Anointing of the Sick for deliverance?

[Claire_from_DE]

I would like to know the rationale for using the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for a person who has an emotional problem which may related to a close relative’s involvement in Satanic or occult activities when that person was very young. If, in the considered opinion of a mature, well balanced priest, there may be reason to believe that this opened the way for some evil influence on the person (oppression, not possession), would this be a licit use of the sacrament? This isn’t a life-threatening problem but an ongoing one which affects the quality of the person’s life.

 

[LilyM]

I would like to know the rationale for using the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for a person who has an emotional problem which may related to a close relative’s involvement in Satanic or occult activities when that person was very young. If, in the considered opinion of a mature, well balanced priest, there may be reason to believe that this opened the way for some evil influence on the person (oppression, not possession), would this be a licit use of the sacrament? This isn’t a life-threatening problem but an ongoing one which affects the quality of the person’s life.

I think prayer and exorcism (and frequent reception of the sacraments of Communion and Confession) would probably offer more spiritual protection than a one-time reception of the Anointing of the Sick.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I think prayer and exorcism (and frequent reception of the sacraments of Communion and Confession) would probably offer more spiritual protection than a one-time reception of the Anointing of the Sick.

Prayer has been used, she goes to Confession and Communion. Exorcism is usually used for cases of possession which this is not. There is good reason to believe that she was actually cursed at birth or shortly after by a relative more than casually involved in the occult. The use of the Anointing of the Sick was the priest’s choice for healing. I’m looking for reasons for his choice. At first I thought it wasn’t appropriate but if this was a debilitating physical condition it could be used so maybe it was a good choice??

 

[LilyM]

Prayer has been used, she goes to Confession and Communion. Exorcism is usually used for cases of possession which this is not. There is good reason to believe that she was actually cursed at birth or shortly after by a relative more than casually involved in the occult. The use of the Anointing of the Sick was the priest’s choice for healing. I’m looking for reasons for his choice. At first I thought it wasn’t appropriate but if this was a debilitating physical condition it could be used so maybe it was a good choice??

Of course if it’s a debilitating physical condition she can be anointed perfectly legitimately. You didn’t mention that it was a physical ailment in the OP.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

My point was that if it can be used for a debilitating physical condition, why not for a debilitating emotional condition? In both cases it is a longstanding burden in need of healing.

I would like to be able to understand the priest’s reasoning for using this sacrament, since he and the other people involved can’t discuss it because of confidentiality so they can’t give me an answer.

 

[puzzleannie]

his reasoning is that she is ill and can benefit from and has the right to ask for the sacrament of healing, something up to the priest to decide using his prudential judgement. If he thought she needed excorcism he would refer her to the priest appointed to that task.