In Preparation for the Last Things
While I was away, Terri Schiavo was permitted to receive the Blessed Sacrament for Easter. Only under the species of wine, but that's still enough for a complete communion. (She also seems to have received the Extreme Unction.) I wasn't initially sure, but this seems to qualify as the Viaticum. Although, after the past 15 years, and especially the last 10 days, I don't think her tenure in Purgatory was not likely to be too extended.
There also seems to be a conflict between Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers about funeral services. I suspect Michael will win - it's hard to imagine he'd be his wife's undisputed guardian with regard to whether or not to kill her, but not with how to bury her - and that Terri will be cremated and buried in the Schiavo family plot in Pennsylvania without benefit of a Catholic funeral Mass. And yet, why? Michael may have absolute rights to the body, but why should the body be necessary for a funeral Mass? Those lost at sea can have such Masses said for them, can't they? Why can't the Schindlers have a Catholic funeral sine corpore for their daughter? Heck, we can do one better - we could have churches all over the country simultaneously offering Masses for Terri. Nothing Michael Schiavo can do about that, can he?
There also seems to be a conflict between Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers about funeral services. I suspect Michael will win - it's hard to imagine he'd be his wife's undisputed guardian with regard to whether or not to kill her, but not with how to bury her - and that Terri will be cremated and buried in the Schiavo family plot in Pennsylvania without benefit of a Catholic funeral Mass. And yet, why? Michael may have absolute rights to the body, but why should the body be necessary for a funeral Mass? Those lost at sea can have such Masses said for them, can't they? Why can't the Schindlers have a Catholic funeral sine corpore for their daughter? Heck, we can do one better - we could have churches all over the country simultaneously offering Masses for Terri. Nothing Michael Schiavo can do about that, can he?
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