Can protestants receive last rites?

[gardenswithkids]

I’m just wondering–can protestants receive the Sacrament of the Annointing of the Sick?

My husband is a convert and his parents are still protestant. A friend’s father recently passed away, and at my friend’s request, her Catholic father recieved the Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick shortly before his death. This got us talking about the blessing of confession and annointing right before death, and the role of children in helping their parents get to heaven. We wondered if they agreed to it, are these sacraments even available to my husband’s parents?

 

[brotherhrolf]

While they can’t receive the Eucharist, I believe that other Christians can receive the last rites - or more properly, the annointing of the sick. My father received the annointing of the sick as a protestant and was ultimately buried by HMC. He married my mother in 1947 and agreed to raise his children Catholic - which he did. After V II, he began to attend Mass with us as a family. (Prior to that, and in homage to my father, it was he who got me up and drove me to church to serve at the 6am TLM so, this faithful altar boy had a faithful father [in more ways than one]).

My mother would never ask him to convert and she asked the three of us to respect her wishes. (To answer the inevitable question). He may never have been formally received into HMC but I believe he was spiritually.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m just wondering–can protestants receive the Sacrament of the Annointing of the Sick?

My husband is a convert and his parents are still protestant. A friend’s father recently passed away, and at my friend’s request, her Catholic father recieved the Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick shortly before his death. This got us talking about the blessing of confession and annointing right before death, and the role of children in helping their parents get to heaven. We wondered if they agreed to it, are these sacraments even available to my husband’s parents?

A validly Baptized non-Catholic who has expressed a desire to be Catholic to a priest could Receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, as well as Confirmation, and Holy Communion from that priest.

 

[jmcrae]

He may never have been formally received into HMC but I believe he was spiritually.

He would have made a Catholic Profession of Faith, followed by a good Confession, before being permitted to receive the Sacrament of Last Anointing - which means that your father died as a good Catholic.

 

[brotherhrolf]

He would have made a Catholic Profession of Faith, followed by a good Confession, before being permitted to receive the Sacrament of Last Anointing - which means that your father died as a good Catholic.

You’re kidding me…I wasn’t home in NO when Father came. All I know is what my mother told me about Father coming to the house and that my father received last rites. Well, what great closure! I have been sitting here for eleven years wondering how my father had a full requiem Mass. The taboo about talking conversion with my father was so firmly ingrained in me that…I don’t even think my sister is aware of this.

My father was comatose in his last days after that. He waited for me and his two grandchildren. He awoke and I will never forget his eyes. Gratias tibi Domine!

 

[gardenswithkids]

You’re kidding me…I wasn’t home in NO when Father came. All I know is what my mother told me about Father coming to the house and that my father received last rites. Well, what great closure! I have been sitting here for eleven years wondering how my father had a full requiem Mass. The taboo about talking conversion with my father was so firmly ingrained in me that…I don’t even think my sister is aware of this.

My father was comatose in his last days after that. He waited for me and his two grandchildren. He awoke and I will never forget his eyes. Gratias tibi Domine!

What a nice story of the apparent death bed conversion of your father.

My own parents both passed away a few years ago. The death of my friend’s dad hit me a bit hard as it closely follows the loss of yet another family member. Hearing my friend tell of her father’s final days brought back some memories and stirred up hope about the grace God can provide around death. My in-laws are still alive and in fairly good health, but one never knows how much time is really left. I don’t know if either would be open to recieving last rites, especially if it involved conversion to the Cathoic faith (as they aren’t presently open to that), but who knows what the future may hold. Thank you for sharing.

 

[mark_a]

Does annointing of the sick benefit one who is dying and quite possibly unaware that an adult child has called a priest for the sacrament?

The book of James states that:

“He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord”. . . . “and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.”

It is my hope that when we make a request for another, just as in baptism, that God’s grace is bestowed on any helpless person.

 

[mark_a]

Bump.

Does annointing of the sick benefit one who is dying and quite possibly unaware that an adult child has called a priest for the sacrament?

The book of James states that:

“He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord”. . . . “and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.”

It is my hope that when we make a request for another, just as in baptism, that God’s grace is bestowed on any helpless person.

 

[MusicMan]

When my Lutheran grandfather died, our priest was called (in addition to my grandfather’s pastor). Father annointed my grandfather and gave him absolution. He did not offer Communion to any of us (and we were told that he could not). Father then apologized, stating that was all he was allowed to do.

Right or wrong, what Father did seemed to ease my grandfather’s suffering enough that he died peacefully less than an hour after Father annointed him.

 

[mark_a]

When my Lutheran grandfather died, our priest was called (in addition to my grandfather’s pastor).

Was your Grandfather concious? Was he aware of what was going on?

Do you know if sins are forgiven by/during annointing to an unconcious person?

 

[MusicMan]

My grandfather was conscious, but not lucid. As for how absolution works in these situations, I know this priest well enough that if he gave absolution, I rest assured that it was valid and licit.

 

[mark_a]

My grandfather was conscious, but not lucid. As for how absolution works in these situations, I know this priest well enough that if he gave absolution, I rest assured that it was valid and licit.

Thanks for your story.