Anointing of the sick question

[Ite_ad_Ioseph]

Is anointing allowed in non life threatening scenarios, like a bad episode of asthma or having a bad season of hay fever, anointing every so often for chronic pain, etc?

 

[brad90956]

Canon 1004 states that one must “begin to be in danger of death” in order to receive the sacrament licitly.

Can. 1004 §1 The anointing of the sick can be administered to any member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger of death by reason of illness or old age.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Is anointing allowed in non life threatening scenarios, like a bad episode of asthma or having a bad season of hay fever, anointing every so often for chronic pain, etc?

The prescriptions for anointing are well laid out in the Code of Canon Law, although there are more developed criteria derived from the rite itself and from pastoral theology. Canon 1004 actually says in Latin, which is the dispositive text one reverts to when there is a lack of clarity in a translation:
Can. 1004 — § 1. Unctio infirmorum ministrari potest fideli qui, adepto rationis usu, ob infirmitatem vel senium in periculo incipit versari.
Which is best rendered without the English phrase “in danger of death” but rather simply as:
*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.*
Also canon 1004 should be read in light of:
Can. 1005 This sacrament is to be administered in a case of doubt whether the sick person has attained the use of reason, is dangerously ill, or is dead.
The decision to anoint rests with the discretion of the priest, when the case is not self-evident. In my case, if you were in the emergency room, for example, with a severe case of asthma, yes, I would anoint in that instance because asthma is a condition that presents an aspect of danger. If you suffer from asthma that resists treatment, I would also anoint you. If the asthma is under control and does not manifest alarming episodes, I would typically be less disposed unless the case being presented or the particular diagnosis indicated otherwise.

An occasion I would also have a much harder time in justifying recourse to anointing would be a situation like hay fever since the element of danger is really not convincingly present in most ordinary scenarios and in the absence of other conditions. On the other hand, conditions such as pneumonia do present danger and as a middle term, there could be chronic allergies that may or may not invite the sacrament of the sick.

Some conditions do not lend themselves to a ready answer…chronic pain being one of them. It is a condition that can have a variety of sources and also varying degrees of disability. If this is your situation, you should discuss it with a priest.

I have chosen to anoint patients undergoing procedures for which the risk may be statistically light yet nevertheless real based on the criteria of the procedure. If one, for example, is having an invasive bodily procedure under anesthetic, I will always anoint.

Canon 1005 guides the priest in how to resolve incertitude about administering the sacrament.

I should add two caveats. The Latin phrase in periculo incipit versari invites a prudential judgement over which one may arrive at different conclusions. I have had enough experience of how even routine procedures can either go wrong or require an immediate and more aggressive surgical intervention that I choose to err on the side of administering the sacrament, using the criteria of canon 1005.

The other caveat is that, since I am quoting the canons governing the Roman rite, what I am writing applies to those under its jurisdiction. The Eastern Catholic Churches have their own discipline regarding this sacrament and those under their jurisdiction should follow that discipline.

 

[InThePew]

Is anointing allowed in non life threatening scenarios, like a bad episode of asthma or having a bad season of hay fever, anointing every so often for chronic pain, etc?

Short answer is yes - post VII administration of the sacrament is no longer limited to cases where death is imminent. The criteria is basically something that significantly impairs their well-being and quality of life, or anyone who is suffering from an illness which requires a major medical procedure to avert a threat to their life, even though they may, at the time, seem and feel quite well. This can include some mental illnesses or advanced age (although this also something which will vary depending on life expectancy in particular places).

 

[Petaro]

I have received this sacrament three times so far. I believe it is available when you are in danger of dying or in the process of a terminal illness. Asthma can kill in minutes and therefore would seem applicable. I would leave it up to the priest to work out the Canon law and concentrate on breathing.Just ask.

 

[Memaw]

The prescriptions for anointing are well laid out in the Code of Canon Law, although there are more developed criteria derived from the rite itself and from pastoral theology. Canon 1004 actually says in Latin, which is the dispositive text one reverts to when there is a lack of clarity in a translation:
Can. 1004 — § 1. Unctio infirmorum ministrari potest fideli qui, adepto rationis usu, ob infirmitatem vel senium in periculo incipit versari.
Which is best rendered without the English phrase “in danger of death” but rather simply as:
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.
Also canon 1004 should be read in light of:
Can. 1005 This sacrament is to be administered in a case of doubt whether the sick person has attained the use of reason, is dangerously ill, or is dead.
The decision to anoint rests with the discretion of the priest, when the case is not self-evident. In my case, if you were in the emergency room, for example, with a severe case of asthma, yes, I would anoint in that instance because asthma is a condition that presents an aspect of danger. If you suffer from asthma that resists treatment, I would also anoint you. If the asthma is under control and does not manifest alarming episodes, I would typically be less disposed unless the case being presented or the particular diagnosis indicated otherwise.

An occasion I would also have a much harder time in justifying recourse to anointing would be a situation like hay fever since the element of danger is really not convincingly present in most ordinary scenarios and in the absence of other conditions. On the other hand, conditions such as pneumonia do present danger and as a middle term, there could be chronic allergies that may or may not invite the sacrament of the sick.

Some conditions do not lend themselves to a ready answer…chronic pain being one of them. It is a condition that can have a variety of sources and also varying degrees of disability. If this is your situation, you should discuss it with a priest.

I have chosen to anoint patients undergoing procedures for which the risk may be statistically light yet nevertheless real based on the criteria of the procedure. If one, for example, is having an invasive bodily procedure under anesthetic, I will always anoint.

Canon 1005 guides the priest in how to resolve incertitude about administering the sacrament.

I should add two caveats. The Latin phrase in periculo incipit versari invites a prudential judgement over which one may arrive at different conclusions. I have had enough experience of how even routine procedures can either go wrong or require an immediate and more aggressive surgical intervention that I choose to err on the side of administering the sacrament, using the criteria of canon 1005.

The other caveat is that, since I am quoting the canons governing the Roman rite, what I am writing applies to those under its jurisdiction. The Eastern Catholic Churches have their own discipline regarding this sacrament and those under their jurisdiction should follow that discipline.

Thank You, It is great to have correct advice and not just our opinion, which many times is incorrect! God Bless, Memaw