Case 3. A Sheep That Strayed Into the Fold

Julius, recently appointed a missionary in a certain district in England, was visiting Catherine, a widow of rather advanced age. When Julius asked whether she was a Catholic, she affirmed that she was, but at the same time said that she had once been an Anglican. “By whom were you received into the Church?” Julius asks. “By no one, but I came,” the other replied, “for while an Anglican I always heard that each was essentially the same Church of Christ; hence I began to go to your church, where I receive the sacraments every month. For now I am a true Catholic, and I know that Anglicanism is infected with heresy and schism.” Asked further whether she had been baptized, she said that she supposed this had been done to her as an infant in the neighboring Protestant church to which she would have belonged, but that her parents had almost entirely neglected religion. Julius said nothing else to Catherine, but inquired of the minister whether her name was in the register of those baptized in that Protestant church. When no indication of it was found, he proceeded to Catherine’s house, where he found her stricken by a sudden illness and deprived of her senses. He wished to know what he should do in the case, and what he should do if Catherine recovered. Hence it is asked:

1. Who can validly and lawfully receive the sacraments?

2. What is the relation of

Baptism to the other sacraments?

3. What must be done when someone is received into the Church?

4. What is to be said of the case?

1. Who can receive the sacraments validly and lawfully?

In adults the intention to receive the sacraments is necessary for their validity. For the lawful reception of the sacraments of the living the state of grace is necessary, and for the lawful reception of the sacraments of the dead faith, hope, and attrition. No intention or disposition is necessary in those who have not the use of reason for the reception of the sacraments of which they are capable.¹

1 Manual of Moral Theology, vol. ii, p. 41 ff.

2. What is the relation of Baptism to the other sacraments?

The valid reception of Baptism is necessary for the valid reception of the other sacraments.²

3. What is to be done when a convert is received into the Church?

Inquiry must first be made about the baptism of the new convert. If it is certain that he has never been baptized, after a profession of faith he should be baptized absolutely. If it be doubtful whether he was ever baptized he must make a profession of faith, be baptized conditionally in private with holy water without the ceremonies in England, be conditionally absolved from censures, and then from sin after a full confession of his whole life. If he has been validly baptized already, he should make a profession of faith and be absolved from censures.³

4. The case. One may seriously doubt whether

‘Ibid., p. 41.

' Form for the Reception of a Convert, edited by the Bishop of Newport.

Catherine had ever been baptized. She herself supposed that she had been, but she had no positive information on the point; her parents were careless about religion, and her name was not to be found in the parish register. She should therefore be baptized conditionally again. If she is in danger of death, this should be done at once, though she is not conscious, and then she should be absolved conditionally and anointed. If she is not in danger of death, the priest should do nothing till she recovers. After recovery in any case she should be formally received into the Church according to the method described above, for as she had not formed an express intention of receiving Baptism, the validity of the Baptism administered while she was unconscious would be doubtful, even if she had not been baptized in infancy. Whether the sacraments which she had been in the habit of receiving every month were valid or not would depend on whether she had been validly baptized. Her reception of them was not lawful, but her good faith excused her.