Regarding Mass and Last Rites

[Zooman77]

HI I was wondering if a lay catholic could perform part of the mass, like liturgy of the word but obviously not the Eucharist. The reason I am wondering is because one of my relatives has Alzheimer’s and she was catholic and the assisted living she is in does not take her to church, and when we take her she is confused by the new environment. Our Idea was that we could hold a “Mass” in her room so she would be comfortable. Regarding the last rites I have heard an Alzheimer’s patient can receive last rites when living, does anyone know if this is true?

Thank you,
God Bless

 

[JGMendes4049]

HI I was wondering if a lay catholic could perform part of the mass, like liturgy of the word but obviously not the Eucharist.

If there’s no Liturgy of the Eucharist, it’s not a Mass.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

HI I was wondering if a lay catholic could perform part of the mass, like liturgy of the word but obviously not the Eucharist. The reason I am wondering is because one of my relatives has Alzheimer’s and she was catholic and the assisted living she is in does not take her to church, and when we take her she is confused by the new environment. Our Idea was that we could hold a “Mass” in her room so she would be comfortable. Regarding the last rites I have heard an Alzheimer’s patient can receive last rites when living, does anyone know if this is true?

Thank you,
God Bless

A lay person can certainly read the Scriptures of the day to someone confined by illness. It would not, however, be “performing part of the Mass” in such a setting, but a simple sharing of Scripture. In certain situations a priest might agree to say a private Mass in a sickroom.

An Alzheimer’s patient can certainly receive the Sacrament of the Sick, just talk to your priest or whatever clergy might be covering the facility in which she is confined.

 

[Philotheatoo]

I am pretty sure the ‘required’ stuff is the priest. Back in the day, in some parts of this country at least, there were ‘home churches’ in which a group of people shared the responsibility of ‘hosting’ church on Sunday. The/a priest would come to whose ever house was designated that Sunday and he would say Mass, bringing with him the things he needed to do so. After Mass we would have a buffet brunch and give the priest our ‘collection’ which was meant for him in return for giving the service. If you could get a large enough number of Catholics to attend it may be possible a local priest could come out once a month or so to give Mass for your relative who, by the way can certainly receive what used to be called Extreme Unction or the Last Rites. My sister has Ovarian Cancer and when she travels to a new town the priest usually encourages her to receive what is now the Annointing of the Sick even though she has been annointed several times.

 

[Elizium23]

There is a lot of confusion regarding “last rites” and anointing of the sick.

First, the sacrament of anointing the sick. This is a sacrament which a priest or bishop can perform on someone who is gravely ill. There is, of course, a prescribed rite to be followed and the Oil of the Sick is consecrated at the Chrism Mass of the diocese each year. A good priest will always carry a small amount of this oil on his person in an “emergency kit”.

Now what was, and is still called “last rites” or “extreme unction” is not a single sacrament. It is a collection of sacraments and prayers meant to be used with people on the verge of death. This is the important part, anyone who is sick can receive the anointing, but you must be close indeed to death to receive last rites. Its major parts are three sacraments of penance, the Eucharist (called Viaticum), and anointing of the sick. Naturally, only a priest or bishop may perform penance and anointing, so if only a deacon or a lay person is available, the dying person may be given Viaticum and attempt perfect contrition for his or her sins.

When there is danger of death, even a suspended or laicized priest may offer these sacraments to the dying. It is the primary instance where the care of souls overrides the ordinary discipline of the Church.

So in relation to the OP’s question, a person with Alzheimer’s can certainly receive anointing of the sick, and it can be repeated as your priest sees necessary. The patient can also regularly receive ordinary sacraments of penance and the Eucharist, as ministers are available to visit. An EMHC would be able to share Scripture and pray with the patient in the course of his or her visit. In the event that the patient is on the brink of death, then you may certainly request a priest to perform last rites.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I work in a long term care facility and were are required by state health department regulations to have activities,
physical, social and spiritual, available for our residents.

It can be difficult to find a priest who can come to say Mass monthy,
but we do have one that comes a couple times a year.

We also have EMHC who come once a month for a “Word service with Communion”.

My best advice would be to contact the local parish or your own priest about the possibility of having a Mass for the residents at the facility. I am sure that many of the residents would appreciate it!

 

[puzzleannie]

HI I was wondering if a lay catholic could perform part of the mass, like liturgy of the word but obviously not the Eucharist. The reason I am wondering is because one of my relatives has Alzheimer’s and she was catholic and the assisted living she is in does not take her to church, and when we take her she is confused by the new environment. Our Idea was that we could hold a “Mass” in her room so she would be comfortable. Regarding the last rites I have heard an Alzheimer’s patient can receive last rites when living, does anyone know if this is true?

Thank you,
God Bless

a liturgy of the word is properly part of the sacrament of anointing of the sick
yes a patient with Altzheimers is certainly a candidate for the sacrament
if her condition worsens, or she also develops another serious illness, she can receive the sacrament again. In any case only a priest can confer that sacrament so why would a lay person need to lead a liturgy of the word?

Yes a lay person, with permission, can lead a liturgy of the word in the absence of a priest or deacon, but it is NOT part of Mass, it is just that, a liturgy of the word.