Folia Theologica et Canonica 3. 25/17 (2014)
IUS CANONICUM - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, O.Praem., Crystallization process of the ecclesiastical discipline regarding the sacrament of extreme unction and its canon law historical sources
240 SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.PRAEM. This is complemented in the effective Code of Canon Law with that - on the ground of the decree of the Sacra Congregatio Rituum67 and the directory of the Sacra Congregatio pro Clericis68 - that every priest may carry along with him the blessed oil of the anointment.67 68 69 70 CIC (1917) still regulated in details the scope of those authorized for the administration of the anointment™ in reference to a sick bishop71, to the members of exempt religious orders72, and to the members of an order who belong to a cloister of women.73 To the administration of the holy anointment it is necessary that the receiver should be a baptized person and have already reached the use of reason, that is, capable of consciously committing a sin.74 On this ground, among grave circumstances - as Conte a Coronata underlines it - it may be administered even for that who did not have any possibility to commit sin after baptism.75 76 Similarly to this, in danger of death, as far as it is questionable if the child has already reached the use of reason - which is presumed after the completion of the seventh year of age, that is the aetas discretionis76 -, because the supreme purpose is the salvation of souls, the anointment must be administered. The effective law in such case - departing from CIC (1917) Can. 941 - does not speak of conditional administration any more. To the administration it is indispensable that the baptized person should ask for it, or it is presumable that if he had the ability to ask for it, he would do it. Concerning this the Holy Office issued an unequivocal interpreting answer yet on May IO'1’ 170377 78, which got both in the old Rituale Romanum78 and in CIC (1917) Can. 94379, which was taken over by 67 SC Rituum, Deer. Pientissima Mater (4 febr. 1965): AAS 57 (1965) 409. 68 SC pro Clericis, Directorium, Peregrunans in terra (30 apr. 1969): AAS 61 (1969) 375: II/B, b. 69 CIC Can. 1003 - § 3. Cuilibet sacerdoti licet oleum benedictum secumferre ut, in casu necessitatis, sacramentum unctionis infirmorum ministrare valeat. Cf. Erdő, P., Egyházjog (Szent István Kézikönyvek 7), Budapest 2014. 488. 70 Cf. Cappello, F. M., Tractatus canonico - morális de sacramentis, III: De extrema unctione, 88. Bánk, J., Kánoni jog, II. Budapest 1963. 139. 71 CIC (1917) Can. 397, n. 3. 72 CIC (1917) Can. 514 § 1. 73 CIC (1917) Can. 514 §2. 74 CIC (1917) Can. 940 §2. 75 CONTE a Coronata, M., Institutiones iuris canonici ad usum utriusque cleri et scholarum. De Sacramentis, I. Taurini-Romae 1951. 599. 76 CIC Can. 97 § 2; cf. Erdő, P., Egyházjog, 136. 77 S.C. S. Officii, Resp. (10 mai. 1703): Denzinger, H. - Bannwart, C. (ed.), Enchiridion Sym- bolorum, 2382. 78 Rituale Romanum. Pauli V Pontificis Maximi jussu editum aliorumque pontificum cura recogni- tum atque ad normám Codicis Juris Canonici accomodatum Sanctissimi D. N. Pii Papae XII auctoritate ordinatum et auctum. Edìtio Prima post Typicam, Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis 1957 (hereafter: Rituale Romanum [1957]) tit. V c. 1 nn. 6-7. 79 Cf. Vermeersch, A. - Creusen, I., Epitome iuris canonici cum commentants ad scholas et ad usum privatum, I—III. Brugis-Bruxellis 1924—1925.2 II. 130.
