Annointing, Viaticum or Last Rites?

[Conservative]

I may have asked this awhile back but this week the subject came up again in discussion. Tonight, I’m seeing it also here. Is there a difference - Annointing of the Sick, Viaticum or Last Rites?

The words “Last Rites” speak for themselves. (i.e. the Last Sacrament before dying). But with the changes in the Church, it seems that “Annointing” has become an expression covering both the sick and the dying?

It’s been a thorn in my side, since I’m convinced there must be a shade of difference. I’ve seen different priests give the above - Last Rites (as I would call it), is longer while the Annointing is all of 30 seconds - and the words “I annoint you” aren’t even mentioned. I’m concerned since I may have sent my mother to Eternity - without the Last Rites - unknowingly. A priest who came, gave her an Annointing and later read me the words he’d said. Sad to say, it wasn’t what another priest had given her a more than a year previous. I know I’d want more before leaving this earth - and I feel I may have failed my Mom on the most crucial issue. Sorry if this request is a repeat.

 

[YADA]

Viaticum means “food for the journey” a last communion before dying …

the annointing of the sick can be recieved when one is ill and at the pint of death …

it was refered to as “Extreme Unction” … and seen as the last rite a person received …

Timing, Timing, Timing often people would put off receiving it - and die without … or when the priest came to administer it people gave up hope thinking they were dying … also some thought this was a rite that could only be received once …

Vatican II resolves to go ack to the practice of the early chuch and the model found in scripture … "if any amoung you are sick, call for the presbyter and be annointed … "

Ideally before death one would recieve the sacrament of reconciliation, be annointed and receive viaticum …

A priest is necessary for the Annointing of the Sick and the Confession … a lay person can bring the “Viaticum” [last communion].

 

[Phemie]

Can. 998 The anointing of the sick, by which the Church commends the faithful who are dangerously ill to the sovereing and glorified Lord in order that he relieve and save them, is conferred by anointing them with oil and pronouncing the words prescribed in the liturgical books.

Viaticum is Communion when death is near.

Along with confession these 3 sacraments may compose the ‘last rites’.

Usually we speak of the Anointing of the Sick because ‘last rites’ can have a frightening connotation and the Church would prefer to have the celebration of this sacrament while the person is still able to respond and be able to receive the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist.

 

[Conservative]

Viaticum means “food for the journey” a last communion before dying …

the annointing of the sick can be recieved when one is ill and at the pint of death …

it was refered to as “Extreme Unction” … and seen as the last rite a person received …

Timing, Timing, Timing often people would put off receiving it - and die without … or when the priest came to administer it people gave up hope thinking they were dying … also some thought this was a rite that could only be received once …

Vatican II resolves to go ack to the practice of the early chuch and the model found in scripture … "if any amoung you are sick, call for the presbyter and be annointed … "

Ideally before death one would recieve the sacrament of reconciliation, be annointed and receive viaticum …

A priest is necessary for the Annointing of the Sick and the Confession … a lay person can bring the “Viaticum” [last communion].

Thanks for detailing it - makes me just as nervous now. Mom couldn’t take Host. She was on feeding tube, and I’d asked a priest the year before if it could be administered through tube. I was told not. After Mom passed, I asked this other priest what words he’d used. Nothing about annointing. Just a sentence or two mentioning the Holy Spirit.

I just checked online - and found that Holy Oil or Holy Water should have been used. He brought a bottle at my request (for my personal use) but I didn’t see him use it. Whether I’m right or wrong - sadly - is one soul into Eternity with a survivor unsure and very upset tonight.

 

[puzzleannie]

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is just that, anointing with oil and the blessing and prayers proper to the rite, by the priest (not a deacon or layperson) and in addition to spiritual and even sometimes physical healing if it is God’s will for that person, forgives sin. If the person is able, he should confess grave sins and receive absolution before the anointing (sacrament of Penance). this sacrament is proper for those who are gravely ill, facing surgery that may put life in jeopardy, at the point of death, but should not be delayed to the last minute. Also someone chronically ill may benefit from the sacrament, and may receive it again for the same illness if there is a crisis or change for the worse. Also someone whose age has led to general disability and diminishment of strength may also benefit from the sacrament.

Viaticum means food for the journey, and is the name for the Eucharist given to the person who is close to death. That also should not be delayed, but the sacrament should be taken regularly to those who are ill or homebound and cannot come to Mass. They must also be given the opportunity for sacramental confession and absolution if they need it, and anointing if their conditon warrants it.

Last rites is a general term for any or all of these sacraments administered when the person is or seems to be close to death. Anyone who is responsible for the care of a severely ill, injured or elderly person should make sure that patient has access to a priest for the sacraments. If a person cannot speak for himself but could be expected to request the sacraments on his own behalf if able, should have a priest brought to him. Please don’t wait until the last minute, encourage someone facing surgery or other treatment to ask for confession, anointing and communion before entering the hospital, or call and ask the priest to come when the patient is admitted. There is not always a priest available to come at the last moment.

It is most likely that yes OP’s mother did receive the sacrament of anointing before death, and properly administered, and all her sins were forgiven if she was unable to confess verbally. the rite does not take very long. It would have been good to give her the opportunity before communion before the feeding tube was inserted, but that is not always possible.

We did ask the priest to come (several times) when mom’s tube was removed, before the new one was inserted, but he never came (there is a story, somebody’s negligence, not his, but sad in any case). The priest who did come brought the precious blood in a special vessel, but doctor said she could not tolerate even a drop at that point. She did receive great obvious comfort from the anointing itself, which did not take long, since the priest shortened the rite to spare her any discomfort as she was in a lot of pain. She died later that day with her family around her, at peace, and I am convinced, through the sacramental graces and her offering of her suffering, the family experience graces and blessings to numerous to mention shortly after her death and funeral.

 

[YADA]

Well God knows your heart and your desires for mother …

Remember: With God … All things are possible … I

am sure that if you desired your mother to have the comfort and grace that flows from the “Last Rites” then it happened for you and your mother through the power of the Holy Spirit… God has the ability to perfect what mere mortals do imperfectly … We some times attempt to limit God …

It is like what our priest tells us … Jesus is present in the Tabernacle in a very special way … but we do not hold Him captive … He is not a prisoner …

Similarly, we need to take care to honor the Eucharist and care for Jesus present there … but we cannot ‘hurt’ Jesus … if a Eucharistic Host is dropped accidentally, Jesus is not ‘harmed’… To defame the Host injures the one who fails to perceive God, it seperates the person from God, yet God is always there for the repentant …

I hope you understand what I am trying to say … God can provide ‘food’ for the journey … At Fatima, the children received communion during their visions …

so I am sure your mother received what she needed and you requested …

FYI, I was at my fathers death bed … made a conditional baptism [not knowing if he had ever been] just before he died … not much of a believer [no religious affliation] that I know of. But during the last days of his life he had consented to pray with my brother and me and then with me and a deacon … I prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy several times in his last month …

I did what I could and for the rest I leave it up to the mercy of Jesus … it gives me great solace … our best, in the end that is all we can give …

 

[bpbasilphx]

<<and the words “I annoint you” aren’t even mentioned.>>

The words “I anoint you” are not part of the distribution of the Sacrament, even in its Western form.

Note that the N is NOT doubled.

 

[Conservative]

Many thanks. Mom seemed to have lost the ability to swallow the Host - even before requiring the tube. Two years ago next month, I had a Traditional priest come home to hear her confession (absolution really since she had dementia). But Mom could barely swallow the Host…I even asked if I should get some water. To my recollection, that was her last sacramental Holy Communion, Feb. 2006. By April, she’d stopped eating.

The Traditional priest came home again in April 2006 before she was hospitalized and/got tube, and I think he gave her either Last Rites or an Annointing - so beautifully holy - including inducting her in the Brown Scapular. He visited and re-annointed her in hospital October 2006. (six-month rule?) But after that, her Annointings were given by visiting priests in hospitals.

My apologies for belaboring this. My heart is heavy tonight. All I wanted was for her to die prepared to meet God - and that she be aware of that in her passing. Now, there are such question marks. There is nothing I can do but feel that I failed my mother in what she wanted most. During her last months, despite her dementia, she once said, “I’m so alone. Does God know?”
Gregorian Masses to be said for her next month. May she rest in peace. And may I find peace.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I may have asked this awhile back but this week the subject came up again in discussion. Tonight, I’m seeing it also here. Is there a difference - Annointing of the Sick, Viaticum or Last Rites?

The words “Last Rites” speak for themselves. (i.e. the Last Sacrament before dying). But with the changes in the Church, it seems that “Annointing” has become an expression covering both the sick and the dying?

It’s been a thorn in my side, since I’m convinced there must be a shade of difference. I’ve seen different priests give the above - Last Rites (as I would call it), is longer while the Annointing is all of 30 seconds - and the words “I annoint you” aren’t even mentioned. I’m concerned since I may have sent my mother to Eternity - without the Last Rites - unknowingly. A priest who came, gave her an Annointing and later read me the words he’d said. Sad to say, it wasn’t what another priest had given her a more than a year previous. I know I’d want more before leaving this earth - and I feel I may have failed my Mom on the most crucial issue. Sorry if this request is a repeat.

The “Last Rites” are three Sacramental Rites and an Apostolic Blessing.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
Viaticum (The last Holy Communion- as food for the journey)
An Apostolic Blessing with a Plenary Indulgence.

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick can be received many times from the begining of a serious illness, and through out the illness. Holy Communion of course can be received weekly or sometimes even daily.

 

[Brenda_V]

Do not worry, with or without Last Rites your mom is either in Heaven, on her way there in Purgatory or (most unlikely) in Hell.

What is done is done and you personally did your best to make sure your mom received the Last Rites. There are many who do not even get the little it appeared that your mom got due to either ignorance of the children or staff working with them or because their children have fallen away and no longer believe!

God Bless you though for your worry - use that to pray for the souls in Purgatory! Every time you think of this take a minute or second to pray for those souls, let it be a prompt for you.

Brenda V.