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

CRYSTALLIZATION PROCESS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL DISCIPLINE...

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mixed with balm or wine may be used to it, but the discipline revealed itself stable on the side of the usage of pure olive oil59. The best example for this is the stand found in the final part of St. Thomas Aquinas’ work, the Summa Theolo- gica (Supplementum Tertiae Partis, q. 29 art. 4), which unit was made by grate probability by Fra Rainaldo de Piperno. The holy oil in the West in ordinary circumstances is blessed by the bishop; in the East even the presbyter may do this during the administration. It is worthy of note, that this latter act is possible even in the Latin Church, in case of necessity; in the Eastern tradition however this authorization exists also outside of case of necessity.60 The old Latin discipline still unequivocally contained that a presbyter may bless the oil forming the material of the holy anointment only in the possession of a permission either from the bishop or the pope, and in case of grave necessity.61 Departing from the provisions of CIC (1917) Can. 945 and the Ordo benedicendi Oleum cate- cumenorum et infirmo mm et conficiendi Chrisma of 1970, the Code of Canon Law in effect gives permission for priests to bless the oil in case of necessity.62 The present form then does not contain any more the phrase of grave necessity. Also a fact that the present discipline does not speak of an authorization from the Holy See for priests in relation with the blessing of the anointment, but the Rituale in effect and the Code itself gives them this right.

It is any priest, but only validly ordained priest who is able to validly administrate this sacrament63 (CIC [1917] Can. 938 § 1; i.e. CIC Can. 1003 § 1), even a heretic, a schismatic, a degraded (i.e. in the old law degradatio, as punishment), and excommunicated. This has been reaffirmed by the stand of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on February 11th 2005 with the listing of doctrinal and disciplinary sources.64 Its competent administrator is a priest, who possesses ordinary power for the pastoral care of the given Christ faithful, that is, besides the local ordinary, the parish priest appointed by him. In this question the CIC in effect, in Can. 1003 § 2, fallows the provisions of CIC (1917) Can. 938 § 2. Nevertheless, every priest is obliged for its administration in case of real necessity (in caso vero necessitatis), as both Pope Clement XII (1730-1740)65 and Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758) explicitly observes.66

59 Cappello, F. M., Tractatus canonico - morális de sacramentis, III: De extrema unctione, 23.

60 Liebermann, L. B., Institutiones Theologicae, II. 693 (n. 787).

61 Wernz, F. X. - Vidal, P., lus canonicum ad Codicis normám exactum, IV. Romáé 1934. 197-198.

62 CIC Can. 999 - 2° in casu necessitatis, quilibet presbyter in ipsa tarnen celebrationesacramenti.

63 Wernz, F. X. - Vidal, P., lus canonicum ad Codicis normám exactum, IV. 194.

64 C. pro Doctrina Fidei, Nota circa il Ministro del Sacramento dell’Unzione degli Infermi (11 febr. 2005): Notitiae XLI (2005) 479^183.

65 Clemens XII, Litt. ap. Compertum (24 aug. 1734): Gasparri, P. - Serédi, I. (ed.), Codicis iuris canonici fontes, I. Romáé 1923. 645-652.

66 Benedictus XIV. Const. Etsipastoralis (26 mai. 1742): Gasparri, P. - Serédi, I. (ed.), Codicis iuris canonici fontes, I. Romáé 1923. 734-755.