Can a catholic recieve an anointing prayer from a non-catholic pastor?

[allana]

Hi, i am a catholic who recently attended a thanksgiving at some family who attend one of those ‘evangalistic healing ministry’. At the end of the
service their pastor asked all the family members (myself included) to come forward for ‘prayer’, the pastor puts olive oil on his hand then places his hand on your forehead and prays for you. Now as a Catholic am i allowed to recieve such ‘anointing prayers’? If not why? Thanks!

 

[Gara3987]

Hi, i am a catholic who recently attended a thanksgiving at some family who attend one of those ‘evangalistic healing ministry’. At the end of the
service their pastor asked all the family members (myself included) to come forward for ‘prayer’, the pastor puts olive oil on his hand then places his hand on your forehead and prays for you. Now as a Catholic am i allowed to recieve such ‘anointing prayers’? If not why? Thanks!

Actually, no as a Catholic you are not supposed to do that; I think that you would be better off consulting with a Priest about it.

“If anyone prays with heretics, he is a heretic.”
St. Agatho I, SCN:XXI:635

"No one can pray with heretics and be a Catholic. "
St. Agatho, SCN:XI:635

SCN: Sacrorum Conciliorium, Archbishop John Mansi, Thomas Florentiae: 1759

Well the above is from Saint Agatho, and was taught by pretty much all the saints.

There is a site that I used to visit a lot and I got a lot of info from there, I was able to create PDF compilations of the information thank God because there site seems to be down and has been for some time now.

Try this PDF

under SALVATION, GRACE, ORIGINAL SIN.

Here Is another PDF file that has over 6000 questions answered.
RADIO REPLIES, COMPLETE IN THREE VOLUMES (PDF)

I hope that you find that helpful.

 

[Aramis]

There are exceptions to the policy, specifically Eastern Orthodox, Coptic aka Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Polish National Catholic Church, People’s Patriotic Church of China*, and a few other groups with valid priesthoods.

In general, and since Vatican II, it’s permissible to pray with them, in ecumenical settings and outside liturgical settings, but not to receive their sacraments. It’s permitted to attend their services, but not to participate, unless they happen to be one of the above mentioned valid churches.

*The People’s Patriotic Church of China is, itself, not a valid church. The Catholics in China, however, are generally hidden within the PPC. Pray for the Catholics and Orthodox of China… they truly need it!

 

[redrosetea]

I would ask an apologist to get the right answer…My guess is that you can…

 

[jprioli]

I am not a Catholic Answers apologist, but I am a Catholic Deacon with some education and pastoral experience.

I will give you my best advice. Don’t receive that anointing.

Don’t deride their practices, but politely decline.

Reason: The Catholic Church has a Sacrament that corresponds to this practice. As Catholics, we must never substitute something lesser for the real thing. That principle is behind the canons, most especially can. 844:

Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.
§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-
Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

Notice in section 1: …the Christian faithful… who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone.
Notice in section 2: …provided that danger of error or indifferentism is avoided… and …in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

If it looks like a valid sacrament, but is not a valid sacrament, then we should not participate. That is why I also avoid the “healing services” held in Catholic churches where “non-sacramental anointing” takes place.

As a Deacon, I have been asked to perform these “non-sacramental anointings,” and I refused.

On the other hand, if asked to pray with or pray over a sick person, I do do that readily. And you may gratefully receive the blessing of being held up in prayer by non-Catholics, particularly those with whom we share the very real common basis of Baptism.

Regards,
Deacon Joe

 

[redrosetea]

Thank you Joe…I think you opinion is good enough for me…I’m glad to know we can’t

 

[thecoach]

Actually, no as a Catholic you are not supposed to do that; I think that you would be better off consulting with a Priest about it.

“If anyone prays with heretics, he is a heretic.”
St. Agatho I, SCN:XXI:635

"No one can pray with heretics and be a Catholic. "
St. Agatho, SCN:XI:635

SCN: Sacrorum Conciliorium, Archbishop John Mansi, Thomas Florentiae: 1759

Well the above is from Saint Agatho, and was taught by pretty much all the saints.

There is a site that I used to visit a lot and I got a lot of info from there, I was able to create PDF compilations of the information thank God because there site seems to be down and has been for some time now.

Try this PDF

under SALVATION, GRACE, ORIGINAL SIN.

Here Is another PDF file that has over 6000 questions answered.
RADIO REPLIES, COMPLETE IN THREE VOLUMES (PDF)

OMG!!! Only priests can offer licit prayer now??? You guys are TOO much…read Proverbs about those who cause dissension…all you all do is dig your heels in to defend your denomination, all others be damned!
Go, receive that prayer, it is probably filled with more faith than you may get from somewhere else. Those heremay be afraid that the Holy Spirit may touch you and lead you to Truth, not their control.

 

[Aramis]

here’s a snippet from the relevant section of Roman Canon Law…
CIC:

Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.

§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.

§4. If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed.

§5. For the cases mentioned in §§2, 3, and 4, the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops is not to issue general norms except after consultation at least with the local competent authority of the interested non-Catholic Church or community.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2T.HTM

The clause “for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister” is pretty tight.

Note that it also restricts to groups with Valid ordinations and sacraments.

 

[Tonks40]

OMG!!! Only priests can offer licit prayer now??? You guys are TOO much…read Proverbs about those who cause dissension…all you all do is dig your heels in to defend your denomination, all others be damned!
Go, receive that prayer, it is probably filled with more faith than you may get from somewhere else. Those heremay be afraid that the Holy Spirit may touch you and lead you to Truth, not their control.

That’s not the point. I’m sure the anointing was done with great sincerity. But as Catholics, we are afforded the special graces of the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments! Why would we want to go somewhere else to get such an anointing when we receive that through the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Anointing of the Sick?

We provide anointings through the Church when appropriate. Of course we also get special graces whenever we receive the Eucharist and through prayer.

Have those outside of the Church pray for us is always good…but if they try to infer that grace without being properly disposed, how are we to know if it was good?

 

[allana]

Thank you all very much for the replies, and the PDFs. I will ensure that i do not recieve such an anointing again. God Bless!

 

[palmas85]

Hi, i am a catholic who recently attended a thanksgiving at some family who attend one of those ‘evangalistic healing ministry’. At the end of the
service their pastor asked all the family members (myself included) to come forward for ‘prayer’, the pastor puts olive oil on his hand then places his hand on your forehead and prays for you. Now as a Catholic am i allowed to recieve such ‘anointing prayers’? If not why? Thanks!

My initial response would be what would you even consider doing such a thing but then I realized that with catechesis being what it is these days you probably didn’t even realize what the problem is.

The protestants, of which I’m sure this evangelical healing ministry is a part of , abandoned, separated, broke off and, fled the Catholic Church. There were a number of reasons for this but the most common and basic ones were that they did not want to have allegiance to the Holy Father, they did not want to accept certain doctrines and dogma of the faith, did not believe that the Church was used by God for salvation and grace, and felt that the Church had become corrupt and bloated. There were various other purely political motives as well.

I recommend that you read 2 Peter Chapter 2. It deals with this particular scenario quite well. This is not a popular part of scripture as it deals with heresy and heretical ideas. Just because some person, group or community claims to be Christian, doesn’t necessarily make it so. Most if not all of todays splinter groups proclaim ideas that were condemned in the first 1500 years of the Church as being heretical.

I know that in large part the laissez faire attitude many Church leaders proclaim today has led to a near total breakdown in belief in what we as Catholics saw as absolute truth in the past,

In a nutshell, by engaging in such activities with these groups, you in effect reject the teachings of the Catholic Church and embrace the teaching of their own particular group. You may have been well intentioned, you may have not wanted to hurt feelings you may have thought you were just being ecumenically minded and open to these peoples expression of Christianity.

That is not the case at all. Read 2 Peter Chapter 2. Study it. You will never hear it preached, I can almost guarantee you that.

 

[allana]

thecoach thanks for the advice, but i dont agree with you. When i usually recieve this ‘anointing’ i mentally say the ‘Hail Mary’ and the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. The other people who recieve it usually shake and tremble violently and fall to the ground, and say that the Holy Spirit has filled them. Most of them hit their heads and get seriously injured. Now tell me, is the Holy Spirit supposed to make you act as if you were possessed by a demon? When i see this happening my immediate reaction is to call a Catholic Priest for exorcism! lol

 

[palmas85]

thecoach thanks for the advice, but i dont agree with you. When i usually recieve this ‘anointing’ i mentally say the ‘Hail Mary’ and the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. The other people who recieve it usually shake and tremble violently and fall to the ground, and say that the Holy Spirit has filled them. Most of them hit their heads and get seriously injured. Now tell me, is the Holy Spirit supposed to make you act as if you were possessed by a demon? When i see this happening my immediate reaction is to call a Catholic Priest for exorcism! lol

If you truly feel that way the why attend these functions?

 

[thecoach]

That’s not the point. I’m sure the anointing was done with great sincerity. But as Catholics, we are afforded the special graces of the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments! Why would we want to go somewhere else to get such an anointing when we receive that through the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Anointing of the Sick?

We provide anointings through the Church when appropriate. Of course we also get special graces whenever we receive the Eucharist and through prayer.

Have those outside of the Church pray for us is always good…but if they try to infer that grace without being properly disposed, how are we to know if it was good?

As if your priests are always properly disposed? I think the Pope’s latest apology shoot that theory down, no doesnt it? Or are you trying to infer that those outside of the RCC are by default no properly disposed?

 

[thecoach]

If you truly feel that way the why attend these functions?

Exactly, as now the OP seems pretty pointless, and after looking at one of her links, I wonder what her real motivation for posting was in the first place.

 

[thecoach]

thecoach thanks for the advice, but i dont agree with you. When i usually recieve this ‘anointing’ i mentally say the ‘Hail Mary’ and the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. The other people who recieve it usually shake and tremble violently and fall to the ground, and say that the Holy Spirit has filled them. Most of them hit their heads and get seriously injured. Now tell me, is the Holy Spirit supposed to make you act as if you were possessed by a demon? When i see this happening my immediate reaction is to call a Catholic Priest for exorcism! lol

I am afraid I have to challenge the integrity of your post here. “Usually” implies more than once, but if you get so spooked by what you see, yet you return? Then ask on the forum if its ok? Please, now, dont insult our intelligence by such posts, ok?

 

[Tonks40]

As if your priests are always properly disposed? I think the Pope’s latest apology shoot that theory down, no doesnt it? Or are you trying to infer that those outside of the RCC are by default no properly disposed?

Sorry - should have said “being properly commissioned by the Church through Holy Orders.”

Whew! Thanks for bringing that to my attention!

 

[elts1956]

Actually, no as a Catholic you are not supposed to do that; I think that you would be better off consulting with a Priest about it.

“If anyone prays with heretics, he is a heretic.”
St. Agatho I, SCN:XXI:635

"No one can pray with heretics and be a Catholic. "
St. Agatho, SCN:XI:635

SCN: Sacrorum Conciliorium, Archbishop John Mansi, Thomas Florentiae: 1759

Well the above is from Saint Agatho, and was taught by pretty much all the saints.

There is a site that I used to visit a lot and I got a lot of info from there, I was able to create PDF compilations of the information thank God because there site seems to be down and has been for some time now.

Try this PDF

under SALVATION, GRACE, ORIGINAL SIN.

Here Is another PDF file that has over 6000 questions answered.
RADIO REPLIES, COMPLETE IN THREE VOLUMES (PDF)

I hope that you find that helpful.

To be accurate, the pastor who anointed allana is not a heretic. The originators of the heresies ie. Luther, Calvin etc. were the heretics. Can’t remember off hand what their religious descendents are called. Perhaps someone else on the thread will remember.

 

[Wyatt]

To be accurate, the pastor who anointed allana is not a heretic. The originators of the heresies ie. Luther, Calvin etc. were the heretics. Can’t remember off hand what their religious descendents are called. Perhaps someone else on the thread will remember.

i know what you mean. I can’t think of the text off the top of my head, but I remember reading in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that the people born into Protestantism, who are therefore Protestant through no fault of their own, are not heretics. I’m glad that, being a former Protestant for 18 years, Jesus led me back home to his Church. For those who are still Protestant and have not had that tug in their lives, I take comfort in knowing that Christ still loves them and has a place for them in his Kingdom. I’d be deeply saddened if we were taught to believe that Protestants who didn’t accept the Catholic Church were going to hell. That is more a Protestant mentality than a Catholic one. There are many Protestant groups who believe that we are going to hell, yet we believe that, apart from Rome, they still have a chance for salvation.

[Edited]

 

[thecoach]

i know what you mean. I can’t think of the text off the top of my head, but I remember reading in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that the people born into Protestantism, who are therefore Protestant through no fault of their own, are not heretics. I’m glad that, being a former Protestant for 18 years, Jesus led me back home to his Church. For those who are still Protestant and have not had that tug in their lives, I take comfort in knowing that Christ still loves them and has a place for them in his Kingdom. I’d be deeply saddened if we were taught to believe that Protestants who didn’t accept the Catholic Church were going to hell. That is more a Protestant mentality than a Catholic one. There are many Protestant groups who believe that we are going to hell, yet we believe that, apart from Rome, they still have a chance for salvation.

I pray for Christian unity…and I pray that all will recognize Christ’s words that he gave the Church to Peter, and that the Church must be unified.

And what words are those exactly?