by Very Rev. Francis J. Connell, C.SS.R., S.T.D., LL.D., L.H.D.

Revival of Extreme Unction

Question: If a person who has received Extreme Unction afterwards commits a mortal sin, and then goes to confession, must he received Extreme Unction again (even in the same danger of death) in order to obtain the effects of this sacrament when the hour of death arrives?

Answer: According to the more common teaching, Extreme Unction cannot be validly repeated as long as the person remains in the same danger of death. (Cf. Aertnys-Damen, Theologia moralis[Turin, 1947], II, n. 549; Prummer, Manuale theologiae moralis[Friburg Brix., 1936], III, n. 582). At any rate, such a repetition is illicit, because of the explicit prohibition of the Church (Can. 940, 2). Hence, one who has sinned mortally after receiving Extreme Unction can receive its spiritual benefits again only through a revival of the sacrament after his return to sanctifying grace. It is the more common view that in the situation described by the questioner, Extreme Unction does revive (Cf. Kilker, Extreme Unction, {St. Louis, 1927}, p. 50).

Flour For Altar Breads

Question: Is it true that by government orders some extraneous matter is added to wheaten flour at the present day? If so, what is to be said of the use of altar breads made from such flour?

Answer: There are governmental prescriptions, emanating from the Food and Drug Administration, laying down detailed certain brands of flour and the proportion in which they may be added. Flour which is modified in this manner is supposed to be labeled (on the container) in such wise that it can be recognized as being a mixture of wheat and of other substances. Thus, we have “enriched flour”, “enriched bromated flour”, “self-rising flour”, etc. The substances which are added are mainly vitamins, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, iron and calcium. The purpose of joining extra ingredients to the wheat is to increase the food-value of the flour.

However, the quantity of these extraneous elements is so small that there is no doubt about the use of bread made from such flours as valid matter of the Holy Eucharist. For example, in making the “enriched flour” the maximum quantity of calcium permitted to a pound is 625 milligrams– about one-seventh of one percent of the whole. The amount of iron, niacin, thiamine, etc., allowed by the Food and Drug Administration is much less. Accordingly, such insignificant additions would certainly not endanger the validity of the Eucharist Consecration, in the event that tha altar breads were made from such enriched flour.

It would not be lawful to use such brands of flour for altar breads, when unblended wheaten flour is easily available. Pure flour is still advertised as “white flour”, “wheat flour”, “plain flour”, or simply “flour”, and if it is purchased from a reliable firm, those who make altar breads need have no doubts or anxiety about using it. Indeed, even the use of an enriched flour for the making of altar breads would not seem to be gravely sinful, since the amount of extraneous matter is so small. Even in what is sold as plain flour there may be, according to governmental regulation, a quarter of one percent of malted barley flour, to make up for the natural deficiency of enzymes. One of the chemists in the Food and Drug Administration office informed me that in the near future it may become the regular procedure to enrich all wheaten flour placed on the market. In the event that it becomes very difficult to obtain flour that is entirely free from added ingredients, there would be no objection to the use of enriched flour, from the standpoint of theological principles. To such a case can be reasonably applied the words of Capello, speaking of the mixture of some extraneous element with the wine for the Holy Sacrifice: “Usus vini ita commixti cum alia substantia seu aqua in minimaquantitate vetatur sub levi. Porro, ex certa theologorum doctrina justa et rationabilis causa excusat a peccato veniali” (De Sacramentis, I, 289).

An exception must be made, however, in regard to any brand of “self-rising” flour, since bread made from this brand would be leavened, the use of which is gravely sinful in the Latin Church. Furthermore, there is about five percent of extraneous matter in such flour, which might be a serious illicit amount, even though there would not be much doubt about the validity of its consecration.