Question
Good afternoon,
My name is Beatriz and I am Spanish. I am writing this e-mail by using Google translate since I speak very little Italian.
This year my father passed away and, in the end, his organs were failing and couldn’t breath on his own, so he was sedated. But, I do not think it was a palliative sedation.
Being my father under the influence of the sedation, yet alive (asleep because of the sedatives, he couldn’t speak, nor was he aware), he received the last rites ( assolution from all the sins, Pope’s blessing). Was all of this valid if he could not speak or awake, although alive? It has been said that whoever receives the last rites obtains a direct passage in Paradise. Therefore, my doubt is to receive that passage straight to Paradise should you be conscious or is it worthed to be alive even if unaware because of sedation?
Before he died, the sedation was removed and he was awake, but his vital signs were very low. We spoke to him, but he did not answer. We invoked the Holy Spirit to heal him and his vital signs went up, particularly his heart beat. But, his blood started to coagulate and he died. He had a smile on his lips, in his eyes, on his face.
One more doubt: According to the Catholic religion, is it better for a body to be cremated or buried?
Waiting for your answer.
A thousands thanks
Reply from the priest
Dear Beatriz,
- To validly receive the absolution from all sins and the anointing of the sick, it is not absolutely necessary that a person is aware and conscious. It is sufficient that, in the past, the intention to receive these sacraments has been expressed and that such intention was never retracted. The theologists name this will habitual intention.
- Surely, it is much better if the dying person is alert and conscious because he/she can issue very high acts of participation to the sacrament and confidence into the Lord’s mercy.
- However, we do not know if a person, although sedated, is entirely incapable to follow everything the priest is doing for him/her. The Saint Curato d’Ars, sixteen years before dying, was gravely ill and on the verge of dying. The doctor said in front of everyone that the poor Curato would have lived for only half an hour.
The Saint Curato, after half an hour, did not die, but he came to. Recovering, he said that he heard everything and that having heard that sentence he made some good proposits.
He communicated them to the bystanders and told them to be careful of the way they talk near the dying because he had heard everything.
- It cannot be excluded that this might have happened for your father, as well. Rather, the fact that your father, on the verge of dying, had a smile on his lips, in his eyes, on his face, might make it think.
- Regarding the cremation, the church concedes it, but it favours the burial of the body since it is more similar to Christ’s burial, and almost in the attitude of resurrection. Here what you read in the Code of Canon Law:
“Can.1116,§ 3: The Church highly recommends that the pious custom of burying the dead be conserved”.
It does not, however, prohibit the cremation, unless it has been chosen for reasons contrary to the Christian doctrine.
I wish you a Holy Christmas,
I remind you to the Lord and I bless you
Father Angelo
