Monthly anointing of the sick?

[MikeInVA]

During his homily on Thursday, the priest at a church I was visiting said that he offers anointing of the sick on first Fridays, and he encouraged everyone to be anointed every month. He said that you never know when you may need anointing so you you should always avail yourself of the sacrament whenever you can.
I thought that anointing of the sick was only for the sick or those preparing for surgery, etc?

I really wish he had said he hears confessions on first Fridays and everyone should go!

 

[Augustinian]

I thought that anointing of the sick was only for the sick or those preparing for surgery, etc?

I’m not a trained theologian by any stretch of the word, but that was my understanding as well.

 

[Arkansan]

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.

What this priest is doing is sacrilegious.

 

[FrDavid96]

During his homily on Thursday, the priest at a church I was visiting said that he offers anointing of the sick on first Fridays, and he encouraged everyone to be anointed every month. He said that you never know when you may need anointing so you you should always avail yourself of the sacrament whenever you can.
I thought that anointing of the sick was only for the sick or those preparing for surgery, etc?

I really wish he had said he hears confessions on first Fridays and everyone should go!

He could not be more wrong. It’s an abuse of the sacrament.

We don’t anoint because someone “might” become seriously ill. That’s absurd; literally absurd.

Maybe ask him if he absolves people from sins they might commit in the future as well, since both are Sacraments of healing.

 

[DeniseNY]

If I recall correctly, this topic was thoroughly discussed a couple of months ago, and it got kind of heated. It migt be good to do a search for that thread rather than rehash it (not criticizing the OP, just making a suggestion).

 

[dochawk]

I thought that anointing of the sick was only for the sick or those preparing for surgery, etc?

In the west, yes.

In many of the EC and EO, it’s the norm on Wednesday of Holy Week for the entire congregation.

hawk

 

[pianistclare]

It goes on to say:

These canons can be summarized as follows. Those who satisfy three conditions may be anointed:

1. A baptized Catholic,
2. Reached the age of reason,
3. Begun to be in danger from illness or the infirmities of age, or have become sick again or underwent a further crisis. It should be noted that the danger need only have begun to exist. The person does not have to be “in extremis” (in imminent danger of dying). This is a change from the pastoral practice before the Second Vatican Council.

The ritual gives the following examples:

· “those who are dangerously ill through sickness or old age”
· “a sick person…before surgery whenever the surgery is necessitated by a dangerous illness”
· “elderly people…if they are weak, though not dangerously ill”
· “sick children…sufficiently mature to be comforted by the sacrament”
· “sick people who have lost consciousness or who have lost the use of reason…if …they would have requested it if they had been in possession of their faculties”

Sickness is not limited to physical ailments.
A person with a serious mental disorder can be anointed.

 

[Elf01]

I’m assuming illness would cover e.g. accidents or combat wounds if they were still alive at the time but it would not be a natural definition of illness to me.

 

[dann]

Glad I stopped by.
Anointing someone to be blessed.
What a novel idea.

 

[MikeInVA]

All, thank you for your replies. I’ll avoid this parish in the future.

 

[FrDavid96]

I’m assuming illness would cover e.g. accidents or combat wounds if they were still alive at the time but it would not be a natural definition of illness to me.

That’s a matter of translation.

The Latin says “infirm” (which is, of course, borrowed into English).

Infirmity is a broad term that includes illnesses and injury. So, yes, you’re absolutely right. An injury, caused perhaps by combat or by accident, which is life-threatening (actually “begins to be…”) would be cause for the Sacrament.

 

[FrDavid96]

It goes on to say:

These canons can be summarized as follows. Those who satisfy three conditions may be anointed:

1. A baptized Catholic,
2. Reached the age of reason,
3. Begun to be in danger from illness or the infirmities of age, or have become sick again or underwent a further crisis. It should be noted that the danger need only have begun to exist. The person does not have to be “in extremis” (in imminent danger of dying). This is a change from the pastoral practice before the Second Vatican Council.

The ritual gives the following examples:

· “those who are dangerously ill through sickness or old age”
· “a sick person…before surgery whenever the surgery is necessitated by a dangerous illness”
· “elderly people…if they are weak, though not dangerously ill”
· “sick children…sufficiently mature to be comforted by the sacrament”
· “sick people who have lost consciousness or who have lost the use of reason…if …they would have requested it if they had been in possession of their faculties”

Sickness is not limited to physical ailments.
A person with a serious mental disorder can be anointed.

Yes. Indeed.

The category of persons not-included in that list is “perfectly healthy people.” Which is why it is (at the very least) an abuse of the sacrament to anoint the healthy.

I often speculate whether or not anointing a healthy person is even a sacrament, or is it a simulation of the sacrament?

Sometimes, the validity of a sacrament depends on whether or not the person is eligible. (e.g. Only an unbaptised person can be validly baptised.) I really do wonder if anointing a healthy person amounts to a simulation.