Last Rites

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CaptCrunch73

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Hi Folks,

I have a question that I need a little help with or trying to sort things out.

Here’s the deal, my father passed away. While he was sick I called my pastor and requested the Last Rites be given. The Nursing home were my father spent his last few days and my Parish are a half a mile away from one another. When I called my pastor he said he was dealing with a death in his family and would be there the next day. The next day came and he did not show up. We were waiting on the following day and things took a serious turn for the worse, so I called my pastor again and at the same time another family member had the nursing home staff call a priest and the Last Rites were administered, which is the most important thing. In fact the call from the nursing home staff and the call to my pastor ended up going to the same priest, the standby at my parish, and he came to the nursing home twice!

Now, my family wants to have the Funeral Mass said at the neighboring Catholic Church, it’s really my mother’s call and we’re going with it, but needless to say it’ll make the situtation between myself and my Parish Priest a little awkward. My family is a little upset with my pastor, I’m not sure if I should be upset or should be sympathetic because our priests are so overworked (or a combination) or maybe I shouldn’t worry about this right now.

Any thoughts?
 
I am sorry for your loss.

I would try to give your pastor the benefit of the doubt. Someone did get there (twice), and your pastor verbalized the intention to come to your aid. A thousand things could have happened between hanging up that phone and the moment your father passed away. (My own father passed before the priest who is a friend of the family could get there, though he also intended to).

There is an adrenaline that seems to take over when a death occurs. And sometime later there is often a time when it all hits you. Be comforted that your pastor is still going to be there when that time comes. A mourning spouse will be happy to have that parish support in the months ahead; I would try to take the higher road. And pray for your priest (and all priests).
 
What a wonderful post from **Kennywood **and some good advice. I might add that you, **CaptCrunch73, **seem to have a good head on your shoulders and your are trying to be understanding of your pastor’s situation. There are all sorts of emotions that come for grieving people not only anger, but sometimes even laughter. It is normal to experience such emotions and even hurt. But I think that we should try to use some restraint in not letting emotions take over. Be there for your mother and your family and if the need arises, offer a word of compassion for your grieving pastor, too.
 
I too am sorry for your loss, if you give me the name I will pray for his soul.

Now, not to be rudem but the name of the Sacrament has been changed from Last Rites to Annointing of the sick.

Anyone who may be in danger of death can recieve this sacrament, along with confession and Holy Communion.

Of course to accomplish this it is best to call the priest while the patient is still lucid.
 
Sorry for your loss, first and foremost.

As stated earlier, our priest are super busy and sometimes not in control of their time. Our parish and others highly recommend calling for a priest as far ahead as possible before operations or a person’s decline.

That’s not easy for sure. My wife became gravely ill (coma) in 2002. The hospital chaplain searched widely for a priest. Called my parish priest, and he promised to try an get there. He wasn’t able to come. Understandable. We did manage to find a nice priest from the Phillipines that was visiting his family in our area while on vacation. Luckily, the wife survived and is with us now.

Annoiting of the Sick is a beautiful and moving sacrement.
 
andrewstx said:
I too am sorry for your loss, if you give me the name I will pray for his soul.

Now, not to be rudem but the name of the Sacrament has been changed from Last Rites to Annointing of the sick.

Anyone who may be in danger of death can recieve this sacrament, along with confession and Holy Communion.

Of course to accomplish this it is best to call the priest while the patient is still lucid.
Click to expand...
Last rites is not a sacrement. It is the combination of Confession, Extreme Unction, and Holy Communion (Viaticum), which received at death is properly called Last Rites.

Anointing of the Sick can however be received apart from Last Rites.

As an aside, the sacrement of Anointing of the Sick can be freely called Extreme Unction. The Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy offered Anointing of the Sick as another proper title, but did not bind anyone to use that name.

Please correct me if I’m wrong.
 
bmccpy78 said:
Last rites is not a sacrement. It is the combination of Confession, Extreme Unction, and Holy Communion (Viaticum), which received at death is properly called Last Rites.

Anointing of the Sick can however be received apart from Last Rites.

As an aside, the sacrement of Anointing of the Sick can be freely called Extreme Unction. The Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy offered Anointing of the Sick as another proper title, but did not bind anyone to use that name.

Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Click to expand...
You’re right.

The words “unction” and “anointing” are both English translations of the single Latin word “Unctionis” There is no difference at all between unction and anointing.

The Last Rites are still what they have always been: Confession, Unction/Anointing, Eucharist, and the Last Blessing.
 
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