside necessity, he denies the Sacraments; because he does not seem to have bound himself so strictly."¹¹

Recall what was said n. 1415 and sqq., and several other things which were noted in their places, as regards the individual Sacraments: concerning Baptism, n. 1461; concerning the Eucharist, n. 1536, 1538, q. 2; concerning Penance, n. 1802; concerning Extreme Unction, n. 1880; concerning Matrimony, n. 2057 sqq., 2067 sqq. and 2073 sqq.

2272. • It is ASKED. Whether Pastors are held to minister Sacraments WITH DANGER OF LIFE, e.g. in time of plague?

Resp. Dist. 1. They are held, even with evident danger of life, to minister by themselves, or through other suitable persons, the necessary Sacraments, namely Baptism and Penance; indeed also the Eucharist or Extreme Unction, if someone dying, probably constituted in the state of sin and deprived of the senses, could not be absolved except under condition: for perhaps afterward, being attrite, he will be saved through this or that Sacrament, without it to be damned (cf. n. 1397, 1873, q. 3). Thus all.

2. Very probably they are held with the same danger to minister the Eucharist and Extreme Unction, even in the case in which these Sacraments were not of extreme necessity; because the dying, although they are not in absolute necessity, must not be deprived of so great a good (especially holy Viaticum); unless otherwise some sick persons would be about to die without confession, or there were danger for the whole parish of remaining without a priest. Thus many grave Authors, whom however others contradict. Whence, such an obligation does not seem to be urged so much, unless otherwise scandal would be given to the people.¹²

Moreover danger of life must not easily, nor immediately, be feared beforehand. For it is established by experience in contagious or epidemic diseases, e.g. in the Asiatic disease called cholera, that physicians, nuns, and priests, who are assigned to the care of the sick, are protected by the special providence of God, and that they, provided they do not omit due precautions, for the most part escape safe and unharmed.¹³ But if they should succumb from the exercise of charity, what can be more desirable? For they prepare for themselves in eternity the most splendid crown of martyrdom (cf. n. 1452, q. 2).