Anointing of the sick (not by a Priest)

[Pious]

My sister who is a Catholic but has lapsed (a lot); is a nurse and goes to different homes to care for the elderly.

One of the places she goes to is a Benedictine convent, to change the dressings and so on for the Nun’s.

She often had conversations with the Abbess, and the topic of anointing of the sick came up; my sister asked her if she (Abbess) could perform the anointing of the sick on the Nun’s, and the Abbess said yes she could although many people prefer a Priest.

Now I would imagine the Abbess could say prayers for the dying Nun and give communion if she was a EMHC, but not absolve sins.

Through many of the conversations with the Abbess and the Nun’s my sister has been giving the impression that they do not like Priest’s.

Now as I mentioned my sister is very lapsed and thought my Confirmation was my Ordination , so she may have got the conversations mixed up.

 

[cameron_lansing]

My sister who is a Catholic but has lapsed (a lot); is a nurse and goes to different homes to care for the elderly.

One of the places she goes to is a Benedictine convent, to change the dressings and so on for the Nun’s.

She often had conversations with the Abbess, and the topic of anointing of the sick came up; my sister asked her if she (Abbess) could perform the anointing of the sick on the Nun’s, and the Abbess said yes she could although many people prefer a Priest.

Now I would imagine the Abbess could say prayers for the dying Nun and give communion if she was a EMHC, but not absolve sins.

Through many of the conversations with the Abbess and the Nun’s my sister has been giving the impression that they do not like Priest’s.

Now as I mentioned my sister is very lapsed and thought my Confirmation was my Ordination , so she may have got the conversations mixed up.

It is abundantly clear that in the Catholic Church only a priest may administer the sacrament of th Anointing of the Sick (canon 1003 §1. Every priest, and only a priest, validly administers the anointing of the sick.) In fact, the Holy See has needed to issue some reiteration of this from time to time.

In some places, blessed oil may be given as a sacramental according to provisions in the Book of Blessings, but great care must be taken so that the faithful are not confused about the difference. The sacramental does not confer the effects of the sacrament, Oil that is blessed for purpose of the sacramental is not the same as the oil of the anointing of the sick. Because of the possibility of confusion, some bishops have chosen to restrict the use of blessed oil.

 

[lancebermudez]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church in 1516 and 1530 says that only a bishop or priest can give this sacrament. The CCC starts to talk about this sacrament in 1499.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Yes, our bishop made it very clear to the deacons that if they anoint with oil it is not the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
Unfortunately, the some of the local Benedictine sisters here would like to be ordained. I don’t know why they are more liberal than some other orders. Maybe not true nationwide?

 

[Cristiano]

Yes, our bishop made it very clear to the deacons that if they anoint with oil it is not the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick…

Our Bishop has forbidden the Deacons to use oils in blessings to make sure that nobody gets confused.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My sister who is a Catholic but has lapsed (a lot); is a nurse and goes to different homes to care for the elderly.

One of the places she goes to is a Benedictine convent, to change the dressings and so on for the Nun’s.

She often had conversations with the Abbess, and the topic of anointing of the sick came up; my sister asked her if she (Abbess) could perform the anointing of the sick on the Nun’s, and the Abbess said yes she could although many people prefer a Priest.

Now I would imagine the Abbess could say prayers for the dying Nun and give communion if she was a EMHC, but not absolve sins.

Through many of the conversations with the Abbess and the Nun’s my sister has been giving the impression that they do not like Priest’s.

Now as I mentioned my sister is very lapsed and thought my Confirmation was my Ordination , so she may have got the conversations mixed up.

No lay person or even an ordained Deacon can celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

 

[redrosetea]

I hardly think an abbess should be saying those type of things…You sister might be interpreting it wrongly, at least I hope she is…Can it be she don’t like priests, and is projecting it on to someone else?

 

[Pious]

Thank you all for the replies; that is what I told her, it may be that she has mis understood the Abbess.

redrosetea - My sister was brought upa Catholic but fell away when she hit the teenage years, she has forgotten a lot about the faith and when ask’s questions about it, she feels confused about it.

She does like talking about the faith, but likes things to be explained to her; the other day I was trying to explain Religious Priests and Secular/Diocesan Priests to her.

So no she does not dislike Priest’s (she just gets confused about them)

 

[benedictgal]

In 1997, the Congregation for Clergy released a document called On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of the Priest.

This document addresses many points. Included among them is the issue of Ministry to the Sick:

The Apostolate to the Sick

§ 1. In this area, the non-ordained faithful can often provide valuable collaboration. (102) Innumerable works of charity to the sick are constantly provided by the non-ordained faithful either individually or through community apostolates. These constitute an important Christian presence to sick and suffering of the greatest importance. The non-ordained faithful particularly assist the sick by being with them in difficult moments, encouraging them to receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick, by helping them to have the disposition to make a good individual confession as well as to prepare them to receive the Anointing of the Sick. In using sacramentals, the non-ordained faithful should ensure that these are in no way regarded as sacraments whose administration is proper and exclusive to the Bishop and to the priest. Since they are not priests, in no instance may the non-ordained perform anointings either with the Oil of the Sick or ony other oil.

§ 2. With regard to the administration of this sacrament, ecclesiastical legislation reiterates the theologically certain doctrine and the age old usage of the Church (103) which regards the priest as its only valid minister. (104) This norm is completely coherent with the theological mystery signified and realized by means of priestly service.

It must also be affirmed that the reservation of the ministry of Anointing to the priest is related to the connection of this sacrament to the forgiveness of sin and the worthy reception of the Holy Eucharist. No other person may act as ordinary or extraordinary minister of the sacrament since such constitutes simulation of the sacrament. (105)

Thus, even if the Benedictine nuns have the best of intentions, it is certainly not prudent for them to do any sort of ritual for the sick using oils.

 

[Brendan]

James mentions that the Minister of this Sacrament is the Presybter (Priest),

This was also addressed by the Council of Trent

Session XIV, Chapter III Canon 4

Canon 4: If anyone says that the priests of the Church, whom blessed James exhorts to be brought to anoint the sick, are not the priests who have been ordained by a bishop, but the elders in each community, and that for this reason a priest only is not the proper minister of extreme unction,[95] let him be anathema.