:

!0^

'TiH's.Gi b>bo»n
j

W i'Oal <^(d - -

/\DP\78i

LAYMEN

SOCIAL WORKERS

DOCTORS

NURSES

.o^mUALPhUSMm

THE QUEEN’S WORK

3115 South Grand Boutevard

St. Louis 18, Missouri



NOTIFY THE PRIEST ON EACH
OF THESE OCCASIONS :

3) found recently dead (see note, next page),

4) before major surgery .

In cases 2, 3, 4 notify the priest even at night un-

less you are sure the person has been completely
taken care of by him within the last few hours.

When you take a ’’new case,” find out at once what
parish you are in and memorize the pastor’s phone

number. Your promptness in notifying him on the
occasions listed above may mean the salvation of a
soul. So frequently there are those who, apparently

indifferent to religion or unwilling to discuss the
matter, welcome nevertheless the help that can be
given them by a priest in these important moments.

Catholics expect to receive the ’’last sacraments. ”

MEANWHILE HELP THE PERSON,
IF CONSCIOUS.

1) be sorry for having offended God, an all-good and

loving Father, for having added by his sinS to the

sufferings of Christ;

2) make an act of faith or belief on God’s word in all

the truths He has revealed, and explicitly in at least

the four basic truths (There is a God * Who rewards

the good and punishes the wicked There are three

Divine Persons in God- -Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

* God the Son became man and without ceasing to be

God died to redeem us). These truths are contained

in the first few verses of ”My Daily Prayer” (p. 5).

3) understand about and express a desire to receive

baptism, if not baptized.

Baptize the person if danger of death is proxi-

mate and certain or if found recently dead and no

priest is at hand, provided he has manifested the dis-

positions indicated above - - desire or INTENTION to

be baptized, BELIEF on divine authority (faith) at

least in the four basic truths, SORROW for sin together
with the promise to abide by the laws of the Christian

religion - - or, provided he has sincerely and prayer-

fully said Daily Prayer. ” The intention must be

present for the sacrament to be valid, sorrow for sin

and faith for it to be fruitful and grace-giving. But if

the person clearly has at least the intention and is

dying, baptize him absolutely in the ordinary way. If

doubtful about his intention, baptize conditionally,

saying: ’If you are capable, I baptize you in the name

of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”

(see EMERGENCY BAPTISM, rear cover of folder).

Copyright 1950 by The Queen’s Work

1) person critically ill
,

2) again when dying, or

Note

1



Notes

Recent Death. - -’’Apparent death" always precedes

real death, which is the separation of soul from body.

As long as the soul is present in the body, baptism

and/or the last sacraments can be administered at

least conditionally. .In cases of sudden death this
means up to three hours or more after cessation of

all signs of life, though less than this when there has

been a wasting sickness of months. In doubt phone a

priest. Ordinarily the only certain sign of real death

is general decomposition of the body.

Catholics are obliged to receive Holy Communion

when in danger of death. (Fasting at this time is not

necessary.
)

It will be helpful to suggest this in due

time. At any rate, notify a priest.

IF UNCONSCIOUS AND PROBABLY
DYING OR FOUND RECENTLY DEAD

It is important to remember that a person who

appears to be imconscious may still be able to hear

what is said and yet be unable to give any sign that he

does. Hence, after phoning for the priest, recite
distinctly into the ear short acts of faith, trust, and

sorrow for sin.

Regarding baptism, if a person is found dying or

recently dead and it is known or found out that he in-

tended to be baptized, one is obliged in conscience to

see that he is baptized. If nothing at all can be

learned, say from bystanders or identification papers

in an ambulance case, it is permissible and praise-

worthy to baptize the person conditionally. It may
mean the salvation of a soul. But before baptizing,

recite clearly into the ear of the person:
"My God,

have mercy! I believe and trust You. Fm sorry for
offending You. I will never offend You again. "

PREVIOUS BAPTISM

If there is even the slightest doubt about the pre-

vious baptism of a dying person, or about its validity,

one should tactfully suggest and help him express the

necessary acts of faith, sorrow for sin, and determi-

nation to embrace again, and abide by, the laws of

the Christian religion- -recalling Our Lord's death for

us on the cross and how in return we should love and

trust Him and live according to His will. (If nothing
else can be done, try to make sure the sick person

makes earnest use of "My Daily Prayer. ") ... Then,

without disturbing him, when he is actually dying or

found recently dead, one should see to it that he is

quietly baptized conditionally. (See EMERGENCY
BAPTISM.

)

Doubt about the validity of a baptism can easily

and with reason occur these days: Did the one bap-

tizing have the intention to perform the rite as insti-

tuted by Christ? Did he say the correct words while

making the water flow over the skin of the head? Did

the person baptized, if he had attained the age of rea-

son, have the intention to be baptized?

2



DYING INFANTS AND BABIES

—must always be baptized, i. e.
,
any child below the

age of reason. If you are not absolutely sure the baby

was baptized at all or correctly and validly baptized,

and a priest cannot be had in time, baptize without de-

lay (see EMERGENCY BAPTISM). No dispositions of
course are required of the child, since it has not at-

tained the age of reason. The same is true also for

those mentally deranged from birth, since they are

equivalent to infants.

The child is dying! Its rights to heaven have com-

plete priority over all other rights and considerations

--even those of parents who, though perhaps here and

now unwilling because not informed or misinformed,

assuredly wish everything done to guarantee for their

baby the vision of God for all eternity. The baptism

is easily taken care of: If visitors cannot be asked to

leave the room, the doctor or nurse facing away from

them uses a towel with clean water to bathe the child’s

forehead, then squeezes it; when water is seen to
flow, the words are said audibly but in a whisper.

The doctor or nurse must be concerned too about

the case of an unbaptized child who is not in danger of

death here and now, but will die before it reaches the

age of reason—possibly at home after what was meant
to be only a temporary release from the hospital.
Procedure: Inform the priest ( chaplain or parish
priest) personally or by phone. But don’t put it off.

Note : A child who has reached the age of reason
is in the matter of its salvation an ’’adult. ” The pro-

cedures for helping it spiritually are the same as for

adults (see pp. 1 and 2). Or better , follow instruc-

tions given in footnote on p. 6.

MISCARRIAGE

A miscarried fetus or embryo, no matter how
small, must always be baptized- -absolutely if cer-

tainly alive, conditionally if doubtfully alive. Macer-

ation (putrefaction or advanced general decomposition)

in this case is the only certain sign of real death.

Break the membranes, or open the blood clot or mole,

surroimding the embryo. Immerse it in a pan of water

making sure the water contacts the fetus itself. Then,

while moving it about in the water so that there will

be a washing or flowing or ”baptizing, ”say the words,

usually those for conditional baptism: ”If you are

capable, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and

of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. ” Finally, remove

it from the water.

Never fail to follow this procedure even though

told in a hospital to take the clot, etc. intact to the

medical lab. The water must contact and flow on the

fetus or embryo itself. Baptism on the covering

membrane is no baptism. Those in a medical lab are

not in fact interested in the ’’intactness" of the mem-
branes. Hence break membranes, baptize, and if
necessary explain afterwards.

3



ALWAYS HAVE HANDY A COPY
OF "MY DAILY PRAYER”

—to give or read to the sick. Apart from anything else
you can do for a critically sick patient of any faith,

this is one all-important first thing. When said ear-

nestly and fervently, or prayerfully listened to by one

who cannot read, this prayer with its act of sorrow-for

sin-from-the-motive-of-love-of-God (perfect contri-

tion) and its expression of faith in the basic truths to

be believed explicitly on God's word will be a wonder-

ful help towards bringing him to, or keeping him in,

God's friendship.

Available in twenty-two foreign languages, "My

Daily Prayer" is printed on small, handy cards. Keep

supplied with them ! Distribute them to those who can

use them, and before you run out send for more. The

nurse or doctor on duty should always have a copy of

this prayer in card form, for ready use. So often it

is just what the patient himself wants, no matter what

his beliefs; and it may be the only means of saving his

soul. Particularly will any patient find comfort in the

last part of the prayer, an appeal to God, an all-

merciful Father, for help and forgiveness. The

prayer is also available in Braille. (For copies, see

address given in footnote, p. 5.

)

RECORDING BAPTISM
Records of baptism are important, for the record,

and to prevent repetition of a validly conferred sacra-

ment. Send memo at once to chaplain or parish priest
with names (yours, parents, witness, person bap-

tized), d^s of birth and baptism, and place (hospital
and cityTi It will be helpful, too, to describe briefly

just what was done and said in baptizing so that

assurance can be had that it is valid. Since it is not

customary to give a name in an emergency baptism,

indicate on the memo the sex of the person if there is
no name. Record the baptism also when possible on

the patient's chart, so that if validly conferred it will

not be repeated.

This Folder --

You can do much for the eternal welfare

of others and imdoubtedly bring God's
blessing into your own life if you are alert

to get copies of "Spiritual First Aid Pro-

cedures" to doctors, nurses, social

workers, police and fire department per-

sonnel, mar rie

d

couples--in short, to

anyone who comes in contact with the

critically ill. The cost of the folder is

negligible: 100 for $1.25, 500 for $5.50,

1000 for $10. 00. Send stamps or money

order to:

THE QUEEN'S WORK
3115 South Grand Boulevard

St. Louis 18, Missouri

4



MY DAILY PRAYER

I believe in one God. I believe that God re-

wards the good, and punishes the wicked.

H
u

w
rt

CQ

I believe that in God there are three Divine

Persons--God the Father, God the Son, and
|

God the Holy Ghost.
|

I believe that God the Son became Man, without

ceasing to be God. I believe that He is my
j

Lord and my Savior Jesus Christ, the Re-
|

deeme r of the human race. Who died on the
|

Cross for the salvation of all men. Who died
also for me.

I believe, on God’s authority, everything that

He has taught and revealed.

O my God, give me strong faith. O my God,
help me to believe with lively faith.

O my God, relying on Thy almighty power and
infinite mercy and promises, I sincerely
hope to be saved. Help me to do all that is
necessary for my salvation.

I have committed many sins in my life, but now
I turn away from them, and hate them. I

am sorry, truly sorry, for all of them, be-
cause I have offended Thee, my God, who
art all-good, all-perfect, all-holy, all-

merciful--my kind and loving Father.

I love Thee, O my God, with all my heart.
Forgive me, I implore Thee, for having of-

fended Thee.

I promise, O God, that with Thy help I will
never offend Thee again.

MY GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME

Copies of ”Mv Daily Prayer” in English, foreign

langxiages, and Braille may be obtained by sending a

few stamps to: Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, St.

Clare Convent, Hartwell, Cincinnati 15, Ohio, or to

its author, Rt. Rev. R. J. Markham, Compton Road,

Hartwell, Cincinnati 15, Ohio.... Copies of the

prayer in English as also of the ’’Prayer for Use by

Critically 111 Children” (see next page) may likewise

be obtained by writing directly to: The Queen’s Work,

3115 South Grand Blvd.
,

St. Louis 18, Missouri

,
(price: 50 for 50(i; 100 for 75^5; 500 for $3. 50; 1000

for $6.50).

5



PRAYER FOR USE BY

CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREY

(E. g. , accident or polio victims. See note below. )

Dear God- -the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-

-

I beUeve in You, and I want to be with You some-

time in heaven. I know You must punish us if we do

wrong; but You also reward us when we're good. I

believe, just because You have said so, everything

You have told us, and I'm sorry for hurting You by

doing wrong and not being good.

Please wash away everything -- all my sins. I will
never do wrong again. Let me (through baptism)

become Your own child here on earth, so that some-

day I may be with You in heaven.

Dear Jesus, I believe You are God the Son, the Second

Person of the Blessed Trinity, Who while remaining

God became man and died for us on the Cross. I

love You very much! Please help me to love You

more and more!

Note on Baptism

In the case of a critically ill, unbaptized child

who has, reached the age of reason
,

explain to him in

very simple language how God wants each of us through

baptism to be washed of sin and become a child of God

and an heir of heaven. Help him as far as possible

(1) to believe on God's word in the basic truths (There

is a God ^ Who rewards the good and punishes the

wicked * There are three Divine Persons in God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit * God the Son became

man and without ceasing to be Goddiedto redeem us),

(2) to be sorry for offending God by doing wrong and

to promise to live up to the commandments of the
Christian religion, and (3) particularly to have the
intention to be baptized.

This is not hard to do. It's easy if you just chat

with the youngster, 'Tou believe in God, don't you,

Johnny, Who rewards us when we're good but must
ptinish us if we do wrong?" etc. The all-important

thing is to help him want baptism. Keep in mind these

three things: belief (faith), sorrow, intention; and ex-

plain ever
3
Tthing in a child's language. He will know,

for example, about our Lord when you recall Christ-

mas and the Infant Jesus.

Finally, help the child say. the above prayer;

leave it with him so that he can say it often by h^-
self. It will help guarantee the reqxiired dispositions.

Briefly, if nothing else can be done, at least help him

say this prayer -with you phrase by phrase.

If the child is in danger of death, see to it at once

that a priest is notified. If danger of death is certain

and *proximate and no priest is at hand, baptize him.

If doubtful about his intention, or if he is fo\md re-

cently dead, baptize him conditionally.

Copies of the crave

r

for children's use may be

obtained from The Queen's Work (see footnote, p. 5)>

6



EMERGENCY BAPTISM
(Summary of Conditions)

Certain and proximate danger of death. Priest not

available. Have witness or two if possible without
delay. . . . While pouring water on skin of head (fore-

head) of adult or baby, say: 1

baptize you

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost.
”

Memorize now, once and for all,

for easy and accurate recall.

If baptism is to be conferred conditionally because
of doubt as to previous baptism (whether the person

was baptized at all or validly baptized before), of

life (whether the soul is still present when one is
found recently dead), or of intention in the case of

one who has reached the age of reason, say: "If you

are capable, I baptize you in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. " 2

N. B. --Record the baptism (see p. 4).

^ If a fetus, break surrovinding membranes, im-

merse, etc. as explained under the heading, "Mis-

carriage.
"

2 There can be no certainty of a valid baptism

in the case of one who has reached the age of reason

unless we are sure the one baptized had the intention

to receive baptism, and this previous to his being

baptized. Hence, if he is an older person, have him

express this intention, and then urge him to recite

"My Daily Prayer" (see p 5). If a child, try very

simply to help it express the wish to become a child

of God and be washed of sin, etc. through baptism

(see footnote, p. 6); then help it say the "Prayer for

Use by Critically 111 Children, " printed at the top of

the same page. ... If any doubt remains about the in-

tention and the person is dying or found recently dead,

baptize conditionally. . . . Should he regain conscious-

ness, inform a priest at once. A dying person is to
be rebaptized conditionally if his hither-to doubtful

intention now becomes explicit. A nurse or doctor
can and should tactfully help him make such an in-

tention.

Imprimi potest: Daniel H. Conway, S. J. Praep. Prov. Missourianae

Nihil obstat: Thomas V. Cahill, C. M. Censor Librorum

Imprimatur
: f Joseph E. Ritter Archiepiscopus Sancti Ludovici

Sancti Ludovici, die 2 Junii 1950

7