How big a difference in one's eternal welfare does being anointed before death make?

[JanR]

When my mother was on life support in the hospital, we learned about it in time to visit her before she was taken off. I had her priest summoned to anoint her, and he did.

Her sister, my aunt, passed away before anyone informed me. Nobody who knew she was dying thought to have her anointed. Our dad wasn’t Catholic, so I wouldn’t have expected him to think of it. But my siblings and cousins are, and as far as I know, they didn’t have it done.

How big of a difference does anointing of the sick make? Does it absolve the dying of their remaining unconfessed mortal sins? And if a Catholic isn’t anointed because those in the know forgot it, wouldn’t God understand that the omission wasn’t intentional?

 

[Vico]

When my mother was on life support in the hospital, we learned about it in time to visit her before she was taken off. I had her priest summoned to anoint her, and he did.

Her sister, my aunt, passed away before anyone informed me. Nobody who knew she was dying thought to have her anointed. Our dad wasn’t Catholic, so I wouldn’t have expected him to think of it. But my siblings and cousins are, and as far as I know, they didn’t have it done.

How big of a difference does anointing of the sick make? Does it absolve the dying of their remaining unconfessed mortal sins? And if a Catholic isn’t anointed because those in the know forgot it, wouldn’t God understand that the omission wasn’t intentional?

The Anointing of the Sick is for spiritual healing, and it may also bring mental and physical healing, but does also give specific graces for the sick. It can bring the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance, (provided there is proper disposition). Also the Apostolic Blessing may be given with it that removes all temporal punishments.

 

[Catholic361]

That’s very good to know for me. Thank you for the advice.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

My late aunt called her priest to anoint my grandmother in the middle of the night. He anointed her and she passed away on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

It’s important to always remember that God is one of love and mercy.

He doesn’t keep a checklist and watch over us waiting for a technicality - “Sorry, Jan… you would have met all the conditions for heaven IF ONLY your niece would have called for an anointing.” —doesn’t work that way.

This doesn’t make these things unimportant or mean we should be careless with them; it just means we shouldn’t worry or despair.

 

[DIERM]

My sainted mother was not a Catholic, but a fervent believer. She spent her last months in a Hospice Ward of a Catholic hospital served by the Felician Sisters.

When she was still very lucid, she made a great connection with the sisters, who aided her in making her peace before death.

Mom’s biological demise moved quickly. Before becoming comatose she asked for the sisters to visit her. Unfortunately, she slipped quickly into unconsciousness. But one of the sisters came and we prayed the chaplet of divine mercy over her, along with the family (both Catholic and not).

Mom lingered, seemingly not ready to let go, and the sister spoke kindly and gently, beseeching her not to be afraid, that if she let go she would be going to see the Lord.

The next morning I attended Sunday Mass in the Hospital Chapel, and asked for prayers for my mother.

A retired Benedictine priest, who served as the “pastor” or at least chaplain, came and visited and anointed my mother and consequentially absolved her of all our sins.

It was an act of love by the sisters and the priests, and my non-Catholic relatives were reverent and did not object to mom being part of Catholic rituals.

Mom passed a few hours later, leaving me with the feeling of the presence of the Holy Spirit and knowing her soul was with Jesus and in the loving arms of our God until the resurrection, when her soul (and hopefully our souls) would be reunited in the glorious light of the Lord for all eternity.