Whether Those Who Have Not the Use of Reason Ought to Receive This
Sacrament?
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.
Obj. 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.
Obj. 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 Obj. 1: Those lacking the use of reason can have devotion
towards the sacrament; actual devotion in some cases, and past in
others.
Reply Obj. 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 Obj. 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 (John
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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