Last Rights - survived

[de_profundis]

Hi all, hoping someone can assist.

My nan is in hospital terminally ill, and a few nights ago the nurse said she would not make it through the night. I called our priest, who arrived and gave the last rights (annointing of the sick, confession, viaticum… I think… excuse my ignorance) and then celebrated evening prayer with us. Since then she has gained strength, and 4 days later is still alive.

I guess we should have just had the annointing of the sick, but it was almost a certainty that she would have died that night.

Given that she can barely speak or move, is there any need to have a priest come and do the last rights again?

Thanks and peace.

 

[Nickkname]

Hi all, hoping someone can assist.

My nan is in hospital terminally ill, and a few nights ago the nurse said she would not make it through the night. I called our priest, who arrived and gave the last rights (annointing of the sick, confession, viaticum… I think… excuse my ignorance) and then celebrated evening prayer with us. Since then she has gained strength, and 4 days later is still alive.

I guess we should have just had the annointing of the sick, but it was almost a certainty that she would have died that night.

Given that she can barely speak or move, is there any need to have a priest come and do the last rights again?

Thanks and peace.

In case of death? Yes.

 

[FightingFat]

My PP has a chaplaincy at the local hospital and recounts this sort of thing often. He administers the last rites and it causes a noticeable improvement in the well being of the recipient! I say thanks be to God!!

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Hi,

God bless you and your family at this difficult time.

Given that she can barely speak or move, is there any need to have a priest come and do the last rights again?

If there is a regular chaplain, EMHC, or your parish Priest visits regularly, you could ask them to stop in and pray or give her a small piece of the host, if she can manage it. In my area, Pastoral Care workers try to offer daily Communion to the seriously ill.

Also, if she recovers and becomes less critical, I would have her anointed again on a regular basis—maybe once or twice a month. This is one of the reasons these sacraments are called annointing of the sick, rather than “last rights”. It is received any time a person is seriously ill or hospitalized. We can never know which Communion is Viaticum, until after the end.

Lux

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi all, hoping someone can assist.

My nan is in hospital terminally ill, and a few nights ago the nurse said she would not make it through the night. I called our priest, who arrived and gave the last rights (annointing of the sick, confession, viaticum… I think… excuse my ignorance) and then celebrated evening prayer with us. Since then she has gained strength, and 4 days later is still alive.

I guess we should have just had the annointing of the sick, but it was almost a certainty that she would have died that night.

Given that she can barely speak or move, is there any need to have a priest come and do the last rights again?

Thanks and peace.

she had the last rites (rite means sacred ceremony of the Church which brings grace).

ordinarily someone in her condition would have not only the anointing but the opportunity to confess first (if able) and viaticum (food for the journey, holy communion).

the sacrament is one of healing so it may very well be that she was given renewed strength in order that her time remaining on earth may be of greatest benefit to her soul.

should her condition worsen she should certainly have the opportunity for the sacraments again. Caution families not to wait until your loved one is at the point of death because there is no guarantee a priest can be found in time. Call the parish at the first sign of danger or decline.

 

[porthos11]

Absolutely. While the Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum are primarily for the strength and healing of the soul, very often, the condition of the soul gets reflected in the body, and physical healings or recoveries take place. Such healings are for the benefit of the soul.

If ever a relapse should occur, the sacraments can be re-administered.

 

[TheDoctor]

Not addressing the OP per se, but could someone just confirm this so I have it clear in my head?

The Apostolic Pardon is given during the last rites. If the patient recovers, the plenary indulgence is still obtained, correct?

Thanks.

 

[de_profundis]

Oops, just realised my spelling mistake, I meant rites.

She recieved the Apostolic Pardon instead of confession as she was passing in and out of conciousness and could not speak due to the morphine. So I guess I just need to have the priest administer communion every few days. Unfortunately the hospital has prevented us from calling upon the ‘duty’ priest at the hospital should things suddenly deteriorate, as my parents/uncles (non-Catholic next of kin) have not given express permission for the priest to be called in when things are grave, thus we had to call our parish priest. This will make it difficult, as the nurses are not allowed to call him on our behalf should we not be around.

Thanks all for your thoughts and advice.

 

[Sir_Knight]

The Apostolic Pardon is given during the last rites. If the patient recovers, the plenary indulgence is still obtained, correct?

Just because an Apostolic Pardon is given, does not mean that a plenary indulgence is received. The person must be properly disposed to receive the Apostolic Pardon. If they are, then, yes, the plenary indulgence is still retained if the person should recover but it is NOT retro-active for FUTURE events – only for events PRIOR.

 

[jblake]

FightingFat;:

He administers the last rites and it causes a noticeable improvement in the well being of the recipient! I say thanks be to God!!

The more I analyze that Rite, the more convinced I am that its primary purpose is to restore the person to life on Earth, now. The secondary purpose is to help the soul in the transition through death, and then Life with God

xan

jonathon

 

[musicmantg11]

I am sorry to here about your “nan”. I will keep her and your family in my prayers.

If she is close to death then a priest should come again and give her last rites. Most hospitals have chaplains too.

May God give you and your family comfort and peace.