Adsum

June 2004

Funeral Services for an Unbaptized Infant

by Very Rev. Francis J. Connell, C.SS.R., S.T.D., L.L.D., L.J.D.

Question: May a priest conduct burial services for an unbaptized infant?

Answer: Canon 1239, #1, states that those who have departed this life without Baptism are not to be granted ecclesiastical burial. Now, ecclesiastical burial consists in the bringing of the body to the church, the funeral services, and its burial in a place lawfully designated for the sepulture of the faithful. Evidently, a priest would not be allowed to conduct over the body of an unbaptized infant any form of service that might be regarded as a portion of the Church's burial rites. On the other hand, it would not per se (of its very nature) be forbidden to say a private prayer over the body of an unbaptized child, as long as it does not contain or imply anything out of harmony with orthodox doctrine — for example, the statement that the child has been admitted to eternal life even though it did not receive Baptism. A prayer for the spiritual welfare and strength of the bereaved parents would be appropriate on such an occasion. However, since it is unusual for a priest to conduct any form of service over the body of an unbaptized person, and is likely to cause surprise, if not scandal, a priest should not perform this type of function until he has proposed the matter to his bishop and received his approval.

Question: Can we say that only grave necessity will justify a person in taking medicine before Holy Communion?

Answer: The Apostolic Constitution decreed that “the sick, even though not confined to bed, with the prudent advice of a confessor, can take something by way of drink or of true medicine, excepting alcoholic beverages.” The Commentary of the Holy Office which accompanied this Constitution asserted that this privilege can be used by the sick “if by reason of their sickness they are unable to observe the complete fast until the reception of Holy Communion without grave inconvenience.” The law now in effect (papal letter) omits the clause requiring the permission of a confessor, thus leaving it to the discretion of the sick person, whether he be priest or lay person, to judge whether or not he may use the privilege. What is still more important, as far as this question is concerned, the commentary of Cardinal Ottaviani, pro-Secretary of the Holy Office, which accompanied the Motu proprio, says nothing about the need of a grave inconvenience to justify the use of the privilege. I believe, therefore, that it is the mind of the Holy See to grant this privilege to any person who because of some form of ailment finds it somewhat inconvenient (though not necessarily gravely inconvenient) to observe the ordinary rules of the Eucharistic fast. This was the view upheld by Father Moise Roy, S.S.S., “The term ‘sick’ must be understood in a wide enough sense and does not suppose grave illness. The sick comprise, not only those who are bedridden or confined to their homes, but also the aged whom old age has debilitated and those suffering a serious indisposition, even though a passing one, as, for example, a splitting headache, indigestion, a bad cold, a hacking cough.”

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