Case 18. A Dying Nun

Catherine, a nun who belonged to a Congregation of simple vows, was unwilling to confess to the ordinary confessor who came to the convent each week to exercise his office, for, as it seemed to her, with greater fruit she confessed whenever she needed confession to Titius, a priest who served the nearby church. She easily found an opportunity to confess in Titius’s church when she returned to the convent from the elementary school where she taught girls daily. When gravely ill, however, Catherine asked the superior to summon Titius to hear her confession. Hence it is asked:

1. What does ecclesiastical law establish concerning the confessions of nuns?

2. Which nuns do the said laws concern?

3. What is to be said of the things done or to be done by Catherine, Titius, and the superior in the case?

1. What does ecclesiastical law lay down about the confessions of nuns?

There should be only one ordinary confessor for each convent, but an extraordinary confessor should be offered the nuns two or three times a year, and indeed as often as a nun is conscientiously and reasonably driven to ask for one.

2. Of what nuns do these laws treat?

Although these laws more specially relate to nuns under solemn vows, yet by custom, provincial legislation, by special restrictions placed in the pagella of faculties, and according to the express instructions of the Holy See, the same jaws now bind nuns with simple vows. When lawfully outside the convent nuns may confess to any approved confessor. See above, p. 174.

3. What about the actions of Catherine, Titius, and the Superioress?

First with regard to Catherine’s conduct. The absolutions which she received from Titius were valid, and if she had gone to confession to him only once in a way, she could not have been blamed, for nuns when lawfully outside their convent may confess to any approved confessor. But Catherine made it a regular practice to avoid the ordinary confessor of the convent, and to choose her own confessor outside. This is contrary to the spirit of the laws made by the Church for good reasons with regard to the confessors of nuns, and she should not have done it.

With regard to Titius. He was justified in hearing the confession of Catherine and absolving her, but if and when he noticed that she came to him regularly, he should have admonished her to act more in the spirit of the laws of the Church.

The Superioress should have intervened if she knew what Catherine was doing. As Catherine is now dangerously ill the Superioress should humor her and send for Titius, who will have faculties to hear Catherine’s confession in the convent as she is in danger of death.