Case 4. The Intention to Receive Baptism

Paul, an Anglican converted to the Catholic faith and raised to the priesthood, desired nothing more than to receive his father into the Church. Whenever he spoke with his father about the Catholic faith, the latter always put an end to the discussion by saying: “Neither do I wish nor do I not wish to be converted; but if it will be a consolation to you, you may baptize me before death,” for he had been only doubtfully baptized as an infant. One day Paul received word that his father was gravely ill; when he hastened to him, he found that he had already died within the space of an hour. Without delay, after his father had been baptized conditionally, he absolved him and likewise anointed him conditionally. Hence it is asked:

1. What intention is required in the subject of the sacraments?

2. How can apparent death be distinguished from real death?

3. What is to be said of the case?

1. What sort of intention is required in the subject of the sacraments?

A neutral intention is not sufficient. In order that Baptism may be certainly valid the adult to be baptized must have at least an habitual and express intention to receive the sacrament. An implicit intention will probably

. CASES OF CONSCIENCE suffice. For Penance and Matrimony a virtual intention is necessary. A general or implicit intention is sufficient for the other sacraments.¹

1 Manual of Moral Theology, vol. ii, p. 42 f.

2. How can apparent death be distinguished from real death?

The absence of vital functions, breathing, pulse, cadaveric spots on the body, and the loss of their luster by the eyes, are more or less certain signs of death. Unequivocal signs of death are putrefaction, and cadaveric rigidity, though the latter does not always appear so as to be perceptible.²

2 Capellmann, Pastoral Medicine, p. 201: Antonelli, Med. Pastoralis, vol. ii, nn. 568 ff.

3. The case. Paul, a convert and a priest, wished greatly to convert his father, whose baptism as an infant was doubtful. After talking about conversion the father used to close the conversation by saying: “ I am indifferent about conversion, but if it will be any consolation to you, you may baptize me before death.” One day Paul got a message that his father was seriously ill and he hastened off and found that he had died within an hour. He at once administered baptism, penance, and Extreme Unction conditionally. The father was not in fit dispositions to be received into the Church during his life; he had not the requisite faith. However, he had consented to be baptized before death, and was presumably in good faith. According to recent authorities real death, which is the separation of soul and body, does not take place for some time after apparent death. The length of the period between apparent and real death, according to these authorities varies in different cases;

one or two hours is a safe mean reckoning. Paul is not to be blamed for using this opinion and doing all that he could do for his father’s salvation. For although his father had no right to the sacraments inasmuch as he was not a visible member of the Church, yet it is a probable opinion that he had the requisite dispositions for being made one and for receiving the sacraments under condition at death.