Death penalty and Last Rites

[Sir_Knight]

A person can only receive the Apostolic Blessing associated with “Last Rites” once in their life.

I also have to take exception to this statement. I remember from my youth being taught that it could be received more than once. I just checked my daughter’s third grade religion book and they list baptism, confirmation and Holy Orders as the only sacraments that can be received only once.

Additionally, a dozen-plus years ago I was seriously ill and I clearly recall receiving the last rites in the hospital. Would this mean that if I am dying in the future I can no longer receive it?

 

[Corki]

I also have to take exception to this statement. I remember from my youth being taught that it could be received more than once. I just checked my daughter’s third grade religion book and they list baptism, confirmation and Holy Orders as the only sacraments that can be received only once.

Additionally, a dozen-plus years ago I was seriously ill and I clearly recall receiving the last rites in the hospital. Would this mean that if I am dying in the future I can no longer receive it?

The Apostolic Blessing isn’t a Sacrament by itself. Accoding to the Catholic Encyclopedia it is a sacramental. It likely has its own rules.

I found this article that explains that since the Apostolic Blessing conveys an indulgence the is for the moment of death, not the moment it is given, repeating it is not necessary.

cmri.org/03-papalblessing.html

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Does your last sentence square with this: “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 1514)? Also, do you have a source for receiving the Apostolic Pardon only once in a lifetime?

It’s perfectly square with it. To be “in danger of death from sickness” is the same as being at risk of death due to sickness.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I also have to take exception to this statement. I remember from my youth being taught that it could be received more than once. I just checked my daughter’s third grade religion book and they list baptism, confirmation and Holy Orders as the only sacraments that can be received only once.

Additionally, a dozen-plus years ago I was seriously ill and I clearly recall receiving the last rites in the hospital. Would this mean that if I am dying in the future I can no longer receive it?

The Apostolic Blessing is an Indulgenced Blessing, NOT a Sacrament.

Remember not to mix up the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick which is received during a serious illness or at the time of a serious injury, from which death is possible and can be received several times during the course of the illness.

and

“Last Rites” which is a combination of Sacraments and Blessings given at the end of a persons life.

 

[jkatpc]

It’s perfectly square with it. To be “in danger of death from sickness” is the same as being at risk of death due to sickness.

Actually, it was the first sentence I was asking about: “The anointing of the sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death.” It sounds like it can be requested and given frequently. I wouldn’t call an older person necessarily at risk of death prior to a surgery, yet they frequently receive the last rites.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Actually, it was the first sentence I was asking about: “The anointing of the sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death.” It sounds like it can be requested and given frequently. I wouldn’t call an older person necessarily at risk of death prior to a surgery, yet they frequently receive the last rites.

No, an older person prior to surgery does not usually receive “Last Rites”, they receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. And it should be received as soon as a person becomes seriously ill or seriously injured. One should not wait until the ill or injured person is at the point of death to request the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Why wouldn’t an older person prior to surgery receive “Last Rites” along with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick? You said a few posts earlier that “Last Rites is a combination of Sacraments and Blessings given at the end of a persons life” – what happens if the person dies during the operation? If the Last Rites weren’t given to them along with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, then they wouldn’t have received it. Same with soldiers going off to war.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Why wouldn’t an older person prior to surgery receive “Last Rites” along with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick? You said a few posts earlier that “Last Rites is a combination of Sacraments and Blessings given at the end of a persons life” – what happens if the person dies during the operation? If the Last Rites weren’t given to them along with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, then they wouldn’t have received it. Same with soldiers going off to war.

Now I’m explaining this . I’m not quoting Church documents here.

A person who receives “Last Rites” generally dies a “prepared death”. I other words they knew that they were dying and prepared their soul for death. It is correct that we all should be prepared for death at any time. But a person who dies a sudden death, dies with their soul in the state it is in at the time. A person for instance who is going into surgery that has serious risk of death should receive Sacramental Confession, placing their soul in a state of Sanctifying Grace. Receive Holy Communion, and the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. I would also recommend that they if possible pray according to their ability to receive an Indulgence. Nearly the same situation as a soldier preparing to go into combat.

 

[Discipline]

…As to James Connolly, I get the feeling the British probably didn’t keep him in the best of health in the days leading up to his execution.

Indeed.

“…He (Connolly) was so badly injured from the fighting (a doctor had already said he had no more than a day or two to live, but the execution order was still given) that he was unable to stand before the firing squad. His absolution and last rites were administered by the Capuchin, Father Aloysius…”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Connolly

 

[Yellow_Belle]

Indeed.

“…He (Connolly) was so badly injured from the fighting (a doctor had already said he had no more than a day or two to live, but the execution order was still given) that he was unable to stand before the firing squad. His absolution and last rites were administered by the Capuchin, Father Aloysius…”

Yes, and that despite being a Marxist and socialist