Annointment of the Sick

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whipp711

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I’m having a surgery tomorrow that should work out just fine. However, complications (low probability) are potentially catastrophic. Personally, I don’t think I should be a candidate for Annointment of the Sick, but the wifey sorta suggested it. I didn’t pursue it. I really believe that lovely rite is for those seriously ill and facing possible death.

Search revealed a lot of thoughts, but can someone point me to something definitive?
 
This probably isn’t the definitive statement you’re looking for, but during RCIA our Priest made a point that it was ‘Annointing of the Sick’ not ‘of the dying’. Things that aren’t life threatening, like a person with migraines, the blind, etc, things that can lead to life threatening issues, but aren’t directly life threatening themself, like diabetes, and pretty much any surgery, especially if you were going to be put under, were all candidates for reception of the sacrament.

In Mark, Chapter 6, the Apostles “anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” So ‘sick’ people, not necessarily ‘dying’ people.
 
whipp711 said:
I’m having a surgery tomorrow that should work out just fine. However, complications (low probability) are potentially catastrophic. Personally, I don’t think I should be a candidate for Annointment of the Sick, but the wifey sorta suggested it. I didn’t pursue it. I really believe that lovely rite is for those seriously ill and facing possible death.

Search revealed a lot of thoughts, but can someone point me to something definitive?
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What you really need to do is to contact your own pastor. It’s his decision to make (within the norms of the Church of course) if you’re a candidate for Anointing or not. This isn’t something that people on an internet forum can answer. In fact, you’re likely to get a lot of misinformation, especially since people here don’t know your exact condition.

Talk to your priest and let him make the decision; but DO contact him.
 
Any surgery could be potentially life threatening. I too had surgery this year where I was assured there would be no problems, and there were none, but my pastor and my spiritual director encouraged me to get anointed. Why pass up a sacrament? Now I wouldn’t get it for have a tooth pulled but if I had to go under general anesthesia I would receive the anointing.
 
I think it proper anytime one is receiving general anesthesia. Also, I think most priests will anoint a mother prior to child birth.

I recently had cataract surgery, which is only a local anesthetic. However, I am diabetic which increases the chance of infection or slow healing. My priest, who is a straight by the book type, agreed that that increased the risk enough to justify the sacrament.

Our parish also anoints those who are housebound by the disabilities of age three times a year.
 
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