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

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SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.PRAEM.

pendicitis, peritonitis, more serious sickness of the bowels and the kidney, malevolent cancerous tumors, brain hemorrhage, cardiac muscle failure, coronary isthmus, as well as endocarditic.109 Although heavy physical work carried out by men in itself is not indispensably direct efficient cause of a serious sickness, and cannot be generally regarded as a circumstance generating danger of death, yet commentaries prepared to CIC (1917) mention among the reasons of the reception of the holy anointment that kind of work that goes together with serious pain, and can be dangerous for life (e.g., mining, physical work in metallurgy). Here it is peculiar, that the arguments keep in mind not the direct danger of death (e.g., bump in a mine, spilling out of the molten heated iron, etc.), but that pain, which is caused by the working, for example, in the lung of the workers while breathing.110 It is important, if the administration of the holy anointment, following the prescription of CIC Can. 1002, happens in a common liturgy, then in respect of each recipient an inquiry must anticipate the administration of the sacrament, to see whether the necessary causes and circumstances indeed extant.111

From the essence of the sacrament it is also doubtless, that the competent, ordained administrator may validly administrate the anointment of the sick only for living persons. However, exactly this criterion have meant - and means - a serious problem, because the determination of the unified and objective criteria concerning the exact occurrence of death, means even up to date a fundamental difficulty for medical science, therefore its description differs by the countries (i.e. the principals fixed in the sanitary laws of the particular state). It is this uncertain circumstance - joined to the promotion of the salvation of the souls as purpose - that justifies the conditional administration of the sacrament112, which, in the light of the effective canonical discipline, is possible also in the future, in three hours counted from the official occurrence of death, diagnosed by a doctor.

Conclusion

The doctrinal and disciplinary standpoint of the Church concerning the anointment of the sick, in regard of both its detailed content and the determination of its administration, administer, and recipient - as we could see - became explained as the result of a long crystallizing progress. On the ground of Can. 998

109 Radó, P.. Enchiridion Liturgiáim, II. 938-940.

110 Conte a Coronata, M., Institutiones iuris canonici ad usum utriusque cleri et scholarum. De Sacramentis, I. 602.

111 Erdő, P., Egyházjog, 488.

112 CIC (1917) Can. 941 ; CIC Can. 1005; cf. Listl, J. - Schmitz, H. (Hrsg.), Handbuch des katholischen Kirchenrechts, 866.