Anointing of the Sick question

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mdshaw

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Mother has been away from the Sacraments for over 50 years and now has Stage III cancer. (She is also partially paralyzed from a stroke that she suffered 10 years ago.) She has had a hard life, but she cannot bring herself to the the Sacrament of Penance even though she knows that she must.

My pastor has offered to come to her home to give her the Sacrament of Anointing. I am confused, however. Since she has the faculties to go to Confession, is she permitted to receive the Anointing of the Sick while she considers herself out of the state of grace?
 
mdshaw said:
Mother has been away from the Sacraments for over 50 years and now has Stage III cancer. (She is also partially paralyzed from a stroke that she suffered 10 years ago.) She has had a hard life, but she cannot bring herself to the the Sacrament of Penance even though she knows that she must.

My pastor has offered to come to her home to give her the Sacrament of Anointing. I am confused, however. Since she has the faculties to go to Confession, is she permitted to receive the Anointing of the Sick while she considers herself out of the state of grace?
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Shouldn’t the Pastor decide? She may not be of normal sound mind after all the difficulties she faced, is facing. Pray for her!.
 
If your mom is conscious and in the right state of mind, then she must go to confession before receiving any sacraments if she is indeed out of the state of grace. Two sacraments are used for getting a person into or back into the state of grace, (Baptism, Confession) the other five give actual grace, and must be received in the state of grace for there to be any merit.

The sacrament of the sick (when received properly) always has the following effects on the soul:
  1. forgives all venial sins and the punishment due to them
  2. prepares the soul for death.
there are two other “supernatural effects” that when a person is anointed may experience. this only happens sometimes.
  1. physical healing (miraculous disappearance of tumor, for example)
  2. the forgiveness of all mortal sins
If a person is unconscious or not in a right state of mind, then the sacrament may be given to the person conditionally. Conditionally meaning that if the person was sorry for their mortal sins but didn’t have a chance to confess them, the sacrament has the power to forgive these sins.

I hope this helps!
 
First, it has to be very clear to her that Christ loves her…no matter what…Second, she should understand that through the Sacrament of the Sick we hope and pray that a sick person is healed in body, in soul and in spirit. God alone knows what kind of healing the sick person needs most. Maybe it’s that a serious hurt be healed or that a fear turn to confidence. Third…that just because she hasn’t participated in the Church and the sacraments for a long time, she is always welcomed back. To tell her at this time that she must confess her sins,when she is seriously ill, when she has regrets,would be wrong. She needs to feel loved,not judged. Judgement is up to God. To a person of faith, (even if it is not an obvious faith)The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick gives the grace and desire to want to be reconciled with God. Please no talk about mortal sin…that would be a sin in itself.
 
mdshaw said:
My pastor has offered to come to her home to give her the Sacrament of Anointing. I am confused, however. Since she has the faculties to go to Confession, is she permitted to receive the Anointing of the Sick while she considers herself out of the state of grace?
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that is between her and the priest, you make the call and bring him to the house, let him take it from there.
 
When I listed above the effects of the sacrament of the sick, I was just stating what the church teaches on this sacrament according to the Catechism of the Council of Trent. (p. 191-195: Sacrament of Extreme Unction)

Please do not think that I am judging or condemning this soul! I was just trying to help.
 
agedney0001 said:
When I listed above the effects of the sacrament of the sick, I was just stating what the church teaches on this sacrament according to the Catechism of the Council of Trent. (p. 191-195: Sacrament of Extreme Unction)

Please do not think that I am judging or condemning this soul! I was just trying to help.
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the priest you talked to gave you the answer so I don’t understand why you would question further
 
I think that, as with children, all one can do regarding Confession is get the person and the priest together. What happens next is strictly between them and God.
 
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