Note 1014 — Chapter II · THE TREATMENT OF PENITENTS IN DIFFERENT EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES (continued 2)

Compare on this point S. R. C. 2 Dec., 1885; S. C. Ep. et Reg. 4 Aug., 1888; Ballerini, Notæ ad Gury, Theol. Mor. II. n. 241; moreover, S. Rom. et Univ. Inquis. 2 July, 1890; Linzer Theol-prakt. Quartalschrift, 1889, S. 630; 1893, S. 138 (both articles by W. E. Hubert). According to these decisions, the right to give permission to nuns to receive holy communion oftener (than on the days fixed by the constitutions) belongs, not to their director or their Superioress, but only to the usual confessor, who, in the exercise of his right, is free and independent. Only in one case could the Superioress forbid holy communion, namely, when a nun had publicly committed a serious fault which had caused scandal to the other sisters (cf. S. C. Ep. et Reg. 27 June, 1876); this prohibition, however, would only hold good till the next confession. When the Confessor ordinarius has given permission for special occasions, it need not be referred to the Superiors; but if the permission is granted once for all, the Superior should be informed; the penitent herself ought to do so, but only once. Cf. S. Rom. et Univ. Inq. 2 July, 1890.