Anointing of the sick

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My grandmother who a Christian but not a Catholic is sick in the Hospital and very close to death. I would like say some prayers over her along with my family and anoint her with Holy Oil. (1) Can anyone reccomend any prayers for this. (2) Can a Layman bless someone with Holy Oil or can I only use Holy Water?
 
SMcCarthy said:
My grandmother who a Christian but not a Catholic is sick in the Hospital and very close to death. I would like say some prayers over her along with my family and anoint her with Holy Oil. (1) Can anyone reccomend any prayers for this. (2) Can a Layman bless someone with Holy Oil or can I only use Holy Water?
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Why don’t you get your priest to go to the hospital?

Canon Law:

Can. 1003 §1 Every priest, but only a priest, can validly administer the anointing of the sick.

§2 All priests to whom has been committed the care of souls, have the obligation and the right to administer the anointing of the sick to those of the faithful entrusted to their pastoral care. For a reasonable cause, any other priest may administer this sacrament if he has the consent, at least presumed, of the aforementioned priest.

§3 Any priest may carry the holy oil with him, so that in a case of necessity he can administer the sacrament of anointing of the sick.
 
Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament and can be performed only by a priest. You can pray over your grandmother and you can bless her, but you can not use Holy Oil. Whatever you end up doing, it won’t be the Anointing of the Sick sacrament.
 
I misread what you wrote. I thought your grandmother is a Catholic. Why not speak to your priest anyway.
 
My question is in perhaps a little misleading. I know that I do not have the power to perform the Sacrement of Anointing the Sick. I am more concerned with can I use Holy Oil or is that only for the Priest. I did do a blessing with Holy Water.
 
SMcCarthy said:
My grandmother who a Christian but not a Catholic is sick in the Hospital and very close to death. I would like say some prayers over her along with my family and anoint her with Holy Oil. (1) Can anyone reccomend any prayers for this. (2) Can a Layman bless someone with Holy Oil or can I only use Holy Water?
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what you describe here is NOT anointing of the sick, which is a sacrament of the Catholic Church, and because it can forgive sins, is reserved to the priest or bishop. It can also only be given to Catholics. Anyone may pray with and for the sick person at any time, but it is not anointing of the sick.

Her faith probably has a prayerbook with suggested prayers for the sick and dying, 23rd psalm for example. Since holy oil is only efficacious when blessed by the priest or bishop, and if Grandma is not Catholic she probably does not believe in either the authority by which it is blessed, or the blessing itself, that would not be appropriate for her.
 
SMcCarthy said:
My grandmother who a Christian but not a Catholic is sick in the Hospital and very close to death. I would like say some prayers over her along with my family and anoint her with Holy Oil. (1) Can anyone reccomend any prayers for this. (2) Can a Layman bless someone with Holy Oil or can I only use Holy Water?
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You should pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet in the presence of your grandmother.

Jesus told Saint Faustina: "Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death…When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the merciful Saviour…
 
SMcCarthy said:
My question is in perhaps a little misleading. I know that I do not have the power to perform the Sacrement of Anointing the Sick. I am more concerned with can I use Holy Oil or is that only for the Priest. I did do a blessing with Holy Water.
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Only a Deacon or Priest can use the Holy oils consecrated by the Bishop. Only a priest can use the Oil of the Infirm (OI)used in anointing of the sick.

There is a “blessed” oil available in some diocese at shrines that a lay person can use which is not to be confused with the Sacramental Anointing of the Sick.
 
You should do a seach in CAF. There was a thread sometime ago about lay people using blessed oils. I remember someone posting a good reference to the Church documents about this specific issue. I will do a search and keep you posted.
 
The following is from On Certain Questions on Collaboration

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html

Article 9

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)
 
The liturgical book “Pastoral Care of the Sick” includes the sacrament of anointing of the sick. But it also has ceremonies that can be lead by a lay person: visits to the sick.

It can be found in:
A Ritual for Laypersons, Liturgical Press, 1993, ISBN 0814621503.
The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0.

The structure is:
Reading
Psalm
Our Father
Concluding Prayer
Blessing

For the blessing it has: “The minister may then trace the sign of the cross on the sick person’s forehead.”

There are also prayers “Commendation of the Dying” in this book, which a lay person can lead.
 
thistle said:
You should pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet in the presence of your grandmother.

Jesus told Saint Faustina: "Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death…When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the merciful Saviour…
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I have prayed this several times beside her.
 
You should seek a priest for the sacraments.

Good luck; hopefully you will encounter better fortune than my situation when I went across country to visit a dying elderly relative.

The family had notified the woman’s parish that she was an invalid. She received a visit once a month on a Wednesday from a lay minister who brought Communion, a stack of 4-5 bulletins, and picked up her envelope.

The woman repeatedly asked for a priest for Confession; she was told Father would be told, but reminded that Father was busy.

In the hospital, the chaplain…a Presbyterian minister…tried to reach the pastor; his calls were unanswered.

The woman was discharged, no sacraments, back home to being an invalid…and finally cut off giving in her envelopes. Amazingly, Father finally called. He lectured her on the phone about the precept of supporting the Church. She asked when he would come. His answer? Not until “after the holidays” (Easter).

When she eventually died, on a Thursday, Father told the family she could be buried with a Mass on Tuesday, because his day off was Monday and he wasn’t available. No priest would be able to visit the funeral home.

I finally sent a scathing letter to this disgrace to Holy Orders. I received a phone call. From him. “Are you the schismatic in that family?”

So speaks the post-conciliar church of love and tolerance…
 
AlexV said:
You should seek a priest for the sacraments.

Good luck; hopefully you will encounter better fortune than my situation when I went across country to visit a dying elderly relative.

The family had notified the woman’s parish that she was an invalid. She received a visit once a month on a Wednesday from a lay minister who brought Communion, a stack of 4-5 bulletins, and picked up her envelope.

The woman repeatedly asked for a priest for Confession; she was told Father would be told, but reminded that Father was busy.

In the hospital, the chaplain…a Presbyterian minister…tried to reach the pastor; his calls were unanswered.

The woman was discharged, no sacraments, back home to being an invalid…and finally cut off giving in her envelopes. Amazingly, Father finally called. He lectured her on the phone about the precept of supporting the Church. She asked when he would come. His answer? Not until “after the holidays” (Easter).

When she eventually died, on a Thursday, Father told the family she could be buried with a Mass on Tuesday, because his day off was Monday and he wasn’t available. No priest would be able to visit the funeral home.

I finally sent a scathing letter to this disgrace to Holy Orders. I received a phone call. From him. “Are you the schismatic in that family?”

So speaks the post-conciliar church of love and tolerance…
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Good Lord, :eek: 😦 😦 That is awful! These are the people that have been wounded by the church that I find so sad. Good for you for writing a letter. I am so sorry about this.
 
AlexV said:
You should seek a priest for the sacraments.

Good luck; hopefully you will encounter better fortune than my situation when I went across country to visit a dying elderly relative.

The family had notified the woman’s parish that she was an invalid. She received a visit once a month on a Wednesday from a lay minister who brought Communion, a stack of 4-5 bulletins, and picked up her envelope.

The woman repeatedly asked for a priest for Confession; she was told Father would be told, but reminded that Father was busy.

In the hospital, the chaplain…a Presbyterian minister…tried to reach the pastor; his calls were unanswered.

The woman was discharged, no sacraments, back home to being an invalid…and finally cut off giving in her envelopes. Amazingly, Father finally called. He lectured her on the phone about the precept of supporting the Church. She asked when he would come. His answer? Not until “after the holidays” (Easter).

When she eventually died, on a Thursday, Father told the family she could be buried with a Mass on Tuesday, because his day off was Monday and he wasn’t available. No priest would be able to visit the funeral home.

I finally sent a scathing letter to this disgrace to Holy Orders. I received a phone call. From him. “Are you the schismatic in that family?”

So speaks the post-conciliar church of love and tolerance…
Click to expand...
I know that this has been many years since this event or even when your quote was posted, but this is an instance that needs to be brought to the attention of the local bishop, now if that has not already been done.
 
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