Anointing of the Sick by mistake?

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Summer79

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Hello,

I’m hoping that someone might be able to calm my mind about something that happened earlier today. This morning I headed to our local parish for regular Saturday confession. I had my 5 year old son along with me. When we arrived the church was full and there was a mass going on. I was confused because this was not a regularly scheduled mass, but someone standing in the back informed me that it was a “healing mass” and that confession was being held afterward.

So my son and I found a spot in the line for confession (which happens to be along the back wall of our church) and planned to wait while mass finished up. Before I could even figure out which part of mass they were in, four priests were making their way through the congregation and blessing people’s forehead and hands with oil.

I realize now that they were administrating the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, but at the time I thought maybe it was just a blessing that was somehow connected. I feel foolish now that I’ve read up a little and see that these communial Anointing masses are somewhat commonplace. My son and I both received the Sacrament, but at that moment I did not realize it. I’m assuming it is not valid since we are neither sick nor nearing the time of death. I don’t like the idea of recieving a Sacrament invalidly, but it was an honest error.

Thoughts?
 
Summer79 said:
Hello,

I’m hoping that someone might be able to calm my mind about something that happened earlier today. This morning I headed to our local parish for regular Saturday confession. I had my 5 year old son along with me. When we arrived the church was full and there was a mass going on. I was confused because this was not a regularly scheduled mass, but someone standing in the back informed me that it was a “healing mass” and that confession was being held afterward.

So my son and I found a spot in the line for confession (which happens to be along the back wall of our church) and planned to wait while mass finished up. Before I could even figure out which part of mass they were in, four priests were making their way through the congregation and blessing people’s forehead and hands with oil.

I realize now that they were administrating the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, but at the time I thought maybe it was just a blessing that was somehow connected. I feel foolish now that I’ve read up a little and see that these communial Anointing masses are somewhat commonplace. My son and I both received the Sacrament, but at that moment I did not realize it. I’m assuming it is not valid since we are neither sick nor nearing the time of death. I don’t like the idea of recieving a Sacrament invalidly, but it was an honest error.

Thoughts?
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Please calm your mind immediately.🙂

The sacrament of Anointing the Sick is for people who are seriously ill. It is not just for anyone. This might mean the sacrament was invalid. It might not be, too.

However, you cannot be held responsible or at fault. You did not request the sacrament. You have no culpability because you had no intent to invalidly receive a sacrament. It sounds as if the priest anointed you and your son before you were even aware it was happening. You were taken by surprise.

Please relax! You cannot be held liable for this.
 
Thank you for responding!

More than anything, I just feel foolish about the whole thing. I really should have stepped out if I wasn’t sure what was happening. And the poor priest…anointing a 5 year old! Cannot imagine what he must have thought!

Thanks again for your kind words.
 
According to the Catechism you can receive the anointing of the sick more than once.
 
Yes, I read that earlier too. Thank you. I was more concerned that we received without being the intended recipients of the Sacrament and without being aware of what we were doing.

I know there’s nothing really to be done now, but I wondered if I take this to confession?
 
Summer79 said:
Thank you for responding!

More than anything, I just feel foolish about the whole thing. I really should have stepped out if I wasn’t sure what was happening. And the poor priest…anointing a 5 year old! Cannot imagine what he must have thought!

Thanks again for your kind words.
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Reads like honest error. You were lined up for confession – and it so happens that a healing Mass was taking place. I doubt the priest thought anything of it because if he did he would have not annointed your son or asked first.
 
Summer79 said:
Yes, I read that earlier too. Thank you. I was more concerned that we received without being the intended recipients of the Sacrament and without being aware of what we were doing.

I know there’s nothing really to be done now, but I wondered if I take this to confession?
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No, it is not a sin. You did nothing sinful, and it was an accident. It is not a good idea to take things to Confession that are not sins, as it can lead to or exacerbate scrupulosity. If you have a question about it, ask the priest after Mass or when you see him.
 
Angela77 said:
According to the Catechism you can receive the anointing of the sick more than once.
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Three times here, and stage IV incurable cancer is gone. Praise God!

All anointing is not necessarily the Sacrament of the sick:
CCC695 Anointing. The symbolism of anointing with oil also signifies the Holy Spirit,30 to the point of becoming a synonym for the Holy Spirit. In Christian initiation, anointing is the sacramental sign of Confirmation, called “chrismation” in the Churches of the East. Its full force can be grasped only in relation to the primary anointing accomplished by the Holy Spirit, that of Jesus. Christ (in Hebrew “messiah”) means the one “anointed” by God’s Spirit. There were several anointed ones of the Lord in the Old Covenant, pre-eminently King David.
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However, since the OP was standing line to confess sin, is it not appropriate to be anointed for the reception of spiritual healing? All healing, either physical or spiritual, comes through the Holy Spirit. This was a win-win!
 
Summer79 said:
My son and I both received the Sacrament, but at that moment I did not realize it. I’m assuming it is not valid since we are neither sick nor nearing the time of death. I don’t like the idea of recieving a Sacrament invalidly, but it was an honest error.

Thoughts?
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nothing you can do makes a sacrament invalid. If the priest did it with right intention it is valid. You did nothing wrong. Just thank God for the graces received.
 
Its valid. Anointing is not limited to the very sick and dying. We are all sick, always, of something. And remember that anointing is not only for what ills our bodies, but our minds and souls as well. Many of us may be physically healthy, but has issues psychologically, especially stress and other things.
 
Thank you so much everyone. I feel so much better after reading your responses. Thank you for taking the time to reply - I really appreciate it!
 
ConstantineTG said:
Anointing is not limited to the very sick and dying.
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Can you support that with a citation from any source? The Rite of Anointing the Sick clearly states that it is only to be used for those who are seriously ill. The Rite is clear that it isn’t just for those in immediate danger of death, as was once the perceived requirement for receiving the sacrament. However, one must be ill to receive it. It cannot be any illness but a serious one.
 
In some (all?) eastern churches, we sacramentally annoying everyone during Holy Week…

And yes, this does distress some in the west (“But, but, . . .that remits sins without confession!” . . . Yes, but it doesn’t do away with the need for confessiion.)
 
How serious does the illness have to be? I got anointed “by mistake,” when lined up for confession, in much the same way as the OP. The only thing wrong with me physically is a little arthritis and a corneal abrasion, and sleep paralysis. It would be nice if they would go away.

I had received the Sacrament of the Sick years ago before going in for serious shoulder surgery (big open procedure, much worse than a rotator cuff repair.) I had been told that I would have residual problems, but after some pretty extensive rehab, I’m even able to play golf nowadays. As a matter of fact, I beat the tar out of my orthopedic surgeon when we played together.
 
None of us know how close to death we are.

It is never a sin to receive a sacrament - especially by accident. Sure, you may not receive any/all of the graces (as when an uninitiated receives Communion), but it is not sinful. God gives us what we need.
 
dconklin said:
It is never a sin to receive a sacrament - especially by accident. Sure, you may not receive any/all of the graces (as when an uninitiated receives Communion), but it is not sinful. God gives us what we need.
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Well… yes and no. There’s no sin imparted if it was by accident, but to day that there is never sin in receiving a sacrament…
  • Is being anointed every day from birth sinful?
  • Is it sinful for married men to get ordained secretly (under normal circumstances)?
  • Is it sinful to receive the Eucharist outside of a state of grace?
  • etc…
I think to say that “It is never a sin to receive a sacrament” isn’t quite accurate.
 
dochawk said:
In some (all?) eastern churches, we sacramentally annoying everyone during Holy Week…
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That is Eastern Catholic praxis not Latin Catholic.
dochawk said:
And yes, this does distress some in the west (“But, but, . . .that remits sins without confession!” . . . Yes, but it doesn’t do away with the need for confessiion.)
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That does not upset me. I am not upset by Eastern Catholic praxis.
 
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