The Sacraments are Sacraments of Faith, and you have to receive these sacraments. Sacraments are concrete expressions of your unity with the Church. By definition, the sacrament presupposes faith. You can receive the sacraments when you are united with the Church. It is not a magical ritual that anyone can have access to. Sacraments are sacraments of faith, thus every sacrament presupposes faith, the full Catholic faith, not only 80 percent but 100 percent Catholic faith.
Those people who are separated from the Church, like the Protestants, are not in communion with us, thus, they cannot have communion with the sacraments because faith and sacraments are inseparable, they are united. So, they cannot receive the sacraments unless they are ready to profess the fullness of the Catholic faith and to make the act of joining the Catholic faith.
For example, if there is a sick person and he asks for the sacrament of anointing, the priest has to ask, “Do you believe in the Catholic faith? Do you believe in all the truths?”, and if the sick person says “I do” then he has to profess the Catholic faith, and the priest can then give him the sacrament, even when that person is dying or in a serious situation. If the person has the desire to be in full communion with the Catholic faith, then the priest can give the absolution (Sacrament of Reconciliation or the Sacrament of Anointing).
If there is no such desire or formal desire, then the priest cannot give him the sacraments because it contradicts its meaning. I repeat sacraments are the full expression of one’s unity with the Catholic Church.
Sacraments are not the only absolute means to salvation because God can save a soul in another way and not through the sacraments. God can do this, therefore, this is a possibility. If this Protestant is not ready to accept the entire Catholic faith, then we can pray for him or together with him so that he can repent for his sins. We can also pray the Rosary for him.
Dear visitors of Gloria Dei and all who have already written or who will write a personal message to me. I am grateful for your attention, your kindness, for your spiritual support and especially for your sacrifices and prayers for me. God may reward you!
