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MeInMississippi
Guest
Should we be overly worried about our fellow Catholics not being able to receive their last rites due to priests not being able to go to the hospital to administer them because of coronavirus?
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
No, we should simply pray for their souls and leave them in the hands of God.
While it is preferable that a dying Catholic be able to receive anointing of the sick, receive viaticum, and make a final confession, there are many circumstances when this isn’t possible for a person even when there isn’t a pandemic going on. Catholics die in accidents or from heart attacks every day before the priest can get there. God is merciful and is not looking to play “gotcha” with people and send them to Hell just because the priest was late in arriving or could not gain entry to the hospital ward. God will consider the person’s state of mind and whether, for example, they had perfect contrition for any unconfessed mortal sins they may have committed.
Of course, the possibility that a priest might not be around at the last minute is also why we try to live our lives in a state of readiness for the bridegroom to arrive.
While it is preferable that a dying Catholic be able to receive anointing of the sick, receive viaticum, and make a final confession, there are many circumstances when this isn’t possible for a person even when there isn’t a pandemic going on. Catholics die in accidents or from heart attacks every day before the priest can get there. God is merciful and is not looking to play “gotcha” with people and send them to Hell just because the priest was late in arriving or could not gain entry to the hospital ward. God will consider the person’s state of mind and whether, for example, they had perfect contrition for any unconfessed mortal sins they may have committed.
Of course, the possibility that a priest might not be around at the last minute is also why we try to live our lives in a state of readiness for the bridegroom to arrive.
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MeInMississippi
Guest
Great answer! Thanks for givjng yoir perspective.
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TheLittleLady
Guest
Look at your Diocese/Archdiocese website to learn the provisions that your Bishop has put in place for your Diocese.
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Margaret_Ann
Guest
The Remnant posted this re last rites:
I know most people here aren’t crazy about them but this is really good.
I know most people here aren’t crazy about them but this is really good.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Yeah, hospitals, at least small ones in semi-rural areas, usually snap to attention when they hear the magic words “My Lawyer”.
I’m pretty sure hospitals in NYC would say, “Yeah? Well our lawyer is bigger than your lawyer”. At the same time, hospitals in NYC are more likely to have an admin who’s chummy with the Bishop so you might not have to resort to lawyers there. It’s probably more likely that you wouldn’t get a hospital bed at all there and priest might be coming to your house.
I’m pretty sure hospitals in NYC would say, “Yeah? Well our lawyer is bigger than your lawyer”. At the same time, hospitals in NYC are more likely to have an admin who’s chummy with the Bishop so you might not have to resort to lawyers there. It’s probably more likely that you wouldn’t get a hospital bed at all there and priest might be coming to your house.
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TheLittleLady
Guest
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Demetra
Guest
I read some advice about this recently. This advise is for the person who has been told by the hospital that last rites are not allowed. First you must find a priest willing to do this ( with protective gear) for a patient with a highly contagious disease like covid-19. Then you must contact the hospital with the request for last rights. Do this in the form of a letter or email. You must acknowledge the hard work the hospital is doing for your loved one but also say that it will cause the patient and the family extreme emotional distress if last rites are not given. The statement “extreme emotional distress” is to get their attention as to the seriousness of your request. Also mention that you have an attorney if they need to discuss this with your attorney.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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