Do I need to go to confession before receiving the annointing of the sick?

[Holly3278]

Hi everyone. I am in a state of mortal sin. Do I need to go to confession before I receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick or can I just receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick without confession since you do you receive forgiveness of sins in this sacrament?

 

[vince2paul]

If I’m not wrong…

If a person is very ill, and he/she receives the annointing of the sick. They must go to confession when they are able to do so asap.

So I think if you can, you must go to confession.

 

[leonie]

confession is required for annointing of the sick for mortal sins if the recipient is able to confess (conscious).

If it is an individual annointing, your priest will give you the option–if he doesn’t, ask him.

If it is in a group, you should go beforehand or, if it is not possible, after asap.

 

[Seatuck]

Depends upon the severity of the situation. If you are walking, talking and/or able to get around you need to go to confession. If you are in a hospital bed or on your way into surgery and ther is no time then perhaps not.
If this is being done privately then do both at the same time.

The problem being that ordinarily a Sacrament cannot be received properly if a person is in a state of mortal sin. That goes for any of the sacraments except baptism and confession. The rest should have confession (if necessary) preceding them .

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi everyone. I am in a state of mortal sin. Do I need to go to confession before I receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick or can I just receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick without confession since you do you receive forgiveness of sins in this sacrament?

Yes, under normal conditions you must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving any other Sacrament, except Baptism. If you are incapable of confessing your sins because you are about to die or are unconscious, then your sins may be forgiven in the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. This of course assumes that you did not have the opportunity to Confess and chose not too before falling unconscious.

 

[Holly3278]

Thank you everyone for your answers. I did not know that I needed to go to confession first. Thanks.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Thank you everyone for your answers. I did not know that I needed to go to confession first. Thanks.

90% of the faithful who receive this Sacrament in a liturgical setting, not in the Hospital. Do not realize this requirement and are never told this either.

You will never see the Sunday Bulletin say:
“The Sacrament of the Anointing of The Sick will take place at the 11 am Mass two week from today. Anyone who wishes to receive this Sacrament at that Mass should make arrangements to go to Confession in the weeks prior.”

 

[dylanschrader]

All of the Sacraments of the Living should be received in a state of grace. To do otherwise is materially the sin of sacrilege. Also, the sacramental grace given in these special sacraments is not able to be received until such time as the state of grace is restored.

Don’t get confirmed, married, ordained, anointed, or receive the Eucharist in a state of sin.

Obviously, it’s okay to get baptized or go to confession in the state of sin.

 

[John_Lilburne]

The Code of Canon Law has in canon 1007: “The annointing of the sick is not to be conferred upon those who obstinately persist in a manifestly grave sin.”
(The Code of Canon Law: New revised English Translation, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 000599375X.)

So there could be situations where refusal of the sacrament of confession could be understood as “obstinately persist in a manifestly grave sin.” The priest would need to be aware of the sin and that the person did not go to confession.

But generally the Sacrament of the Annointing of the Sick can be given to someone without confession. The person may know that are in a state of mortal sin, the priest may not have the faculty to hear confessions, but could give them the annointing of the sick.

It is optional to receive Communion as part of the annointing of the sick.

 

[dylanschrader]

The Code of Canon Law has in canon 1007: “The annointing of the sick is not to be conferred upon those who obstinately persist in a manifestly grave sin.”
(The Code of Canon Law: New revised English Translation, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 000599375X.)

So there could be situations where refusal of the sacrament of confession could be understood as “obstinately persist in a manifestly grave sin.” The priest would need to be aware of the sin and that the person did not go to confession.

But generally the Sacrament of the Annointing of the Sick can be given to someone without confession. The person may know that are in a state of mortal sin, the priest may not have the faculty to hear confessions, but could give them the annointing of the sick.

It is optional to receive Communion as part of the annointing of the sick.

Manifest grave sin means a serious, publicly known sin. This does not simply mean that the priest is aware of it. An example would be a politician who consistently supports abortion. Because of the public nature of his sin, he cannot receive sacraments like the Eucharist and Anointing of the Sick unless he repents.

If the person is unable to go to confession, e.g., if he is unconscious then he may be anointed even if he is in the state of sin where it is presumed that he would desire confession if it were possible. If it is possible, he must go to confession before being anointed.

If the person is in danger of death, any priest would be able to hear his confession.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Manifest grave sin means a serious, publicly known sin. This does not simply mean that the priest is aware of it. An example would be a politician who consistently supports abortion. Because of the public nature of his sin, he cannot receive sacraments like the Eucharist and Anointing of the Sick unless he repents.

If the person is unable to go to confession, e.g., if he is unconscious then he may be anointed even if he is in the state of sin where it is presumed that he would desire confession if it were possible. If it is possible, he must go to confession before being anointed.

If the person is in danger of death, any priest would be able to hear his confession.

Bottom line is that the faithful should not be lead into believing that receiving the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick twice a year at Sunday Mass is an easy way around the individual Sacrament of Confession.

 

[dylanschrader]

Bottom line is that the faithful should not be lead into believing that receiving the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick twice a year at Sunday Mass is an easy way around the individual Sacrament of Confession.

Bottom line is that no one should receive a Sacrament of the Living in a state of mortal sin.