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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Alzheimer's and the sacrament of confession	Scott	Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Question: Hi brother, 1. What if a person developed Alzheimer's since the last time he confessed his sins in the sacrament of confession? He cannot make a valid confession now, because of his mental condition. 2. Can he still go to confession if I tell the priest beforehand what his situation is? Could the priest then let him do his best and then give him absolution? 3. Or is this a case where annointing of the sick would be appropriate? 4. Could the priest absolve him without going through a valid confession like annointing of the sick, even though he is not in any danger of death? 5. What if a person in this state never got a chance for annointing of the sick or confession before death, and he died with mortal sin on his soul? Would God show special mercy in this case? Please help, I want to make sure that my uncle gets a chance to make things right before God incase he doesn't get the opportuntiy for annointing of the sick when he is on his death bed one day. Thanks.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Scott: On question 1 and 2: A good confession is performed when one confesses all the sins he can remember. Traditionally, one ends his confession with something like: "...and for all the sins that I cannot now remember I am heartedly sorry." I would probably advise an Alzheimer patient to just tell the priest that he has Alzheimer's and cannot now remember any sins but that he is sorry for any sins he committed. On question 3: Anointing of the Sick does not replace the Sacrament of Confession. In fact, confession is often part of the Sacrament of Anointing. On question 4: A Alzheimer patient can have a valid confession. See above. On question 5: God will judge him according to his heart. Even if he is incapacitated God knows the heart. If a person is incapable psychologically or mentally of understanding his actions he will be as an innocent child incapable of mortal sin. Also, mortal sin requires that a person have free and unimpaired ability to choose sin knowing that it is grave. Mental impairment can make that requirement impossible and thus even if the person commits a grave sin, it will likely not be counted as mortal. Anointing of the Sick is not independent of Confession. We must make right with God to receive the Anointing of the Sick if we are capable of doing so. Sometimes the Sacrament of Anointing is performed on a person who is in a coma or otherwise not able to participate. Sometimes the Anointing is even done a few moments after apparent death since we do not know for sure when actual death occurs and the soul leaves the body. If you uncle has the capacity I would encourage him to seek the Sacrament of Confession. But, I do not know the condition of your uncle. If he is incapacitated and disoriented he may not have the mental ability to make a confession. Do not fear. God is not arbitrary. He is loving, merciful, and forgiving. Whatever condition your uncle is in, should he die tonight, even without the Sacraments, God will not hold that against him. God will judge him justly and mercifully according to the recesses of your uncle's heart. No one goes to hell arbitrarily or on a mere technicality. God knows if a person is rejecting him. The only people who go to hell are those who reject Him and refuse His grace. We may only see the outward mental incapacitation, but God sees beyond that into the heart and soul. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Alzheimer's and the sacrament of confession

Scott

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Question:

Hi brother,

1. What if a person developed Alzheimer's since the last time he confessed his sins in the sacrament of confession? He cannot make a valid confession now, because of his mental condition.

2. Can he still go to confession if I tell the priest beforehand what his situation is? Could the priest then let him do his best and then give him absolution?

3. Or is this a case where annointing of the sick would be appropriate?

4. Could the priest absolve him without going through a valid confession like annointing of the sick, even though he is not in any danger of death?

5. What if a person in this state never got a chance for annointing of the sick or confession before death, and he died with mortal sin on his soul? Would God show special mercy in this case?

Please help, I want to make sure that my uncle gets a chance to make things right before God incase he doesn't get the opportuntiy for annointing of the sick when he is on his death bed one day. Thanks.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Scott:

On question 1 and 2: A good confession is performed when one confesses all the sins he can remember. Traditionally, one ends his confession with something like: "...and for all the sins that I cannot now remember I am heartedly sorry."

I would probably advise an Alzheimer patient to just tell the priest that he has Alzheimer's and cannot now remember any sins but that he is sorry for any sins he committed.

On question 3: Anointing of the Sick does not replace the Sacrament of Confession. In fact, confession is often part of the Sacrament of Anointing.

On question 4: A Alzheimer patient can have a valid confession. See above.

On question 5: God will judge him according to his heart. Even if he is incapacitated God knows the heart. If a person is incapable psychologically or mentally of understanding his actions he will be as an innocent child incapable of mortal sin.

Also, mortal sin requires that a person have free and unimpaired ability to choose sin knowing that it is grave. Mental impairment can make that requirement impossible and thus even if the person commits a grave sin, it will likely not be counted as mortal.

Anointing of the Sick is not independent of Confession. We must make right with God to receive the Anointing of the Sick if we are capable of doing so. Sometimes the Sacrament of Anointing is performed on a person who is in a coma or otherwise not able to participate. Sometimes the Anointing is even done a few moments after apparent death since we do not know for sure when actual death occurs and the soul leaves the body.

If you uncle has the capacity I would encourage him to seek the Sacrament of Confession. But, I do not know the condition of your uncle. If he is incapacitated and disoriented he may not have the mental ability to make a confession.

Do not fear. God is not arbitrary. He is loving, merciful, and forgiving. Whatever condition your uncle is in, should he die tonight, even without the Sacraments, God will not hold that against him. God will judge him justly and mercifully according to the recesses of your uncle's heart.

No one goes to hell arbitrarily or on a mere technicality. God knows if a person is rejecting him. The only people who go to hell are those who reject Him and refuse His grace. We may only see the outward mental incapacitation, but God sees beyond that into the heart and soul.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum