Group anointing

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This must be my week for silly questions. :rolleyes:

I went to daily Mass this morning and the priest did a group anointing of the sick. Basically, everybody who wanted to be anointed lined up, just as they would for communion. So here’s my question: my understanding is that anointing of the sick is for those who are, well, sick. That is, either chronically ill, acutely ill, or facing something like surgery. So, I figured I probably shouldn’t go up for anointing, since I’m currently healthy. Was I right, or would it have been OK for me to receive anointing just for general wellness?
 
jbettin said:
This must be my week for silly questions. :rolleyes:

I went to daily Mass this morning and the priest did a group anointing of the sick. Basically, everybody who wanted to be anointed lined up, just as they would for communion. So here’s my question: my understanding is that anointing of the sick is for those who are, well, sick. That is, either chronically ill, acutely ill, or facing something like surgery. So, I figured I probably shouldn’t go up for anointing, since I’m currently healthy. Was I right, or would it have been OK for me to receive anointing just for general wellness?
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I believe you were right. I’ve been the only person not to go up when I was present at one of these.

I believe this anointing is often misunderstood if not downright abused. I’ve heard a mother admonish her 20 year old daughter who wasn’t going to go up for this anointing “What, do you think you’re perfect?!” Even though this mother was the director of catechetics for the parish she obviously was clueless about the anointing of the sick.
 
It depends on whether the catechesis is sufficient.

I’ve been to more than one of these, but examples were given (similar to these but I don’t remember the exact ones):
a) truly frail health due to old age: yes; just the fact that you’re 87: no;
b) chronic serious illness: yes; just under the weather with a cold: no. (And if your “cold” is worse than that, what are you doing at Mass with something that is both nasty and catching?!)
c) even stage 1 cancer: yes; garden-variety acne: no;
d) major clinical depression or other major mental illness, yes; “I’m feeling very upset today”, no
and so on.

There were over 200 people present, the opportunity was well-announced prior to the date of the Mass, people were encouraged to ask Father or the deacon beforehand if they weren’t sure, and probably 2 dozen came forward. Most (although not all) were ambulatory, but everyone present knew that the sacrament is intended to address true and serious physical illness or injury.
 
EasterJoy said:
It depends on whether the catechesis is sufficient.

I’ve been to more than one of these, but examples were given (similar to these but I don’t remember the exact ones):
a) truly frail health due to old age: yes; just the fact that you’re 87: no;
b) chronic serious illness: yes; just under the weather with a cold: no. (And if your “cold” is worse than that, what are you doing at Mass with something that is both nasty and catching?!)
c) even stage 1 cancer: yes; garden-variety acne: no;
d) major clinical depression or other major mental illness, yes; “I’m feeling very upset today”, no
and so on.

There were over 200 people present, the opportunity was well-announced prior to the date of the Mass, people were encouraged to ask Father or the deacon beforehand if they weren’t sure, and probably 2 dozen came forward. Most (although not all) were ambulatory, but everyone present knew that the sacrament is intended to address true and serious physical illness or injury.
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I heard a priest talking about this topic recently. His take on it was that you may be anointed for any reason which qualifies in your own mind.
 
There are a lot of “sick” people in today’s society. The vast majority of young people have been diagnosed with depression, OCD, ADHD or some form of mental disorder. When I think about most of the people I know, they either are struggling with some sort of depression or some sort of physical ailment and/or chronic disease.

I am a middle aged woman suffering from neurological condition; however, you might not know that if you were to see me get in line for Anointing of the Sick.
 
turtle18 said:
There are a lot of “sick” people in today’s society. The vast majority of young people have been diagnosed with depression, OCD, ADHD or some form of mental disorder. When I think about most of the people I know, they either are struggling with some sort of depression or some sort of physical ailment and/or chronic disease.

I am a middle aged woman suffering from neurological condition; however, you might not know that if you were to see me get in line for Anointing of the Sick.
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All well and good, but 99.9% of the congregation can’t be ‘gravely ill’ and when you see the same people go up for the anointing of the sick every single month you start to question the wisdom of having these group anointings.
 
Who says the anointing is for the gravely ill only?

Anointing is quite normal for Eastern Christians. Although usually its just blessed oil, we’d use the general anointing once during Lent.
 
It is also my understanding that imminent surgery is a valid reason to receive the Sacrament of the Sick, even if not hospitalized at the time.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Who says the anointing is for the gravely ill only?

Anointing is quite normal for Eastern Christians. Although usually its just blessed oil, we’d use the general anointing once during Lent.
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In my parish these monthly anointings are the Sacrament of the Sick, with the Oil of the Ill. Canon Law says:

Can. 998 The anointing of the sick, by which the Church commends the faithful who are dangerously ill to the suffering and glorified Lord in order that he relieve and save them, is conferred by anointing them with oil and pronouncing the words prescribed in the liturgical books.

When everyone present, from 7 to 99 goes up to be anointed you know there is something wrong with the way it’s being done.
 
ewtn.com/expert/answers/anointing_of_the_sick.htm

*These canons can be summarized as follows. Those who satisfy three conditions may be anointed: *
*1. A baptized Catholic, *
*2. Reached the age of reason, *
*3. Begun to be in danger from illness or the infirmities of age, or have become sick again or underwent a further crisis. It should be noted that the danger need only have begun to exist. **The person does not have to be “in extremis” (in imminent danger of dying). This is a change from the pastoral practice before the Second Vatican Council. ***
 
Phemie said:
All well and good, but 99.9% of the congregation can’t be ‘gravely ill’ and when you see the same people go up for the anointing of the sick every single month you start to question the wisdom of having these group anointings.
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I agree but if you have a chronic illness you might be under the impression to go up every month.

Hey, everyone goes up to Communion too! So what could be the problem?:rolleyes:

I suggest after everyone line up for Anointing of the Sick, the priest pulls the old bait and switch and says, “this is the line for Confession.” Then just watch how many will flee.
 
Phemie said:
In my parish these monthly anointings are the Sacrament of the Sick, with the Oil of the Ill. Canon Law says:

Can. 998 The anointing of the sick, by which the Church commends the faithful who are dangerously ill to the suffering and glorified Lord in order that he relieve and save them, is conferred by anointing them with oil and pronouncing the words prescribed in the liturgical books.

When everyone present, from 7 to 99 goes up to be anointed you know there is something wrong with the way it’s being done.
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Aren’t we all dangerously ill with sin?
 
Rock_Happy said:
I heard a priest talking about this topic recently. His take on it was that you may be anointed for any reason which qualifies in your own mind.
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It still takes catechesis to have some idea what it means to “qualify”, so to speak…that is, according to Sacram unctionem infirmorum, the sacrament is given to those who are seriously ill. While that is open to some interpretation, there are clearly some conditions which do not constitute a serious illness.

Also, people need to understand “This sacrament can be repeated if the sick person, having once received the Anointing, recovers and then again falls sick, or if, in the course of the same illness, the danger becomes more acute” (quote from Sacram unctionem infirmorum). In other words, for a particular illness that does not worsen, once is enough.

Now, the priest you speak of may merely being submitting that the person seeking the sacrament is normally well-enough qualified to discern whether he or she suffers from a serious illness or if the illness has worsened. In order to discern this, though, the person would still need guidance about the basis for their decision, just as we need guidance in how to make a confession, what elements are needed to constitute a valid marriage, or to judge whether we may approach the Eucharist.
 
jbettin said:
This must be my week for silly questions. :rolleyes:

I went to daily Mass this morning and the priest did a group anointing of the sick. Basically, everybody who wanted to be anointed lined up, just as they would for communion. So here’s my question: my understanding is that anointing of the sick is for those who are, well, sick. That is, either chronically ill, acutely ill, or facing something like surgery. So, I figured I probably shouldn’t go up for anointing, since I’m currently healthy. Was I right, or would it have been OK for me to receive anointing just for general wellness?
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Old age is sufficient reason too. When I was child the 5th Sacrament was administered only for those in the deathbed. The Church understand that there is not enough priest to keep this custom, and offers the sacrament for anyone with the possibility of the foreseeable death as preparation for the end of earthly life.
 
jbettin said:
This must be my week for silly questions. :rolleyes:

I went to daily Mass this morning and the priest did a group anointing of the sick. Basically, everybody who wanted to be anointed lined up, just as they would for communion. So here’s my question: my understanding is that anointing of the sick is for those who are, well, sick. That is, either chronically ill, acutely ill, or facing something like surgery. So, I figured I probably shouldn’t go up for anointing, since I’m currently healthy. Was I right, or would it have been OK for me to receive anointing just for general wellness?
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not silly at all as it comes up frequently in many parishes
he should have specified who is a candidate for the sacrament, but if he choses to do it in that setting he cannot very well turn people away. No I would not go up unless in need of the sacrament. I have a chronic illness and have been anointed at the first diagnosis, and since then in a health crisis, and were I to face another would ask for the sacrament again. You may also go up if you are assisting a recipient, and if you are anointed that is fine.

Yes as PP said the general infirmities of old age, since they do diminish quality of life and life expectancy are also reasons for anointing. Another good time, families, is when the loved one has reached the point they need assisted care, nursing home etc. because that signals a significant decline in health. The same goes for children with severe chronic disabilities.

He should have specified also when he publicized the plan that one should be in the state of grace and receive confession first if necessary, even providing extra times for confession the week before the planned healing Mass.

sounds like if you still have questions, so do others, and he missed a chance to educate the parish on this misunderstood sacrament. All that being said, he might have put all this in the bulletin and on the website, as our priest does, and a lot of people simply did not get a chance to read it.
 
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