Pope's name and

[Agape11]

Two questions…

Why does the Pope change his name when he becomes the Pope?

What is the difference in Last Rites and Anointing of the Sick?

Thanks!

 

[Oneofthewomen]

No sure about the Pope’s name.

The anointing of the sick is part of “last rites” which includes anointing, receiving absolution for sins and the Eucharist ( “viactum, food for the journey”) and are usually given when close to death.

 

[YoungTradCath]

The first question can be answered in different ways. Throughout history, many times when a person would assume an extremely powerful office, he would assume a regnal (reigning) name. Kings, queens, princes, etc., and Popes are no exception.

The Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament that is given to very sick people, to include those on the doorstep of death. The Last Rites is a series of rituals, which includes Anointing of the Sick among other things, which is only given to those people that are most definitely going to die soon.

 

[Agape11]

The Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament that is given to very sick people, to include those on the doorstep of death. The Last Rites is a series of rituals, which includes Anointing of the Sick among other things, which is only given to those people that are most definitely going to die soon.

Isn’t “very sick people… on the doorstep of death” and “definitely going to die soon” the same? SMH

 

[Marie5890]

I took a course on the popes and the papacy. Here is a link that pretty much explains what the course taught about changing of the names.

A pope is not required to change their name. And though a bit different, even Simon’s name was changed to Peter, although it the Lord who changed it.

h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A22958265

 

[MarkThompson]

As to the question of popes, for the first few centuries the popes simply used their ordinary given names. The first pope to assume take a different name as a regnal name was a man named Mercurius (in 533). He deemed it unsuitable to serve as pope with the name of a Roman god (Mercury), and so too the name John II. The last pope to use his given name was Marcellus II, who served for three weeks in 1555.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

The Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament that is given to very sick people, to include those on the doorstep of death. The Last Rites is a series of rituals, which includes Anointing of the Sick among other things, which is only given to those people that are most definitely going to die soon.

Isn’t “very sick people… on the doorstep of death” and “definitely going to die soon” the same? SMH

From the Code of Canon Law

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.

IMHO, this is one of the most mis-understood sacraments.

Hopefully a priest will jump in, but this is my understanding, based on numerous discussions with priest friends and what I have learned studying sacramental theology.
The “anointing” is just one ritual in a series of rituals that are performed for someone who is very close to the point of death. The full ritual includes a full confession (if the recipient is able) and absolution, the receiving of the Eucharist (again, as able, I have seen a priest drop a couple of drops of the Precious Blood instead of a host) and the anointing of the body.
In some cases, such as chronic illness, or before surgery, a person may be “anointed”, with the Oil of the Sick (which is blessed at the Chrism Mass) on the forehead and the hands, and sometimes, at the priest’s discretion, the injuried area.

In a nut shell, someone can be anointed outside of having the “last rites”, but one cannot have the “last rites” without being anointed.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

The Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament that is given to very sick people, to include those on the doorstep of death. The Last Rites is a series of rituals, which includes Anointing of the Sick among other things, which is only given to those people that are most definitely going to die soon.

Isn’t “very sick people… on the doorstep of death” and “definitely going to die soon” the same? SMH The Anointing of the Sick is proper for anyone in danger of death by illness or age. It is not restricted to those on the doorstep of death.

I recently had cataract surgery. Ordinarily this would not justify receiving the Anointing, but I am diabetic. Since this inhibits healing and enhances the effect of any infection, the priest anointed me. [He is quite conservative in his approach to the sacraments; so I trust his judgement on this.]

 

[FrDavid96]

Two questions…

Why does the Pope change his name when he becomes the Pope?

What is the difference in Last Rites and Anointing of the Sick?

Thanks!

See what was already posted about the popes names. Good resources.

Anointing of the Sick (also called “Unction” which is the Latin word meaning anointing)
is a sacrament of healing that is conferred upon the seriously ill. It is not limited to the dying.

The Last Rites (note the plural there) is a series of rituals (ie rites) conferred on someone who is indeed in danger of death. The Last Rites consists of:

The Sacrament of Confession (in at least its minimal form)
The Apostolic Pardon (which is not a sacrament)
The Sacrament of Anointing/Unction of the Sick
The Sacrament of the Eucharist administered as Viaticum (“Food for the journey”)

[in an extreme emergency, Communion comes before Unction]

Many people get confused because people use the term “last rites” to refer to Anointing of the Sick. The Anointing is one of the Last rites. But they are not two different ways of saying the same thing.

A person does not need to be at or near the point of death to be anointed. Anointing should be done when the person is “seriously ill” rather than wait until “seriously ill” becomes “on death’s doorstep”

On the other hand, the Last Rites are to be done only for the dying. Any of the 3 Sacraments of the Last Rites may also be conferred before that (of course, Confession and Communion are not limited to the dying); however, when done as a complete whole (4 parts) it’s done only for those expected to die soon.

A sick person can still go to confession, be anointed, and receive Communion; even in one visit by the priest. But it’s not called “Last Rites” unless all 4 are done along with the Apostolic Pardon and done for the dying.

 

[Agape11]

Thanks, Father. That makes sense.

 

[Rolltide]

As to the question of popes, for the first few centuries the popes simply used their ordinary given names. The first pope to assume take a different name as a regnal name was a man named Mercurius (in 533). He deemed it unsuitable to serve as pope with the name of a Roman god (Mercury), and so too the name John II. The last pope to use his given name was Marcellus II, who served for three weeks in 1555.

My favorite name from the period before popes changed their names was always Pope Dionysus. Could there be a more ironically named pope?

 

[MarkThompson]

My favorite name from the period before popes changed their names was always Pope Dionysus. Could there be a more ironically named pope?

That is true, although by the time Pope Dionysius (you were missing an i) came to the throne, it was already a saint’s name: St. Dionysius – you probably know him better in the French form of his name, St. Denis – was a martyr of the Church. The name Dionysius is still very common in its various modern forms, including Dennis and Denise. Cardinal Tettamanzi of Milan has the name too, in Italian: Dionigi.

 

[Chatter163]

Also, scripture provides examples of names being changed when someone received a divine commission. Abram/Abraham, Sarai/Sarah, Jacob/Israel, Hoshea/Joshua, Simon/Peter, Saul/Paul, ,etc. I now live in an area that is overwhelmingly Evangelical, so when B16 became Pope, I was often asked this question. I gave this answer, and those asking were very satisfied with this biblical answer, as they called it.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

OP, another reason is probably that just like in religious life, one changes a name to indicate a new identity. The pope speaks and acts not in his own name, but as the leader and visible head of the Church on Earth.

One interesting dimension of this is - and I think he is the only one in recent centuries to do this, to the best of my knowledge - that the pope can use his previous name to indicate when he is saying something as an “ordinary Catholic.” Pope Benedict XVI chose to publish his books on Jesus recently under his old name, explaining in the preface that his intention was to make it clear that what was contained was just his own personal views and opinions - he was not intending to speak in his role as pope.