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Objection 1: It seems that those who have not the use of reason
ought not to receive this sacrament. For it is required that man
should approach this sacrament with devotion and previous
self-examination, according to 1 Cor. 11:28: "Let a man
prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the
chalice." But this is not possible for those who are devoid of
reason. Therefore this sacrament should not be given to them.
Objection 2: Further, among those who have not the use of reason
are the possessed, who are called energumens. But such persons are
kept from even beholding this sacrament, according to Dionysius
(Eccl. Hier. iii). Therefore this sacrament ought not to be
given to those who have not the use of reason.
Objection 3: Further, among those that lack the use of reason are
children, the most innocent of all. But this sacrament is not given
to children. Therefore much less should it be given to others deprived
of the use of reason.
On the contrary, We read in the First Council of Orange, (Canon
13); and the same is to be found in the Decretals (xxvi, 6):
"All things that pertain to piety are to be given to the insane":
and consequently, since this is the "sacrament of piety," it must be
given to them.
I answer that, Men are said to be devoid of reason in two ways.
First, when they are feeble-minded, as a man who sees dimly is said
not to see: and since such persons can conceive some devotion towards
this sacrament, it is not to be denied them.
In another way men are said not to possess fully the use of reason.
Either, then, they never had the use of reason, and have remained so
from birth; and in that case this sacrament is not to be given to
them, because in no way has there been any preceding devotion towards
the sacrament: or else, they were not always devoid of reason, and
then, if when they formerly had their wits they showed devotion towards
this sacrament, it ought to be given to them in the hour of death;
unless danger be feared of vomiting or spitting it out. Hence we read
in the acts of the Fourth Council of Carthage (Canon 76). and
the same is to be found in the Decretals (xxvi, 6): "If a sick
man ask to receive the sacrament of Penance; and if, when the priest
who has been sent for comes to him, he be so weak as to be unable to
speak, or becomes delirious, let them, who heard him ask, bear
witness, and let him receive the sacrament of Penance. then if it be
thought that he is going to die shortly, let him be reconciled by
imposition of hands, and let the Eucharist be placed in his mouth."
Reply to Objection 1: Those lacking the use of reason can have
devotion towards the sacrament; actual devotion in some cases, and
past in others.
Reply to Objection 2: Dionysius is speaking there of energumens who
are not yet baptized, in whom the devil's power is not yet extinct,
since it thrives in them through the presence of original sin. But as
to baptized persons who are vexed in body by unclean spirits, the same
reason holds good of them as of others who are demented. Hence
Cassian says (Collat. vii): "We do not remember the most Holy
Communion to have ever been denied by our elders to them who are vexed
by unclean spirits."
Reply to Objection 3: The same reason holds good of newly born
children as of the insane who never have had the use of reason:
consequently, the sacred mysteries are not to be given to them.
Although certain Greeks do the contrary, because Dionysius says
(Eccl. Hier. ii) that Holy Communion is to be given to them who
are baptized; not understanding that Dionysius is speaking there of
the Baptism of adults. Nor do they suffer any loss of life from the
fact of our Lord saying (Jn. 6:54), "Except you eat the
flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you shall not have
life in you"; because, as Augustine writes to Boniface
(Pseudo-Beda, Comment. in 1 Cor. 10:17), "then every
one of the faithful becomes a partaker," i.e. spiritually, "of the
body and blood of the Lord, when he is made a member of Christ's
body in Baptism." But when children once begin to have some use of
reason so as to be able to conceive some devotion for the sacrament,
then it can be given to them.
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