Is Sacrament of the sick for Mental & Spiritual sickness too?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dizzy_dave
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dizzy_dave

Guest
I’ve always wondered is the Sacrament of Anointing of the sick only for people with physical sicknesses or can it also be used for Mental sickness and or spiritual sickness? Examples would be Severe anxiety, depression, bi-polar, additions, struggling with mortal sins, etc. Can the Sacrament be used for these too? If so what if any stipulations would there be?
 
ABSOULTELY!

In fact, Fr. Aamoth, an exorcist at the Vatican, wrote a book and within its pages he expressed the need for many people to be annointed. Mental illness is indeed on teh same level as physical illness…and spiritual illnes (ie possession/oppression, etc) also require the sacrament.

I really encourage you and anyone else to read his book. Ignatious Press has it available so you can order it directly. “An Exorcist’s Story.”
 
Illness is illness. Hmmmm how do those old cartoons end? th-th-th-that’s all folks!!
 
Healing Masses and other healing services are for those that are sick in soul, mind, or body. The Sacrament was changed from the old form for a good reason. There should be an expectation that A person can be healed. Jesus went about healing all who were brought to him. In the old form, when a person was sick and the priest administered “Last Rites,” that person figured he was just about dead. The " Last Sacrament" is now Viaticum, which is Holy Communion, to help you on your journey back to God.

Deacon Tony SFO
 
Deacon Tony560:
Healing Masses and other healing services are for those that are sick in soul, mind, or body. The Sacrament was changed from the old form for a good reason. There should be an expectation that A person can be healed. Jesus went about healing all who were brought to him. In the old form, when a person was sick and the priest administered “Last Rites,” that person figured he was just about dead. The " Last Sacrament" is now Viaticum, which is Holy Communion, to help you on your journey back to God.

Deacon Tony SFO
Click to expand...
Oh My! I just cruised on over to this section “Sacraments” with the intention of posing EXACTLY the same question. Weird!!!

Deacon Tony:

Is it O.K. to contact a Priest from the parish where I’m in RCIA to annoint my husband for a non-physical illness??? He’s not a Catholic. Do you have to be confirmed to accept this Sacrament? I really would like to call so much! Please reply ASAP.

THX!

I think it’s awesome you’re a Deacon!

God Bless You!!
 
A non-catholic would probably not benefit from an annointing especially if they don’t believe in the Sacrament. However, priests and deacons are allowed to give folks personal blessings according to the “Book of Blessings.” This would include mental illnesses. There are also blessings in this book that lay people are allowed to give. The small compact form of this book is called, " Shorter Book Of Blessings." This is available from Catholic Book Publishing Co. New York.

God bless,
Deacon Tony SFO
 
I’ve always wondered about this, too. Thank you for raising the question. I am glad to know that one can receive anointing for every kind of illness. I had always thought it was just mainly for cancer-stricken individuals, but I know that there are so many other kinds of illness, namely things like depression, addictions, alcoholism, etc. Thanks to the posters with their answers. God bless!
 
Deacon Tony560:
A non-catholic would probably not benefit from an annointing especially if they don’t believe in the Sacrament. However, priests and deacons are allowed to give folks personal blessings according to the “Book of Blessings.” This would include mental illnesses. There are also blessings in this book that lay people are allowed to give. The small compact form of this book is called, " Shorter Book Of Blessings." This is available from Catholic Book Publishing Co. New York.

God bless,
Deacon Tony SFO
Click to expand...
The code of canon law requires that the recipient of the Sacrament of the Sick be baptised (a “member of the faithful”).
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
Click to expand...
 
Thanks David…notice the word “Can” be administered to the sick and elderly in danger. It does not say “Only.” It does not define sick. This gives the priest a wide latitude to administer the Sacrament. In another thread on this page, Deacon Ed gave an incident where a person of another faith might qualify.

God bless you and your family.
Deacon Tony SFO
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top