Can I Receive the Annointing of the Sick?

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_Stephanie

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I am a teenager, but have some heart problems. The doctors aren’t sure what it is yet, it may be nothing at all, a minor problem, or a major problem. My Priest is having a healing mass in a few days with the annointing of the sick. I was wondering if I was able to receive it, or if this was a sacrament for seriously ill people. Your answers would help a lot. Thanks.
 
I have been annointed sacramentally many, many times. I have even been annointed before c-sections (when I wasn’t sick at all!). I would think that you will be welcomed to the sacrament, though I guess it is possible that some priests do not give the annointing freely.

If it’s a healing Mass, I’d go. Otherwise, why not snag your parish priest after Mass and ask him? He’d probably be thrilled to have a young person interested in the sacrament!

I’ll say an Ave for your healing … I hope God graces you with healing and strength!
 
You can gain all the graces you need from God through His Holy Spirit at the healing Mass, but don’t forget He’s always with you, right where you are at every moment. Don’t add to your worries unnecessarily. Have Faith in God and His love for you. He knows exactly what you need.

If you do go to the the healing Mass, remember to pray for the sick around you, too.
 
The Sacrament of the Sick is abused sometimes. Both by waiting too long before requesting it and also by receiving it when not seriously ill or injured or facing a risk from surgery as in the example of the C-section which has risks. I don’t recomend someone request Anointing when facing surgery for an ingrown toenail however. You should attend the healing Mass, I don’t believe that you should receive the Sacrament until the seriousness of your condition is better known. You can request the Sacrament at any time. Reception is not limited to just the healing Mass. I will pray for you Stephaine.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
…I don’t believe that you should receive the Sacrament until the seriousness of your condition is better known.
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given my medical history, i kinda have a problem in suggesting that someone wait until the doctors fugure out what’s wrong. they may never do that. Daddy, however, knows for certain if you’re sick or not. If you are He’ll apply the graces from the annointing as you need them. If you’re not, He’ll use them otherwise. but i’d put my trust in Him, not the drs who admit they know somethings wrong, just not whether its really nothing or if its going to kill you.
thanks for listening, love and peace, terry
 
Br. Rich SFO:
The Sacrament of the Sick is abused sometimes. Both by waiting too long before requesting it and also by receiving it when not seriously ill or injured or facing a risk from surgery as in the example of the C-section which has risks. I don’t recomend someone request Anointing when facing surgery for an ingrown toenail however. You should attend the healing Mass, I don’t believe that you should receive the Sacrament until the seriousness of your condition is better known. You can request the Sacrament at any time. Reception is not limited to just the healing Mass. I will pray for you Stephaine.
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Any sacrament is subject to abuse. That is the wrong word in this case. No one’s condition should be dependent upon another’s opinion. Stephanie, you should present yourself to the priest, and leave it to his discretion as to whether or not you should receive it. I am in no way trying to undermine you, Br. Rich, but perhaps many of these people do not realize that SFO means Secular Franciscan Order. You are not a priest. I think some here may think you are. You should never discourage anyone from receiving any sacrament, but instead, direct them to their own priest.

Stephanie, your priest will be able to console, bless, and pray with/for you, even if he does not deem that you are in need of the Sacrament of the Sick.
 
I’m not a priest, everyone should be able to telll that is a B not an F. Lets be clear about that first, never said I was.
It is the pastors and priests who abuse the Sacrament, The choice to use the word “Abuse” is not mine but Romes.
Nor am I trying to discourage anyone from seeking a Sacrament they have a desire to receive. My point is that the wording in the Rite of Anointing of the Sick is this (Pastoral care of the Sick #99) “That the reform of the Sacrament stating that those needing the Sacrament should seek it at the beginning of a serious illness should not be used to anoint those who are not proper subjects for the Sacrament. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick should be celebrated only when a Christians health is SERIOUSLY impaired by sickness or old age.”

In #8 it says in a foot note: “On one hand the Sacrament may and should be given to anyone whose health is seriously impaired; on the other hand, it may not be given indiscriminately or to any person whose health is not seriously impaired.” It suggests that if necessary when deciding on the seriousness of an illness if necessary a doctor may be consulted.

It should be your pastors decision.
 
Detroit Sue:
Any sacrament is subject to abuse. That is the wrong word in this case. No one’s condition should be dependent upon another’s opinion. Stephanie, you should present yourself to the priest, and leave it to his discretion as to whether or not you should receive it. I am in no way trying to undermine you, Br. Rich, but perhaps many of these people do not realize that SFO means Secular Franciscan Order. You are not a priest. I think some here may think you are. You should never discourage anyone from receiving any sacrament, but instead, direct them to their own priest.

Stephanie, your priest will be able to console, bless, and pray with/for you, even if he does not deem that you are in need of the Sacrament of the Sick.
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very good advise, seeing the priest of the parish will answer this question, if the priest doesn’t think the need for anointing is great enough at least a blessing could be obtained which might be of some comfort.
God bless,
maggiec
 
I think if you have a heart ailment (which by definition lends itself to a serious condition) then by all means seek the advice of a priest and humbly present yourself for a Sacramental annointing.

I am concerned by the faulty advice posted here that down plays the grace that is achieved through a properly administered sacramental annointing. I completely disagree with anyone who says that the Sacrament can be substituted by going to mass. The Church does not teach about a blurred interchangability of Sacraments.

All Sacraments are unique oaths of God for your eternal salvation that He intends for you to partake in. Trusting in the Lord is inseparable and mystically linked to Sacramental living. To knowingly deny, reject or substitue any Sacrament is to deny the Word of God.

A sincere hunger for the administration of the Sacarament is a gift of faith from the Holy Spirit. Don’t let anyone tell you that the Holy Spirit does not prode your consceince to paratake in his Sacramental graces.

Peace, God Bless
 
~Stephanie~:
I am a teenager, but have some heart problems. The doctors aren’t sure what it is yet, it may be nothing at all, a minor problem, or a major problem. My Priest is having a healing mass in a few days with the annointing of the sick. I was wondering if I was able to receive it, or if this was a sacrament for seriously ill people. Your answers would help a lot. Thanks.
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Stephanie,

When my eldest was a teenager, she was diagnosed with a prolapse of the Mitral valve. She received annointing every time she came down with a serious illness (but one that most people wouldn’t consider that serious - the heart problem made the difference).

She is now (well, let’s just say she is the mother of two of my grandchildren - I was raised not to tell a woman’s age, especially if they are over 30.) 😃 and hasn’t had symptoms for several years.

As has already been mentioned, go ask your pastor. If it is a healing Mass, by all means go. If it isn’t, definitely ask your priest. The worst he can do is say “No.” And he definitely won’t give it to you if you don’t ask.

I’ll keep your heart condition in my prayers and hope it’s not too bad.

John
 
Thank you so much everyone for your prayers. I asked my parish priest if i could receive the sacrament, and he agreed that I should. He said that God’s grace will heal me physically and also emotionally because i’m upset about my condition. All of your opinions helped a lot, thank you so much!!! God bless and thank you for your prayers.
 
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