[razorgirl]

I remember my great aunt (who was a mother superior in her order), used to give the sacraments to patients in the nursing home she ran, including communion and last rites.

So even if the "legal case" hasn't been established, for all practical purposes, the office of "deaconess" (I would prefer just the gender-neutral "deacon") for women has always existed in one form or another.

[AlaninSA]

I remember my great aunt (who was a mother superior in her order), used to give the sacraments to patients in the nursing home she ran, including communion and last rites.

Were she actually celebrating Mass (handing out Communion is not the same as "giving" the sacraments. I'm sure that she was not able to "give" confession (that is, hear) any more than she was able to conduct "last rites" (wrong term, amiga).

Just because a nun violates church doctrine does not make incorrect actions any less incorrect.