Exposition and "Healing Service" during Mass?

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pianistclare said:
Why in the world would you avoid a blessing? An Anointing?
Do you think God will be angry of you get anointed?
Makes no sense to me. If a priest invites me to be anointed, I’ll take it!
Of course people can abuse this, but in the context of an invitation to come forward to all?
I don’t think I’d think ill of the priest’s directive. The only thing is that these Masses tend to last a really long time.
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I don’t think this is right. It is for people who are seriously ill or infirm due to old age.

***CCC 1527 **The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age.

CCC 1529 Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.
*

-Tim-
 
Joan_M said:
I’ve personally seen everyone, absolutely everyone (except me) go up to receive anointing! That is why I avoid these Masses.
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schaeffer said:
Do you also avoid Masses where nearly everyone receives the Blessed Sacrament?
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Phemie said:
You’re comparing oranges to cabbages. We are invited to receive Communion frequently. The Sacrament of the Sick is reserved for those who are, surprise!, sick.
Can. 1004 §1. The anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age.
§2. This sacrament can be repeated if the sick person, having recovered, again becomes gravely ill or if the condition becomes more grave during the same illness.
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schaeffer said:
I asked a yes or no question. I offered no comparison. I am sorry if you felt I was asking you to defend your actions.
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Schaeffer, in Christian charity I want to point out that your question was either an act of fallacious reasoning, or was off-topic and out of place. The obvious answer to your question would be, “No, I don’t avoid Masses where nearly everyone receives the Eucharist, because we are all invited to receive the Eucharist frequently when we are properly disposed to receive.”

So, what was the point of your question? Or did you just ask an off-topic question for no reason at all?
 
Weeeeellllll,

I just read through the Instruction on Prayers for Healing and the pertinent Canons and the Interdicasterial Instruction “Ecclesia de Mysterio”.

I am happy to learn more about healing services.
I am unhappy to learn that the one I attended last Sunday was in direct contradiction to:

-The “Instruction on Prayers for Healing”, Art. 7 * § 1. “Without prejudice to what is established above in art. 3 or to the celebrations for the sick provided in the Church’s liturgical books, prayers for healing * whether liturgical or non-liturgical * must not be introduced into the celebration of the Holy Mass, the sacraments, or the Liturgy of the Hours.”

-Interdicasterial Instruction, Article 9, “…assist the sick by being with them in difficult moments, encouraging them to receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick, by helping them to have the disposition to make a good individual confession as well as to prepare them to receive the Anointing of the Sick…” This may or may not be problematic…but it appears that recipients of Anointing should be properly disposed, and there is no way to know if everyone there was so disposed. I know for myself, that I was not, and I am glad I did not present myself to receive it thus.]

Canon 941 §2. “Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament is not to be held in the same area of the church or oratory during the celebration of Mass.”

Canons 998, 1002, 1004 and 1006 which indicate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is for the sick, “the faithful who are dangerously ill” (Can 998), that “communal celebration of the anointing of the sick for many **of the sick **at once” (Can 1002) is okay if it’s according to the norms, but it’s still for a person who “begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age” (Can 1004)…it “is to be conferred on the sick…” (Can 1006).

Even omitting the Interdicasterial Instruction, since I can’t presume to know if there was any preparation and it wouldn’t really be my business, that service I attended 1) took place DURING Mass, 2) Anointing was administered to the entire congregation, not just to the sick, and 3) included Exposition of the Eucharist during the Mass, in the same area as the Mass.
 
Hello Clare.
pianistclare said:
Why in the world would you avoid a blessing? An Anointing?
Do you think God will be angry of you get anointed?
Makes no sense to me. If a priest invites me to be anointed, I’ll take it!
Of course people can abuse this, but in the context of an invitation to come forward to all?
I don’t think I’d think ill of the priest’s directive. The only thing is that these Masses tend to last a really long time.
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Well, it can be that she was confused and thought they were making light of a Sacrament, but is may have been a simple anointing and not the dispensing of the actual Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It should be clearly spelled out whichever is the case so folks aren’t confused or offended in any way. And as if it seemed to cavalier or off to Joan, she may very well have been rightly offended.

Glenda
 
ahs said:
…
-The “Instruction on Prayers for Healing”, Art. 7 * § 1. “Without prejudice to what is established above in art. 3 or to the celebrations for the sick provided in the Church’s liturgical books, prayers for healing * whether liturgical or non-liturgical * must not be introduced into the celebration of the Holy Mass, the sacraments, or the Liturgy of the Hours.”
…
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The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick may be done during the Mass. The key words in that paragraph (above) are “without prejudice to…the celebrations for the sick provided in the Church’s liturgical books.”

There is a proper Mass for the sick which is found in the Roman Missal which allows for the Anointing to be done during Mass. Still, the priest must follow the books.

What I’m saying here is that “during Mass” (all by itself) is not wrong. The two primary resources here are the Roman Missal itself and the book “Pastoral Care of the Sick” (which is an approved ritual book). Anointing during Mass is allowed----but again, the priest must follow the book and not change anything.
 
FrDavid96 said:
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick may be done during the Mass. The key words in that paragraph (above) are “without prejudice to…the celebrations for the sick provided in the Church’s liturgical books.”

There is a proper Mass for the sick which is found in the Roman Missal which allows for the Anointing to be done during Mass. Still, the priest must follow the books.

What I’m saying here is that “during Mass” (all by itself) is not wrong. The two primary resources here are the Roman Missal itself and the book “Pastoral Care of the Sick” (which is an approved ritual book). Anointing during Mass is allowed----but again, the priest must follow the book and not change anything.
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OH! Okay, I didn’t understand what that meant and misinterpreted. 😊
Okay, so on that point I’ll give the Priest the benefit of the doubt and assume he followed the book.

Would the ritual book(s) have an exception for Exposition of the Eucharist that you know of? Or since he didn’t do a Benediction, was that still considered Exposition? (The Monstrance with Christ within it was brought out from the chapel and placed on the altar after the Gospel reading.)
 
ahs said:
OH! Okay, I didn’t understand what that meant and misinterpreted. 😊
Okay, so on that point I’ll give the Priest the benefit of the doubt and assume he followed the book.

Would the ritual book(s) have an exception for Exposition of the Eucharist that you know of? Or since he didn’t do a Benediction, was that still considered Exposition? (The Monstrance with Christ within it was brought out from the chapel and placed on the altar after the Gospel reading.)
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It’s an easy point to miss.

Anointing of the Sick cannot be done at just “any Mass” but only certain times. A good parallel is that ordinations also happen during Mass (usually). Some Sacraments may be administered during Mass.

As for Exposition/Benediction, that can never be done during Mass. One might say that it’s done at the end of Mass on Holy Thursday, but that’s not what we’re discussing here. Doing either or both Exposition/Benediction during Mass is always forbidden.
 
ahs said:
Schaeffer, in Christian charity I want to point out that your question was either an act of fallacious reasoning, or was off-topic and out of place. The obvious answer to your question would be, “No, I don’t avoid Masses where nearly everyone receives the Eucharist, because we are all invited to receive the Eucharist frequently when we are properly disposed to receive.”

So, what was the point of your question? Or did you just ask an off-topic question for no reason at all?
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I am not Catholic. I read here very often people are concerned that many people are receiving communion without having gone to confession and have mortal sin on their soul. And that that is a very serious issue and that doing so, I am sorry, I cannot remember the exact term…but that is a person receives communion without being properly disposed they bring some sort of damage on themselves.

Many times I read posts here where people are upset because they feel that many people are receiving communion who should not be.

I was wondering if this was a similar situation, of people going to receive a sacrament and not being properly disposed for it (sorry if that is not the right wording)

I didn’t know if people doing that for healing is worse or less important than people doing it to receive communion.

Or if people felt that attending such Masses is perhaps supporting that kind of behavior.

Also I read on CAF many people saying that since no one knows the soul but God that it can’t be known by another if they are in mortal sin, or if they are worshiping incorrectly etc. But maybe it’s not the same for healing and that should be determined by someone beforehand.
 
schaeffer said:
…

I was wondering if this was a similar situation, of people going to receive a sacrament and not being properly disposed for it (sorry if that is not the right wording)
…
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It’s not about being “properly disposed.” That means that a person actually desires the Sacrament and is spiritually ready for it. In this context, it means that the person is not persisting in heresy, and does not reject any doctrines of the Church (that’s a very short definition, admittedly incomplete), and not persisting in any serious sins. Confession should always be offered before Anointing (if time & circumstances permit), so a person is made “properly disposed” by the Confession itself.

The issue with the kinds of Anointing that the OP described is that the Sacrament is Anointing of the Sick; not anointing of the healthy. It’s not intended for healthy people, but rather for those who are seriously ill. Technically no one is 100% healthy (none of our bodies are perfect).

In other words, those who are in reasonably good health are not candidates to receive Anointing of the Sick.

The priest who administers this Sacrament of Anointing has a responsibility not to administer it casually. Only the seriously ill are legitimate candidates.
 
schaeffer said:
I am not Catholic. I read here very often people are concerned that many people are receiving communion without having gone to confession and have mortal sin on their soul. And that that is a very serious issue and that doing so, I am sorry, I cannot remember the exact term…but that is a person receives communion without being properly disposed they bring some sort of damage on themselves.

Many times I read posts here where people are upset because they feel that many people are receiving communion who should not be.

I was wondering if this was a similar situation, of people going to receive a sacrament and not being properly disposed for it (sorry if that is not the right wording)

I didn’t know if people doing that for healing is worse or less important than people doing it to receive communion.

Or if people felt that attending such Masses is perhaps supporting that kind of behavior.

Also I read on CAF many people saying that since no one knows the soul but God that it can’t be known by another if they are in mortal sin, or if they are worshiping incorrectly etc. But maybe it’s not the same for healing and that should be determined by someone beforehand.
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FrDavid96 answered on my behalf better than I could have, so I won’t add anything to that.

I did presume that you were Catholic and were just being snarky with Joan M and Phemie. :o I apologize for that, and I thank you for clarifying what you were asking.
 
FrDavid96 said:
It’s not about being “properly disposed.” That means that a person actually desires the Sacrament and is spiritually ready for it. In this context, it means that the person is not persisting in heresy, and does not reject any doctrines of the Church (that’s a very short definition, admittedly incomplete), and not persisting in any serious sins. Confession should always be offered before Anointing (if time & circumstances permit), so a person is made “properly disposed” by the Confession itself.

The issue with the kinds of Anointing that the OP described is that the Sacrament is Anointing of the Sick; not anointing of the healthy. It’s not intended for healthy people, but rather for those who are seriously ill. Technically no one is 100% healthy (none of our bodies are perfect).

In other words, those who are in reasonably good health are not candidates to receive Anointing of the Sick.

The priest who administers this Sacrament of Anointing has a responsibility not to administer it casually. Only the seriously ill are legitimate candidates.
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Thank you, that helps a lot.

My mother had a wooden crucifix with a hollow space inside and I believe it contained items for annointing the sick. It was more common to keep terminally ill people at home in those days. I do remember being told it was important to make a good confession so we could have a good death.
 
ahs said:
FrDavid96 answered on my behalf better than I could have, so I won’t add anything to that.

I did presume that you were Catholic and were just being snarky with Joan M and Phemie. :o I apologize for that, and I thank you for clarifying what you were asking.
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Sorry, I see now I should have fleshed that question out more. I just posted the question that popped into my mind. I appreciate the explanations.
 
schaeffer said:
Thank you, that helps a lot.

My mother had a wooden crucifix with a hollow space inside and I believe it contained items for annointing the sick. It was more common to keep terminally ill people at home in those days. I do remember being told it was important to make a good confession so we could have a good death.
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They’re called “sick call crucifixes.” They’re still rather common today in religious goods stores.

Usually, they have 2 candles and a little bottle for Holy Water and some cotton (so the priest can clean the holy oil from his fingers). The oil itself (called “Oil of the Infirm” or OI) the priest brings with him. People can always add a few things if there’s space, like a pack of matches, or a folded prayer card, etc. etc.

When they’re opened, the back of the cross acts as a stand for the crucifix and the candles are supported by 2 holes in the arms of the cross.

Here’s a good example
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

If anyone has not seen one, do a search for “sick call crucifix” on the web.
 
FrDavid96 said:
It’s an easy point to miss.

Anointing of the Sick cannot be done at just “any Mass” but only certain times. A good parallel is that ordinations also happen during Mass (usually). Some Sacraments may be administered during Mass.

As for Exposition/Benediction, that can never be done during Mass. One might say that it’s done at the end of Mass on Holy Thursday, but that’s not what we’re discussing here. Doing either or both Exposition/Benediction during Mass is always forbidden.
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Just for clarification, Fr. David, I’ve heard the phrase “at the end of Mass” often used to mean the time period right before the Concluding Rite (Final Blessing and Dismissal). So anything before that Concluding Rite is considered “during Mass”?
 
janeway529 said:
Just for clarification, Fr. David, I’ve heard the phrase “at the end of Mass” often used to mean the time period right before the Concluding Rite (Final Blessing and Dismissal). So anything before that Concluding Rite is considered “during Mass”?
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If Exposition follows the Mass, the concluding rite of the Mass is actually omitted (though the post-Communion prayer is never omitted).

What the OP described in the first post is certainly illicit.
 
FrDavid96 said:
They’re called “sick call crucifixes.” They’re still rather common today in religious goods stores.

Usually, they have 2 candles and a little bottle for Holy Water and some cotton (so the priest can clean the holy oil from his fingers). The oil itself (called “Oil of the Infirm” or OI) the priest brings with him. People can always add a few things if there’s space, like a pack of matches, or a folded prayer card, etc. etc.

When they’re opened, the back of the cross acts as a stand for the crucifix and the candles are supported by 2 holes in the arms of the cross.

Here’s a good example
http://www.evangelizationstation.co...entals_every_catholic_home_files/image002.jpg

If anyone has not seen one, do a search for “sick call crucifix” on the web.
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Thank you for that information and the illustration. We were blessed in our family that our kit never needed to be open and I never really knew what it contained or how the back could serve as a candle holder and stand.
 
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