Can I receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for a renewed episode of depression?

[Holly3278]

Hi everyone. Can I receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for a renewed episode of depression?

 

[LilyM]

Ask your priest.

My own opinion (for the little it’s worth) is that you can certainly be anointed for mental illness as well as physical (so depression would qualify) - but at the same time it’s only meant for serious illness.

Of course depression can certainly be serious, I’m just saying I wouldn’t run off and get anointed if it’s just a minor episode of the blues.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Hi,

and God bless you and ease your suffering.

Yes, please do go to your priest and ask for anointing. Depression is a very serious and life threatening disease, which is so minimized and little understood. Those suffering need all the help and support they can get.

I have also atttended Healing Mases, and been prayed over by a Charismatic healing prayer team----this is also very helpful. Try to lay everything at the foot of the Cross, and if you can’t let go of the depression and anxiety, beg Jesus to take them from you.

Love & Prayers,

Lux

 

[Lainey63]

Hi,

and God bless you and ease your suffering.

Yes, please do go to your priest and ask for anointing. Depression is a very serious and life threatening disease, which is so minimized and little understood. Those suffering need all the help and support they can get.

I have also atttended Healing Mases, and been prayed over by a Charismatic healing prayer team----this is also very helpful. Try to lay everything at the foot of the Cross, and if you can’t let go of the depression and anxiety, beg Jesus to take them from you.

Love & Prayers,

Lux

I agree and have done the same -attended Healing Masses-been prayed over by a Healing Priest. I also pray alot and go to daily Mass…We have a healing Mass once a month at our parish. I also use counseling-along with that exercise has been found to do wonders as well. I am a member of AA and work that program as well. I have learned that I can make a very small problem huge in my mind and I have to talk to my sponsor to get a clear perspective and I have what I call an octopus brain-it can go in several different directions at once none of them good. :sad_yes: I also have to take time to talk to a priest for some clear direction-I cannot be left to my own devices…very dangerous for me.:banghead: uch:

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Yes, counseling and/or Spiritual direction is very important to help keep things in perspective.

…and if a counselor or spiritual director doesn’t seem helpful to you, try a different one…it is nothing against one or the other, just that we are all different, and what is helpful to one, may not help someone else.

Lux

 

[ericka1701]

I cannot be left to my own devices…very dangerous for me.:banghead: uch:

I also shouldn’t leave my mind by itself, because it is too small to be out by itself.

I was annointed after a slip-up with an eating disorder and after a severe depressive state. Right afterwards, I entered “rehab” for my eating disorder, and once I got out of the program, I have struggled with not slipping back into bad patterns, but I’ve only slipped a few times, and so far, not so badly that I haven’t been able to stop right after.

I think that it’s completely acceptable if someone is in a state of depression, or has even had it in remission for years and they feel it coming back on to be anointed. That doesn’t mean that’s the only action that needs to be taken. 1 Timothy 5:23 is the passage I use towards “faith healers” (those who think that any medical treatment is bad and shows a lack of faith in God). With that said, it was a very powerful experience for me, and I feel God opened me up for healing through this sacrament.

God Bless you, and I’m still praying for you!

Ericka

 

[MarieVeronica]

Holly, I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been suffering so much. You are in my prayers.

At our parish, the Sacrament of the Sick is offered every Wednesday, at the noon daily Mass. I take my mother, to receive it… and asked if I could receive it once a week, as well (although, I am not technically “ill or disabled”). I was told, “Yes, you can receive it for any type of illness… whether physical, mental or spiritual”.

Please call and ask your priest for the Sacrament. I’m sure it can be arranged for you. God bless you. Hope you’re feeling better soon. :flowers:

 

[Ruthie]

As a fellow depressive, I’ll be praying for you.

Blessings,

Ruthie

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Last year I was having a severe bout of depression - a passing thing, not a long term problem. I asked our Vietnamese priest for the anointing. He is very conventional, and was reluctant to give it for a non-physical condition; so I recited a few of my physical problems and my age. [But I wanted it for the depression. It was getting nasty.]

He agreed and had me go into the chapel and pray before the tabernacle. He came in in a few minutes and anointed me. One of the Vietnamese ladies followed me out and asked he had anointed. I told her he had because I had some problems. She promised to pray for me too.

The depression was gone within minutes. It was just like someone had turned a light switch on it. I believe it works for depression.

 

[agbasinger]

I am in a similar situation but my Priest thinks that Depression is more spiritual than psychological. He will perform the sacrament with a schizophrenic, but not a clinically depressed person. Any ideas?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I am in a similar situation but my Priest thinks that Depression is more spiritual than psychological. He will perform the sacrament with a schizophrenic, but not a clinically depressed person. Any ideas?

Do you have any physical problems, or are you over 60? Otherwise try another priest. I think they differ on their interpretation of this.

 

[PJM]

=Holly3278;4542622]Hi everyone. Can I receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for a renewed episode of depression?

The Annointing cn and may be done more than once for the same illness, with certain conditions being present.

Do not hesitate to discuss the isue with your priest.

Love and prayers,

 

[agbasinger]

Do you have any physical problems, or are you over 60? Otherwise try another priest. I think they differ on their interpretation of this.

I have the common problems… migranes, back pain, trouble sleeping…most of it is emotional and psychological.I’m 25.

 

[stpetric]

Hi everyone. Can I receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for a renewed episode of depression?

As a psychotherapist with a seminary education, I would say yes. The sacrament of anointing is for any serious illness, particularly when there is the danger of death; and it may be repeated when there is a relapse or significant worsening.

By depression I take it you mean a major clinical depression, not simply the kind of down day that everyone has from time to time. That kind of major depression can be a predisposing factor for suicide, making depression an illness with a potentially fatal outcome – and that puts it squarely in the territory of the sacrament of anointing.

People – including parish priests – who haven’t dealt with major depression often don’t understand that it’s a whole different thing from a transient downward fluctuation in mood. I hope your priest “gets” it. (I hope you’re also looking into therapy and maybe an antidepressant, particularly if you’re having any kind of suicidal thoughts.) You’ll be i my own prayer intentions today.

 

[stpetric]

I am in a similar situation but my Priest thinks that Depression is more spiritual than psychological. He will perform the sacrament with a schizophrenic, but not a clinically depressed person. Any ideas?

Read my reply to Holly’s original question.

In reply to your priest I would say: First, I don’t think the etiology (cause) of a disorder is the important thing. The human body is incredibly complex, and a number of factors are likely to contribute jointly to any “symptoms” that arise. Those factors could be spiritual, psychological, infectious, genetic, traumatic, environmental, etc, etc, etc.

Second, the relevant question is the severity of symptoms. Just as you probably wouldn’t seek the sacrament for the common cold, but would for pneumonia, just so you wouldn’t seek it simply for having a “down” day, but would appropriately seek it for a major clinical depression.

I hope he comes around! And I’ll keep you (along with Holly) in my intentions today.

 

[thistle]

Hi everyone. Can I receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for a renewed episode of depression?

II. WHO RECEIVES AND WHO ADMINISTERS THIS SACRAMENT?

In case of grave illness . . .

CCC 1514 The Anointing of the Sick “is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.”

CCC 1515 If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.

" . . . let him call for the presbyters of the Church"

CCC 1516 Only priests (bishops and presbyters) are ministers of the Anointing of the Sick. It is the duty of pastors to instruct the faithful on the benefits of this sacrament. The faithful should encourage the sick to call for a priest to receive this sacrament. The sick should prepare themselves to receive it with good dispositions, assisted by their pastor and the whole ecclesial community, which is invited to surround the sick in a special way through their prayers and fraternal attention.