Last rites/extreme unction/blessing of the sick

[thomasf]

However you say it, whatever terms you use. It’s usually the last sacrament listed. How is this sacrament supposed to be administered? Is it only for those on their death bed? Can anyone who is sick receive the sacrament? Can you receive it more than once?

Nobody ever discusses this sacrament and I really don’t know much about it.

 

[Trishie]

What the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about the Sacrament:
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a5.htm

From the Code of Canon Law" vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3J.HTM
** I’ve quoted more fully as the canons are separated into several pages**

THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK (Cann. 998 - 1007)

Can. 998 The anointing of the sick, by which the Church commends the faithful who are dangerously ill to the suVering and glorified Lord in order that he relieve and save them, is conferred by anointing them with oil and pronouncing the words prescribed in the liturgical books.
Can. 1000 §1. The anointings with the words, order, and manner prescribed in the liturgical books are to be performed carefully. In a case of necessity, however, a single anointing on the forehead or even on some other part of the body is sufficient, while the entire formula is said.
§2. The minister is to perform the anointings with his own hand, unless a grave reason warrants the use of an instrument.
Can. 1001 Pastors of souls and those close to the sick are to take care that the sick are consoled by this sacrament at the appropriate time.
Can. 1002 The communal celebration of the anointing of the sick for many of the sick at once, who have been suitably prepared and are properly disposed, can be performed according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop.

THE MINISTER OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Can. 1003 §1. Every priest and a priest alone validly administers the anointing of the sick.
§2. All priests to whom the care of souls has been entrusted have the duty and right of administering the anointing of the sick for the faithful entrusted to their pastoral office. For a reasonable cause, any other priest can administer this sacrament with at least the presumed consent of the priest mentioned above.
§3. Any priest is permitted to carry blessed oil with him so that he is able to administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick in a case of necessity.

THOSE ON WHOM THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK IS TO BE CONFERRED

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.
§2. This sacrament can be repeated if the sick person, having recovered, again becomes gravely ill or if the condition becomes more grave during the same illness.
Can. 1005 This sacrament is to be administered in a case of doubt whether the sick person has attained the use of reason, is dangerously ill, or is dead.
Can. 1006 This sacrament is to be conferred on the sick who at least implicitly requested it when they were in control of their faculties.
Can. 1007 The anointing of the sick is not to be conferred upon those who persevere obstinately in manifest grave sin.

 

[mburn16]

I’m no expert, and I’ve never witnessed it myself (though I have had a Priest summoned to a nursing home to deliver it to someone else), but I think it USED to be called Last Rites/Extreme Unction, but that “annointing of the sick” has become more common post VII. Yes, it can be administered more than once, at any point when a person is in legitimate danger of death (President Kennedy received the sacrament multiple times). It includes absolution, communion, and anointing with holy oil.

You can receive it any time there is legitimate belief that death MAY be near - so, before undergoing surgery, when diagnosed with a terminal illness, or even when simply in old age.

 

[FrDavid96]

However you say it, whatever terms you use. It’s usually the last sacrament listed. How is this sacrament supposed to be administered? Is it only for those on their death bed? Can anyone who is sick receive the sacrament? Can you receive it more than once?

Nobody ever discusses this sacrament and I really don’t know much about it.

Let’s give it a shot.

First the vocabulary.

Many people confuse the terms “last rites” “extreme Unction” “Anointing of the Sick” and use them interchangeably, so I have to start with the words.

Anointing [of the sick] and Unction [of the sick] are exactly the same thing. There is no difference whatsoever between them–none. There is a fallacy out there that there is some kind of difference between Anointing and Unction. They are simply two English translations for one Latin word (unctionis), which has not changed–it was called “unctionis” before Vatican II and it’s still called “unctionis” after Vatican II.

The Sacrament itself is Anointing of the Sick or Unction of the Sick. For the moment, forget about the word “extreme” as that will come later. In this sacrament, a person who is seriously ill, not just sick but seriously ill, is anointed by a priest as a form of spiritual healing, praying for healing of both body and soul.

The person need not be at death’s door for the sacrament to be administered. In fact, the Church recommends very strongly that it be administered when the person becomes seriously ill, and not wait until death is approaching; at least not for the first time Unction is administered. Yes, it can be administered again if the illness gets worse, or if another illness occurs to make it more severe, or if some time has passed since the previous anointing.

If the person recovers, then yes, the Unction can be administered again for a different illness or a recurrence of the same.

The adjective “extreme” may be added but only if the situation itself is actually extreme. So, if the person is actually dying, then it can be called “extreme Unction” or even “extreme Anointing.” It is the same Sacrament, the only difference is that if the situation is extreme, we can add the description “extreme.”

Many people are confused about the term “last rites.” This term is not a synonym for the Sacrament–it never was. What the “last rites” does mean is that several rituals (rites) are administered one after the other. They are:

The Sacrament of Confession (at least in its minimal form of the priest pronouncing absolution).
The Sacrament of Unction (aka Anointing)
The Sacrament of Holy Communion as Viaticum (food for the journey) [if possible]
A special blessing called the “Last Blessing” or the “Apostolic Pardon” or the “Apostolic Blessing at the Hour of Death”

All 4 of these together make up the Last Rites of the Church. If the person is presumed to be dying (I say presumed because we can never predict the future) that’s when the Last Rites should be administered. If death is truly imminent (the person is expected to expire in literally seconds) then Communion is administered before Unction/Anointing.

There might not be enough time for a proper confession. In that case, the priest can pronounce the absolution only, and in truly extreme situations, it’s sufficient for him to say only the essential words “I absolve you…”

It is untrue that “Last Rites” or “Extreme Unction” has been replaced by “Sacrament of the Sick.” No such thing has happened. Unfortunately, many people are under that impression.

How’s that for a start?

 

[Vico]

I’m no expert, and I’ve never witnessed it myself (though I have had a Priest summoned to a nursing home to deliver it to someone else), but I think it USED to be called Last Rites/Extreme Unction, but that “annointing of the sick” has become more common post VII. Yes, it can be administered more than once, at any point when a person is in legitimate danger of death (President Kennedy received the sacrament multiple times). It includes absolution, communion, and anointing with holy oil.

You can receive it any time there is legitimate belief that death MAY be near - so, before undergoing surgery, when diagnosed with a terminal illness, or even when simply in old age.

It was called Extreme Unction and also Last Rights (1917 canon law), I remember that. In 1963, Vatican II decided that the name of the sacrament should be changed and the rites to be revised. One should be in the state of grace to receive this sacrament, so the priest will administer the sacrament of penance before it, when needed. However, venial sins are remitted, and also mortal sins when a contrite sick person is unable to confess.

 

[Catholic90]

My dh received anointing of the sick 5 times before he died from 3 different priests. 4 of those anointings were while he was hospitalized or in hospice care over the last month of his life.

 

[thomasf]

Thanks for all the responses, especially from FrDavid96.

So this sacrament should be administered/received only when the chance of death is there? It’s not for just a long term illness or recurring syndrome, etc?

 

[FrDavid96]

Thanks for all the responses, especially from FrDavid96.

So this sacrament should be administered/received only when the chance of death is there? It’s not for just a long term illness or recurring syndrome, etc?

About the Sacrament of Unction/Anointing the Sick

Not necessarily. Chance of death means that certainly yes, it should be administered.

The Church says that the priest should not wait until the person is near death, but should administer the sacrament when “seriously ill.”

The problem with defining this is that it’s so subjective. A 20 year old might have the same disease or condition as a 90 year old, but their personal situations would likely be very different.

There is an explanation that accompanies the rite which says “On the one hand, the sacrament may and should be given to anyone whose health is seriously impaired; on the other hand, it may not be given indiscriminately or to any person whose health is not seriously impaired.”

How do we interpret this? Every priest must make a judgement-call for individual cases. If the person is actually dying, there’s no doubt; but when the person is not necessarily dying, it has to be evaluated on an individual basis.

It’s wrong to go to either extreme on this. The priest should not deny the sacrament because the person is “not dying yet” and neither should he administer it when the person is relatively healthy, but has some non-threatening condition.

Most people have “got the message” by now, that the sacrament should not be delayed. The problem is that too many have gone to the other extreme and outright abuse the sacrament. I’ve heard about parishes where the priest anoints anyone who walks up in a line, for example, anointing perfectly healthy people. No doubt, this is an abuse. In my own experience, I’ve had people request anointing for other inappropriate reasons like a sprained wrist or headaches.

Does that get us any closer?

Having said that, let’s keep the vocabular in mind.

By definition, the Last Rites are only for the dying–and should only be administered to those who are not expected to live (barring a miracle) for much longer.

Unction of the Sick aka Anointing of the Sick is one of the Last Rites, but it is not always that. Unction should be done (as I’ve explained above) when the person is seriously ill.

Last Rites always includes Unction, but Unction is not limited to being done as one of the Last Rites. (all oaks are trees, but not all trees are oaks).

 

[raaucoin]

Thanks Fr. Dave96.

 

[Evan]

I know we usually request an anointing prior to any operation. As things happen in operations and some small percentage may not survive. So it’s a life/death situation.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Thanks thomas for starting this thread Father David for detail explanations.

Does the Sacrament of Unction forgive mortal and venial sins if confession cannot be heard?

 

[FrDavid96]

Thanks thomas for starting this thread Father David for detail explanations.

Does the Sacrament of Unction forgive mortal and venial sins if confession cannot be heard?

It may. We have to be very careful here not to present Unction/Anointing as a substitute for a proper Confession.

The way you phrased the question “if confession cannot be heard” is important.

In any case, a priest should always offer to hear the Confession before Anointing, and if it’s an emergency situation (a dire emergency) it suffices for the priest to say the minimun necessary for absolution “I absolve you…” before doing the anointing.

This is from the Apostolic Constitution “Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick” by Pope Paul VI

#6 “…If necessary, the sacrament [ie Unction/Anointing] also provides the sick person with the forgiveness of sins and the completion of Christian penance.”