During this time of unpleasantness, many questions
have arisen regarding the reception of sacraments. So, let’s take them one at a
time:
What is happening with baptisms and
weddings?
Baptisms and weddings may proceed. However, we need
to adhere to Gov. Ralph Northam’s mandate of assembling no more than 10 people.
As a pastor, my advice is to have baptism as soon as possible after the birth
of the child, no matter what the circumstances may be. Jesus affirmed the
necessity of baptism for salvation: “I solemnly assure you, no one can enter
into God’s kingdom without being begotten of water and Spirit” (Jn 3:5). The
“Catechism of the Catholic Church” teaches, “The church and the parents would
deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to
confer baptism shortly after birth” (No. 1250).
Regarding the postponement of a wedding, that is the
couple’s decision. I have been edified to hear a couple say, “Father, what is
most important to us is receiving the sacrament, not the reception. We are
happy to have just our close family. The celebration with other relatives and
friends can wait until later.”
What is happening to those who were
preparing to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and holy Eucharist
at Easter Vigil?
Because of the current limitations, Bishop Michael F.
Burbidge has directed pastors to postpone the reception of these sacraments to
a later date. After Easter, a pastor may administer the sacraments to each
candidate individually in the context of a daily Mass. Or, the pastor may
decide to administer the sacraments for the whole group that has been preparing
once the restrictions are lifted.
What about confession over the phone
or the internet?
Here we must be mindful of the sacramental seal of
confession. When a person unburdens his soul and confesses his sins to a
priest, a very sacred trust is formed. While the priest is the minister of the
sacrament, Christ is hearing and forgiving the sins. The priest must never
reveal to anyone what has been confessed to the Lord. As a priest, I have heard
confessions not only in the confessional, but also in the airport, the grocery
store and in the parking lot. But, I have always been careful to preserve the
sacred seal. Confession via telephone or the internet does not provide the
safety for preserving the sacred seal; someone could be listening or recording.
The Code of Canon Law upholds the sanctity of the
seal: “ ... It is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by
word or in any other manner or for any reason” (983.1). The laity also are
bound to uphold the seal of confession: An interpreter needed for someone to make
a confession or anyone who gains knowledge of a confession (such as
accidentally overhearing someone’s confession) also is obligated to preserve
secrecy (983.2). For such a person to violate the secrecy of another person’s
confession is a mortal sin and warrants “a just penalty, not excluding
excommunication” (1388.2).
What about general absolution?
The Decree on the Rite of Penance (1973) affirmed,
“Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way
for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the church, unless
physical or moral impossibility excuses from this kind of confession.”
Legitimate, grave circumstances may arise that impede private confession and
necessitate the granting of general absolution, such as a time of crisis,
danger or imminent death. An example in recent times occurred March 29, 1979,
when the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pa., was in
danger of exploding; Harrisburg Bishop William H. Keeler granted general
absolution to the faithful since every individual person would not have had the
chance to go to private confession. Nevertheless, in such cases, the penitent
must have sincere contrition and also make a private confession as soon as the
crisis is over. In our present circumstances, priests can take extra precaution
and hear confessions, so there is no need for the Bishop to grant general
absolution.
What about spiritual communion?
When a person is impeded from receiving holy
Communion, such as when he or she is homebound or sick, or, in our present
circumstances, when public Mass has been suspended, he or she may make a
spiritual communion. A beautiful prayer recited during the Masses televised on
EWTN is as follows: “My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy
Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my
soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least
spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite
myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.”
These are a few answers to difficult situations
during this time of global pademic. Nevertheless, I believe that our faith will
grow stronger and we will be filled with abundant graces if we continue our
“hunger and thirst for holiness.” Oftentimes we do not appreciate something and
its value until we no longer have it. Let’s us keep our eyes on Christ, and
strain forward in faith.
Fr. Saunders is pastor of Our Lady
of Hope Church in Potomac Falls and episcopal vicar for faith formation and
director of the Office of Catechetics.