Anointing of the Sick

[RosalieM]

Last year I experienced for the first time, the anointing of the sick ceremony at Mass. I had been away from the Church for decades and I was surprised to see that just about everyone at Mass came up for what I used to know as “The Last Rites”.
The ceremony is coming up again this Sunday and I’ll be in the choir and, frankly, I want to go to a different Mass because it doesn’t feel right to me. That large a percentage of the congregation can’t be at death’s door or seriously ill. Please correct me if I am missing something here.

 

[japhy]

Here is a brief summary of what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about this sacrament; the link will take you to the whole section of the CCC about it:
1527 The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age.

1528 The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age.

1529 Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.

1532 The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:

• the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church;
• the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;
• the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;
• the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
• the preparation for passing over to eternal life.
  So it is not meant for colds and headaches, but it’s not necessarily a end-of-life sacrament.

 

[RosalieM]

Thank you. I might go to a different Mass this coming Sunday.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Thank you. I might go to a different Mass this coming Sunday.

Better you should be there so that you may receive the grace of this awe-inspiring mystery. There is more than one way of being sick.

I’m suffering from progressive kidney disease, now stage IV, with only 19% kidney function. You’d better believe I’ve been anointed, and intend to receive it again should I have to go on dialysis.

 

[RosalieM]

I am so sorry and I will pray for you.

There are also other reasons I may not be there. My favorite priest is having his farewell Thanksgiving Mass earlier in the day. His reception will be right before the choir rehearsal before the Anointing of the Sick Mass. Then later the same day, the choir has a recital at 4 in the afternoon. I don’t think I’ll have the energy to do it all and now I’m getting confused as to where my duty lies.

 

[TOP]

I’m in remission of cancer and am saving the big guns for when I need it. But my wife and one of my children have HCM, which is a heart defect that can cause sudden death. Though they appear healthy, I urged them to get the annointing last year in a similiar setting. It’s hard to tell what ails people from looks and age. Tim

 

[RosalieM]

I will also pray for you and your family.

I think what I meant was not so much how people look, but the fact that all the people except for a few at Mass went up for the anointing. I

 

[TOP]

Thanks RosalieM, Yeah, I can see where that might be a bit worriesome, but the Lord moved the Priest to do this, so there is a reason, even if it is to reach someone with an unknown illness. Look at the glass half full . Tim

 

[CB_Catholic]

I will also pray for you and your family.

I think what I meant was not so much how people look, but the fact that all the people except for a few at Mass went up for the anointing. I

I’m not surprised that most people who are at a Mass for the Anointing of the Sick go up for the anointing. They is why they are at the Mass–they need the Sacrament. Healthy people usually don’t attend these Masses. Now if very few went up for the Anointing at a Mass for the Anointing of the Sick, I would wonder about that. And you are right–it doesn’t matter how they look. They can look as healthy as a horse and have a terminal or serious illness. And people can look like death-warmed-over and just have a bad cold.

 

[puzzleannie]

Last year I experienced for the first time, the anointing of the sick ceremony at Mass. I had been away from the Church for decades and I was surprised to see that just about everyone at Mass came up for what I used to know as “The Last Rites”.
re.

anointing of the sick has never been synonymous with “last rites” which actually entail confession, anointing, and reception of viaticum (communion). the old name for the sacrament, extreme unction, did mean last anointing, but the sacrament may be given to anyone who is acutely or chronically ill, facing surgery, or because of age or other reason is in a generally weakened and debilitated state of general health. It can be repeated for the same illness if the condition worsens or a crisis arises, or if someone goes into remission and later has a recurrence of the old condition.

the sacrament should be given when the serious nature of the illness first becomes apparent, or when the crisis or worsening occurs, and not delayed until the patient is at the point of death and may be deprived of the sacrament because a priest cannot be found quickly.

since this was probably announced beforehand, it is fair to assume that a lot of the people present at this Mass were suitable candidates for the sacrament, and came forward for that reason.

 

[LilyM]

I’m not surprised that most people who are at a Mass for the Anointing of the Sick go up for the anointing. They is why they are at the Mass–they need the Sacrament. Healthy people usually don’t attend these Masses. Now if very few went up for the Anointing at a Mass for the Anointing of the Sick, I would wonder about that. And you are right–it doesn’t matter how they look. They can look as healthy as a horse and have a terminal or serious illness. And people can look like death-warmed-over and just have a bad cold.

That’s one thought - I also thought of sufferers of mental illness, who also can look perfectly healthy and normal (at least at times) and still be quite seriously ill.