Is Receiving Eucharist a Right for the Sick and Dying

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sacristan1

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I have been told it is not their right, it is just something we do and that we can’t be there for them 24/7 and that we don’t need to do it every week, also stating it will not stop them from getting to Heaven if they don’t receive. I was really taken back to hear that this statement came from a priest.

I am an EMHC and make sure they receive at least once a week and when there is danger of death I go more often.

Is there something in writing about this. How can it be that we are under obligation to go to Mass at least once a week or we have to confess it as a sin when we can just pass off our sick and dying and say it is not their right to receive. I believe it is their right and it is our responsibility to make sure they are taken care of.

What is happening here???
 
Hello,

Yes they have a right. Not only the sick and the dying, but absolutely every Christian who is so disposed has a right to the sacraments.

From the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 213 The Christian faithful have the right to receive assistance from the sacred pastors out of the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the word of God and the sacraments.
 
I know a woman who when her husband was close to death in the hospital and she called for the only priest in town because his death was close, and the priest said he couldn’t come because he was having dinner with someone. 🤷 The man died later that night.

The next town over, the priest, will come to anyone, at any hour.

I know another priest recently who would go and give the sacraments to anyone who needs them, but said that when he needs them, possibly no one will come to give them to him.
Code: 
When his time came and his health failed, his only desire was to go back to Ireland and enter a Catholic nursing home, run by nuns, so that he would be sure to get the sacraments.  He did just that, and died a happy death which was what he wanted.
I
 
I was so heartbroken to hear this statement. I have to ask many, many times to get a priest to do the Anointing of the Sick worrying all the while that something will happen before they receive this Sacrament. I got so angry that I had to go to Confession and was told there that I shouldn’t be worrying so much about this, that we can’t be there for them 24/7. I just don’t understand what is happening, I know this is not what the Church teaches and this is definitely not how I feel. Yet by getting angry and becoming judgmental, this becomes MY sin.

Thank you all for your support. Boy, we certainly need this forum to vent and I know our merciful God understands what we are going through and will give us the strength to bear it.

If we can’t be advocates for those who cannot speak for themselves, we are not Christians at all.

Thank you all again.
 
Cathryn said:
I know a woman who when her husband was close to death in the hospital and she called for the only priest in town because his death was close, and the priest said he couldn’t come because he was having dinner with someone. 🤷 The man died later that night.

I
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Perhaps the priest may be told the same thing at the pearly gates…I sorry I can’t let you in right now were having dinner…FOEVER.
 
If someone is actually dying, the priest definitely has a duty to provide the last sacraments to them. In fact canon law recommends that the priests can keep the materials needed for the sacrament of the sick with them in case of emergency.

How often someone who is merely homebound must receive is a different question. Ideally, visiting the sick weekly certainly seems appropriate, but circumstances in a particular parish might make that infeasible, so that’s not an ironclad rule.
 
One homebound or hospitalized may recieve from an EMHC routinely, but if dying he needs a priest. He needs not just the Eucharist, but also absolution, anointing and some other blessings.

In this area at least, and I think everywhere, there is a parish responsible for each hospital etc. and there is one priest assigned, at any particular time, to be available for such calls. We have an answering service and the priests have pagers for just that reason.

It is important to let the priest know how urgent the call is. Is the patient dying now, in a few hours, in a few days. It is best to call well before the immediate time of death. It is best if the priest can come while the patient is still lucid and able to converse with him.

If I called and he said he couldn’t come I would call the cathedral and ask them to fill in for him.

When choosing a hospital check what their arrangements are for a priest if you can. Some do a better job on this than others which leave it to you.
 
sacristan1 said:
I have been told it is not their right, it is just something we do and that we can’t be there for them 24/7 and that we don’t need to do it every week, also stating it will not stop them from getting to Heaven if they don’t receive. I was really taken back to hear that this statement came from a priest.

I am an EMHC and make sure they receive at least once a week and when there is danger of death I go more often.

Is there something in writing about this. How can it be that we are under obligation to go to Mass at least once a week or we have to confess it as a sin when we can just pass off our sick and dying and say it is not their right to receive. I believe it is their right and it is our responsibility to make sure they are taken care of.

What is happening here???
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Having the Blessed Sacrament available for the dying as Viaticum is the reason we have the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Now as far as taking Holy Communion to the sick every week or day? It is good if possible. But sometimes it is not possible.
 
In God’s time we know not the day or hour that death will come. When a person is in a hospice, very elderly and in his last days with cancer, it seems to me one should not put off providing the Eucharist or the last sacrament. The family is relying on me and it is a constant struggle for me to the point that I am considering giving up this ministry. If something happened to one of these beautiful souls and they did not receive the sacraments they are entitled to, I would be devastated that I did not do all I could for them. I bring them the Eucharist, I pray for them, ask others to pray for them but there are things that I cannot do that they need. Perhaps I just need to practice more patience and know that God will wait until the priest can make it. Patience … perhaps that is the lesson I am to learn in all of this.
 
sacristan1 said:
In God’s time we know not the day or hour that death will come. When a person is in a hospice, very elderly and in his last days with cancer, it seems to me one should not put off providing the Eucharist or the last sacrament. The family is relying on me and it is a constant struggle for me to the point that I am considering giving up this ministry. If something happened to one of these beautiful souls and they did not receive the sacraments they are entitled to, I would be devastated that I did not do all I could for them. I bring them the Eucharist, I pray for them, ask others to pray for them but there are things that I cannot do that they need. Perhaps I just need to practice more patience and know that God will wait until the priest can make it. Patience … perhaps that is the lesson I am to learn in all of this.
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We will all receive what we ask for in prayer and there is nothing wrong with asking for what the Church aclls a “good death”.
 
Hi,

It is wonderful that you are concerned about the sick and the sacraments, but please do not make yourself sick trying to do what is not your responsibility, or what you cannot do.

Yes, an EMHC can bring the Eucharist, but they can only pass on the message for a priest to anoint or hear confession. Anointing is now the sacrament of the sick, so it should be administered when the person is seriously ill, and not wait until there may not be enough time. One thing you can do is get that message into your Parish bulletin.

Also remember that if you quit, anyone you would have assisted may not get that help. Do what you can, and pray for anyone you cannot help, and also pray that you will see the good and joy in your work and not become frustrated or depressed over what you cannot do.

Peace,

Lux
 
During Triduum, my father had the same problem that has been discussed in this thread. He serves as an EMHC to the elderly and homebound. Many of the residents of the senior home he visits (which is across the street from the church) requested that the pastor go hear their confessions so that they could complete their Easter duty. Two of them were gravely ill.

My dad gave the information to the priest who was quite flippant with him. Several weeks passed. Unfortunately, the two gravely ill individuals died. The residents were upset with the priest because he never showed up. The priest never gave a good excuse. He just continued to make plans for his vacation to his native Eastern European country.

Incidentally, my dad passed on the complaint to the diocese, but the Bishop has done nothing.
 
Cathryn said:
I know a woman who when her husband was close to death in the hospital and she called for the only priest in town because his death was close, and the priest said he couldn’t come because he was having dinner with someone. 🤷 The man died later that night.

The next town over, the priest, will come to anyone, at any hour.

I know another priest recently who would go and give the sacraments to anyone who needs them, but said that when he needs them, possibly no one will come to give them to him.
Code: 
When his time came and his health failed, his only desire was to go back to Ireland and enter a Catholic nursing home, run by nuns, so that he would be sure to get the sacraments.  He did just that, and died a happy death which was what he wanted.
I
Click to expand...
A similar situation happened with my own family. A close relative was in a hospital in the next town over from her home parish (approx 10 miles). She was close to death–so a call was place to contact a priest from her parish–and the response was—to call a priest from the town where the hospital is. After some frantic time to find and call one of the local churches–a priest arrived (thank you Lord and the priest) and administered the sacraments.
 
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