Anointing of the Sick circumstances

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ajcstr

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I have read much conflicting information on the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. I will be having my prostate removed and I am unsure whether to seek the sacrament or not. I am under 60, in otherwise good health and the cancer is believed to be confined to the prostate. While this type of surgery is not high risk, I was wondering if the sacrament would be appropriate or not. I remember it being more frequently called “Last Rights” and “Extreme Unction” so I don’t want to misuse it.
 
There is an entire article (what most books would call a “chapter”) on this Sacrament in the Catechism. I’ve linked the Catechism for you so you can read the article that begin with paragraph 1499

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

The very condensed summary:

IN BRIEF

1526 “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (Jas 5:14-15).

1527 The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age.

1528 The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age.

1529 Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.

1530 Only priests (presbyters and bishops) can give the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, using oil blessed by the bishop, or if necessary by the celebrating presbyter himself.

1531 The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person (in the Roman Rite) or of other parts of the body (in the Eastern rite), the anointing being accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament.

1532 The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:
  • the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church;
  • the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;
  • the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;
  • the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
  • the preparation for passing over to eternal life.
 
It’s fine for you to receive this sacrament. It’s not just for people who are on the brink of death any more.

Many parishes have a monthly, or other regularly scheduled, service where people who are in poor health or just elderly can come attend Mass and receive the sacrament. If you are not elderly and look like you are generally in good health, you might mention to the priest ahead of time that you’ve recently been diagnosed with a serious illness (or just tell him cancer if you’re comfortable with that) so he will not wonder why you are coming to get the sacrament. You could also make an appointment with him to receive it at some point before your operation.
 
ajcstr said:
I remember it being more frequently called “Last Rights” and “Extreme Unction” so I don’t want to misuse it.
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Anointing of the sick is part of the “last rites” but is not in itself “the last rites”. The last rights consist of confession, communion, and anointing in preparation for death.

Anointing of the sick is appropriate for serious illness, and surgery always has risks. It would be appropriate to seek anointing before surgery. Talk to your pastor about it.
 
I received annointing before my gallbladder surgery in October. You will not be misusing the sacrament.
 
ajcstr said:
I have read much conflicting information on the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. I will be having my prostate removed and I am unsure whether to seek the sacrament or not. I am under 60, in otherwise good health and the cancer is believed to be confined to the prostate. While this type of surgery is not high risk, I was wondering if the sacrament would be appropriate or not. I remember it being more frequently called “Last Rights” and “Extreme Unction” so I don’t want to misuse it.
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You need to speak with your priest about this.

People on the internet just cannot answer that question.

While it can be part of the “Last Rites” and it can be “extreme” it is not always that way.

Indeed, we should not wait until it becomes a situation of “in extreme.”

Talk to your priest. He’ll know what to do.
 
FrDavid96 said:
You need to speak with your priest about this.

People on the internet just cannot answer that question.

While it can be part of the “Last Rites” and it can be “extreme” it is not always that way.

Indeed, we should not wait until it becomes a situation of “in extreme.”

Talk to your priest. He’ll know what to do.
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Yeah, I know, I did ask in the confessional, he said it was appropriate. I just have that “last rights” stigma about it so I wanted to get some opinions.
 
So many people will not call for the anointing of the sick, they think Father is the “angel of death”. Shake that stigma 🙂
 
Can. 1004 §1. The anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age.

§2. This sacrament can be repeated if the sick person, having recovered, again becomes gravely ill or if the condition becomes more grave during the same illness.

The sacrament can be administered when a person is in remote danger of death (i.e. he or she has an illness which will probably result in death, although there is no danger of imminent death). Thus it is an abuse of the sacrament (unfortunately all too common) to administer it to those with non-lethal conditions.

It is my understanding, although I’m not completely certain, that the Church allows anointing to be administered (prior to surgery) for a disease which would be potentially fatal, but which surgery renders certainly non-fatal.

So speak to your priest about it.
 
1ke said:
surgery always has risks. It would be appropriate to seek anointing before surgery
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That depends. If surgery is being had for a life-threatening condition (including when there is no danger of imminent death), then anointing should be administered. But surgery itself does not justify it, as it is only allowed for danger of death due to sickness, not danger of death due to things which will be externally done to the person (thus convicts and soldiers cannot receive the sacrament).
 
Most definitely receive the Sacrament. The Sacrament is not just for those facing death. It may be given to anyone facing an illness or any situation requiring surgery.
 
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We should all be clear here, while the OP should ask for the sacrament, since cancer of any kind is by nature life-threatening, not any illness or surgery justifies it. It is allowed only when the individual “begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age”.

For example, when I had a cyst removed, my priest offered to visit me in the hospital, but did not offer (and I did not ask for) Anointing of the Sick, since it was not a life-threatening condition. That was the correct course of action.
 
Arkansan said:
But surgery itself does not justify it, as it is only allowed for danger of death due to sickness, not danger of death due to things which will be externally done to the person (thus convicts and soldiers cannot receive the sacrament).
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Surgery itself can certainly justify anointing, if in the opinion of the priest it is warranted. The OP already talked to his pastor, and his pastor told him it was appropriate. I was confirming that statement-- it certainly is appropriate based on information given and the fact his PASTOR said it was.
 
The OP has a life-threatening condition, so of course it’s warranted. I’m not talking about him.

I’m talking about the notion that any surgery justifies anointing. This is false, the Church only permits anointing for illness, not for external dangers. Thus the Church does not allow anointing to be administered to condemned prisoners, nor to soldiers going into battle.

Can. 1004 §1. The anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age.
 
Does the hospital have a Catholic chaplain? They will be used to this sort of enquiry and equipped to advise.
 
The Eastern Churches use Anointing much more frequently, so it’s not intrinsically wrong to use it for various illnesses which may not be fatal.

Regardless, the Canons of whichever Rite one belongs to and the discretion of ones spiritual father should be adhered to in a spirit of obedience.
 
When I had back surgery in 2014 I had it done. It is for the “sick” and “dying”. When we are sick we can receive Annointing if the Sick.
 
1ke said:
Surgery itself can certainly justify anointing,
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No. It does not.

Surgery itself is certainly NOT a reason for Anointing.

The Anointing is appropriate if the condition is life-threatening or if there is some other condition that might be life-threatening. For example, a person might have a breathing or heart issue that’s not the reason for the surgery, but the surgery makes it (that 2nd condition) life-threatening. In that case, we anoint not against the surgery but against the 2nd illness/condition.

We do not anoint against surgery. We know it’s going to happen; and indeed intend for it to happen.
 
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