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turtle18
Guest
If you had a debilitating illness in the past and have gotten better, would it be okay to receive the sacrament again so you won’t have a relapse? Or do you think that might be looked upon as a lack of faith?
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baltobetsy
Guest
Not so much a lack of faith as a bit of a misuse of the Sacrament. The Anointing of the Sick is meant for the sick - it is a remedy, not a vaccination. After all, it’s not the “Anointing of Those Hoping Not To Get Sick!” 
Just continue to place yourself in God’s merciful care, and if you suffer a relapse, do seek out the Anointing. I hope you stay well!
Betsy
Just continue to place yourself in God’s merciful care, and if you suffer a relapse, do seek out the Anointing. I hope you stay well!
Betsy
C
Chatter163
Guest
I do not understand. The second paragraph seems to contradict the first.Not so much a lack of faith as a bit of a misuse of the Sacrament. The Anointing of the Sick is meant for the sick - it is a remedy, not a vaccination. After all, it’s not the “Anointing of Those Hoping Not To Get Sick!”
Just continue to place yourself in God’s merciful care, and if you suffer a relapse, do seek out the Anointing. I hope you stay well!
D
Deacon_Ed
Guest
Betsy is correct – the anointing of the sick is just that, an anointing for a sick person. It is primarily for spiritual healing, but physical healing may also accompany the spiritual healing or may take place instead of spiritual healing so that the spiritual healing may take place later.
It is not, and should not be considered, a way to “prevent a relapse.”
Deacon Ed
It is not, and should not be considered, a way to “prevent a relapse.”
Deacon Ed
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puzzleannie
Guest
however, if sadly you do have a relapse of the same illness, you may request the sacrament again for this new episode of illness.
J
Jerry-Jet
Guest
If you have diabetes are you sick enough to receive the sacrament?
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turtle18
Guest
I don’t know about the diabetes. Mine is a chronic condition that flares up from time to time; it is similiar to MS but is not MS. I always have the “illness” but sometimes I am perfectly fine.
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
From the Catechism *
1515 If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.*
1514 The Anointing of the Sick "is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived."130
1515 If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.*
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guanophore
Guest
The Eucharist is the best daily healing there is. Pray that your whole heart, mind, soul and body will be in the center of HIs will, and that anything not of God will be forced out by the presence of the Precious Body and Blood.
If any illness remains, then it can be accepted as allowed by God for purification.
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puzzleannie
Guest
yes, in fact I asked for anointing when I was first diagnosed and facing multiple crises because of it. I would not ask for it again unless another crisis or complication arose, or for another condition altogether. Those with a chronic condition are specifically mentioned (in the CCC quote in this Sunday’s bulletin about the healing Masses next week) and invited, with the understanding that one would not seek the sacrament again unless there was another development or acute episode of the same condition. for instance a cancer patient might ask for the sacrament when first diagnosed, and possibly again when facing major surgery for the condition, or if it returns after remission.
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Linuse
Guest
Most of the replies given above speak of a rigorism that is still heavily tainted by the former practice of ‘on a death bed’. It is the sacrament of the SICK not the DYING. (The sacrament of the dying is ‘Viaticum’. Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Anointing together became “the sacraments of the dying” from a problem with reconciliation–when the people and some leaders in the church thought that one could receive reconciliation only once in a lifetime. Hence, people waited till their deathbed for the sacraments instead of receiving them when needed.
Why deny ourselves of the sacrament on a regular basis if the problem is a cronic illness. One guideline that I was given is, the sacrament can be received again for the same illness anytime there is an improvement or worsening of the illness.
It is also for the elderly and recommended to be received regularly by them. But ‘regularly’ is never defined. Nor is elderly defined. Some would say 65. Almost all say definitely by 70. But that is left up to the judgement of the priest &/or patient or elderly person. One place where priests are retired has anointing for them monthly. Does this give us a practical guideline?
As the person above discribes the illness–cronic, always present, with flare-ups from time to time, I would recommend to that person to receive the sacrament regularly. A problem such as diabetes would also qualify for regular reception.
Don’t forget to include in the above ‘mental illness.’ The sacrament is just as much for them as it is for the physically ill.
Why deny ourselves of the sacrament on a regular basis if the problem is a cronic illness. One guideline that I was given is, the sacrament can be received again for the same illness anytime there is an improvement or worsening of the illness.
It is also for the elderly and recommended to be received regularly by them. But ‘regularly’ is never defined. Nor is elderly defined. Some would say 65. Almost all say definitely by 70. But that is left up to the judgement of the priest &/or patient or elderly person. One place where priests are retired has anointing for them monthly. Does this give us a practical guideline?
As the person above discribes the illness–cronic, always present, with flare-ups from time to time, I would recommend to that person to receive the sacrament regularly. A problem such as diabetes would also qualify for regular reception.
Don’t forget to include in the above ‘mental illness.’ The sacrament is just as much for them as it is for the physically ill.
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
We anoint those confined to their homes or in retirement homes regularly every four months. Occasionally someone gets missed because they are away, but everyone gets anointed at least twice a year. Of course, they can call for an anointing anytime if they are ill.
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