Anointing of the Sick

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What are the general circumstances that one should receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick?

Are there times that it is administered where it may be considered an “abuse” to do so?
 
This can be a tricky one.

The Church does say that only the “seriously ill” are candidates for Anointing.

It’s impossible to define that though. It’s not as if the Church can say that a heartbeat in a certain range meets the criteria, or to give a list of diseases/conditions that qualify.

Those who are not seriously ill are simply not candidates for Anointing. When it’s done for people who are healthy, in my opinion, it is indeed an abuse. I even wonder sometimes if any Sacrament occurs when the healthy are anointed–or is it just a simulation of a Sacrament?

Discerning if someone is “seriously ill” is something that a priest must do. Anointing indiscriminately is certainly forbidden.
 
It’s up to the discretion of the priest. It can be also given for someone who will be undergoing surgery, if they are seriously ill, and recovering from surgery. I know someone whose asthma was acting up during the mass so after mass he gave the person the sacrament.

It’s like any other sacrament in the way that: the person’s heart must be in it and it can’t be taken for granted. Every sacrament is special but it shouldn’t be abused either.
 
I think one could make the case that any surgery – even “minor” surgery qualifies as a “serious illness”. There are always risks involved in surgery, particularly if one has to “go under” with anasthesia.

But it certainly can be abused. I’ve heard of parishes that incorporate it into a service for the whole parish because we are all “spiritually sick” and in need of anointing. While that may be true, that is what the Sacrament of Confession is for.

I don’t think that a “Healing Mass” per se is an abuse of this sacrament. Most of the ones I’ve seen do not include Anointing of the Sick as a part. If it did, then there would probably be an issue.
 
Cristiano said:
Some interesting articles:

newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2011/07/when-should-i-receive-anointing-of-sick.html
newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2011/07/should-anointing-of-sick-be-given.html
newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-cant-young-children-receive.html
newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2012/02/can-pregnant-woman-be-anointed-on.html
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I was actually reading these, and this is what prompted my question, as I know that these are all written by one person. I was curious what the understanding was out there in other forums (such as this one on CA), as well.
 
Big_Feet said:
I was actually reading these, and this is what prompted my question, as I know that these are all written by one person. I was curious what the understanding was out there in other forums (such as this one on CA), as well.
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Well, why don’t you post your question on that blog so I can send you a link to this thread on CAF? :D:D:D
 
Joe_5859 said:
I think one could make the case that any surgery – even “minor” surgery qualifies as a “serious illness”. There are always risks involved in surgery, particularly if one has to “go under” with anasthesia.

But it certainly can be abused. I’ve heard of parishes that incorporate it into a service for the whole parish because we are all “spiritually sick” and in need of anointing. While that may be true, that is what the Sacrament of Confession is for.

I don’t think that a “Healing Mass” per se is an abuse of this sacrament. Most of the ones I’ve seen do not include Anointing of the Sick as a part. If it did, then there would probably be an issue.
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I wouldn’t say that surgery itself constitutes a serious illness. However, at the same time, the possible complications from surgery mean that the person is in some danger of dying, so that would qualify.

Of course, it has to be a serious surgery though. If the patient is going under anestesia, I would usually say yes. If it’s minor like surgery to repair a tendon in the hand, I would probably not even consider it.
 
Big_Feet said:
I was actually reading these, and this is what prompted my question, as I know that these are all written by one person. I was curious what the understanding was out there in other forums (such as this one on CA), as well.
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I’ve read them briefly (just now) and they do indeed give good information in harmony with the Church’s teaching and practice.
 
rhiannonh said:
What about the Healing Mass in that situation
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The Church does not recognize anything called a “Healing Mass.”

Someone can be anointed within the context of Mass–indeed.

That Mass may be a Mass “For the Sick.” It is #46 in the Masses for Various Needs listed in the Roman Missal. This is not a “healing Mass” though, it is a Mass in which we pray for the sick.
 
SecretGarden said:
It’s up to the discretion of the priest. It can be also given for someone who will be undergoing surgery, if they are seriously ill, and recovering from surgery. I know someone whose asthma was acting up during the mass so after mass he gave the person the sacrament.

It’s like any other sacrament in the way that: the person’s heart must be in it and it can’t be taken for granted. Every sacrament is special but it shouldn’t be abused either.
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It’s not entirely up to the discretion of the priest. The priest has to discern whether or not the person meets the criteria established by the Church, but it’s not up to the priest to anoint someone who is not eligible—or for that matter, to deny one who is.
 
FrDavid96 said:
The Church does not recognize anything called a “Healing Mass.”

Someone can be anointed within the context of Mass–indeed.

That Mass may be a Mass “For the Sick.” It is #46 in the Masses for Various Needs listed in the Roman Missal. This is not a “healing Mass” though, it is a Mass in which we pray for the sick.
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Greetings FrDavid96,

So are healing Masses an abuse? Forgive the directedness of the question, but I had thought that they were licit. I have been annointed at these Masses, and I was not seriously sick, did I abuse the Sacrament by partaking in this annointing.

What is the Church’s position on “Healing Masses?”

God BLess,
Anathama Sit
 
FrDavid96 said:
I wouldn’t say that surgery itself constitutes a serious illness. However, at the same time, the possible complications from surgery mean that the person is in some danger of dying, so that would qualify.

Of course, it has to be a serious surgery though. If the patient is going under anestesia, I would usually say yes. If it’s minor like surgery to repair a tendon in the hand, I would probably not even consider it.
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Thank you for that clarification. You would know better than I. 🙂
 
Anathama_Sit said:
Greetings FrDavid96,

So are healing Masses an abuse? Forgive the directedness of the question, but I had thought that they were licit. I have been annointed at these Masses, and I was not seriously sick, did I abuse the Sacrament by partaking in this annointing.

What is the Church’s position on “Healing Masses?”

God BLess,
Anathama Sit
Click to expand...
As I just explained (maybe not too well) there is no such thing as a “healing Mass” in the Church’s legitimate vocabulary. There are Masses when we pray for the sick, but there are no “healing Masses.” The purpose of the Mass is the Holy Sacrifice, but the intention within the Mass are for the sick.

If we call it a “healing Mass” and someone attends but doesn’t get healed, the natural reaction is “the Mass didn’t work.” Of course that doesn’t make any sense.

Here is the Church’s position:

There are Mass texts for the sick. I mentioned just one, #46 of the Masses for Various Needs. These can be used as Votive Masses—meaning that the priest can celebrate these Masses on weekdays. These Masses are no different than any other Mass. Of course, we can do things like add petitions for the sick to pray for them in a certain special way, and choose hymns that are appropriate, etc. etc. But the bottom line is that they are not different from any other Masses except that the prayers have a certain theme to them.

At the same time, the Sacrament of Anointing/Unction MAY be celebrated within the context of the Mass.

A good resource here is the book “Pastoral Care of the Sick” which (safe to say) most priests probably have. There is a section there that describes the Anointing within Mass. It happens after the Gospel/Homily. There are also special insertions available for Eucharistic Prayers I, II, and III (not IV)–although those were printed years ago, and I don’t know if they apply to the new Translation.

The point here is that the Mass is the same; the only difference is that those who are eligible to be anointed can receive this Sacrament within the context of the Mass.

A “healing Mass” that follows the instructions of the Church is perfectly legitimate (even though “healing Mass” is a poor choice of words).

At the same time, if a “healing Mass” is something where anyone who comes forward is anointed, then it’s certainly an abuse.

The fault here lies with the priest(s) who does the Anointing and fails to discern if someone is a candidate for the Sacrament before anointing. Priests do know better, even if some don’t want to admit it.
 
FrDavid96 said:
A “healing Mass” that follows the instructions of the Church is perfectly legitimate (even though “healing Mass” is a poor choice of words).

At the same time, if a “healing Mass” is something where anyone who comes forward is anointed, then it’s certainly an abuse.

The fault here lies with the priest(s) who does the Anointing and fails to discern if someone is a candidate for the Sacrament before anointing. Priests do know better, even if some don’t want to admit it.
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I’ve been to one of those Masses, one at which I ended up being the only person who didn’t go up for an anointing. A hesitant teen was told in no uncertain terms by her mother “Do you think you’re perfect? Get up there!” Even non-Catholics went up. It was a sad spectacle to see. But everyone was very happy and that’s what counts, right?:rolleyes:
 
Last year, flyers were distributed for a so-called “Healing Mass” in my parish, with the auxiliary bishop presiding, sponsored by the Charismatic Prayer Group. I asked one of the members if they planned to offer the Sacrament of Anointing in the context of that Mass and she said no. I was very disappointed that the bishop would participate in one of these made very popular around here by the Charismatic movement.
 
FrDavid96 said:
As I just explained (maybe not too well) there is no such thing as a “healing Mass” in the Church’s legitimate vocabulary. There are Masses when we pray for the sick, but there are no “healing Masses.” The purpose of the Mass is the Holy Sacrifice, but the intention within the Mass are for the sick.

If we call it a “healing Mass” and someone attends but doesn’t get healed, the natural reaction is “the Mass didn’t work.” Of course that doesn’t make any sense.

Here is the Church’s position:

There are Mass texts for the sick. I mentioned just one, #46 of the Masses for Various Needs. These can be used as Votive Masses—meaning that the priest can celebrate these Masses on weekdays. These Masses are no different than any other Mass. Of course, we can do things like add petitions for the sick to pray for them in a certain special way, and choose hymns that are appropriate, etc. etc. But the bottom line is that they are not different from any other Masses except that the prayers have a certain theme to them.

At the same time, the Sacrament of Anointing/Unction MAY be celebrated within the context of the Mass.

A good resource here is the book “Pastoral Care of the Sick” which (safe to say) most priests probably have. There is a section there that describes the Anointing within Mass. It happens after the Gospel/Homily. There are also special insertions available for Eucharistic Prayers I, II, and III (not IV)–although those were printed years ago, and I don’t know if they apply to the new Translation.

The point here is that the Mass is the same; the only difference is that those who are eligible to be anointed can receive this Sacrament within the context of the Mass.

A “healing Mass” that follows the instructions of the Church is perfectly legitimate (even though “healing Mass” is a poor choice of words).

At the same time, if a “healing Mass” is something where anyone who comes forward is anointed, then it’s certainly an abuse.

The fault here lies with the priest(s) who does the Anointing and fails to discern if someone is a candidate for the Sacrament before anointing. Priests do know better, even if some don’t want to admit it.
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Greetings FrDavid096,

Ahh thank you so much for your detailed answer. I have the Missal with me and the Pastoral Care of the Sick with me too. I shall look into these more later today.

When I have visted the United States, my friends would tell of the Masses where anyone could go forward and get annointed during ths Mass. I felt deep down I was doing something wrong, and yet I did it anyway. I will be taking this to Confession but your answer helped hammer out my reservations.

Thank you so much for writing out your answer.

God Bless You,
Anathama Sit
 
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